This study was conducted to compare animal performance, presence of skin reactions and immune response following vaccination of beef calves via needle-free (NF) and needle-syringe (NS) vaccination techniques. Spring-born (Study A) and fall-born (Study B) calves were vaccinated against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Clostridium chauvoei (C. chauvoei) via NF and NS vaccination techniques. The parameters measured in this study included body weight (BW), skin reactions and serum antibodies. Animal performance and antibody levels against BVDV and C. chauvoei did not differ between vaccination techniques. However, NF vaccinated calves had a greater frequency of skin reactions when compared to NS vaccinated calves, except for day 42 of Study B. It can be concluded that a needle-free injection device (NFID) can be used effectively to stimulate an immune response without impacting animal performance, but may cause a greater frequency of skin reactions.

This study was conducted to compare animal performance, presence of skin reactions and immune response following vaccination of beef calves via needle-free (NF) and needle-syringe (NS) vaccination techniques. Spring-born (Study A) and fall-born (Study B) calves were vaccinated against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Clostridium chauvoei (C. chauvoei) via NF and NS vaccination techniques. The parameters measured in this study included body weight (BW), skin reactions and serum antibodies. Animal performance and antibody levels against BVDV and C. chauvoei did not differ between vaccination techniques. However, NF vaccinated calves had a greater frequency of skin reactions when compared to NS vaccinated calves, except for day 42 of Study B. It can be concluded that a needle-free injection device (NFID) can be used effectively to stimulate an immune response without impacting animal performance, but may cause a greater frequency of skin reactions.