Latest News From Education

There is considerable variation in the mineral composition of small grain forages, depending on management, growth conditions, and soil mineral content.

The combination of overcrowding and feed restriction can have profound negative consequences on rumen pH.

While competition is great on the football field or basketball court, dairy cows forced to compete for feed and water is a no-win proposition.

When we break sustainability down to the operational goal of optimizing resources, we realize increased productivity per cow and optimum stocking rate per acre are the actual problems we need to address. 

The tick transmits Theileria orientalis to many animal species, including cattle, pigs, horses, sheep and goats. Death occurs in up to 5% of affected animals, according to Washington State University scientists.

More and more farms have made the switch from feeding calves individually to group autofed systems. However, disease detection in group-housed calves remains a challenge. Could autofeeders help detect sick calves?

Dairy farmers and calf raisers have tried to adapt calves to solid calf starter as soon as possible to save money. If this is done poorly, calf raising costs can soar due to increased levels of sickness and even death.

Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), also known as pinkeye, is a complicated and costly disease for beef and dairy producers

Feed requirements of cows during winter weather varies, depending on body condition, temperature, moisture, and hair coat. The Mesonet Cattle Comfort Advisor helps calculate how much feed is necessary.

Similar to human fingerprints, cow noses are detailed, nearly unique, difficult to change, and remain the same over the life of an individual, making them ideal long-term markers of identity.

Calving during daylight means calves are born during times of warmer temperatures, cows calving are easier to find and provide assistance if needed and accordingly, more calves saved and alive

A wide-ranging Veterinary Wellbeing Study is the third such survey Merck Animal Health has conducted since 2017. Veterinarians say they are dealing with increased stress levels and more concerns about student debt.

Anti-caking agents make the pellet manufacturing process easier, and can help prevent ground feeds from doming, bridging, and sticking to equipment.

The Sixth International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare will take place virtually as a series of monthly webinars held on the fourth Wednesday from February to June from 2-4 p.m. Eastern.

Of the seven different "primary causes" of enteritis, some can have a good prognosis while others will be guarded or poor, depending on the prescribed treatment and how quickly treatment is implemented.

Many producers assume providing minimal protein supplementation to target approximately 1.0 pound/day gain during the winter is the most economical system. However, research data would suggest otherwise.

Colostrum plays a large role in the health of a newborn calf. Preparing for calving season starts well before the first calf hits the ground.

Hernias in young calves can often be addressed surgically in the field. But before taking that step, evaluate whether the case you face is one you can correct with lasting success.

As one of the top scourges to calf raisers, cryptosporidium is an ever-present challenge that rarely takes a holiday.

Have you ever had a cow come down with a disease while she was pregnant? Probably so. But does that illness impact the calf? Maybe not.

Factors for consideration include colostrum management, group composition and dynamics, bedding and space, nutritional management, early disease detection and the need for "real life" observations.

Cattle producers may have a few options available to offset the rising costs of adding phosphorus to their herd’s diet, a Kansas State University beef systems specialist said.

Incidence rates for displaced abomasum (DA) range from 1% to 6%, and up to 90% of DA's happen within the first 30 days in milk.

Evaluate and monitor pregnant cows and heifers that are under any stress. That could be stress associated with transport movement or disease, if that animal is suffering from a system illness or some viral infection.

Seasonal changes in day length can have a huge impact in milk production, ranging from 5 lb/cow/day in the northern United States to 8 to 9 lb/day in the south.

As feed prices currently challenge U.S. livestock producers, Feedipedia can be a resource for incorporating non-traditional feedstuffs into innovative rations.

Alfalfa is the third-highest crop for economic returns in the U.S. and is a feed source for that can reduce the need for costly nutritional supplements when cattle are primarily feed other types of diets.

The intricacies of transition-cow nutrition and its role in lactation success may be made a bit easier with the Liver Functionality Index.

Michal Lunak, Extension Educator for Penn State, addresses the seven most common -- and costly -- management diseases that occur during the cow’s transition period on U.S. dairies

The natural inclination to manage calf diseases solely with a needle and a bottle is trumped by a host of other care methods that can guide calves on the road to recovery.

The calendar will soon turn to a New Year, and spring calving season will be approaching. The more we know about the physiology of the process, the more likely we are to make sound decisions about providing assistance.

Corporate commitments are a response to consumers and investors.

It appears that making sure dry cows are comfortable and encouraged to rest influences the survival of their newborns.

Here’s a breakdown of just how much these seven transition period diseases could be costing you.

Keep your sight on nutrition that optimizes fetal development in the final trimester.

Understanding and valuing genetic data can present a daunting task to seedstock and commercial producers. Panelists were asked to describe how they use genetic data to navigate breeding decisions and market cattle.

The highest quality vaccine that producers purchase may be of little value if not handled and stored properly.  Don't overlook key principles when preparing and administering vaccines and other animal health products.

To keep an efficient and profitable reproductive program humming, proactive reproductive management practices need to be practiced daily.

The 32-page document can help veterinarians counsel beef and dairy clients on vaccination strategies. Included are vaccine label information, categories, core vaccines, storage and handling recommendations and more.

When students walk into Anna Dilger’s classroom, they can expect play dough, cartoons and dancing. But her students aren’t kindergartners; they’re college students. And they’re learning from one of the best.

About 1% of pregnancies annually is the standard of acceptable herd-wide loss, according to Cameron Knight, veterinary pathologist at the University of Calgary.

There’s not a clear answer to why heifers contract the disease, though studies have shown that teat canals of heifer calves can become colonized at very young ages.

The basic principle of limit feeding is to feed corn (or other concentrated energy source) and a supplement in just enough quantity to meet the animal’s requirement for maintenance or a targeted level of weight gain.

Feed efficiency is a key profit driver. Genetics and genetic tools exist to build cattle that are highly efficient and meet or exceed the carcass quality targets that earn packer premiums and satisfy consumers.

Early mastitis detection is often the key to reducing the impact of the disease in a dairy herd. There are a number of technologies to help address the issue.

The rumen may be taking center stage in digesting another global challenge: plastics

Reproductive efficiency is highly correlated to nutrition. The target Body Condition Score going into calving season is 5.5 for the mature cow and 6 for first calf heifers.

With the average frost date upon us, prussic acid will be (or already is) an issue in certain forages. Prussic acid is found when susceptible plants are under drought conditions or after a light frost.

Many cattle owners wonder how to determine if and when an animal needs veterinary attention. These are some guidelines you might want to consider passing along to your clients for consideration.

Wintry weather demands extra attention for preweaned calves, and that includes the temperature of their liquid feedings.