Beef Cattle
After Tyson Foods reports anemic first quarter sales and downgrades its forecast, The Wall Street Journal editors wrote, “This doesn’t look like an antitrust conspiracy or market oligopoly.”
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.
This is an area where cattle can stay when grazing is detrimental to land and plants. It can be used during times that animals do not need to graze or dormant seasons, drought times or periods of excess moisture.
Minimizing handling stress provides several benefits for ranchers, including improvements in animal immune response, appetite and performance.
Bull breeding soundness exams offer the opportunity to identify and remove bulls from the breeding herd that have a low probability of siring calves.
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.
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.
We can’t control everything on a cattle operation. But we can make a battle plan to protect calves from bovine respiratory disease long before we ever reach for antibiotics.
Misinformation and conspiracy theories regarding the use of mRNA vaccines in livestock continue, despite efforts of the scientific community, who emphasize, “mRNA from a vaccine will NOT be passed along in meat.”
Services provided by animal health diagnostic center veterinarians and staff help practitioners in the field improve the quality of care and treatment they provide to all farm animals, whether livestock or pets.
A 2023 economic impact study, which updated a study from 2017, found that livestock auction markets continue to be important for the growth and vitality of rural communities.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For your showing clients, now is a good time to discuss a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Many livestock shows will require a CVI -- even if the animal doesn’t have to cross state lines to get to the show.
Although mastitis, an infection of the udder, is often considered a dairy cow problem, the disease may also impact beef producers. Here’s what you need to know and look for and how to help protect your herd.
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.
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.
Veterinarians with experience dealing with this bovine medical emergency offer insights and recommendations to help other practitioners, especially recent graduates.
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 management, health protocols and facilities maintenance can help achieve the ultimate goal of keeping cattle healthy and productive.
Equine leaders will discuss the importance and sustainability of the working ranch horse at NIAA’s Annual Conference in April.
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.
Oklahoma State University meat scientist Gretchen Mafi has studied the scientific differences between beef that comes from animals finished on a grain diet versus those animals finished on grass.
While some parts of the U.S. remain in drought conditions and the soil moisture profile is in a deficit due to months of below normal precipitation, grass growth will likely be impacted this spring.