J. Bret Taylor Range Sheep Production Efficiency Research Unit

US Sheep Experiment Station USDA, Agricultural Research Service

(208) 374-5301 bret.taylor@ars.usda.gov

“No needles, please.” Cost and Effectiveness of Needle-

free Vaccination

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Antib

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Needleless Needle

Needle-free vs. Needle-Syringe vaccination

Michelle Mousel, ADRU-Pullman (Mousel et al., 2008. J ANIM SCI 86:1468-1471)

Primary

Secondary

Needle-syringe technology: Cons

Use problems – Hand fatigue – Unwanted punctures and scratches

Malfunctions – Broken needles – Some failed minor components (e.g., seals, rings)

Disease – Multi-use needles: horizontal transmission risk

Cost – Single-use needles: expensive ($ .12 to .21/hd)

Needle-syringe technology: Pros

Efficacy – Outstanding; needle vaccination is the “gold” standard

Replacement cost – Repeater syringes and preventative maintenance kits are

reasonable ($22 to 70) Disease

– Single-use needles: zero horizontal transmission Needle cost

– Reasonable for multi-use needle strategies

Needle-free technology: Cons

Use problems – Heavy if mobile (>15#)

Malfunctions – Some system freezing

Caused by cold weather and (or) system gas pressure release

– Some failed minor components (e.g., seals, rings) – Maintenance parts not at the “local” supply store

Cost – Initial investment is seemingly expensive ($3,000)

Needle-free technology: Pros

Ease and Safety of use – So easy that 8 out of 10 sheep can operate it – No “friendly fire”; if it happens, someone doesn’t like you

Malfunctions – Infrequent and easily remedied with preventative

maintenance Disease

– Zero horizontal transmission Cost

– Over the long run, cheaper than single-needle strategies – Preventative maintenance, $20 - 50/year based on 3,000

uses

Needle-free vaccination: Pulse NeedleFree Systems, Lenexa, KS (Pulse 250)

Needle-free vaccination: Fixing the “freeze problem”

Our goal: Employee safety, method efficacy, animal welfare, and cost savings

Purchased needle-free in 2005 – NeedleFree Systems, Pulse 250, Lenexa, KS

Give ~7,000 injections annually – ~2,000 hd flock – Maintained original unit

Needle-free vaccination: Our vaccination stats

9-year summary A B C

System Multi-use stainless

needles Single-use

disposable needles Needle-free pneumatic

Unit Repeater-type

Syringe Repeater-type

Syringe NeedleFree Systems,

Pulse 250

Initial cost $60 $60 $2,900

9-year maintenance cost

$360 $360 $540

9-year needle cost $1,620 $6,480 $0

9-year CO2 cost $0 $0 $360

Total 9-year cost $2,040 $6,900 $3,800

Annual system cost $227 $767 $422

Annual system cost with labor-savings

$291 $927 $422