Education
Maternal colostrum is often considered nature’s “perfect food.” But does this “free” resource help calves achieve passive immunity as reliably as the guaranteed ingredients in a bag of colostrum replacer?
While most beef production operations are still pasture-based, confinement facilities are gaining traction in the U.S. With them come a host of routine health concerns for veterinarians and producers.
Progesterone is a key hormone in the establishment and maintenance of a pregnancy. Increasing its concentration can boost pregnancy rates and decrease pregnancy losses after embryo transfer.
Addressing the water needs of cattle is a complex process depending on water quality, weather patterns, time of day, feed moisture content, and animal factors such as bodyweight and stage of production.
Bulls don’t always transition well from one farm to the next. Some extra TLC could mean the difference in whether that animal stays in good condition and maintains good sperm quality and quantity or struggles to adjust.
A commonly used and predictable method of addressing anaplasmosis is by incorporating a feed-grade chlortetracycline in the animal’s feed or mineral supplements. When prescribing one, consider the product formulation.
An emergency preparedness plan can assist a cattlemen’s ability to respond to varying threats. Developing a disaster plan is a good idea for both people and all the animals they care for on a farm or ranch.
Pardon the pun, but dealing with scours can be a real pain in the butt. It’s frustrating, it’s costly, and it can be downright messy at times.
Keep an eye on water intake and feedstuffs. Avoid vaccinations when heat levels are high. Address the environment for management steps you can take to improve cow comfort.
With spring upon us and drought persists, liquidation puts the industry on track to reduce the nation’s cowherd back near 2014 levels, which was the smallest beef cowherd since 1952.
Young animals often benefit from stemmy, lower quality forages. WIth regard to nutrition, this may seem counterintuitive but research indicates that’s the case.
A high incidence of sole ulcers in a dairy herd is probably not the fault of the ration.
Data from NARMS are used by FDA in the regulatory review of new animal antimicrobial drugs, and to develop policies on judicious antimicrobial use in animals.
Most research recommends 5-7% sugar as an upper limit. However, cows can certainly handle lots of sugar in the diet.
Feeding cattle industrial hemp may reduce stress levels and increase the time cattle lie down, Kansas State University researchers found in a recent study.
It’s important to stay abreast of new research that can influence dairy management practices. That’s what happened recently at Rosy-Lane Holsteins, Watertown, Wis.
Cattlemen are constantly searching for more information on shrinkage of cattle through the marketing channels. Generally, the amount of shrink varies with the type of feed cattle are on before penning and transport.
For an estrus synchronization program to be effectively implemented it needs to be well planned. Several best management practices should be kept in mind if you are considering heat synchronization.
Respiratory disease in pre-weaned beef calves on pasture can be a concern in the summer. Most veterinarians report treating calves with summer pneumonia is frequently successful.
It’s never too early, and certainly not too late, to develop a plan to address bovine pinkeye. But where do you start?
Cattle grazing pastures with high soil-test phosphorus may be getting enough of the nutrient from the grass to eliminate the need for a phosphorus feed additive.
Feed is a major cost input for all segments of beef production. Feed efficiency is always a primary determinant of profitability, but when feed costs are high, it becomes even more important.
In the quest to find alternatives to antibiotics to fight disease in dairy calves, essential oils are the subject of a growing body of calf health research.
The bulk of cases this year are from migratory birds, according to USDA, as opposed from farm-to-farm--which was the case in 2015. That year’s avian flu outbreak was the largest animal disease outbreak in U.S. history.
This first-of-its-kind decision by FDA opens the door for progress on other genome editing efforts.
Profitability is negatively affected when stocking densities exceed 120%, according to new research out of the University of Florida.
A number of causes and contributing factors can result in hair loss and itching, and last year’s drought has played a role as harvested forages may be low in vitamin A.
Six best practices for safely pulling a calf, provided by Valley Vet Supply Technical Service Veterinarian.
Castration is a key component to any preconditioning program that can greatly influence market price premiums or discounts, especially in older bull calves.
Three categories of pregnancy losses in beef cattle include early embryonic death, abortion and stillbirth. Many potential causes for stillbirths and abortions make it important to investigate each calf loss.