Planning now for spring calf weaning and preconditioning makes sense before producers are taxed with the work of calving. Weaned and preconditioned calves can bring more dollars at sale time. As veterinarians meet with producers for VFD consultations, preconditioning is a topic that adds value to the compliance visits. Source: Beef, September 7, 2017. There are numerous … [Read more...]
Leman conference honors Morrison, urges co-opetition
The 2017 Leman Swine Conference, which ended September 28, was dedicated to the legacy of Bob Morrison, a student of Allen D. Leman who died recently in a tragic accident. His concepts of learning and working together were evident throughout the sessions. Source: National Hog Farmer, September 22, 2017. Kevin Shultz reports that Leman 2017 did not disappoint. It offered … [Read more...]
51st World Dairy Expo opens next week
World Dairy Expo® is a five-day event showcasing dairy cattle and the newest technologies available to the dairy industry. The annual show takes place at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. It is a unique animal health gathering. Plus, Wisconsin’s fall colors often provide postcard-like scenery. Source: World Dairy Expo, September 2017. World Dairy Expo … [Read more...]
Help cows and heifers during fall calving
Managing the amount of time heifers or cows are in labor before getting help is a challenge ranchers face during calving season. Glenn Selk offers some timing perspectives. Consider using this article in discussions with cow producers this fall. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, August 23, 2017. Research information shows that calves from prolonged deliveries are weaker and … [Read more...]
10 steps for milking excellence
Each year, regardless of milk price, the top 20 percent to 25 percent of dairy producers show some profit per cow. Pamela Ruegg, DVM, identified 10 smart things dairy farmers do to achieve milking excellence: Set performance goals. Rapidly identify problems. Milk clean cows. Standardize milking routines. Train staff. Maintain and update milking systems. … [Read more...]
Everything dairy; Journal of Dairy Science, October 2017
Animal health pros servicing dairy farmers, dairy veterinarians or marketing products for dairy use need to skim the studies in this month’s issue. Our team found two papers of interest: Dairy calf management—A comparison of practices and producer attitudes among conventional and organic herds Effect of prepartum exercise, pasture turnout, or total confinement on hoof … [Read more...]
Review BRD protocols now
Jim Sears, DVM with Bayer Animal Health, reminds producers to review and train on the bovine respiratory disease protocols before a shipment of cattle arrives. He offers a few simple tips to simplify your protocol decisions and help operations be efficient in treating BRD: Make protocols as simple as possible. Be objective – when selecting products, evaluate why each … [Read more...]
A quadrillion reasons those microbes matter
When cattle are fed, producers feed an ecosystem of bacteria, protozoa and fungi. Rumen microbes work together to break down what a cow eats, turning the feed into energy and protein. Keeping microbes flourishing can keep cows productive and in the herd. The numbers are mind-boggling. Source: Beef, August 24, 2017. Three main microorganisms are responsible for breaking down … [Read more...]
Flood resources now available
A new pamphlet for preparing, responding and recovered from flooding is now available from the University of California’s vet school. You can get it here. A second pamphlet deals more with dairy farms and evacuations due to flooding. Get it here. Source: Dairy Herd Management, September 8, 2017. Following one of the wettest seasons on record in California, the University of … [Read more...]
Help clients build recordkeeping systems
We liked this article which begins with the reality of “fire truck” rural practice. Jake Geis shares how the fire truck calls can become opportunities to show clients how to keep better health records. He recommends the veterinarian take the initiative to do some of the recordkeeping to help increase profitability and provide more job satisfaction. Source: Beef, September 1, … [Read more...]
Therapy chickens help nursing home residents
The therapeutic value of taking dogs to visit hospitals, special needs centers, schools and nursing homes is well-known. Even docile cats are now sometimes used as therapy animals. But therapy chickens? Source: Backyard Poultry, August 30, 2017. Today therapy chickens are used around the world to help those in nursing homes improve their mobility and have fun. Residents are … [Read more...]
Preg-checking considerations for cow herds
Wyatt Bechtel shares pregnancy checking suggestions from Extension specialists in various parts of the U.S.: Pregnancy testing cattle to save money Have your breeding dates on hand Pregnancy check heifers early Cull those open heifers Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, August 31, 2017. It makes more business sense to sell the open heifers, rather than create more … [Read more...]
Biodiversity important for goat farming
Using lessons from the dairy producers, goat farmers are urged to maintain genetic diversity in their herds, rather than breed for production-specific traits. By not doing so, animals may become ill-equipped to adapt to changing conditions or fight new diseases. The United Nations is so concerned that more than 100 countries are already signed up to monitor genealogies and … [Read more...]
Protecting chickens from aerial predators (includes video)
Free-ranging and backyard chickens are easy prey for animals like foxes, raccoons, skunks and neighbors’ free-roaming cats and dogs. In addition, the lack of protection overhead makes them a likely meal for hawks. Pam Freeman offers ways to protect backyard chickens from aerial predators. Source: Backyard Poultry, August 30, 2017. To protect backyard, free-ranging chickens … [Read more...]
Lice season looms ahead
As fall comes on, it is time to readdress the lice populations that survived the summer and begin to infest cattle in October. By treating early, ranchers can avoid the deep infestations of January and February common in many areas. Source: Beef, August 31, 2017. Some animals, due to poor immune function or some other factors, are more vulnerable to extensive lice … [Read more...]
Journal of the AVMA
We linked you to the table of contents for this issue of the Journal. Two papers caught our team’s attention: Comparison of clinical findings between dogs with suspected anaphylaxis and dogs with confirmed sepsis Movement patterns of exhibition swine and associations of influenza A virus infection with swine management practices Source: Journal of the AVMA, … [Read more...]
Flying cowboys help save cattle from Harvey
Helicopters and their pilots, long used to round up cattle on sprawling ranches, have been hard at work since Hurricane Harvey hit Southeast Texas August 25. This article features Ryan Ashcraft, a helicopter pilot who has been helping rescue cattle in since the storm let up. Ten percent of the Texas cowherd is in the 54 counties declared disaster areas. Source: New York … [Read more...]
National Beef Quality Audit shows its value (includes video)
NBQA auditing processes have improved over the past 25 years, leading to an increasingly meaningful set of results. The 2016 National Beef Quality Audit observed a decrease in cattle with hide brands, horns and an increase in the frequency of Prime and Choice carcasses. Still, continuous improvement is indicated including how to tell consumers the story of beef’s … [Read more...]
Pig show persons stay connected to the industry
The show pig business is a world where people love their pigs. Those who fall short of the prizes try harder the next year. These farmers are not disconnected from the industry production practices, however. Our team wanted to share this site to share with you, especially these entries: Pig show 101 and Top 5 reasons why showing pigs is the best. Source: Real Pig … [Read more...]
Spike in Salmonella comes from backyard chickens
As we noted in this post last June, hugging and kissing chickens can cause exposure to Salmonella, which has killed one person in the U.S. this year. Young children are the most vulnerable to this bacteria. Source: NBC News, August 22, 2017. Nine hundred sixty one people have tested positive for Salmonella this year. That’s more cases than in all of 2016. It’s been found in … [Read more...]
Chickens becoming beloved family pets
It won’t be long before chickens are the new family dog, according to Kathy Shea Mormino, aka the Chicken Chick. She may be on to something. More than one percent of U.S. households now raise chickens. Plus, the USDA estimates that by 2019, urban chicken flocks will increase by 400 percent. Mormino is attuned to this growth as she answers questions for her 743,000 followers on … [Read more...]
Two main points on dairy heifer raising
Matt Lippert discusses many details on how best to economically raise sound animals that will be useful for a dairy herd. Source: Dairy Herd Management, August 8, 2017. One of the best ways to trim cost is to stop raising excess heifers, says Lippert. He references evidence to avoid cutting corners on young calves. They need colostrum within minutes to very few hours after … [Read more...]
Precondition beef calves regardless of weaning time
Preconditioning calves helps ease the stressful transition from being with mama cows to being with peers in the feedlot. North Dakota State University’s Kris Ringwall offers some pointers. Source: Drovers Cattle Network, August 7, 2017. No perfect preconditioning program, no perfect time to vaccinate, no perfect time to market exists, but producers, with the help of good … [Read more...]
Pig transformation changing with the times
In a fun and informative retrospective, Pork’s JoAnn Alumbaugh reviews the history of pig confirmation and the societal influences that shape a hog as we know them today. Source: Pork, August 10, 2017. Genetics, diet, marketing trends and once more, consumer tastes, continue to evolve so the composition of modern pigs evolves as well. Pig farmers now consider all of the … [Read more...]
DVMs losing revenue to parallel service providers
The AABP and AVMA recently released findings that alternate sources or parallel services providers pose an ongoing financial risk to profits in the bovine segments. This is not a new phenomenon, but technology and expanding services by the alternate channels is intrusive to the traditional veterinary channel. Source: Beef Vet, Fall 2017, page 6. Parallel providers offer … [Read more...]
Tackling antimicrobial resistance in livestock
Antimicrobial resistance is a hot topic worldwide. Helen Ward reviews recent research from the United Kingdom and discusses some of the issues and on-farm stewardship results. Source: Feed International, August/September 2017, page 24. Antimicrobial policies have been generated around four key principles: Disease reduction strategies Correct use of medicines … [Read more...]
Effective opening statements help make meetings matter
The number of producer meetings I have attended over the last two decades are innumerable. Unfortunately, most have been a waste of your time and a waste of your company’s money unless your sole objective was to create goodwill. If you have watched the mergers and acquisitions in our industry, you know that goodwill is the value of a business not related to assets or … [Read more...]
Beef’s trending headlines
Burt Rutherford shares five trending headlines. Senseless cattle killings in the Southwest have cattlemen and law enforcement concerned. On a lighter note, a new smartphone app helps you analyze manure to determine forage quality. Source: Beef, August 14, 2017. Also see: Beef’s 2017 lineup of mid-range tractors, and skid-steer and track loaders … [Read more...]
The art and science of starting new calves
To be successful at starting cattle, cattlemen must become as knowledgeable about animal behavior as about disease treatments and health products. Drs. Tom Noffsinger and Dee Griffin share perspectives on pre-conditioning and handling. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, July 7, 2017. Weaning begins the day the calf is born,” says Noffsinger. “How you handle that momma cow is … [Read more...]
Cattle now and in the future (includes video)
Galen Erickson, University of Nebraska animal scientist, offers insight into the trendiness of cattle feeding that deserves attention from the industry. Source: Progressive Cattleman, July 31, 2017. Video, courtesy of Certified Angus Beef. … [Read more...]