Cattle health3 min read
Cattle vaccination schedule in Bangladesh: FMD, HS, BQ, anthrax and lumpy skin
Which vaccines a cow and calf need, at what age, how often, and the simple rules that make a vaccine actually work. With a printable year plan.
One outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease can stop a dairy farm's milk for weeks and kill young calves. A vaccine costs a few taka; treatment and lost milk cost thousands. This guide gives you a clear, year-round plan.
Vaccine brands, doses and the exact schedule can differ by area. Always confirm with your Upazila Livestock Office or a registered vet, who can also tell you about government vaccination campaigns.
The main vaccines for cattle
| Disease | Local name | First dose | Repeat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) | ক্ষুরা রোগ | Calf at 4 months, booster 3–4 weeks later | Every 6 months |
| Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) | গলাফোলা | Calf at 6 months | Every year, before the rains |
| Black quarter (BQ) | বাদলা | Calf at 6 months | Every year, up to about 3 years of age |
| Anthrax | তড়কা | From 6 months | Every year (most important where anthrax has been seen) |
| Lumpy skin disease (LSD) | লাম্পি স্কিন | As your vet advises | Every year, before the mosquito season |
Deworming goes with vaccination
Worms weaken the immune system, so a wormy animal responds poorly to a vaccine.
- Calves: first deworming within the first month of life, then as your vet advises.
- Adult cattle: every 3–4 months, and always about 7–10 days before a vaccine.
- Rotate the medicine group once a year so the worms don't become resistant.
7 rules that make a vaccine work
- Vaccinate only healthy animals. Skip any animal with fever, diarrhoea or poor appetite and do it after it recovers.
- Keep the cold chain. Vaccines must stay at 2–8 °C. Carry them in an ice box, never in a pocket or in the sun.
- Use the whole vial the same day. Opened vials lose their power.
- One clean needle per animal where possible, so you don't spread disease from cow to cow.
- Booster doses matter. A first FMD dose without the booster leaves the calf poorly protected.
- Vaccinate the whole herd together. One unvaccinated animal can bring the disease in for all.
- Ask your vet about pregnant cows, especially in the last months of pregnancy.
After vaccination
A small swelling at the injection site and a slightly lower appetite for a day are normal. Give clean water and shade. If an animal has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or collapses, call a vet immediately.
A simple year plan
| Month | Work |
|---|---|
| January | Deworming for the herd |
| February–March | FMD (round 1), anthrax |
| April | Deworming; HS and BQ before the rains |
| May | LSD before the mosquito season |
| July | Deworming |
| August–September | FMD (round 2) |
| October | Deworming |
Adjust the months to your area's disease season and to government campaigns.
Keep the record, or you will forget
Write down the date, vaccine, batch number and the next due date for every animal. In FarmFlows, open Health → Add record, choose the vaccine and set the next due date. The app then shows the cows that are due on the dashboard, so no animal misses a booster.
Quick checklist
- Deworm 7–10 days before vaccinating
- FMD every 6 months, with a booster for calves
- HS, BQ and anthrax once a year, before the rains
- LSD every year before the mosquito season
- Keep vaccines at 2–8 °C, healthy animals only
- Record every dose and its next due date