Ben Enger, PhD, describes the significant udder tissue growth and development required for an animal to enter lactation. He shares the importance of avoiding infections, especially in the last four months of pregnancy noting that immune factors to fight infections will also damage the growth of developing cells. He recommends udder health surveillance in first-lactation animals … [Read more...]
Selecting cattle that maintain body condition and productivity on pasture
Not all cattle perform equally on pasture. Sam Wyffels, PhD, reviews the selection of cattle to match the forage resources and the environment of an operation in this article. He advocates keeping performance records and using data for selection as one of the best ways to improve herd efficiency over time. One of the most effective ways to improve herd efficiency is to cull … [Read more...]
A new approach to deworming
Elanco’s Wayne Ayers, DVM, shares the challenge of parasite control in different environments, young versus mature animals, deworming treatment product classes and timing. To avoid parasite resistance he stresses the importance of identifying the active parasites’ life cycles and adjusting deworming plans to reduce the environmental worm load. Source: Drovers, March 11, … [Read more...]
The critical need for a functional immune system
The absence of a vaccine to protect against avian flu is a factor in dairy producers’ heightened focus on strengthening the immune systems of their dairy cows. It should not take H5N1 to prioritize bolstering immunity given myriad morbidities known to challenge bovine health daily. Stephen B. Blezinger, PhD, PAS, discusses the critical interrelationship between nutrition and … [Read more...]
Reminder: Keeping BVD out of the herd
An effective BVDV prevention program is based on maximizing immunity and minimizing herd exposure to the virus, writes Maggie Malson. While veterinary teams, industry advocates and producers should know how to manage BVD risks, it takes discipline and consistency to prevent the virus causing BVD and BVD-PI (persistently infected) animals. Maintaining vaccination protocols is … [Read more...]
World Hereford Conference comes to America in October
Every four years, Hereford breeders from across the world gather to discuss the evolution of the breed and its role in the beef industry. The 2025 World Hereford Conference will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, October 23rd through October 26th <Link>. Source: Hereford World, March 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Polled cattle bring benefits to dairy producers
Most producers do not realize the polled gene is dominant in dairy cattle. Adrianne Trennepohl explains the importance of the polled gene and its benefits. Implementing the polled gene takes only one generation and reduces the effects of dehorning. The polled gene improves the safety, efficiency and overall management of a dairy farm, directly impacting … [Read more...]
Still growing, first calf heifers need feed, energy
First calf heifers need special attention. Simply put, Mother Nature tells the heifer to direct nutrients toward growth before nutrients are directed towards reproduction. Therefore first-calf heifers undergo an average three to four weeks longer period of postpartum anestrus than mature cows. Source: BEEF, February 25, 2025. Link. Don't short heifers on feed after … [Read more...]
Beyond plant milk: Real dairy proteins without the cow
Lab-grown milk is no longer science fiction. The launch of Brown Foods’ UnReal Milk signals a new competitor for cow-derived milk. MIT-validated and launching by 2026, Brown Foods’ “UnReal Milk” contains all eight key dairy proteins while using 82 percent less carbon, 90 percent less water, and 95 percent less land. Scaling from the proof of concept lab to be commercially and … [Read more...]
New study shows H5N1 is more widespread in cows than reported to date
Researchers and scientists are ringing alarms after identifying a genetic mutation in four dairy cow herds. The change is one researchers dread because it is associated with increased mammal-to-mammal transmission and disease severity. It’s the mutation that was found in the first human case and is extremely pathogenic in ferrets. Finding the same mutation in cows is … [Read more...]
Cornell launches website for bird flu information
Seeking to aggregate up-to-date information on avian influenza, Cornell University has launched a one-stop clearinghouse for the most current and trustworthy information on bird flu. The new Avian Flu Resource Center provides reliable and accessible information for members of the public, farmers, wildlife professionals, state and public health agency partners, and … [Read more...]
Stocker producers face a tougher market
Producers who background cattle have provided basic production value for the cattle industry. They grow calves and lightweight feeder cattle to increase size and weight prior to feedlot placement. Derrell Peel shares why the current cattle market will squeeze stockers as feeders take on lighter calves. He shares a future opportunity to background heifers and explains the … [Read more...]
Beef-dairy crossbreds often heartier than purebreds
In a first-of-its-kind study published in the Journal of Dairy Science, a team led by Penn State researchers determined that by the age of eight months, on average, the hybrid calves that recovered from pneumonia achieved similar average daily growth to calves that never had pneumonia. Source: FEEDSTUFFS, February 2025. Link. Study researchers reported that pneumonia … [Read more...]
Footbaths need routine attention, management
Taylor Leach reviews key management practices that help producers keep their footbaths operating efficiently. Footbath solutions need to be changed when 150 to 350 cows walk through them, depending on the level of dirt on hooves. She covers bath dimensions, solution types and depth, pH and treatment frequency. Source: Dairy Herd Management, February 27, 2025. … [Read more...]
Enhancing biosecurity is key to help prepare for foot-and-mouth disease
In a February seminar hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Julia Hermann, DVM, MS, DACVPM, beef cattle specialist with NCBA, told participants about the absolute need for proactive biosecurity measures to ensure cattle health and others in its economic sector. She said FMD, which affects cattle, goats, pigs and sheep is “the most contagious viral disease of … [Read more...]
Research estimates $90.50/hd ROI for carcass value of finishing cattle receiving FerAppease®
Complimentary Commercial Content Research published in the Translational Animal Science journal found significant benefits to average daily gain and carcass value among low-risk, yearling Angus steers who were treated with FerAppease® during initial processing at the research feedyard and again when re-implanted. mBAS, the active ingredient of FerAppease, is the synthetic … [Read more...]
Mitigating pregnancy loss in cow herds
Chloe Collins reviews management changes that can help mitigate calf loss. She shares multiple factors that create pregnancy or calf losses in utero and after the calf is born. Source: FEEDSTUFFS, February 20, 2025. Link. Decreasing calf loss can be a long-run effort, but it is worth every ounce of preparation and prevention.” - Chloe Collins … [Read more...]
Improving cull cow decisions
Our perceptions of cull cows are not always representative of their value as they leave the herd. It is better to consider them dairy market cows versus cull cows <Link>. Cull cow weight and price remain a primary factor in managing herd profitability. Maureen Hansen covers five factors to consider when culling cows. She includes economic and animal health elements that … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 20, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 13, 2024. Link. Most read posts from February 13, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Managing hypothermia for newborn calves. Link. Building talent through delegation. Link. How multitasking drains your brain. Link. New guidelines set for degrees in infection prevention. Link. Time to review vaccine … [Read more...]
Loncor® 300 (florfenicol) joins Zoetis cattle anti-infective portfolio
Zoetis recently acquired the marketing rights for Loncor® 300 (florfenicol) from Elanco giving producers another option to treat BRD. Loncor 300 adds a fourth class of antibiotic to Zoetis’ cattle anti-infective portfolio. Source: BEEF, February 13, 2025. Link. Loncor 300 (florfenicol) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic active against many Gram-negative and Gram-positive … [Read more...]
Cowhides count
Clint Peck reminds us that cattle hides are still a valuable product, especially in high-volume packing plants. He says hides represent 15.5 percent of the per head byproduct credit. China, Italy and South Korea are the world's largest importers of cattle hides and skins, accounting for 65 percent of global imports. Leather upholstery in auto production and other transportation … [Read more...]
Applying facial recognition to animal stewardship and production
Fascinating! Scientists worldwide are turning to AI to decipher the facial expressions of animals, from sheep to horses to cats and dogs. Some have already developed faster and more accurate algorithms for recognizing signs of pain and distress than the most attentive humans. In this article, the authors share several examples of how AI is being developed to observe animals and … [Read more...]
Mycoplasma bovis: Tough to treat, difficult to prevent
Includes Commercial References Newport Laboratories’ Jason Anderson, DVM, writes about Mycoplasma bovis, calling it problematic, insidious and hard to control. M. bovis is found in many different disease presentations. Affected cattle may display nasal discharge, cough, labored breathing, drooped ear, head tilt, head shaking, difficulty moving, swollen joints, inflamed … [Read more...]
Managing hypothermia for newborn calves
The latest winter storm is descending on cow-calf locations and with it comes challenges for those whose cows are calving. Preventing hypothermia is vital to the survival of newborns, weather being responsible for more than 20 percent of early calf deaths. Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM, shares the importance of temperature regulation and ways to help hypothermic calves. Source: … [Read more...]
Weather, consumer demand, cattle supplies, international trade factor into beef market
Information shared during the CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of CattleCon 2025, indicated the U.S. beef industry is poised for another year of strong market performance. Noting supply constraints, CattleFax said cattlemen have market leverage as the beef cowherd enters a stabilization phase following years of contraction. Source: AgriMarketing, February 7, 2025. … [Read more...]
Virbac expands its U.S. range of products with four cattle vaccines
Partnering with Diamond Animal Health, Virbac is marketing four modified-live viral cattle vaccines: Bovigen Platinum 5, Bovigen Platinum 5 L5, Bovigen Platinum 3 and Bovigen Platinum 3 LP Vaccines. All four vaccines protect against key respiratory viruses, while Bovigen Platinum 5 L5 and 3 LP vaccines add bacterial protection against leptospirosis. Source: Drovers, January … [Read more...]
Study shows thorough cleaning, disinfection protocols reduce livestock trailer contamination
Looking specifically at swine production systems, a study underscores the importance of thorough cleaning and disinfection protocols in enhancing biosecurity in them. The study compared different methods and their effectiveness. The findings suggest routinely cleaning and disinfecting all market haul trailers leaving terminal points of concentration by either of the water-based … [Read more...]
3 things nobody has ever told you about colostrum
There has been a lot of new research published in the past five years about colostrum and its role in the newborn's survival and health, writes Kalyn Waters. Despite cow-calf experiences, she was surprised to learn three new things about colostrum: Timing matters on the cow's side, too, as the chemical composition of colostrum in the udder changes by the hour. Colostrum … [Read more...]
New version of the H5N1 bird flu virus spills into Nevada dairy herds
Known as D1.1, a new version of H5N1 is circulating in wild birds countrywide and causing mass die-offs. It’s different than the one currently circulating in dairy cows and has caused only mild illness in humans and killed scores of domestic and wild cats. It is the latest surprise and reminder that his flu does not behave like a typical flu virus. This new finding suggests … [Read more...]
Veterinarian warns cat owners about H5N1 risks amid rising cases
“Vigilance is key in preventing further bird flu infections,” said Susan Nelson, DVM, discussing the detection of H5N1 in cats. The article offers preventive measures to minimize the risk of infection in cats and other animals, including up-to-date rabies vaccinations, keeping cats indoors and avoiding feeding raw meat or unpasteurized dairy products. Source: PHYS.ORG, … [Read more...]