QUESTION:
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What size needle do you recommend for giving cows shots?
ANSWER:
To some degree, this depends on where you are giving the injection and what it is. Start with placement. Injections should always be given in the neck. If so labeled, they should be given under the skin, or subcutaneously (SQ).
Concerning needle size, I recommend the smallest gauge needle possible. Large needles make bigger holes, are more painful and cause more damage, and product can leak back out. I use 20-gauge, 3/4-inch needles for SQ vaccinations on calves. With adult cattle, or when administering thick medications, I use a 16-gauge with a 3/4-inch needle. I only use needles once. This means they are sharper when you use them, and it eliminates any risk of spreading disease in the herd. For intramuscular injections, I recommend an 18-gauge, 1-to-1-1/2-inch needle. If the product is very thick, I may use a 16-gauge needle, but I find very little need for this size now with products currently on the market.
Another key to good injection technique is proper restraint. Never inject more than 10 milliliters at one site, and never inject through a dirty hide. If you don't use a clean needle every time, change them out at least every 10 head. A clean needle is critical every time you pull up vaccine or medication. Never use bent or burred needles. At the end of the day, my motto is "needles are cheap; cows are not."
If you have not done this already, I highly recommend becoming Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified. Needle size and proper vaccination protocol is a big part of the training. BQA saves the cattle industry millions, if not billions, of dollars through reduced damage to valuable cuts of meat. It also helps reduce the incidence of disease. Most states have BQA meetings where you can become certified, and there is an online program, as well (www.bqa.org).
(SK)
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Disposable hypodermic needles are a necessary tool in maintaining cattle health. They provide a convenient and economical route to deliver products to animals in a safe and effective manner. Understanding when and how to use them are key components in a herd health protocol.
Choosing the right needle
Source: BQA Field Guide, www.bqa.org
Needle selection is based on weight of cattle, route of administration, and viscosity (thickness) of product. Gauge is determined by the size of the hole inside the needle, with the higher the gauge, the smaller the diameter of the needle. Length is labeled in inches and will determine where the injection is placed in the animal. Longer needles are needed for deeper route injections, such as intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM).
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The best practice is to use the smallest needle available without fear of bending. This will ensure accurate delivery of product while minimizing pain and tissue damage. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines require all injections to be given in front of the shoulder, regardless of animal age1. Always follow the label on products for recommended dose and route of injection.
Proper use of needles
It is important to have preventative measures in place when using disposable needles. Needles should be changed before becoming dull. A good rule to follow is to change needles every 10 animals. Only new, sterile needles should be introduced into bottles of product to prevent polluting the contents inside. Needles also need to be changed when contaminated with visible feces or dirt, or when the needle point is damaged or bent. Bent needles pose a risk of breaking and should not be straightened.
Broken Needles
Broken needles must be treated as an emergency because they may migrate within the tissue and become difficult or impossible to find. BQA guidelines recommend developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling broken needles in animals.
Suggested SOP should include1:
Biosecurity & Blood-borne disease transmission
Bacteria and viruses that cause disease and can be carried in blood are defined as blood-borne pathogens. Several different bovine diseases fall into this category, with bovine leukosis virus and anaplasmosis as two of the most recognized. Both conditions are spread through herds by transferring infected blood to non-infected animals. Examples of this include vector transmission from biting flies and ticks and mechanical transmission from infected needles and surgical instruments.
A study compared the transmission of anaplasmosis between needle and needle-free injections in Holstein steers2. The results showed a 60% transmission rate of anaplasmosis in the needle injection group. Changing needles after every animal is one way producers can help stop the transmission of pathogens in a disease-positive herd. Controlling external parasites and disinfecting surgical instruments such as tattoo pliers, dehorning tools, and castration knives are other ways to help stop the spread. Having these standard guidelines in place should help operations maximize time and health efficiency.
Needle Disposal
Sharps containers can be purchased from medical supply companies or producers can use thick plastic containers with lids, such as laundry detergent jugs. I recommend talking with your veterinarian or local medical clinic/hospital to see where they dispose of the full containers and to get recommendations for companies that pick them up. Sharps containers can be used for needles, scalpel blades, broken glass, etc.
References:
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