Injection Techniques in Livestock

Injection Techniques in Livestock

Cattle injections
Site / Technique / Size of needle
Subcutaneous injections: behind and below the ear.
/ Head well restrained eg in calf cradle. Keep other hand well clear. / ½ - ¾ inch needle.
Intramuscular injections - Neck:

Rump:
/ The needle should be inserted in a swift motion at right angles to the surface of the skin. The syringe is then attached, hold needle to syringe with other handand pull the plungerback to check the needle is not in a blood vessel. Inject steadily. No more than 10 ml in any one site. / 1-1.5 inch needle

• Physical restraint is essential for safe and effective injections. The restraint applied should be age/size appropriate.
• Bent, dirty, contaminated, blunt or broken needles should not be used.
• Inject into a clean area, skin may be cleaned with methylated spirits before injection.
• If a needle breaks off and can’t be retrieved, mark the spot by clipping the hair and record the animals tag.
• Do not inject under wet or dusty conditions.
• Change needles frequently.
• Boil all vaccination equipment and needles for 10 minutes before using. Assemble carefully to avoid contamination.

Pig injections
Site / Technique / Size of needle
Subcutaneous injections: in smaller pigs, s/c injections can be injected into the loose skin under the thighs or behind the elbow. In larger pigs, inject behind the ear. / Restrain the pig well and insert the needle at a 30-45oangle to the skin. Keep other hand well clear of injection site. / ½ inch needle in small pigs
½ to 3/4 inch needle in larger pigs.
Intramuscular injections: are given on the neck, right behind the ear and in front of the shoulder. Piglets, back of thigh. / The needle should be inserted with a swift motion at right angles to the surface of the skin. The syringe is then attached and the plunger pulled back to check the needle is not in a blood vessel. Inject steadily. No more than 10 ml in any one site. In smaller pigs, no more than 2 ml should be injected in one spot. / 1-1.5 inch needle

• Physical restraint is essential for safe and effective injections. The restraint applied should be age/size appropriate. Smaller pigs can be restrained by manually picking up and restraining eg between your thighs. Larger pigs should be restrained by using stalls or swinging a gate so the pig can be restrained against a solid fence.