Latest News From Education

More dairy heifer raisers are taking a page from the feedlot world these days by utilizing liquid supplements as carriers for vitamins, trace minerals, and feed additives in heifer TMRs.

According to Iowa State University's David Verhoeven, vaccines using mRNA technology have been shown to reduce disease on farms, and it’s all but impossible for them to end up in your food.

The livestock production businesses of the future will need to balance much more than the bottom line.

While livestock fly control may already be in the cattle management plan—have you considered the possibility of insecticide product resistance? Is feeding garlic an option? Here are some tips to consider.

Decisions on when to administer the first round of vaccinations, castration, growth implants and parasite control will impact the profit potential of those calves in the months ahead.

Rumen pH is highly influential on how milkfat production can be maximized.

Persistent drought in major beef cattle production regions continues to have a significant impact on the cattle industry despite improvements in drought conditions in other parts of the country.

Now is the time to check for ergot, a toxic fungus which infects the surface of grasses and cereal crops and can cause severe illness in livestock such as cattle and horses.

It was one of those nighttime calls no one wants to get: a client's cow was down in a scrape alley with a huge prolapse. To my rescue came a farm employee who spoke only Spanish, a skid steer and a hip lift.

There’s a new equipment option for raising preweaned dairy calves, and it’s a far cry from the pocket-knife-slice approach of the past.

With the current economic situation, both in agriculture and even personally, it is easy to feel stress and overwhelmed. Here are some suggestions on how to manage stress and work through a difficult time.

As I approached the site of my first animal activist rally, I kept my distance. I watched two people beside a small megaphone and a bag, checking their phones constantly. I leaned in anticipating what would happen next.

Raising heifers is expensive, to be sure. But in the long run, raising them right is far more important than raising them cheap.

Resist the temptation to turn cattle out before grass is ready and use caution if there is no other option. Management practices now can have lasting impacts.

Bull breeding soundness exams offer the opportunity to identify and remove bulls from the breeding herd that have a low probability of siring calves.

Minimizing handling stress provides several benefits for ranchers, including improvements in animal immune response, appetite and performance.

While drought does not lead to ideal parasite growing conditions, it does not necessarily mean the threat of parasites no longer exists. Here are some management considerations heading into the 2023 grazing season.

The push for renewable energy, with a new wave of focus on biodiesel, has a full head of steam and will likely result in changes in how we feed cattle.

With temperatures rising from coast to coast, now is the time to wash and put away all of the calf jackets used over winter.

With persistent drought conditions across many states, indications show the current cattle cycle may not be nearing an end anytime soon. Here’s a look a historical trends and what we might expect in the coming months.

“Pushing feed is perhaps the simplest and least expensive management strategy dairy operators can implement.”

What dietary supplements are best for preweaned calf rations? Out of the literally hundreds from which to choose, do any of them really work?

As misinformation regarding the use of mRNA vaccines in livestock filter through social media, there are facts begging to be set straight.

Implanting preweaning is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase production for the cow-calf producer, and research shows implanted steer calves outgain bull calves.

Spring calving brings the promise of working calves and branding season. Each operation is set up differently with varying resources to work calves. How do you minimize cattle stress during this event?

While dairy cattle can’t verbally tell us when they’re not feeling their best, they can give us physical cues.

While over-the-counter livestock antibiotics are set to require a prescription as of June 11, there will also be updates to FDA guidelines and product labels regarding reimplantation of growth-promoting implants.

The mineral is important for all energy needs, metabolism, bone growth and fertility. In some areas, pasture can provide sufficient amounts and reduce the need for supplementation, according to recent research.

Though not ideal, a spring-born calf can leave its dam as early as 45-days of age. OSU research shows such calves can be successful on a good growing ration. The cow then has time to regain condition before being rebred.

BRD reigns as the costliest disease in the U.S. cattle industry. Consider the recommendations from Veterinarians, Drs. Grant Dewell and Mike Apley, respectively, and Extension nutritionist Paul Beck on how to address it.

Precision dairy technology isn’t just for cows. Autofeeders, activity monitors, and other emerging tools are making it possible to raise calves with the type of individual attention received by the calves of yesterday.

There are few options once muddy conditions are in place, so preventive practices are key. Here's some tips for protecting livestock health and managing muddy conditions.

Young calves continue to dot fields across the country. To help offer young calves a healthy start, Tony Hawkins, DVM, and Ray Shultz, DVM, shared some tips.

Surplus dairy calves – those not intended for breeding – are their own, unique subset of the dairy industry.

As spring nears and grass begins to turn green, producers are anxious to get cows out to grass. However, cool season predominate areas tend to have lush spring growth which can lead to grass tetany in cows.

Callahan Grund, a cow-calf producer in Kansas and executive director of CattleTrace discusses traceability and biosecurity, why they matter and some potential solutions being explored.

University of Missouri researchers are tracking the invasive longhorned tick, which causes weight loss, lost pregnancies and even death in cattle.

As a veterinarian, Jeremy Pittman, senior director of U.S. veterinary services for Smithfield Foods, says he is constantly tasked with, asked about and challenged on biosecurity processes or protocols. 

Managing cows in a drylot can be a way to maintain the herd when forage production is reduced. However, it's important to make sure cows are getting the vitamins and minerals they need.

Ask 10 dairy producers what they believe is an effective vaccination program for calves, and you’ll likely get 10 unique answers. That’s OK, because there is no effective one-size-fits-all strategy.

With drought and production costs pushing the native beef population to a record low, beef-on-dairy has a huge opportunity to keep the feedlots and processors at full capacity.

So-called “sacrifice pastures” might be needed to help promote forage production the rest of this cattle grazing season.

Cattle sometimes eat objects that they shouldn’t. On a recent Cattle Chat podcast, veterinarians discussed the signs of hardware disease and offered suggestions on ways to manage the incidence.

Sound care and handling practices, based on years of experience and research are known to impact the well-being of cattle, individual animal health and herd productivity.

The University of Idaho is building a massive dairy research center focused on the industry’s sustainability.

Dairy farms can often be a slippery place for both farmers and cows to work.

Electrolytes can serve as a needed boost for a scouring calf. Here's a look at what’s in electrolyte products, how much electrolytes should be given and a few ways and tips on how to give electrolytes to a calf.

Dairies have made great strides in managing colostrum, but about 14% of calves fail to get passive transfer of antibodies. There is still opportunity to improve upon this, encourages Sandra Godden, DVM.

As growing conditions improve on wheat pastures that have been grazed short all winter long, the threat of bloat rises. Here's how to combat the onset of bloat in grazing calves.

As we transition the cows into a new facility, take time to watch the cows' usage of the facility. Cow behavior in the facility will indicate what may need to be adjusted.