As pastures green up, cattle producers are preparing for spring processing. Vaccines play a vital role in animal health, and achieving the best results requires combining them with good management practices. One key to an effective vaccination strategy is selecting the proper needles and syringes.
“When selecting a needle, determine the appropriate route of administration, whether it is subcutaneous (SQ) or intramuscular (IM) from reading the product label,” says Nick Wagner, DVM and professional services veterinarian for Neogen. “Next, determine the weight of the animal, not only for proper dosage, but also for selection of the appropriate needle.”
The route of administration determines the length of the needle, while the size of the animal determines the gauge or diameter of the needle.
Wagner explains viscosity of the product is another factor in selection of the proper gauge. Lighter calves require a smaller diameter needle, whereas heavier stock require a larger diameter needle. It is important to note, as the number of the gauge increases, the diameter decreases.
Refer to the chart to help decide which needle gauge and length to use.
Wagner says implications to selecting the wrong needle can include:
- If the needle is of the improper length, it will not enter the correct tissue and absorption of the product can be altered, resulting in failed efficacy.
- In the case of a young animal, if the needle is too long, there is potential to strike bone or a nerve.
“When selecting a needle, you will want to select a sharp, durable and detectable needle,” he says. “It must be standard practice to avoid contaminated, burred, bent or broken needles.”
To help combat the chances of a needle breaking, use a more durable, specialized stainless-steel needle with a thick-walled cannula. Detectable needles also offer producers an option that can be easily identified and found by the metal detection systems within beef processing plants.
“The only 100% detectable needle is made of a specialized, highly ferritic, stainless-steel alloy,” he says.
Producers must also consider the syringe. For injectable products, options include single-use, disposable or multi-dose syringes that would either be a barrel refill, a bottle mount, or a line fed.
“With multi-dose syringes, implementation of an effective identification system to prevent product cross-contamination and selection of equipment with UV protective features are valuable considerations,” Wagner says.
Proper care and use
Wagner reminds producers to make sure syringes are thoroughly cleaned before use.
“To clean syringes, use hot, deionized or distilled water that is 180˚F or greater,” he says. “Do not use any soaps or disinfectants when cleaning syringes, as doing so could risk contamination and impact the internal contents and product efficacy.”
With regard to multi-dose syringes, be sure to lubricate the O-Rings in them.
“Never use any petroleum-based products, as those could cause problems with contamination,” he adds.
For storage, it is always best to store syringes in a clean, dry location.
Before using multi-dose syringes, it is key to ensure they are properly calibrated. To accomplish this, you can set the syringe for a 2 mL dose, use water and simply measure the output into another syringe, such as a disposable one. It is recommended producers consistently check the calibration throughout processing.
Wagner says one frequently asked question is, “How often should needles be changed or replaced?”
If a producers is managing any blood-borne pathogens in their herd, such as anaplasmosis or bovine leukosis, it is best practice to replace the needle after every animal. If a herd is not affected by blood-borne diseases, the producer can use needles for up to 10 to 15 injections, with some newer technology needles providing durability for up to 20 injections.
“When using a multi-dose syringe, it is best practice to change the needle when you refill the syringe to maintain sharpness and prevent any accidental contamination,” he says. “Change bent, burred or dirty needles immediately.”
He also reminds producers of the importance of recordkeeping for each individual animal.
“If you follow these best practices, along with selecting a needle of the proper gauge and length, you will ensure safe and effective injections,” he summarizes.
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