Beef and dairy producers need decision support when deciding to feed or sell cull cows. Steve Boyles, PhD, presents the considerations necessary for making the decision to feed cull cows and sell them into a more profitable time slot. Source: BEEF, May 27, 2021. Link. You Tube video. Link. Non-fed beef makes up approximately 25 percent of all beef consumed in the … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 20, 2021
Last week’s top post Why constant learners all embrace the 5-hour rule Source: Animal Health Digest, May 11, 2021. Link. University of Minnesota researchers develop novel, field-deployable test for CWD Source: University of Minnesota, April 19, 2021. Link. The team is striving for a test that could be set-up at individual stations … [Read more...]
Managing how long beef producers keep cows
Doug Ferguson challenges the conventional cow management paradigm that a cow has 10 years to pay her way. Instead of being in the business of making old cows, he suggests a high turnover process that increases inventory value and improves gross sales. Other principles from Wally Olson’s marketing school are referenced as more examples of how high turnover methods increase … [Read more...]
PI calves: A devastating threat you might not even see
Complimentary Commercial Content from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Despite 70 years of information and education on bovine viral diarrhea virus, the disease continues to tear at herd health and profits. Persistently infected calves are one of the greatest threats facing the cattle industry, yet many producers don’t know they’re in the herd. A PI calf is an animal that … [Read more...]
Trichomoniasis prevention: Improving herd health increases ROI
Unexpected open or short-bred cows are often an unfortunate sign of a Trichomoniasis, or trich, problem. It is a reproductive disease caused by a protozoan called Tritrichomonas foetus. Bulls are asymptomatic carriers of the disease, writes Rosslyn Biggs, DVM, but play the major role in trichomoniasis transmission. Positive bulls must be removed from the herd and either … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 25, 2021
Women in beef production (slideshow) Source: BEEF, March 22, 2021. Link. According to the most recent Agriculture Census, more than 230,000 farms or ranches across America have a woman at the helm. Veterinary Inventory Strategy Network Platinum Group enrollment now open Source: VISN. Link. Enrollment to the Platinum Group ends … [Read more...]
6 tips for properly vaccinating beef cattle
Complimentary Sponsored Content John Currin, DVM, and Jody Wade, DVM team up in this article to provide insight on best practices for vaccine administration. The practices they outline are good reminders as spring calves are born: Store, mix and handle vaccines according to label directions Choose an appropriate needle size Administer products according to labeled … [Read more...]
Cut seasons short for more profits
Jordan Thomas tackles human nature’s influence on the cow-calf operation. He says the focus on calf numbers likely keeps cows in the herd that don’t belong. Extended calving and hay-feeding seasons are a symptom of this tendency. Long hay-feeding seasons and long calving seasons are really just manifestations of the same fundamental problem” - Source: BEEF, January 2020. … [Read more...]
6 tips to identify calves susceptible to BRD
John Richeson typifies BRD as the most difficult mammalian diseases to manage in the world. He shared a more focused approach to managing feeder cattle risk and six things feeders can look for to identify high-risk calves. Targeted metaphylaxis is using certain metrics to try to predict whether an animal is going to be at greater risk for BRD, so we can make individual animal … [Read more...]
So long, BEEF, Feedstuffs and National Hog Farmer. “It’s been a heckuva ride.”
BEEF, Feedstuffs and National Hog Farmer will suspend print publications with January 2021 issues. Some digital presence of each will remain. We’ve shared plenty of their articles and web postings since Animal Health Digest began and their contributions are appreciated. Source: BEEF, November 25, 2020. Link. By suspend, they mean that BEEF print, along with the print … [Read more...]
Fences revisited, this time without wire
Last week we shared an article about the ecological impact of fences < link >. In ongoing research in Nevada, ranchers are experimenting with virtual fences using technologies that work like pet fencing but use GPS technologies instead of a wire in the ground. They hope to use the technology to improve rotational grazing and restrict cattle from grazing areas where toxic … [Read more...]
Stocker cattleman shares systems thinking
Wes Ishmael shares what must have been a refreshing discussion with John Groves, DVM from Eldon, Missouri. They discuss how applying elements of system thinking impacts overall outcomes and flexibility in stocker beef operations. Whether systems thinking or a holistic approach, the animal is seen as being part of the complete farm ecosystem. The most exceptional operations are … [Read more...]
But I have corn to harvest
Complimentary Content This beef producers’ excuse resonates across the corn belt this time of year when approached by livestock veterinarians wanting to schedule herd work, “. . . but I have corn to harvest!” W. Mark Hilton, DVM, PAS, DABVP, shares his experiences with delayed cattle work and the economics of working cattle ahead of harvest. The best day of the year to own … [Read more...]
Check out the top 21 value-added beef programs
Value-added beef marketing programs can be divided into two categories, consumer-based programs and calf-based programs. Consumer programs provide animals that fit specific criteria while calf-based programs focus on procurement of specific value requirements. These programs help increase beef quality, while producers remain more engaged in the total marketing process. Jamie … [Read more...]
Identify what pasture plants are poisonous to cattle (slide show)
There are many plants that can cause illness, death, abortion, birth defects, metabolic disorders, photosensitization and other problems in cattle, writes Heather Smith Thomas. Her slide show includes photos of plants cattle producers should look for. Source: BEEF, March 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
Field guide to BQA now available
Designed to make the Beef Quality Assurance manual more user friendly, new print and digital versions have been developed to make the information more user friendly. The digital guide contains embedded links and videos that allow producers to interact with various BQA elements.” Source: BEEF, July 2020. Link. To learn more visit bqa.org … [Read more...]
Beef industry paradigm shifts should continue
Seven innovations offered progress in genetics, efficiency and profitability in the beef industry also provide a “paradigm shift philosophy” for future management decisions, according to Bill Rishel, Nebraska Angus producer. He cited these innovations that helped everyone from ranchers to beef consumers: Performance record systems Artificial insemination Boxed beef … [Read more...]
Hardware, plastic disease still found in cattle
Fifty five percent to 75 percent of cattle slaughtered in the eastern U.S. have hardware in the reticulum. Cattle don’t usually sort their food, which means they can ingest foreign matter when eating hay or processed feed. This include pieces of fencing, nails, metals and more recently, plastic fibers used to bind hay. Magnets are used to remove metal objects, but plastics are … [Read more...]
Beef topics: anaplasmosis, water and pandemic processing
Anaplasmosis, availability of water and its quality, and keeping processing teams aligned to limit coronavirus transmission concerns were among recent beef production discussions. Producers may have skimmed this information and need help with answers. It is also important to support the National Cattlemen’s Association’s Beef Quality Assurance trainings to help raise the … [Read more...]
Recent trending headlines from BEEF
BEEF offers a quick review of trending headlines from the last three weeks. Topics include: Improving returns on calves Dealing with environmental idiots The value of reproduction rates Proper timing is crucial for calfhood vaccinations Let calves grow or not? Source: BEEF, May 11, 2020. Link. Source: BEEF, April 27, 2020. Link. For a laugh see: … [Read more...]
Pest buster listing for 2020
With resistance building among parasites that attack livestock and horses <link>, it is important to have a resource to identify options for pest and parasite management. BEEF magazine shared an updated listing for 2020 compiled from company supplied information and websites. Source: BEEF, April 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good tool for retailers, … [Read more...]
How to manage pinkeye
Fly season is well underway. It marks the beginning of pinkeye infections to come by mid-summer. Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK, or pinkeye). Pinkeye costs the beef industry an estimated $150 million annually. Historically, Moraxella bovis was considered the primary IBK pathogen. More recently, mixed cultures of M. bovis, Moraxella bovoculi and Mycoplasma … [Read more...]
Better inventory management is worth the effort
The current pandemic adjustments put inventory in motion in new ways. Alan Newport reviews inventory shrink in the context of a busy dairy practice. Shrink in this review has little to do with theft, rather it is caused by not recording inventory transferred to mobile units or not invoiced. . . . it's important the veterinarians form a habit of creating an invoice for the … [Read more...]
Anaplasmosis, here to stay
Often forgotten anaplasmosis is now in 48 states. It is a bacterial pathogen that lives within the red blood cells of cattle and is spread by Dermacentor species ticks, the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick. Cattle who survive the first round of infection become persistent carriers and therefore a reservoir for additional infections. Source: BEEF, April 6, … [Read more...]
Trichomoniasis testing essential
Testing for trichomoniasis, or trich, is essential to help ensure herd health and profitability. The bovine venereal disease lives in the epithelial of the penis and prepuce and is considered a lifelong infection in bulls. Infected bulls transmit trich to most females they service. Cows can clear the disease but will abort calves or become infertile. Trich is easily transmitted … [Read more...]
Success strategies for newborn calves
There is a 4-hour window to optimize antibody absorption and immunity in newborn calves, according to Brian Vander Lay, veterinary epidemiologist. Once a calf gets its first meal the gut wall begins to close and they lose the capacity to absorb essential antibodies in colostrum necessary for immunity. He offers five strategies to ensure healthy calves. Share this on social … [Read more...]
U.S. Cattle Trace to lay groundwork for federal requirements
Amid confusion from the government’s Animal Tracing Act and more recent proposed mandates for RFID from APHIS, a group of producers have formed the voluntary cattle tracking system, U.S. Cattle Trace (USCT). The inevitability of foreign animal disease risk underpins the priorities of this developing system. Source: BEEF, February 2020. Link. USCT is a producer-driven … [Read more...]
Delaying on-arrival vaccination may reduce morbidity, mortality
Vaccine labels all contain verbiage like, “. . . is indicated for vaccination of healthy cattle as an aid in the prevention of disease caused by . . .” For years veterinarians have recommended vaccination against respiratory viruses during initial processing of high-risk cattle on arrival to the feedlot or background operation. New research indicates it may be better to … [Read more...]
A whole lot of bull: BEEF’s 6th annual Seedstock 100
Sponsored by Boehringer-Ingeheim Veterinarians, retailers and sales representatives all work with producers to deliver the best beef products. The Seedstock 100 is a survey of these combined efforts for the top bull genetic producers. The distribution map < link > is interesting on its own. Source: BEEF, January 21, 2020. Link. The Seedstock 100 represents the … [Read more...]
Reduce mud at hay feeding locations
Paralleling methods used to build roads through swamps, Mark Hilton, DVM, shares methods for using hay pads to keep cattle less muddy as winter hay feeding begins. He also shares the benefits of limiting 24/7 free access to hay and includes study results. Source: BEEF, November 2019. Link. When asked, 100 percent of beef producers who have built hay pads and now use time … [Read more...]