Yes, dairy cows in Australia are vaccinated to protect against common diseases and to keep herds healthy.

Dairy cows in Australia do get vaccinated — it’s a key part of keeping them healthy and preventing disease. 

Most cattle are vaccinated with a 7 in 1 vaccine as calves and then annually after that to protect against clostridial diseases (e.g. tetanus) and leptospirosis. These deadly bacterial diseases may be in the environment or spread by wild animals, so annual vaccination keeps cattle, and the people who work with them, healthy.  

For other diseases that pop up less often, farmers decide based on the risk to their farm. These include vaccination against diseases such as salmonella (causes gastric distress, wasting, death of young and unborn calves and can infect humans), botulism (causes death to animals exposed) and respiratory diseases (causes influenza-like symptoms and death).  

Some vaccines are given before calving so the cow’s first milk (colostrum) can help protect her calf. The vaccines used here are made from treated viruses or bacteria that make them inert, so they don’t make the cows sick. It’s all about keeping the herd strong and safe!