Committed to Cattle Health

Calf vaccines can “fail” on paper and still work where it counts. We sit down with Dr.  M. Wayne Ayers of Elanco Animal Health to unpack the practical side of bovine immunology so you can time vaccines better, pick the right type, and stop guessing when results look unclear. If you’ve ever wondered why a branding-age calf shows little antibody change after vaccination, the conversation on colostrum and maternal antibodies will click fast and it may change how you judge success.

From there, we get blunt about the basics that quietly decide vaccine effectiveness: nutrition and minerals. We connect protein and energy status to the cost of running the immune system, then zoom in on copper, zinc, selenium, and cobalt, including how cobalt supports vitamin B12 and downstream antibody production. We also explore fetal programming and why nutritional or heat stress during gestation can shape heifer fertility, feedlot performance, and lifetime genetic potential long after the stress is gone.

We close with a clear breakdown of modified live versus killed vaccines: how modified live products mimic infection to build a broad immune foundation, how killed vaccines use adjuvants and fixed antigen doses, and why many protocols evolve as cattle move into the reproductive herd. 

Spring calving feels like a spring problem, right up until you realize the biggest wins are decided months earlier. We’re joined by Dr. Robin Falkner, beef cattle technical consultant with Elanco Animal Health, to unpack a simple truth that can change your whole year: spring calving starts in the fall. If you run a cow-calf operation and want healthier cows, stronger calves, and fewer surprise costs, this conversation is built for you.

We dig into fall calving versus spring calving with real-world tradeoffs, not slogans. Spring calving can match nature by lining peak cow nutrient demand with the best forage quality, while fall calving can create marketing advantages when fewer calves hit that slot, but often requires higher management to meet cattle nutrition needs “against the season”. From there, we get concrete about what to focus on right now, including hay planning, body condition score, and why managing 120 to 180 days ahead can beat “handling what’s in front of you today.”

One of the most practical takeaways is weaning strategy. We challenge calendar-based weaning and talk about flexing decisions during drought and tight forage years. Dr. Faulkner shares how current market demand can surprise you, including why lighter calves (think 470 vs 570 lb.) may sometimes pencil out better. We also explore when it makes sense to consider a bigger system change like shifting calving date, and how innovators and early adopters stay viable across generations by building networks, pursuing continuing education, and spending more time finding better questions.

Subscribe for more cattle health and beef production insights, share this episode with a producer who plans ahead, and leave a review to help more ranchers find the show.