Early-season drought conditions across much of the country have affected the hay supply. Beyond basic availability, there are concerns about nutritional value, dependability of the hay source and what is in hay bought from an outside source. Whether buying hay for horses or cattle, there are important considerations to get the quality and value animals need. The five … [Read more...]
Guiness’ smallest bull in the world (video)
Humphrey is a miniature Zebu Bull who is about 26.6 inches tall and weighs around 85 pounds. He lives at a farm outside of Kalona, Iowa, and has been the Guinness Book of Records world record holder for five years. Source: Power 96, June 19, 2023. Link. Also see: Interest in miniature cattle continues to surge, AHD, April 11, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
Demand for Yaks growing
With producer grant funds from Southern Sustainable Research and Education, Yak production education and artificial insemination methods are being developed. Yaks require less forage, are easier to manage than bison, while providing a leaner meat and possibilities for fiber similar to cashmere.” Source: Acreage Life, July 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
The effect of day-only versus day-plus-night cooling of dairy cows
We shared cattle heat stress reminders in a recent post <Link>. The results of a recent study showed the benefits of enhanced day+night cooling versus day-only cooling of dairy cows. Over the duration of the study, enhanced day+night cooling cows produced more milk, had lower rumen temperatures and reduced panting compared with day-only cooling cows. When temperatures … [Read more...]
Tighten the calving window
To achieve more uniform calves, producers can use tighter calving windows to maximize the number of pregnancies early in the breeding season. Getting most of the cows and heifers bred early in the breeding period improves herd performance. Investing time and resources to tighten the calving window is beneficial, regardless of the size of operation or the breed of … [Read more...]
Walmart to build a new case-ready beef facility in Olathe, Kansas
Set to open in 2025, the plant will create more than 600 new jobs and further Walmart’s commitment to creating an end-to-end Angus beef supply chain. Once opened, the new facility will package and distribute a selection of Angus cuts from Sustainable Beef, LLC in North Platte, Nebraska, to serve stores across the Midwest. Walmart announced an equity investment in Sustainable … [Read more...]
Steers provide income, but heifers can generate wealth
The U.S. beef cow herd is at the lowest level since 1962 <Link>. For cow-calf producers who understand and can leverage a heifer’s value potential, steers are great for providing income, but heifers can be used to generate wealth. Heifer calves provide more options and opportunities than a bull calf.” - Aaron Berger Source: BEEF, June 9, 2023. Link. Heifer calves … [Read more...]
Genetic tools have reversed cow fertility decline
Kristen Gaddis, PhD, dispels a myth and shares the results of applied genetics in the selection of dairy cows in U.S. herds over the last two or more decades. Dairy geneticists, producers, veterinarians and other advisers have all rallied to improve the fertility of U.S. dairy cows. Continued emphasis to enhance reproduction makes sense from the perspective of animal … [Read more...]
2022 National Beef Quality Audit shows increase in quality and efficiency
Findings from the 2022 NBQA indicate producers are working to meet the demand for quality and efficiency while maintaining the need to keep safety a top priority. Conducted every five years, the latest results show that over time, attributes have been added to NBQA standards such as food safety, sustainability, animal welfare and the connection between producers and … [Read more...]
Cattle heat stress reminders
There are only 13 days until summer. But, even now cattle heat stress is a major consideration for dairy and beef producers. It can negatively affect milk production and overall herd health. Once cattle start to pant, some heat stress has occurred. Understanding heat stress, preparing for it and looking at options to alleviate it will help keep production steady as summer … [Read more...]
Steak is getting more expensive. Here’s why.
Hamburgers and steaks, already near record-level prices, are set to get more expensive, writes Patrick Thomas, who shares the consequences of a shrinking cow herd and rising supply chain costs. When you’re talking about the ultimate price of beef to a consumer, the whole supply chain is under inflationary pressures. Every step along the way is more expensive.” - Tom Windish, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 1, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 25th, 2023. Link. Most read post from May 25th AHD Bulletin – Don’t be afraid to ask the sensitive questions. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. ========================================== Biosecurity doesn’t have to be a big-ticket item Source: … [Read more...]
Recap of 2023 Animal Care & Handling Conference
Conference sessions touched on everything from advances in stunning methods to concerns for animal transportation to regulatory updates during the recent conference held in Kansas City, Missouri May 25th – 26th. Source: Meat+Poultry, May 30, 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: Monitoring information on high/low stocking densities in livestock transport trailers should interest … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 25, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 18th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from May 18th AHD Bulletin – Make it clear! Link. The most dog-loving states in America. Link. The Bridge Club to discuss affect of new VCPR legislative efforts. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy … [Read more...]
Feeding behavior during the first week in the feedlot
Studies have shown preconditioning weaned calves results in less morbidity and mortality, improves post-weaning performance and higher carcass quality versus ranch and auction-derived calves. However, there is limited research assessing the impacts of commingling preconditioned and auction-derived calves at the feedlot and if the proportions of preconditioned to auction-derived … [Read more...]
Atypical mad cow disease detected in South Carolina cow
An atypical case of bovine spongiform Encephalopathy was found in an older beef cow at a slaughter plant in South Carolina. It is the seventh case identified in the U.S. The animal never entered slaughter channels and at no time presented a risk to the food supply or human health in the United States. Atypical BSE generally occurs in older cattle and rarely and spontaneously … [Read more...]
Nine states have more cows than people
May is National Beef Month. As of January 1, 2023 there were 91.9 million head of cattle and calves on farms in the United States according to the USDA. In Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming cows are more numerous than people. There is one cow for every 3.6 people in the U.S.” Source: Beef2Live, April 16, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
More is not always better
Managing individual herd health requires thought and diligence from producers and the veterinarians who advise them. Mark Hilton, DVM, shares a thought-provoking perspective on optimizing herd health processes, as it relates to vaccination, antibiotics and deworming. The key takeaway? Include the veterinarian before making a change. . . . if something needs to be eliminated or … [Read more...]
Communal wound licking documented in a hoofed mammal for the first time
American bison have been observed licking each other’s wounds, a stress-reducing behavior not documented in a hoofed mammal until now. While female bison have been observed grooming unrelated calves, reports of animals licking the wounds of others have largely been limited to captive rats and wild primates, such as chimpanzees. Source: New Scientist, May 6, 2023. Link. … [Read more...]
And the green grass grows all around . . . but wait!
Spring! Pastures and hayfields are greening up. Lush stands of grass push skyward after a nice rain. A few seed heads start to develop and our noses get ready for that smell of the first cutting of hay. But wait . . . upon closer inspection, “oh no, ergot [ur-guht]!” Ergot is a fungus (Claviceps purpurea) that contaminates rye and wheat and produces substances called … [Read more...]
Gene-editing technology produces first calf resistant to BVDV
Scientists have collaborated to produce the first gene-edited calf with resistance to bovine viral diarrhea virus. Maribel Alonso postulates this proof-of-concept study demonstrates the possibility of reducing the burden of BVDV-associated diseases in cattle by gene editing which may also reduce the need for antimicrobials. Source: Drovers, May 9, 2023. Link. The study was … [Read more...]
Freemartins and Peter Pan heifers
Commentary Occasionally we run across terminology that is foreign to us. In the articles here, we share two such terms: freemartin and Peter Pan heifers. Source: FEEDLOT, June 21, 2022. Link. Twins calves can be a challenge. But when one is a bull calf and the other a heifer often the heifer is a freemartin. Freemartin heifers are females with an improperly developed … [Read more...]
Pain management in cattle: Drug dilemma
With few pain-relief drugs on the market for cattle, producers and veterinarians must know their options, writes Heather Smith Thomas. The situation underscores the importance of the VCPR to provide the regulatory foundation for a practitioner to work with the producer to provide medications for extra-label use when considered necessary. One of the challenges in the U.S. is … [Read more...]
Tips to prepare cattle for summer
Gregg Hanzlicek, DVM, PhD, says vaccinations and ear tags are key to maintaining herd health. He urges producers to review their vaccination and parasite control programs and plan for fly control including insecticide ear tag rotation. Source: Angus Beef Bulletin Extra, April 26, 2023. Link. Vaccinations should be given 45-60 days before the bulls will be released with the … [Read more...]
Implanting nursing calves
Implanting nursing calves has consistently shown to be an effective way to post greater calf weights at weaning time. In fact, Grady Ruble says implanting has the greatest return on investment of any other technology. . . . deciding to implant nursing calves is more important than which implant to use.” Source: FEEDLOT, March 22, 2023. Link. Generally, branding makes for a … [Read more...]
Worms without borders
Complimentary Commercial Content When cattle move about the country so do the worms and germs they carry. Boehringer Ingelheim’s David Shirbroun, DVM, shares the challenges of worm management and how extended release dewormers can benefit producers with cattle pastured more than a month. One thing producers might not realize is that the peak level of larvae in the pasture … [Read more...]
Breeding season checklist
As spring calving comes to a close and producers look to crop production, its important to help them get a solid plan together for breeding cows back. In addition to bull management, this is also a good time to cull open cows or those doing poorly. Source: Drovers, April/May 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: Across all types of veterinary practices, we are routinely seeing … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 27, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 20th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from April 20th AHD Bulletin – Enhancing your customers’ experiences. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Study says U.S. unprepared for dangers posed by zoonotic diseases Source: Vet Candy, February 13, 2023. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 20, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 13th, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from April 13th AHD Bulletin – Don’t assume that old refrigerator is okay for vaccines, antimicrobials. Link. Place keeper: 2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. Are influencers ready for a world without follower counts? Source: … [Read more...]
2023 CATTLE U event moves to Manhattan, KS
If you service cattle producers in the 300-mile radius of Manhattan, Kansas ,this is an opportunity for them to listen to industry experts and network with other producers. High Plains Journal's CATTLE U is a free, educational event now in its fifth year. It will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan, Kansas, on July 11th. The event includes a full day of … [Read more...]