Buyer Guide

We designed the VaxMate® rotomolded vaccine cooler with the rancher and veterinarian in mind. Our goal was a product that made livestock vaccination as easy and safe as possible. We tested it, retested it, then tested it some more. We're pleased with the results — but we wanted an expert's opinion.

Ranch Equipment  ·  3 min read  ·  1 image

Dr. Ron Gill has worked with horses and cattle for over three decades. Today he trains extension agents as associate department head for extension at Texas A&M University, manages 3,000 acres of ranch property, and actively educates producers and ranchers on chute-side manners. His original Styrofoam cooler design inspired us to create VaxMate.

We sat down with him to get tips for vaccinating and hear how VaxMate has been helpful in the process.

UV Light

"UV light is one of the worst things we can have vaccines exposed to," says Dr. Gill. UV light damages vaccines and makes them ineffective — putting livestock health at stake when they don't receive good vaccines.

"We need to do everything we can to keep that exposure to a minimum," he says. "Everywhere from mixing livestock vaccine, storing vaccine in your syringes, and on your way to and from the chute, make sure you keep it out of the sunlight if possible."

VaxMate has three holders for syringe guns that keep vaccines shielded from UV light whenever they're not in your hands.

Temperature

Dr. Gill says temperature is another thing to watch while processing cattle and livestock. The VaxMate cooler keeps vaccines between 35.6–46°F (2–8°C).

"Sometimes in our efforts to keep vaccines cold we can actually freeze vaccines. Freezing is just as detrimental — if not worse — to vaccine efficacy as storing at temperatures higher than 45 degrees," Dr. Gill explains. "When killed vaccines are frozen, the cells can be ruptured and not only make them ineffective but actually toxic to the animal."

Key takeaway: Vaccines go from a cooler stored around 40°F into an animal with a body temperature above 100°F. Short-term exposure to higher temperature won't destroy a vaccine — so temperature is less critical than UV light, but freezing can be catastrophic.

The Perfect Angle

We thought of every detail when designing VaxMate, including the angle of the syringe holders. That's something Dr. Gill noticed right away:

"It's very easy — whether you're using a tabletop or the back of a pickup truck — to pull the syringe out without having to be careful about the angle. It's also very easy to put it back in."

Safety

"The other part I like about the VaxMate is you can reach in there and get vaccines without the risk of bumping a needle," says Dr. Gill.

Proper vaccine handling is just as important as livestock safety. The syringe holders prevent accidents like jabbing your hand on a needle when reaching into the cooler. The interior also guards against this by providing storage for working bottles above the syringe tips.

Functionality

Dr. Gill says the best part about VaxMate is its overall functionality and ease of use. "Everything goes in here really easily," he says. "You can label your syringes. You can mark the openings as to what vaccine goes in where, and it's just a very simple process. Very easy to go from the box to the chute and back again in one easy motion."

Quick Specs

We're grateful for people like Dr. Ron Gill who inspire us to keep working and keep innovating for the life of the rancher and the farmer.

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