Latest News From Cattle

Early weaning is one of the management decisions that can help reduce pressure on native pastures and extend forage supplies for adult beef cows. Beef calves can be early weaned successfully from 60 to 150 days of age.

Internal parasites cause a variety of clinical signs, including weight loss, diarrhea and death. Other, less obvious parasitic signs, (often referred to as subclinical signs), significantly impact producers.

NCBA spearheaded introduction of the larger HAULS Act in both the Senate and House, and worked to get the backend 150 air-mile exemption included in the Surface Transportation Investment Act.

North Dakota ranchers are experiencing an historical widespread drought and the window for forage production is closing for 2021. Many producers may not have adequate production to justify haying.

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can produce toxins that are harmful to livestock, wildlife and people. The growth of this bacteria is aided by high temperatures.

Foot rot can occur in cattle of all ages, and cases are often seen in wet and humid conditions, but can also occur when it is hot and dry when cattle congregate together.

No rancher wants to sell cow-calf pairs in May, but that’s exactly what’s happening at Stockmen's Livestock Exchange in Dickinson, North Dakota. Extreme drought conditions brought 700 pairs to the sale last week.

When considering how to plan for a fly and tick control program for your cattle operation it is important to know the difference in application methods and their specific longevity in relation to adequate control.

Merck announces 54 veterinary students from around the world received scholarships through the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. Students pursuing careers will each receive $5,000 scholarships.

When commodity feed prices become high, cattle producers should consider options for getting more out of their livestock feeds. Using other methods to get more nutrients out of the feed is now cost effective.

A critical component of cow herd health is a breeding herd vaccination strategy. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all vaccination plan.

Summer pneumonia is respiratory disease/pneumonia that occurs in beef calves nursing their dams. The age range of calves affected can be as early as 3 to 4 weeks and from 3 to 5 months of age.

A sacrifice area is an area where animals stay at times when pasture grazing is detrimental to land and plants. This area can be in a dry lot pen or a fenced-off area of the pasture.

Production Animal Consultation and Midwest PMS will host a series of workshop training events in Kansas and Nebraska during the month of June for feedyard managers and employees.

Managing infectious diseases in cattle involves all aspects of the cow-calf system. A systems approach includes matching genetic selection to resources, nutrition, reducing stress and the use of vaccine protocols.

Parasite control remains economically important, but strategies are evolving.

As with loading out, trailer loading is another production event that can be high stress on both the animals and people, but it needn’t be that way.

Heifers conceiving early in their first breeding season will have increased lifetime production and efficiency. It is critical heifers attain enough weight to initiate their first estrous before the onset of breeding.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has effectively hung a “welcome” sign out encouraging radical activist groups to make mischief in his state and torment ranchers. The first salvo is called the PAUSE Act.

A comprehensive assessment of 12 strategies for reducing beef production emissions found that industry can reduce GHG emissions by as much as 50% in certain regions, with most potential in the United States and Brazil.

With breeding season approaching, cattle producers must develop or modify management plans in anticipation of a drought to keep the most productive and valuable cows in the herd.

Kansas rancher Matt Perrier talks about his focus on maternal traits that fits marbling into the equation.

This week we discuss the EPDs to consider when selecting bulls that will be used as rotational sires. A rotational sire is a bull from which daughters will be retained to develop as replacements in our cowherd.

The U.S. calf-raising sector now has a program to help ensure optimal calf health and welfare via the Calf Care & Quality Assurance (CCQA) program, the first, collaborative educational tool that provides guidelines.

EPDs are the result of genetic prediction, based on performance data collected by cattle breeders over many generations of beef production.

Breeding season is just around the corner and it’s time to consider your investment in genetics to maximize the profit potential of the calves that will be born next year.

The product offers proven performance against Mannheimia haemolytica, while adding protection against common viral causes of BRD, including BVD Types 1 and 2 and IBR.

Nearly 900 cows are set to be euthanized by Spanish authorities fearing bluetongue after the cattle drifted for more than two months on the Mediterranean Sea while the owners searched for a buyer.

Elanco Animal Health announces Increxxaä (tulathromycin injection) for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD).

Cows are beginning to calve and some newborns are certain to be cold stressed. Getting those calves back to normal body temperatures as soon as possible will save some calves and increase the vigor of others.

Antibiotic metaphylaxis is an effective preventative to BRD and leads to improvements in feedyard performance. Can high-risk calves to respond to respiratory vaccines when administered at arrival?

Despite our best efforts at bull selection and heifer development, cows or heifers occasionally need assistance at calving time. Here are recommendations on when to provide calving assistance for cows and heifers.

Dr. Baysinger was recognized for her significant contribution and achievements to the animal health industry, including mentoring and developing future women leaders.

Merck Animal Health has announced that Bovilis Nasalgen 3-PMH, the first intranasal vaccine, is now available to protect cattle from five of the most common pneumonia-causing viral and bacterial pathogens.

In the midst of one of the mildest winters in North Dakota history, many ranchers are faced with lice infestations in herds even though they have treated their cattle.

David Schuler’s Christmastime tradition turned into a tribute to those working on as first responders through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The past decade has been weird and wacky to say the least. It makes you wonder what’s in store for the next 10 years. Here are some possible hints.

The most likely candidates for “inadequate” passive immunity are calves born to first calf two-year-old heifers. Calves with inadequate passive immunity remain at higher risk to illness prior to weaning.

U.S. CattleTrace, a not-for-profit that securely maintains and manages data collected as part of disease traceability, announced the release of its model for membership.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the Meat Institute’s challenge to California’s 2018 ballot initiative that imposes new standards for animal housing.

As much as 2020 has shown us being flexible is just as valuable as having plans, I still believe there is merit to taking a moment to reflect on some of the trends we’ve seen and how they may impact us moving forward.

A two-year large-scale trial in Alberta, Canada has successfully demonstrated that a novel feed ingredient, developed by Royal DSM, can be included in commercial feedlot diets to reduce methane emissions by up to 80%.

Minerals are essential for health and reproductive success, but also support fetal development. We easily overlook minerals and vitamins in gestating cow diets, so now is the time to plan for a strong calving season.

Resistance to disease is greatly dependent on antibodies or immunoglobulins. Passive immunity gives temporary protection by transfer of certain immune substances from resistant individuals.

Disruptions to the beef industry from the COVID-19 pandemic will likely linger into 2021, but the result may not be all bad for producers, Don Close, animal protein analyst at Rabo AgriFinance told AgriTalk.

The Beef Alliance Startup Challenge is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to align the customers of technology (cattle feeders) with the creators of technology (startups) to put high impact solutions to work.

Ranchers need to keep in mind that the wrong quantities of minerals can be dangerous or even deadly to cattle, say experts from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

A new nonprofit civil rights group has filed a lawsuit seeking to add nine documents to the record in R-CALF's suit against USDA over the government's attempts to implement mandatory RFID eartags for cattle and bison.

Webinars each evening will feature topics ranging from Greenhouse Gasses and sustainability in beef production, advice for surviving tough times and antibiotic resistance to a 2021 market outlook.

New research published by the National Academy of Sciences ties livestock meat packing plants to 6% to 8% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, and 3% to 4% of the deaths through late July.