Commentary A story. Photos and a video. A family. And an indication of how much more is behind the title “dairy farmer” than most people ever see. The National Checkoff Initiative features seven women. If you enjoy cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter on toast or a milk moustache, take a few minutes to see the modern dairy images and our customers at work. Source: Midwest … [Read more...]
Snapshot: Fifty years of progress in cattle production
When it comes to sustainability, beef has received much criticism, writes C. Alan Rotz, PhD. His article covers the changes, challenges and improvements in beef production over the past 50 years. We’re sharing some key statements from the article. Over the past 50-year period: Yields of the major feed crops used for cattle production increased The number of beef cows … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – October 15, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, October 8, 2026. Link. Most read posts from October 8th AHD Bulletin – Diabetes care looks different in cats and dogs. Link. Rats identified as overlooked H5N1 link between birds, other animals. Link. Veterinary preventive care, a pricing paradox. Link. Malone: The seal of approval. Link. High … [Read more...]
High nitrates confirmed across Upper Plains; ruminants may be at risk
Drought conditions are almost always associated with the possibility of elevated nitrate levels in forages. According to information by Dairyland Laboratories, many tested feed samples from Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota in 2026 have confirmed nitrate levels of more than 1,000 parts per million nitrate-nitrogen. Drinking water also needs to be checked for … [Read more...]
Early lameness intervention changes everything
Complimentary commercial content By the time lameness becomes obvious, the biological and economic consequences are already underway. More than one in five U.S. dairy cows are estimated to be limping at any given time. The earliest stages of lameness represent the greatest opportunity for intervention. Transitioning from periodic human observation to a continuous AI … [Read more...]
Managing mud in the feedyard
Cattle feeders often focus on the cost of inputs from preventatives and nutrition, but poor pen conditions can quietly erode feed efficiency, increase maintenance requirements and drive up cost of gain throughout the feeding period. Source: BEEF, October 2, 2026. Link. Feedyards that prioritize drainage and maintain functional pen mounds are often better equipped to … [Read more...]
No avocado toast for your rabbit, bird, horse, sheep, goat or cow
If avocados are so good for people, are they good for pets? The short answer: it depends very much on the species, and for some animals the answer is a definite no. Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM, explains why in this blog post. Source: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, September 30, 2026. Link. In addition to persin toxicity, the high fat content of avocado can cause … [Read more...]
Oak toxicosis kills cow, bull
Veterinary researchers identified oak toxicosis as the cause of severe kidney failure in a cow and death in a bull from the same herd and examined at Auburn University. Cattle and sheep are vulnerable. Once ingested, oak tannins break down to gallic acid and pyrogallol in the rumen, damaging renal tubules and blood vessel linings. Signs of oak toxicosis include anorexia, … [Read more...]
Review: Understanding ionophores
Includes commercial references Ionophores are feed additives used in beef production to improve energy efficiency and prevent diseases in cattle. They are not human-grade antibiotics and do not contribute to antibiotic resistance in cattle or humans. The majority of ionophores are fed to finishing cattle, but they can be fed to all classes of cattle. Note the chart of … [Read more...]
The history of what is now World Dairy Expo
If you wanted the industry to see your cattle, you loaded them and hauled them to wherever the industry happened to be standing, writes Andrew Hunt, sharing a 55-year history of National Dairy Cattle Congress, which opened in October 1910 in Waterloo, Iowa. Changing times, along with visionary dairy producers who recognized the need for a place where North America’s best … [Read more...]
Don’t trust your nose around manure gases
Research in deep-pit swine and beef facilities has documented rapid increases in hydrogen sulfide during agitation, especially when ventilation is inadequate. Sharing this article may save the life of a client, neighbor or someone in your community. Remind farmers and manure applicators that manure storage can create one of the most dangerous storage atmospheres on a farm, … [Read more...]
Reminder: Late season pasture fly control
As fall work progresses, animal health pros can help producers manage horn flies and face flies while reducing resistance development in the overwintering fly population. Many fly control products used in spring and early summer are at the end of their useful life, allowing fly populations to rapidly increase. Insecticide resistance in fly populations tends to develop in late … [Read more...]
Reminder: Livestock vaccine care and management critical to fall run success
A successful vaccination program begins long before a needle ever enters a calf and yet every year we learn of situations where vaccines have not been handled correctly. Paige Madison shares the importance of vaccine selection, handling, storage, equipment readiness and recordkeeping as the fall run gets going. Source: BEEF, September 15, 2026. Link. Storage, transport and … [Read more...]
59th World Dairy Expo taking shape in Madison, Wisconsin
More than 50,000 people are expected to attend this year’s World Dairy Expo. The theme is “Opening New Doors for Dairy.” Youth contests begin on September 26th, followed by the Dairy Cattle Show running from September 27th through October 2nd. More than 450 exhibitors and 225 sponsors anchor the trade show and education sessions September 29th through October 2nd. Source: … [Read more...]
The late-game respiratory disease that’s costing feedlots big money
With no vaccine or silver bullet to cure it, acute (or atypical) interstitial pneumonia is one of the most frustrating respiratory problems feedlots face. It usually strikes late in the feeding period in high-performing cattle and can carry a case fatality rate of 70 to 100 percent. Angie Stump Denton shares seven facts beef producers should know about AIP: AIP comes on … [Read more...]
“The worm ate our time.” Inside Mexico’s efforts to outbreed a flesh-eating fly.
Mexico is battling its worst New World screwworm outbreak in decades. Cases have topped 34,000 head across nearly all Mexican states and halted cattle imports to the U.S. until a phased reopening began last month. Even as authorities bring re-eradication efforts to full speed, ranchers must check all their animals daily. This article offers an in-country snapshot of the … [Read more...]
Preparing beef-on-dairy calves for transport
Management decisions made before transport had a far greater influence on calf health and survival than transport duration itself, according to a retrospective study. The message wasn’t that transport doesn’t matter. Rather, it showed that successful transport begins long before loading day. Transport success can be improved by viewing the journey as the final step in a much … [Read more...]
Neospora didn’t disappear. Our discussions about it did.
Neospora caninum is the parasite that causes neosporosis in cattle and dogs. It is also the leading cause of abortion in cattle. It’s generational, persisting in a herd across generations through congenital transmission. Infected cows continually transfer the parasite to their daughters. It’s a thieving, never-ending gift that costs the U.S. beef and dairy industries $1.3 … [Read more...]
Updated publication helps beef producers develop growth implant strategy
Few technologies offer a greater return on investment for beef cattle than growth implants, and a newly updated publication from Iowa Beef Center can help producers with these management decisions. The new publication focuses on implant brand names, active ingredients, intended use and whether a re-implant option exists for cattle in the "growing beef cattle in a drylot" and … [Read more...]
Monitoring cow and bull body condition throughout the year
Because of year-to-year variation in forage quality and weather stress, body condition can have important year-to-year variation even when fed what appears to be the same diet, writes Bob Larson, DVM. His assertions for evaluating body condition at various times of the year can help producers evaluate the genetic base of their herd. It supplies evidence as to how well the … [Read more...]
A separate water tank costs far less than losing cattle
Tanks and equipment that have been used to haul urea- or nitrate-based fertilizers should not be used to transport drinking water for cattle even if they have been thoroughly washed. Not a new problem, but it is one worth repeating. Veterinary toxicologists are again seeing cases of cattle deaths associated with water hauled in tanks or equipment previously used for … [Read more...]
Heifers: Keep some or not?
It’s weaning and shipping time in cattle country. With markets wavering slightly, Mexico opening up and a U.S. herd to rebuild, there has been considerable discussion of how to handle heifers*. Whether to retain or sell them is a long-term decision that depends on market conditions and the resources available on an operation. From the perspective of an animal health pro … [Read more...]
“Ask a Cowboy” panels set for Husker Harvest Days and Sunbelt Ag Expo
Stockmanship & Stewardship sessions give producers and veterinarians opportunities to interact with a panel of experts and ask questions about best management practices. Everyone can benefit from learning about cattle movement habits, top-notch facility design, and tips for training others who handle your cattle.” Source: NCBA. Link. Husker Harvest Days, September … [Read more...]
Manure identified as hotspot for antibiotic resistance genes
A 14-year analysis across 26 countries finds livestock manure is a major harbor of antibiotic resistance genes that could threaten human health. The research team examined more than 4,000 manure samples from pigs, chickens and cattle and found signs that efforts to reduce farm antibiotic use are paying off. Source: The Dairy Site, August 17, 2026. Link. What happens on … [Read more...]
South Dakota cattle producers cope with ‘gut-wrenching’ losses from July heat wave
South Dakota cattle producers lost at least 2,000 head to heat stress last month. What made it lethal wasn't the daytime peak; it was consecutive days of heat and humidity with no wind and nights that never dropped. Griffin Cherry describes the effect on producers. Source: Griffin Cherry, LinkedIn, August 12, 2026. Link. Cattle don't die from the hottest hour of the day. … [Read more...]
Standing corn is an option for grazing
Drought is hard on crops but there can be some value derived from grazing standing corn, writes Aaron Berger. He discusses the economics and nutritional elements for producers to consider in drought-affected areas. Source: Angus Beef Bulletin, August 5, 2026. Link. With a shortage of forage for grazing and hay, current market conditions for fertilizer and corn, along with … [Read more...]
Thermal image-based approach to mastitis detection in Holstein dairy cattle
A study examining whether thermal images taken from cow udders during milking can be used to detect mastitis using AI produced promising results. The consistent performance of the model to distinguish between healthy and mastitis-affected udders showed that it could reliably analyze new data without overfitting. These results indicate that thermal imaging combined with AI is … [Read more...]
Dry-off deserves a bigger role in transition cow management
Dry-off is more than the end of one lactation; it is the first major biological event of the next one. Challenging the dairy industry’s long-held assumptions, Erminio Trevisi, MS, PhD, asserts dry-off transition deserves the same attention as calving because it marks the first stage of the next transition period. Trevisi’s research findings suggest dry-off does not reset the … [Read more...]
Bull fertility begins long before puberty
Research over the past two decades suggests one of the most influential periods in a bull’s reproductive life occurs during the first few months after birth, when endocrine signals are programming how the testes will develop for the rest of the animal’s life. Andrea Bedford shares key takeaways from The Bovine Vet Podcast featuring John Kastelic, DVM, MS, PhD, who explained … [Read more...]
CLiK™ Extra (dicyclanil topical suspension) Wound Spray receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization
Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced it has received Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for CLiK Extra (dicyclanil topical suspension) wound spray for application on or around wounds to prevent infestations of New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae (myiasis) in sheep, cattle, goats, swine and camelids, as well as captive … [Read more...]