A University of Minnesota Department of Veterinary Population Medicine study shows that farms with commercial air filtration systems experience a significantly lower risk of PRRS outbreaks compared to unfiltered operations. The study results provide evidence not only for pigs and PRRS risks but support the investment sophisticated air filtration requires. Source: PORK, April … [Read more...]
Checklist to prepare for pasture turnout
This is a good time to review herd health programs, which should include fly control* and vaccines, says Randy Saner in his checklist of management decisions that need to be considered before pasture turnout. Consider sending articles to local producer clients as a reminder, especially considering the concerns over New World screwworm flies and the value of cattle in today’s … [Read more...]
Planning for the 3 most stressful days for a beef-on-dairy calf (video)
Trey Gellert, DVM, outlines how birth, weaning and transport shape lifetime performance in beef-on-dairy calves. His focus for producers is to plan ahead to reduce risk and to set the stage for the best calf to send to the next production stage. Source: The Beef Site, April 27, 2026. Link. [5:49] Before weaning, <producers> need to start programming the calf at a … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 7, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 30, 2026. Link. Most read posts from April 30, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Four stoic rules to master your emotions at work. Link. How Simon Sinek changed business strategy to an infinite game. Link. Great to good to average to mediocre. Link. Most read post in April 2026: Personal responsibility. … [Read more...]
Review: Timing BRD vaccination for better outcomes
BRD is considered to be a disease of management. Yet, despite more than four decades of research, programs and education, we’re still fighting to convince some producers that calves do better when receiving BRD vaccines and the resulting immunity before going through stressful events. Understanding the major benefits of vaccinating calves on the farm before they undergo the … [Read more...]
Nothing beats “eyes on animals” when monitoring for NWS
With New World screwworm getting closer to the U.S., experts are telling producers to quit worrying and take action. A panel of representatives from East Foundation, Florida Department of Agriculture, Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and USDA-APHIS, recently shared ways to manage for NWS arrival from revamping breeding and … [Read more...]
Rubber mats on slatted floor feedlots may benefit cattle welfare
Research shows cattle raised in covered slatted floor facilities benefit from adding rubber slatted mats. They have better mobility, as witnessed by getting up and down more frequently, and exhibit less lameness when assessed while walking compared with cattle raised on concrete slats. Jerad Jaborek’s comments about lameness and cattle welfare in the last paragraph add value … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 30, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 23, 2026. Link. Miss something? Here’s a link to all of April 2026 AHD posts. Link. ========================== The hardest-working staff at the airport? These two good boys. Source: The Washington Post, April 26, 2026. Link. Five days a week, and sometimes weekends, the herding dogs punch the clock … [Read more...]
Reminder: Cattle need fly relief NOW!
Horn flies, stable flies, house flies or horse flies must be controlled NOW, writes Mark Z. Johnson. It’s not rocket science as flies multiply rapidly and dead ones don’t reproduce. He reviews fly species and how to get after them before they take over. Source: BEEF, April 22, 2026. Link. The beef cattle industry loses millions of dollars each year due to external parasites. … [Read more...]
Rethink milk fever: The immune-calcium connection in transition cows
New research is helping reframe hypocalcemia through what is being called the calci-inflammatory network which is a model that links calcium dynamics directly to immune function during the transition period. It offers a more integrated way to understand milk fever; one that connects metabolism, inflammation and mineral dynamics. Calcium is not simply a nutrient to maintain but … [Read more...]
Livestock euthanasia delays caused by lack of recognition and failure to act
Euthanasia is often thought of as a single act, but in practice, it is a process shaped by how quickly problems are recognized, how clearly decisions are made and how reliably systems support follow-through. Farm systems do not consistently support acting at the right time, even when the need is recognized. Andrea Bedford describes the two-clock model which is especially … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 23, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 16, 2026. Link. Most read posts from April 16, 2026 AHD Bulletin – When you start to find employee requests irritating. Link. The wise leader. Link. Credit card surcharges by veterinary practices may not meet resistance. Link. How to identify and address grooming neglect. Link. Erase 10 … [Read more...]
“Watch out” for heifers out of first-calf heifers
Getting the most out of replacement heifers was the focus of a presentation by calf and heifer specialist Bethany Dado-Senn, PhD, at the recent Central Plains Dairy Expo. She shared benchmarks from birth to 12 months of age, highlighting specific areas along each growth stage, including possibly managing heifers out of first-calf heifers separately. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, … [Read more...]
Why dairy cattle bunch: What published research reveals about this costly behavior
Published research shows there are clear reasons “cows just stand around for no reason” and they’re almost always environmental. Leading peer‑reviewed research on why dairy cows bunch, what environmental factors drive the behavior and how dairies can reduce it is shared in this article. Key reasons for bunching include: Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) Heat … [Read more...]
Keeping cows on track from calving to conception
Commercial references The picture above defines the what and how of optimal cow management. The first 100 days, a critical stress window, is the when. Management and nutrition in this period largely decide whether a cow breeds back on time, writes Angie Stump Denton. Alltech’s Anne Koontz and Shelby Roberts provide details on prevention‑minded nutrition and management, … [Read more...]
Defining the next chapter of beef-on-dairy with genetics, data
The days of “any black bull will do” are over, shares Karen Bohnert in this article, relaying information from the recent High Plains Dairy Conference in Amarillo, Texas. The reason the beef-on-dairy movement has been so successful is rooted in its ability to solve the beef industry’s greatest challenge: variability. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 6, 2026. Link. To … [Read more...]
Replacement heifers have different needs than finishing heifers
When short on grass and hay, cattle producers may contemplate how to manage replacement heifers in a dry lot or in confinement. The Nebraska wildfires were the catalyst for Karla Wilke’s article, but it is good guidance to share with producers who face similar challenges. Source: BEEF, April 6, 2026. Link. Replacement heifers do not need the high-energy diet fed to finishing … [Read more...]
New World Screwworm: Regulations, readiness and response
The first Cattlemen's Webinar of 2026 will be led by Julia Herman, DVM, NCBA beef cattle specialist veterinarian, and Sigrid Johannes, senior executive director of government affairs. They will review NWS, provide a regulatory update and outline what changes may impact producers in the months ahead. This webinar promises to equip producers with the knowledge and action … [Read more...]
The mystery of the night shift: Why protocol drift happens after dark.
Commentary Today’s dairy veterinarian is routinely involved in many aspects of a dairy client’s operation. For veterinary teams, Shaun Hardtke’s article offers a practical look at why the night shift struggles more than any other shift, the underlying human, environmental and operational challenges of nighttime work and the predictable but fixable. The night shift has become … [Read more...]
Monitor calf health following exposure to wildfire smoke
In the weeks and months following a wildfire event, producers should remain vigilant and monitor calves for signs of respiratory disease or illness, writes Brock Ortner. He explains what happens when smoke particles settle in the lungs, making watching for early signs of illness important. Ortner says one practical approach is the D.A.R.T. method, which helps producers … [Read more...]
Fast-growing pasture creates risk of grass tetany in lactating cows
Surges in forage growth create grass tetany risk across many beef operations. Andrea Bedford shares ways to reduce the risks. While grass tetany is a seasonal risk that follows predictable patterns, producers may need to monitor animals closely in areas where wildfires burned and forage grasses are recovering. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, March 23, 2026. Link. Risk … [Read more...]
The growing intersection of genetics and health
Includes commercial references to Neogen Rather than focusing on treatment and prevention, veterinarians are being pulled into more strategic discussions, helping producers evaluate trade-offs and set long-term direction, writes Andrea Bedford. As producers consider adding genomics, veterinary teams are being asked for advice, ready or not. For veterinarians, stepping … [Read more...]
Axiota Animal Health names Wamego, Kansas, as global headquarters
Axiota Animal Health will name its facility in Wamego, Kansas, as the company’s global headquarters. The announcement formalizes the longstanding presence of Axiota Animal Health there, where the company operates manufacturing, research and development, and scientific operations for its products used by cattle producers in more than 30 countries worldwide. Source: Axiota® … [Read more...]
Improving digestive health in feedlot cattle
Sponsor Content from Novonesis Dr. Steve Lerner, senior scientific and business advisor with Novonesis, recently joined Sarah Muirhead, managing director of Feedstuffs, to discuss ways to improve digestive health in feedlot cattle, make every pound of gain count and potentially improve carbon intensity. Here are notable takeaways. In practical terms, digestive health in … [Read more...]
We measure milk. The cow measures time. Management defines both.
Complimentary Content The recent heat wave across the West and Midwest is a reminder of the effects of heat stress on cows. The farms that succeed are not just cooling cows. They are managing time, environment and consistency as one system, explains Muhammad Wasim Iqbal, DVM, MS, PhD. The graphic from Dr. Iqbal’s post is saved here as a poster to use when communicating … [Read more...]
The greening of America, potential dangers are hidden, inherent
Correctly managing spring grass growth isn’t easy, but having an effective plan in place will optimize both cattle and grass production for the remainder of the season. Don’t be too early; overgrazing slows subsequent growth and pasture resilience Early grass is water-laden; consider energy and/or dry matter supplements Hay boosts daily dry matter intake. Source: … [Read more...]
Evaluate cow and bull body condition throughout the year
Year-to-year variations in forage quality and weather stress can show up in body condition scores even when what’s being fed appears to be the same diet. Robert (Bob) L. Larson, DVM, PhD, shares the importance of BCS checks throughout the year to support and maximize cow and bull outcomes. Source: BEEF, February 10, 2026. Link. When determining BCS, it is important to … [Read more...]
Cows have routines, too
Circadian rhythm research shows that behavioral data contains insights beyond reproduction and health alerts. Understanding how cows structure their day may help dairies implement better management systems that work with cows’ biological clocks. The analysis of more than a decade of cow behavior data showed examples of strong circadian rhythms, or predictable 24-hour cycles … [Read more...]
New working with large animals course for first-year vet students at Iowa State University
A NEW course in the College of Veterinary Medicine exposes first-year veterinary students to swine, sheep, cattle and horses in an effort to help with the shortage of rural and large animal veterinarians across the country. Mandatory for all first-year students, "Large Animal Clinical Skills" introduces them to livestock and horses <Link>. The addition of the course … [Read more...]
F10 Antiseptic Wound Spray with Insecticide approved to prevent and treat NWS
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization for F10 Antiseptic Wound Spray with Insecticide (benzalkonium chloride, polyhexanide and cypermethrin topical solution) for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm infestations (myiasis). Source: Bovine Veterinarian, March 10, 2026. Link. The FDA concluded it is reasonable to believe … [Read more...]