Why We Use the 7-in-1 Vaccine: Prioritising Cattle Health and Consumer Confidence

adele871
1 day ago
3 min read

At Belli Beef, animal welfare and food safety go hand in hand. One of the key tools we use to ensure both is the 7-in-1 vaccine, a widely used preventive treatment that plays a critical role in protecting our herd. Whether you're a fellow producer, a local customer or someone simply interested in where your food comes from, we believe in sharing how and why we care for our cattle and how this ultimately benefits you too.

What is the 7-in-1 Vaccine?

The 7-in-1 vaccine protects cattle from seven serious bacterial diseases, including:

Five clostridial diseases: Tetanus, Blackleg, Pulpy Kidney, Malignant Oedema and Black Disease
Two types of leptospirosis: Leptospira Hardjo and Leptospira Pomona

These diseases can strike quickly, often without obvious warning signs and can cause rapid death or significant suffering. The 7-in-1 vaccine gives us a powerful way to prevent this, keeping our cattle healthy, productive and comfortable.

How Do Cattle Get These Diseases?

Each of the diseases covered by the vaccine enters or activates in different ways - some from the environment, others through contact with infected animals. Here’s how:

Clostridial Diseases (e.g. Tetanus, Blackleg, Pulpy Kidney)

Caused by Clostridium bacteria found in soil, manure and even inside healthy animals.
The bacteria produce spores that lie dormant in the environment or in the animal's body until triggered by stress, injury or dietary changes.
Examples:
- Blackleg: Triggered by bruising or muscle damage - even simple knocks in the yard.
- Tetanus: Enters through wounds, including routine procedures like dehorning or castration.
- Pulpy Kidney: Bacteria in the gut multiply rapidly when calves experience sudden diet shifts, such as moving onto lush green pasture.

These diseases are not contagious between cattle - they come from within the animal or the environment, not from direct contact.

Leptospirosis (Lepto Hardjo & Lepto Pomona)

Caused by bacteria spread through urine-contaminated water or bedding. (luckily we don't have to make beds for 160 cows)
Enters the body through mucous membranes or open skin.
Particularly active in wet, muddy or shared water sources.
Leptospirosis is contagious, meaning it can spread between animals and even to humans.

Why It's Essential for Herd Wellbeing

Vaccination with 7-in-1 is one of the most effective ways to protect against these unpredictable threats. We can’t always control the weather, terrain or animal behaviour but we can give our cattle the protection they need to stay resilient.

At Belli Beef, regular vaccination helps:

Prevent sudden, unexplained deaths in the herd
Maintain animal comfort and reduce suffering
Minimise the spread of leptospirosis
Support overall herd performance through stress, seasonal change and management events

Our cattle thrive when they’re healthy and a healthy herd means less need for reactive treatment, less stress during handling and fewer welfare concerns.

The Risks of Not Vaccinating

Failing to vaccinate exposes the herd to serious risks, including:

Rapid fatalities from clostridial diseases with little to no warning
Increased abortion or infertility rates due to lepto
Higher risk of disease transmission to other livestock and people

These aren’t just health concerns - they represent emotional and financial losses that can be avoided with a simple preventative measure.

What About Human Consumption?

It’s a common and reasonable question: “Does vaccination affect the meat?”

The answer is: No. When used according to guidelines, the 7-in-1 vaccine poses zero risk to consumers.

We administer the vaccine well before cattle reach processing age.
Any components from the vaccine are metabolised and eliminated long before slaughter.
At Belli Beef, animals are processed from two years of age onward - well outside any potential withholding period.
The half-life of the vaccine’s active ingredients is short, meaning they don’t linger in the animal’s body.

This ensures that our beef remains natural, safe and free of residues, aligning with both our ethical standards and customer expectations.

Our Commitment

At Belli Beef, we vaccinate because we believe it’s the responsible thing to do - not just for productivity but for the welfare of our animals and peace of mind for our customers.

The 7-in-1 vaccine is a tool that fits into a broader care plan: good nutrition, low-stress handling, rotational grazing and plenty of fresh air. When we do our part to prevent disease, our cattle reward us with vitality, calm behaviour and quality meat you can trust.

Animal health isn’t just good farming - it’s good ethics. And when we look after our cattle, they look after us.