The Complete Guide to Livestock Vaccines (and How to Track Them with FarmKeep)

Introduction: Why Livestock Vaccines Matter

Vaccinating your livestock isn’t just about preventing disease—it’s about protecting your animals, your investment, and your livelihood. Whether you run a small hobby farm or a large-scale operation, vaccines help prevent costly outbreaks, improve overall herd health, and increase productivity.

But a vaccine is only as effective as the schedule and records behind it. Missed doses, duplicate treatments, or unclear history can lead to gaps in immunity. That’s why consistent vaccine record-keeping is essential—and where FarmKeep can help you stay on track.

In this guide, we’ll break down the most important vaccines for each species, recommended schedules, and how to keep perfect health records.

General Best Practices for Livestock Vaccination

Always consult a veterinarian before starting a vaccination program.
Follow manufacturer guidelines for dosage, storage, and administration.
Maintain cold chain storage (refrigeration) to ensure vaccine efficacy.
Keep accurate records—date, vaccine type, dose, and the administering person.

📚 Source: Merck Veterinary Manual – Vaccination Programs

Why Vaccine Record-Keeping Matters

Without accurate records, you risk over- or under-vaccinating, causing immunity gaps or wasted costs. Good records help with:

Regulatory compliance
Proof of health for sales or shows
Better breeding and production planning

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Screenshot of FarmKeep features tracking vaccine records for cattle

How FarmKeep Makes Livestock Vaccine Tracking Easy

FarmKeep is more than a farm management app—it’s your digital health record keeper. With FarmKeep, you can:

Log every vaccine by date, animal, and dose.
Set reminders for boosters and annual shots.
Generate reports for sales, shows, or inspections.
Track health alongside breeding, production, and expenses in one place.

FarmKeep ensures no vaccine is missed, your animals stay healthy, and your farm runs smoothly.

Livestock Vaccine Schedule
Species	Common Vaccines	Schedule & Notes
Cattle	IBR, BVD, BRSV, PI3, Clostridial 7/8-way, Leptospirosis	Core vaccines annually; calves vaccinated at 3–4 months and boosted at weaning
Sheep & Goats	CD&T (Clostridium perfringens types C & D + Tetanus), Caseous Lymphadenitis	CD&T 4–6 weeks old, booster in 3–4 weeks; annual adult boosters
Poultry	Marek’s, Newcastle Disease, Infectious Bronchitis, Fowl Pox	Marek’s at hatch, others at 2–4 weeks with follow-up as needed
Pigs	Erysipelas, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus	Piglets at 3–6 weeks, sows pre-breeding for reproductive diseases
Horses	Tetanus, EEE/WEE, West Nile Virus, Rabies, Influenza	Core vaccines annually; risk-based boosters every 6 months
Rabbits	RHDV (Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus)	First dose at 4 weeks, annual booster

Cattle Vaccines

Cattle are prone to diseases like Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), Blackleg, and Brucellosis. Vaccines help reduce losses from illness, stillbirths, and decreased milk/meat production.

Common Cattle Vaccines

BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhea) – Prevents reproductive issues and immune suppression.
IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis) – Protects respiratory health.
BRSV (Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus) – Reduces pneumonia cases.
Leptospirosis – Protects against reproductive failure and kidney/liver damage.
Blackleg (Clostridial disease) – Fatal bacterial infection, especially in young cattle.
Brucellosis – Required in many states for heifers.

Cattle Vaccine Schedule

Calves: Begin at 2–4 months (consult vet).
Booster shots: 3–4 weeks after initial.
Annual boosters: Maintain herd immunity.

📚 Source: Merck Veterinary Manual – Vaccination Programs for Beef Cattle

Sheep Vaccines

Sheep are vulnerable to Clostridial diseases and reproductive issues.

Common Sheep Vaccines

CD-T (Clostridium perfringens Types C & D + Tetanus) – Core vaccine for all sheep.
Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) – Reduces abscess formation and weight loss.
Campylobacter & Chlamydia – Protects pregnant ewes from abortions.

Sheep Vaccine Schedule

Lambs: Vaccinate at 6–8 weeks old.
Pregnant ewes: Booster 4–6 weeks before lambing for passive immunity to lambs.
Annual boosters for all adults.

📚 Source: Sheep101 – Vaccinations Q&A

Goat Vaccines

Goats share many vaccination needs with sheep but have unique risks.

Common Goat Vaccines

CD-T Vaccine – Essential for all goats.
Rabies – Especially important for show goats or areas with wildlife exposure.
Pneumonia Complex – Recommended for high-density herds.

Goat Vaccine Schedule

Kids: First dose at 6–8 weeks, booster 3–4 weeks later.
Annual boosters thereafter.

📚 Source: Goat Vaccination Program – Extension Resource

Poultry Vaccines (Chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, Quail)

Poultry are often vaccinated in hatcheries, but small farm flocks can benefit too.

Common Poultry Vaccines

Marek’s Disease – Given at hatch.
Newcastle Disease – Prevents respiratory issues.
Infectious Bronchitis – Protects egg production and respiratory health.
Fowl Pox – Protects against skin and mouth lesions.

📚 Source: Poultry Hub – Vaccination Programs

Horse Vaccines

Equine vaccines protect against life-threatening viruses and bacterial diseases.

Core Horse Vaccines (AAEP Guidelines)

Tetanus
Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE)
West Nile Virus
Rabies

Risk-Based Horse Vaccines

Equine Influenza
Strangles
Potomac Horse Fever

📚 Source: AAEP – Vaccination Guidelines

Pig Vaccines

Swine health is vital for meat production efficiency.

Common Pig Vaccines

Erysipelas – Protects against arthritis and skin lesions.
Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae – Reduces respiratory disease.
Porcine Parvovirus – Prevents reproductive loss.

📚 Source: MSU Pork Resource

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