Sponsor Content Recent research confirms the importance of fall calving in the beef segment and year-round calving in dairies in North America. Estimates show that more than 80,000 bull calves will be born this November and December: a third in beef operations and two-thirds in dairy operations. The AABP recommends that pain management be considered the standard of care … [Read more...]
Calf castration. The younger the better!
Sponsor Content When, why and the best modern practices for castration are the topics for the last segment in this week’s episode of Doc Talk with host Dan Thomson, MS, PhD, DVM. He explains the benefits of castrating calves in the first week of life compared to waiting until weaning, since the bull's testicles don’t produce testosterone until they hit seven to 10 months of … [Read more...]
Analgesic relief during castration. The right thing and it pays
Sponsor Content A study at Kansas State University demonstrated how lidocaine-infused castration bands help calves transition through the painful castration phase more smoothly and comfortably than after standard castration practices. Increased lying time versus controls between days 21 and 35 post-banding demonstrated how Solvet’s LidobandTM improves calf comfort as … [Read more...]
Tips for smaller cow-calf operations to optimize profit and build market appeal
Includes AHD Sponsor information A January AHD post shared that 79 percent of farms with beef cows have 49 or fewer cows <Link>. For smaller cow-calf operations, committing to profitability and understanding the market buyer’s needs is key to garnering increased interest in their calves, writes Bruce Derkson. He emphasizes that profit must be the number one goal if a … [Read more...]
Does it pay to castrate, wean and vaccinate?
Includes Sponsor Content Studying the USDA Market News reports, Andrew Griffith, PhD, says it is clear that a good number of producers still find it easier to sell bull calves instead of castrating them prior to selling them. He shares the economics of selling calves straight off the cow versus after preconditioning and applying management protocols in this article. During … [Read more...]