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Eastern NE KS | Tetanus can attack castrated calves, irregardless of castration method. I started banding at birth because it got the job behind me, it was safer for the calf at this young age and I didn't like our method with the scalpel. We had an accident where a calf kicked the knife from between Dad's teeth.
Secondly, I lost a 7wt steer to tetanus and saved a second tetanus victim with timely and persistent penicillin treatments. Although a few years apart, both were knife cut by my vet. Contrary to many assumptions on NAT, I learned tetanus is not restricted to banding on my farm. For me, surgical castration can trigger it too.
While I never lost a baby calf to cheerio banding, I started vaccinating all new born with C,D and T (brand name ESSENTIAL 3 + T) to prevent over eating disease. So today, any cull bulls have been exposed to tetanus antigen before castration. They get a tetanus booster at castration as well.
Thinking of switching to Cavalry 9 at birth and branding time. These prophylactic vaccinations ARE quite inexpensive.
Edited by Doug61 6/9/2026 16:45
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Darn you Tetanus
