A New Zealand program to eradicate the country of Mycoplasma bovis has resulted in 50,000 cows being culled so far and nearly as many still scheduled to be killed. If successful, New Zealand will become the first country to rid its boundaries of the disease, which can lead to mastitis, pneumonia, abortions and lameness. Government and industry jointly spearheaded an eradication … [Read more...]
Search Results for: cattle
Eye-in-the-sky hired help works for cattle producers
Drones provide potential for practical applications beef producers, according to Amanda Radke. She discusses four ways that a drone could enhance management practices on ranches. Collect more data with much less labor Aerial maps can improve land management practices Monitor livestock, fences and water sources Collect data on individual animals While drones … [Read more...]
Winter hair growth in cattle signals time for lice control
Mark Hilton, DVM, discusses the two types of lice that live their entire life cycle on cattle. The growth of winter hair coats is a signal to cattle producers to consider lice control methods. He says injectable products that cover sucking lice need a pour-on to cover biting lice. He also cautions to be sure of dose requirements; one-dose or two-dose. Source: BEEF, October … [Read more...]
Employee safety, animal welfare drive invention of first robotic cattle driver
Cargill, with the help of renowned animal behavior specialist Temple Grandin and other experts, has created the industry’s first robotic cattle mover that improves animal welfare and employee safety. The robots move cattle from holding pens to harvest areas and reduce stress by limiting animal interaction with humans. Employees operate the robots from catwalks above the holding … [Read more...]
Gait, lying down behavior and other factors influence dairy cattle lameness
It’s more than showing up with a limp. Lameness in dairy cattle costs productivity and economic losses. It affects other animal welfare factors including body condition, hock condition, and leg hygiene. Lameness may also influence resting and lying down behaviors as they seek comfort. Source: National Institutes of Health, November 2017. Link Gait changes and other behaviors … [Read more...]
Survey identifies needs, gaps to advance cattle care
U.S. beef producers and veterinarians identified animal handling and stockmanship as the two most important topics on which they could use additional training in a recent survey. Identifying and treating sick animals, and animal identification and training were also highly ranked. Written protocols and procedures, as well as written employee animal care commitments are the two … [Read more...]
Change in cattle deworming practices may reverse resistance
Parasitologists saw dewormer resistance in cattle coming before most producers did. But, overuse of benzimadazoles, macrocyclic lactones and levamisoles in all their forms has increased reports of nematode resistance. However, Ray Kaplan, a professor of parasitology with the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, says what sheep raisers have learned about … [Read more...]
Change is in the air for U.S. cattle ID and traceability
A 2017 BEEF Survey says beef producers give cautious support to traceability, Burt Rutherford said as he spoke to members of the International Livestock Identification Association (ILIA) at their annual conference. This is important because at present, outside of those for various value-added programs, the U.S. doesn’t have a nationwide birth-to-consumer traceability … [Read more...]
Selecting the ideal beef or dairy cattle breeds
The movement to growing your own food continues to grow. As new farmers make decisions, knowing about cattle breeds is helpful. Heather Smith Thomas reviews breed options with the smaller farmer in mind. Source: Countryside Daily, July 16, 2018. Link. Cattle farming for beginners requires researching dozens and dozens of beef cattle breeds and composites, and a half dozen … [Read more...]
Hot, humid days harder on cattle than winter
Heat and humidity are hard on cattle, especially when hauling them, says Sandy Stuttgen. She provides charts on loading capacity and the heat index as handy reference tools. Their well-being especially suffers during humid days followed by evenings that do not drop below 70°F, as under those conditions, cattle will not have a chance to recover before the next hot, humid day … [Read more...]
New research shows cattle resist oral exposure to CWD
Cattle fed extremely high oral doses of chronic wasting disease (CWD)-infected brain material or kept in heavily prion-contaminated facilities for 10 years showed no neurological signs of the disease according to University of Wyoming Department of Veterinary Sciences researchers. The long timespan of the research is important, as CWD is a slow disease and these results are … [Read more...]
Heat index resource helps cattlemen
A common question heard in cattle country is, “Is it too hot to work cattle today?” Thanks to a collaborative effort between the USDA, Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University, the University of Oklahoma and the weather co-op known as Mesonet, we now have a National Cattle Comfort Index guide and mapping program readily available on the internet. The program was … [Read more...]
Handle cattle vaccines properly for greatest efficacy
We all need basic reminders now and then. Basic vaccine protocols are worth discussing more than once a year. This quick read is a good reminder of recognized handling practices. Source: Progressive Cattleman, April 9, 2018. (Link) Vaccines need to be stored between 35°F and 45°F at all times and maintaining consistency within this temperature range is critical. Do not … [Read more...]
Treat burned cattle properly
Upwards of 300,000 acres have been burned by recent Oklahoma wildfires. As AHD reported during the Kansas wildfires last year, getting burned cows and calves healthy again can be tough. The advice from Kansas State Research and Extension is as worthwhile this spring as last spring. Sources: High Plains Journal, March 20, 2017. (Link) For calves, heifers and bulls, there can … [Read more...]
Help Oklahoma cattle raisers
An untold number of Oklahoma cattle operators lost cattle, pasture and hay to recent fires, some of which still burn. The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation has set up a relief fund for those who want to help with cash, check or online donations. Cattle need hay, too. Source: Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. (Link) Click the link to donate online. Hay is urgently needed in … [Read more...]
Feet and legs evaluation important for cattle longevity
Feet and legs are easy to overlook on cattle operations. Nick Simmons, University of Florida Extension, provides a basic review of the importance of hoof and leg care. Two of the more common foot and hoof related issues are foot rot and hoof cracks. Source: Drovers, March 6, 2018. The hooves are one of the most important parts of the cow’s body, because without these, the … [Read more...]
New cattleman products gallery
Learn about select products intended for the cattle industry – ranging from new technology and new medicine to tools of the trade that can help cattle producers do their work with more efficiency and convenience. Source: Progressive Cattleman, March 2, 2018. Progressive Cattleman staff members update new products quarterly. New products gallery – March 2018 – … [Read more...]
Feral cattle creating issues in California national monument
Sand to Snow National Monument lies approximately 50 miles north, northwest of Palm Springs, California, and about 50 miles east of San Bernardino, California. Rising from desert lowlands, its mountainous high desert and cascading streams create panoramic views, tranquility and solitude. But, recent visitors have been surprised by members of a herd of 150 feral cattle that are … [Read more...]
Proper dosage critical to cattle performance
Cattle producers know it, veterinarians know it and animal health pros know it. Proper dosage is important for medications and dewormers to perform efficaciously. The temptation to skimp on a dose or guess a calf’s weight is always there. Yielding to this temptation can negatively affect performance and health recovery. Writer Heather Smith Thomas offers a solid review of the … [Read more...]
Cattle eat what humans don’t
Critics of beef production often point to pigs, poultry or fish as having better feed conversions than cattle. They frequently leave out a critical point; cattle eat things we cannot. They turn grass, corn stalks, wheat straw and byproducts such as distillers’ grains and cottonseed meal into high-quality protein for human consumption. At the recent Academy of Veterinary … [Read more...]
Pain control product for cattle released
The first U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved product for pain control in a food-producing animal was released last month by Merck Animal Health. Banamine Transdermal (flunixin transdermal solution) is approved for pain associated with foot rot and fever resulting from bovine respiratory disease and is applied as a pour-on. The product requires a prescription from a … [Read more...]
Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in the books
More than 7,500 cattlemen and cattlewomen blazed a trail to Phoenix last week for the 121st annual 2018 Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show. Including the 25th anniversary of Cattlemen’s College and the learning experiences that go with it, BQA and environmental stewardship awards were also presented. Throughout the event, new acquaintances were made and friendships were … [Read more...]
10 things to double-check on facilities before working cattle
Every large animal veterinarian has at least one story about arriving at a client’s location to work cattle only to find out the client had not prepared. So, here’s a great list for DVMs to send to clients before making those time- consuming farm calls. Make sure your alleyway is the proper width so that cattle can’t turn around. Have your working facilities set up in a … [Read more...]
Its fall in mountain cattle country (photo essay)
With photos that look like slides from a cowboy movie, Shipping at the Basin Ranch is a modern day look at gathering and shipping cattle on the mountain ranch outside of Elk Mountain, Wyoming. The ranch is part of the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust. The group is dedicated to conserving Wyoming’s working family ranches and farms and the wide-open spaces, natural habitats and … [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...]
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...]
Texas A&M researchers model illness onset in cattle
Respiratory disease causes 60 to 90 percent of the morbidity or sickness in feedlot cattle, Dr. Bill Pinchak says. Diagnosis is a challenge and primarily relies on visual appraisal to determine illness. This can vary by degrees of individual experience in diagnosing. “Typically, the accuracy is about 60 percent. So there are a lot of animals that are not diagnosed and end up … [Read more...]
First screw flies, now cattle fever ticks
The Texas Department of Agriculture has allocated an additional $3.7 million in funds to the existing $8.5 million allocated for 2017 to combat the spread of the cattle tick fever in South Texas. The ticks spread intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites that cause Babesiosis. Source: The Monitor, May 9, 2014. Cattle fever ticks are known scientifically as Rhipicephalus … [Read more...]
How fed cattle qualify for the Certified Angus Beef brand
Angus brands dominate the beef market today with two-thirds of more than 140 USDA-certified brands. Where did it all start and what does it take to qualify? Mark McCully, Certified Angus Beef LLC vice president, shares the history and real story of CAB. Counting the total area of black spots on Holsteins is not allowed. Source: Beef March 23, 2017. Predominantly solid black … [Read more...]
DVM offers advice for cattle that survived wildfires
Recent wildfires in the High Plains burned hundreds of acres of land, destroyed outbuildings and homes. Cattle weren’t spared. For those not killed or euthanized, the road back to health may be tough. Randall Kowalik and Dr. A. J. Tarpoff with Kansas State Research and Extension offers some burn and orphan care tips. Source: High Plains Journal, March 20, 2017. Regardless … [Read more...]