Kellie Curry Raper shares numbers that reflect an overall increase in the proportion of bulls coming through feeder calf sales. She shares data showing that not castrating bull calves costs producers as much as $56/head on 500-pound animals. Raper also reminds us of research indicating multiple animal performance benefits linked to earlier castration* including shorter … [Read more...]
Cull cows more valuable than ever
Cull cow weight and cull cow price have always been keys to profitability for beef producers. Culls are often forgotten. Gene Johnston shares tips for getting more money for old cows. About 20% of the total revenue of a cow herd comes from cull animals.” - Patrick Linnell, CattleFax Source: Successful Farming, April 12, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: We noted Wayne Morgan's … [Read more...]
Comparison of beef calves in conventional or natural systems for backgrounding and finishing
A recent study in Applied Animal Science offers guidance for producers weighing how to manage beef calves and meet market demands. The results offer perspective on the trade-offs between backgrounding and finishing systems: Conventionally managed steers in the study had greater average daily weight gain and feed efficiency and reached their target finished weight faster, … [Read more...]
Top beef cow counties in the U.S.
Answering the question “Where’s the beef?” this list of counties with the most beef cows is also insightful when we consider the effects of drought. The list represents 20,687 producers with 2,253,482 cows, for an average herd size of 109 head. Together these 34 counties account for 7.7 percent of the nation’s 29.214 million beef cows. Source: Drovers, April 15, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
USDA: Test for bird flu before interstate transport of cattle
The USDA strongly recommends testing before cattle herds are moved between states, which should give more testing information and should mitigate further state-to-state spread between herds. Source: Successful Farming, April 15, 2024. Link. HPAI doesn’t affect dairy cows the same way as it does poultry. With proper veterinary care, cows are recovering.” - Nora Wineland, … [Read more...]
The survivor species
The camels had thump-thumped for seven days across northern Kenya, ushered by police reservists, winding at last toward their destination: less a village than a dusty clearing in the scrub, a place where something big was happening. People had walked for miles to be there. Soon the governor pulled up in his SUV. Women danced, and an emcee raised his hands to the sky. When the … [Read more...]
USDA grant to help fund KSU scholarships to develop rural vets
The KSU CVM recently received a $250,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to create the Rural and Underrepresented Scholarship for Hopeful Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Students program. Source: AAHA NEWStat, April 16, 2024. Link. Students from underrepresented groups and applicants from rural backgrounds … [Read more...]
Insects on farm animal menus
Sharing her fascination for livestock innovations, Phibro’s Leah Dorman, DVM, writes about how insects may provide an alternate, sustainable protein source in livestock diets especially where soy is not easily grown. Source: Explore Animal Health, March 23, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Dorman is referencing controlled and mass-scaled production of insects for protein. Hobby … [Read more...]
Video game teaches cow handling
Mooving Cows is a 3D isometric mobile game that’s changing the way dairy farm employees understand and interact with cattle. University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Jennifer Van Os, PhD, developed the game with feedback from Wisconsin dairy farmers, including Spanish- and English-speaking staff on farms. It provides an alternative to traditional animal handling training … [Read more...]
Resource: Basic biosecurity practices for sheep and goats
Collaborating with USDA, the staff at the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners developed a biosecurity toolkit for use by DVMs and producers. The toolkit consists of six flyers, as well as a main poster. It’s free to download and can be used for client education. Source: AASRP. Link. … [Read more...]
5 steps to super-sanitation for calf equipment
Cleaning and sanitation of calf-feeding equipment is a primary management subset that matters advised Don Sockett, DVM, PhD. Equipment must be cleaned first, disinfected second to help reduce the potential for spreading illness between calves. Sockett shared two main things he sees during farm visits: 1) the use of weak or ineffective soap and 2) wash brushes not dried … [Read more...]
From mixed practice to swine specialist, Randy Jones, DVM (podcast)
Randy Jones, DVM, is an icon in swine practice and production. He shares his journey from a mixed veterinary practice to specializing in pigs, the pig industry’s evolution to specialization in farm management and veterinary roles. Source: Popular Pig Podcast, March 28, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Get cows bred earlier using estrus sync
The main constraints for producers considering adopting a synchronization protocol are labor, facilities and costs. Still, the main advantage of implementing synchronization technology is an added opportunity for more females to conceive in the first 21 days of the breeding season. The authors present benefits of estrus synchronization for beef cows in natural breeding … [Read more...]
Nebraska Range Short Course, NBLC Grazing School might offer DVMs time with clients
Commentary Quality time coupled with advancing learning could benefit DVMs and key clients. While fishing and golf might sound fun, the 2024 Nebraska Range Short Course combined with the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition Grazing School is an opportunity for veterinarians to participate alongside their producer clients. It’s something to consider especially if next-generation … [Read more...]
Focus on heifers to improve reproduction success, costs
The main reproduction challenge on dairies now lies in the heifer herd, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Paul M. Fricke, PhD. He said, “Now that we’re raising fewer heifers, it’s more important to be better with them.” Fricke believes attention to reproduction is an important element in lowering the cost to raise a heifer to calving. Source: Hoard’s … [Read more...]
Buckle down on biosecurity: HPAI, BIAV
Mindy Ward’s title says it all, “Buckle down on biosecurity!” We’ve assembled a group of articles referencing emerging HPAI infections in non-bird species. Most notable is AABP’s renaming of the emerging cattle disease as Bovine Influenza A Virus versus HPAI followed by assertions to keep pets away from birds. There’s significant media coverage but, as we’ve learned before, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 4, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 28, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the March 28th AHD Bulletin – Horse remains near Buckingham Palace reveal birthplace of jousting steeds. Link. Covetrus® adds next-generation, online Rx management solution to VetSuite. Link. The anti-meat discussion returns to rapid emissions reduction. … [Read more...]
Second case of avian influenza identified in a person in the U.S.
A person is being treated for bird flu following contact with dairy cows presumed to be infected with the virus in Texas. The article shares updates on avian flu detections across the U.S. Source: Agricultural Dive, April 1, 2024. Link. Also see: Human H5N1 likely linked to cattle, Worms and Germs, April 1, 2024. Link. A lot of attention is warranted, says Scott Weese, … [Read more...]
The role of vehicle movement in swine disease transmission
Researchers at North Carolina State University sought to better understand the role of vehicles in spreading diseases between swine farms. The study indicates that, except for crew transport vehicles, all vehicle types analyzed have the potential to spread disease across numerous farms. They noted vehicles transporting pigs to farms or markets showed a substantial decrease in … [Read more...]
Curbing gas with perennial grass
The Paris Agreement commitments to global emissions-reduction targets has elevated the discussion of methane production from cows <Link>. While some claim inaction from the livestock segment, a Minnesota study of forages contradicts those claims. Perennial forages are often praised for their ability to capture atmospheric carbon and sequester it in the soil. Now a … [Read more...]
APHIS now thinks wild birds are to blame for HPAI infections in cows (video)
Based on findings from Texas, the detections appear to have been introduced by wild birds. Initial testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans.” Source: Drovers, March 28, 2024. Link. Also see: Milk supply unaffected by HPAI in cows, Smithsonian, March 27, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
The 5 Ps of biosecurity
The recent discoveries of HPAI in goats and cows have caused escalating discussions of biosecurity in livestock production. Swine and poultry producers have been dealing with this need for some time, but compliance to biosecurity measures remains challenging. Ann Hess shares some of the challenges and survey results she discussed with Pipestone’s Rachel Stika Jensen, … [Read more...]
At 70 degrees F calves and cows start feeling the heat
A spring day in the 70s is often celebrated. Jackets get removed, grills get lit, golf clubs come out and cars get washed. But in the calf barn and calving pens, as well as in loafing lots, cattle start to move toward heat stress. Reminding producers that heat stress does not discriminate, Jimena LaPorta, PhD, shared the importance of keeping calves and cows cool. Source: … [Read more...]
Deworming calves pre-weaning improves weight gain, adds value
A recent Arkansas study showed deworming calves about two months before weaning improved weight gain and added value for producers, writes John Lovett. We know the why, the when and the how, but getting producers to change behaviors to realize the value is still a barrier. Sharing this article might help. Source: Drovers, April 1, 2024. Link. The weight gain from … [Read more...]
A bad sample is worse than no sample
Sponsored Content According to Ohio State’s William (Bill) P. Weiss, PhD, “A bad sample is worse than no sample.” He was speaking about accuracy when analyzing feed, but he could have been referencing the collection of samples to be sent to diagnostic laboratories to identify pinkeye strains from cattle showing signs of it. Addison Laboratory’s Karlin Yaeger and I spoke … [Read more...]
HPAI confirmed in Texas, Kansas dairy cows
Unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as an oropharyngeal swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The USDA said that affected dairy cows do not appear to be transmitting the virus to other cattle within the same herd. Source: … [Read more...]
The anti-meat discussion returns to rapid emissions reduction
Commentary The next big climate deadline is for meat and dairy, writes Kenny Torella sharing information from the December 2023 United Nations Climate Change conference. He quotes Harvard’s Helen Harwatt who says, “We need to see major changes in livestock production and consumption . . . really deep and rapid changes over the next decade.” Beyond the obvious reduction in … [Read more...]
Practicing with care for the emotional well-being of animals
Slick floors, padding for exam tables and seeing posters from an animal’s perspective were among topics when Temple Grandin, PhD, MS and Fear Free’s Marty Becker, DVM addressed Fetch dvm360 conference attendees recently. Not everyone gets to attend these events, so we’re sharing an overview from Kristen Coppock, MA. Source: DVM 360, March 17, 2024. Link. “Creating and … [Read more...]
The first insulin-producing cow could mean a new era in insulin production for diabetics
A new Biotechnology Journal study describes the development of the insulin-producing cow, a proof-of-concept achievement that could be scaled up after additional testing and FDA approval. “The study’s goal was to make proinsulin, purify it out to insulin and go from there, said Matthew B. Wheeler, PhD, but the cow processed it herself. She makes about three to one biologically … [Read more...]
KC Animal Health Summit 2024 emerging company applications to CLOSE April 1
The 19th annual Summit is one of the only opportunities in the world for early-stage companies in the animal health and nutrition sectors to present their vision, business plan and technology to potential investors. Applications close on April 1st, 2024. Source: KC Animal Health Corridor, March 18, 2024. Link. To apply to present as an emerging company, visit the Animal … [Read more...]