The old method of putting cows into a dry pen and forgetting them is being debunked by research. Getting cows started off right in the dry period, keeping them healthy and ending it fully rested means more calves, more milk and happier dairy persons. Research from Ohio State University shows improving the factors that encourage close-up cows and heifers to lie down and rest … [Read more...]
Pen-side BRD test may save industry millions, reduce antibiotic use
Researchers at Purdue University have developed an on-site bovine respiratory disease test that give results within an hour. BRD causes half the cattle deaths in North American and costs the beef industry $900 million a year. Current testing takes several days, so farmers must treat before knowing what pathogen caused the disease which can lead to ineffective or overuse of … [Read more...]
Survey: Attitudes regarding using analgesia in U.S. beef and dairy cattle
Many surveyed respondents indicated they were cognizant of the benefits of analgesia use in cattle, but perceived federal regulations and drug costs as impediments to the implementation of pain mitigation protocols on cattle operations. Source: JAVMA, January 15, 2021, Abstract only. Link. In general, frequency of analgesia use increased as cattle age increased, regardless … [Read more...]
Pork community focused on environmental stewardship
Opinion While traveling between Kansas City, Missouri, and the Twin Cities recently, heavy smells from poultry and pork production facilities seemed reduced compared to trips over the past two decades. Although prevailing winds might be partly responsible, more facilities are bordered by trees, ventilation systems have been added to existing buildings, green space expansions … [Read more...]
Dairy markets don’t care about cost of production
The cost of nearly everything has gone up for dairy farmers and farm margins are being squeezed, writes Nate Donnay. What markets do care about is how much supply is available, and there is better news for farmers there. Understanding farm margin calculations can help veterinary teams and those calling directly on dairies to align services with opportunities to avoid costs … [Read more...]
Starlings. Rats with wings!
There are an estimated 160 million European starlings nationwide. In a September post <Link> we raised concerns about nuisance birds, such as starlings, as costly and as potential disease carriers in fecal-oral fomite cycles. These birds cause issues on farms and swarm as scavengers in cities and towns consuming songbird seed, garden waste and garbage. According to … [Read more...]
AABP develops cattle vaccination guidelines for members
The American Association of Bovine Practitioners’ Committee on Pharmaceuticals and Biologics has developed vaccination guidelines for its members to use when designing client vaccination protocols. Likely the first of its kind for cattle, the guidelines provide member practitioners with the base knowledge necessary to construct protocols customized to bovine client needs across … [Read more...]
Camel culture alive in U.S.
Camel culture in the U.S. goes back to 1855. Today’s camel enthusiasts gathered at the Southwest Camel Conference and Training Clinic in October to learn and share about camel development in today’s agricultural setting. The event featured Alice Blue-McLendon, Texas A&M Veterinary Sciences department professor, and Charmian Wright, a Utah veterinarian. About 5,000 camels … [Read more...]
Water as a nutrient in horse care
Complimentary Content supported by Ritchie® Nancy S. Loving, DVM, offers advice on ensuring your horses get the quantity and quality of water they need for optimal health. She covers: The role of water in horse health Summer and winter hydration needs Is your horse dehydrated? Source: Stable Management Extra, Volume 9. Link. Water consumption depends on many … [Read more...]
Free-roaming cats spread deadly parasite to wildlife
Free-roaming cats kill billions of wildlife in the U.S. every year. The greatest risk is from cats that are allowed to roam freely and hunt. New research suggests that free-roaming felids are likely infecting other animals with Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis. This disease is linked to nervous system disorders, respiratory and heart disease, and … [Read more...]
4 quick tips to get cattle winter-ready
The Thanksgiving holiday is a good time to enlist some extra helpers on the farm. Extension beef specialist Ron Lemenager recommends these steps for early winter herd management planning: Take care of your weaning Get your vaccinations done Prepare your facilities Consider adding windbreaks or other protective structures to limit cattle stress Source: … [Read more...]
Keys to systematically minimizing and eliminating diseases in pig production
Joseph F. Connor, DVM, MS, is well known for applying his experiences and knowledge to the management and elimination of diseases in pig production. He shares how diseases were managed in the past and how to use what was learned to better manage current and potential future diseases. When you have multiple pathogens, the strategy should be first to focus on the one that can be … [Read more...]
In protein we trust
Rarely a day goes by without seeing content aimed at animal protein sources. Every animal health pro has a vested interest in animal protein production whether for your table at home or in the dish for pets. NAMI’s newest initiative, the Protein PACT is setting out to provide the necessary proof to secure and sustain consumer trust in the animal protein industry. PACT … [Read more...]
The climate crisis: Reducing pets’ environmental pawprints
There is a lot of coverage these days about addressing sustainability and carbon footprints. Livestock production has been heavily targeted, as has fossil fuel consumption and automotive emissions. The real challenge is understanding the total carbon cost from inception to the ultimate destroying of an item and its residual waste. In this article by Adam Green, pet food … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 17, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post We’re overfeeding like crazy. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin – November 11, 2021. Link. . . . Posts from one year ago Archived posts from November 2020. Link. Why do animals hibernate? Source: Trivia Genius, November 12, 2021. Link. Bears may be the most famous hibernators, … [Read more...]
Younger stock love grooming brushes, too
Access to grooming brushes for lactating cows shows they help reduce stress, keep animals cleaner and limit injuries. They also limit damage to facilities caused by cows that otherwise rub their heads and bodies on gates, pen walls and edges of feed and water troughs. New research says the same goes for young calves as well. The study, published in the Journal of Dairy … [Read more...]
Systemic inflammation in pre- and post-partum cows
Although excessive inflammation is bad, the results of a University of Guelph study revealed why some inflammation at calving is positive. The key is discovering the balance between healthy and excessive inflammation, according to Barry J. Bradford, PhD. Inflammation is needed to drive the birthing process, and we also think it’s important for aiding in the metabolic … [Read more...]
Dos and don’ts at a cattle truck accident (infographic)
Whether during a cross-country trip or inner-city commute, animal health pros may find themselves at the scene of a cattle transport trailer accident. The prioritization at large animal emergencies is: human safety, animal safety, then property. Let first responders attend to the medical needs of injured people first. Think human safety over animal rescue. Containment, … [Read more...]
Preparing cattle for transport saves time, money and stress
Every year after harvest, millions of cattle are trucked to graze crop residue, get to winter pasture or to be put in dry lots. With current challenges in the trucking industry, reviewing best practices is appropriate. . . .several factors should be considered when cattle are being transported. These include loading conditions, time in transit, weather conditions, comingling, … [Read more...]
Dead sows are co$tly
Complimentary Commercial Content Sow mortality has nearly doubled in the past 15 years to approximately 13 percent. Ron Ketchum estimates a midpoint cost of $1,125 per dead sow. This amounts to an estimated $2.25 per pig weaned in incremental production cost. Source: The Pig Site, November 11, 2021. Link. Also see: Sow to sales: mortality breakdowns, National Hog … [Read more...]
Grackles could expose humans, pets to parasites
Areas where grackles congregate should be avoided by pets. Contact with grackle feces can expose pets and humans to organisms that cause disease, including salmonella, roundworms and West Nile virus, according to a study from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. Source: San-Antonio Express News, September 26, 2018. Link. … [Read more...]
Diagnosing and treating itchy horses
Pruritus remains challenging for veterinarians to diagnose and treat. It is a broad issue in horses that encompasses a wide range of causes. Management and prevention are key to the welfare of affected horses. Alexandra Beckstett summarizes a presentation by Janet Littlewood, BVSc (Hons), MA, PhD, DVD, DVR, MRCVS, on the three main culprits of pruritus in horses: … [Read more...]
Pandemic coronavirus is widespread in Iowa deer
About 80 percent of Iowa deer tested between late November 2020 and early January were infected with the pandemic coronavirus according to a New York Times report. The deer picked up mutations and variants in similar patterns to humans across the state, suggesting humans passed infections to deer multiple times. The rapid rise in the prevalence of infections indicates … [Read more...]
Tackling listeriosis on the farm
Listeriosis is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. It is present everywhere in the environment and survives well in moist soil for about one year. A synopsis explaining the infection path of Listeria and how farmers can keep the infection at bay is provided here written by Clare Holmes from Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food and Biosciences … [Read more...]
10 early interventions to rescue sick calves
Scours and pneumonia are the twin challenges of every calf raiser, especially heading into winter. However, early detection along with proven interventions, will help many calves pull through temporary setbacks and thrive. . . . supportive care is more valuable than antibiotics.” - Pamela Ruegg, DVM, MPVM Source: Dairy Herd Management, November 3, 2021. Link. Develop … [Read more...]
The history of the Kansas City Stockyards
Kansas City once housed the second-largest meat packing industry in the nation, just behind Chicago, known as the Kansas City Stockyards. The last cattle auction took place in September 1991. The stockyards then closed because of rising costs and changing agricultural marketing patterns. Meat processing challenges have been discussed routinely in 2020 and 2021 as the … [Read more...]
Time to FOCUS on biosecurity
Opinion The theme for the Kate Dion’s discussion of the biosecurity research currently in progress could be begin with the end in mind. She describes current work at Iowa State University to understand the rate of disease transmission in growing pigs and associate the timing of disease introduction with <location> biosecurity characteristics or events that could cause … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 3, 2021
Last week’s. . . . . . most read post Beef upcycles well. It’s a great story we all can share. Link. . . . AHD Bulletin Animal Health Digest Bulletin - October 28, 2021. Link. Culling moose in Maine to control ticks Source: Wall Street Journal, November 1, 2021. Link to PDF. To save Maine’s moose population from being decimated by ticks, … [Read more...]
60 percent more milk from 30 percent fewer cows
Karen Bohnert shares some of the drivers changing the future of U.S. dairy including areas where cows will be milked in the future. Source: Dairy Herd Management, August 31, 2021. Link. Sponsored Content Our industry’s researchers have investigated all aspects of individual cow health during, ahead of and at the end of milk production. Early detection of infection at … [Read more...]
Cattle rendering, an unsung sustainability success story
Key points from last week’s post, Beef upcycles well Link, are reinforced in this article from Jennifer M. Latzke. Without the rendering industry, America would fill to capacity every one of its landfills in four years just with the offal and other parts of cattle that don’t go into the butcher’s meat case, she writes. This was one key point from a peer-reviewed study … [Read more...]