Neosporosis-related losses cost the beef industry an estimated $111 million annually, writes Lindsay Waechter-Mead. The disease is transmitted through Neospora caninum an intracellular parasite. Canines that feed on infected cattle carcasses or placenta become infected and become a host where the parasite multiplies in the intestinal tract. Stable neospora oocytes are shed in … [Read more...]
Selecting cattle that maintain body condition and productivity on pasture
Not all cattle perform equally on pasture. Sam Wyffels, PhD, reviews the selection of cattle to match the forage resources and the environment of an operation in this article. He advocates keeping performance records and using data for selection as one of the best ways to improve herd efficiency over time. One of the most effective ways to improve herd efficiency is to cull … [Read more...]
3 things nobody has ever told you about colostrum
There has been a lot of new research published in the past five years about colostrum and its role in the newborn's survival and health, writes Kalyn Waters. Despite cow-calf experiences, she was surprised to learn three new things about colostrum: Timing matters on the cow's side, too, as the chemical composition of colostrum in the udder changes by the hour. Colostrum … [Read more...]
The small producer’s impact on the beef business
Seventy-nine percent of farms with beef cows have 49 or fewer cows, writes Bryan Sanderson. Small producers are not just suppliers of beef. They are important parts of rural economies, ag supply chains and local job markets. Small beef producers help sustain a resilient and dynamic beef industry by contributing to local economies, maintaining agricultural diversity, creating … [Read more...]
Hold the net wrap and twine
Rumen microbes do not digest plastic net wrap or biodegradable twine. Sisal twine does digest but much slower than hay, writes Erin Laborie. As hay feeding begins this winter, use this article to remind cattle producers of the risks of allowing cattle to ingest bale-binding materials. Note that even grinding the wrap and twine can have a negative effect. Source: Progressive … [Read more...]
Building a new breed: the American Black Hereford
There is considerable pride and breed loyalty among cattle producers despite the overriding objectives to improve production efficiencies and profits. Gilda V. Bryant shares the development of the Black Hereford in the article here. Despite the name sounding like an oxymoron, Black Herefords are a thing. Source: Progressive Cattle, October 15, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Setting up the newborn calf to respond to spring vaccinations
Producers often “set it and forget it” when turning out cows for the fall and winter. Research has shown that calves born to cows with a body condition score of 5 or 6 have more immunoglobulin G in their blood serum after consuming colostrum than calves from cows with a 4 or lower score, writes Karla H. Wilke. She focuses on the importance of keeping cows healthy and in good … [Read more...]
Need birdshot? Call your packer.
Going bird hunting? Skip Walmart and get ammo at your major beef packer. You’ll have a 100 percent chance of finding birdshot or buckshot there. It may not be loaded into shells, but you can pick it out of the fat layer and muscle of a carcass. Birdshot and buckshot have been found in beef carcasses since the National Beef Quality Audit started in the 1990s. It is STILL A … [Read more...]
Preconditioning: Worth the input or not?
Cindy Mansfield’s surprising article title made me read her review of the value cattle producers receive when committing the time, effort and expense to pre-condition their cattle. She reviews the economics, importance of vaccination, timelines and benefits to a producer’s reputation as advantages from preconditioning. Source: Progressive Cattle, July 4, 2024. Link. Also … [Read more...]
Reviewing the basics of needle care
Changing needles every 10 animals is a good rule when injecting cattle, writes Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM. She reinforces the importance of needle care, proper sizing and biosecurity measures when cattle producers are injecting animals. Note the graphic showing needle selection based on weight of cattle, route of administration and viscosity of product. Source: Progressive … [Read more...]
Strategic anaplasmosis management needed this season
There are concerns that anaplasmosis is reemerging throughout the U.S. The transmission of bacteria from ticks and horseflies is the initial cause, especially during heavy tick and fly seasons. Beef producers may control the disease with strategic pest control methods, good husbandry practices and antibiotics, writes Gilda V. Bryant. Source: Progressive Cattle, February 7, … [Read more...]
Improved winter grazing management
Commentary Livestock producers need animal health pros for more than medications and preventatives to be successful. Being aware of resources to share is one of the ways we can support the growth and development of healthy production. Consider this article when discussing ways to improve herd health. Winter is sometimes overlooked as a time to make improvements to range … [Read more...]
Your best shot at preventing calf scours
A cow’s nutritional status during the last trimester of gestation impacts critical factors, such as immune response to scour vaccines, quantity and quality of colostrum, level of antibodies in colostrum and her and the calf’s health and survival after birth, writes Kevin Cain, DVM. Ensuring cows receive key trace minerals prior to calving is necessary to support colostrum … [Read more...]
Progressive Cattle’s Top 10 online articles from 2023
Commentary Readership metrics indicate what cattle producers could use help with from animal health pros. We can’t get so caught up in running the road, making calls and pitching services that we lose touch with our customers’ interests. The economic importance of cow longevity and depreciation topped the list that includes hydroponic forages, timing for weaning, … [Read more...]
Essential upgrades for lackluster cattle-handling facilities as winter threatens
Bruce Derksen shares the importance of keeping cattle handling facilities in the best condition as winter settles in. He identifies the most important areas for producers to focus their attention. The article is a good reminder to share with producers, especially those who always seem to wait until the veterinarian arrives to realize they aren’t prepared to easily handle … [Read more...]
Virtual fencing, rotational grazing as a climate adaptation strategy
A lot of wire has been strung to create separate pastures and save grasses for grazing in the last few years of drought. The photo here is an example. Now, the advancements in virtual fencing can be used to contain animals within a desired area, exclude them from undesired areas, or move them to new landscapes without the need for physical fences. Morgan Lawrence shares how … [Read more...]
2022 National Beef Quality Audit shows increase in quality and efficiency
Findings from the 2022 NBQA indicate producers are working to meet the demand for quality and efficiency while maintaining the need to keep safety a top priority. Conducted every five years, the latest results show that over time, attributes have been added to NBQA standards such as food safety, sustainability, animal welfare and the connection between producers and … [Read more...]
Heat stress negatively affects bull fertility
It’s hot and it hurts bulls’ fertility. A bull’s ability to produce quality quantities of semen is important to successful breeding and rebreeding programs. If heat stressed, bulls could have lower sperm concentrations than normal. Plus, heat stressed bulls produce semen of lower quality than bulls who weren’t heat stressed. Source: Progressive Cattle, July 19, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Forage concerns and management in drought areas
A few of the recent storm systems have eased drought concerns in some areas. Still, without sustained moisture over the next three months, keeping livestock fed without depleting grazing forage will remain a hot topic for coffee shops, veterinary visits, machine sheds, bankers and regional extension specialists. Hay and Forage Grower Magazine stays abreast of grass and … [Read more...]
Customers speak with their wallets; beef producers can’t ignore the results
Speaking at the recent National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Cattle Industry Convention, Randy Blach, CattleFax CEO, shared how value-added programs paying high premiums have boosted beef demand and spread wealth throughout the industry. Driven by premiums and value-added programs, CattleFax forecasts show strong price growth for calves, feeder calves, fed cattle and bred cows … [Read more...]
Plan ahead to feed problem newborn calves
Not every calf that drops in the coming months will have what it needs to thrive, according to Jason Smith. He discusses the importance of early preparation and colostrum. The importance and value of colostrum to a newborn calf cannot be overstated. Most calves that don’t receive adequate colostrum in a timely manner will not survive. It’s as simple as that.” – Jason Smith, … [Read more...]
3 keys to handling injectables when it is below freezing
Shannon Williams reminds us to keep injectables at the proper temperature. It is vitally important to maintain their effectiveness. She shares three key practices to keep your injectables from being too cold. Setting your injectables on the defroster or under the heater in the pickup is NOT the solution. . . you could end up “cooking” it and damaging the product. . . … [Read more...]
Beef upcycles well. It’s a great story we all can share.
Sustainability is a buzzword worldwide, but it is sometimes real. Beef’s sustainability is demonstrable after animals are harvested, considering only half of what a beef carcass yields is considered consumable in the U.S. Carrie Veselka’s recap of a Cattlemen’s College session about how beef byproducts are used and developed provides proof that “they use everything but the … [Read more...]
Understanding beef implants
Let’s review. Growth-promoting implants in beef cattle production are used to increase muscle accretion and market weight by increasing daily gain and feed efficiency. Implants must meet stringent requirements to be deemed safe for consumers and animals. Implants have a minuscule effect on hormone content of beef.” Source: Progressive Cattle, March 8, 2021. Link. Implanted … [Read more...]
Don’t forget the bulls this winter
Their seasonal work may be done, but bulls need attention to recover body conditioning and breeding soundness during winter months. Cassidy Woolsey shares information from a December Beefwatch webinar series featuring Kacie McCarthy, cow-calf specialist at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Source: Progressive Cattle, December 29, 2020. Link. “Coming off the breeding … [Read more...]
75 days to prep for calving
Say what?! It’s time to plan for calving season as the first of the 2021 crop will start dropping around March 1. Greg Henderson provides tips to help producers prepare: Assess the body condition of your cows and heifers Review the herd health plan Conduct an inspection of your calving facilities to make sure everything is in working order Check your calving … [Read more...]
Manage parasites with sound grazing practices
Cattle with heavy internal parasite loads lose weight, have low feed efficiency and don’t breed efficiently. However, proven deworming practices add pounds at weaning, increase milk production and bump body condition scores. Most of the parasite load is in the pasture, which is why a pasture management plan, along with proven deworming products are essential. Source: … [Read more...]
24 years, 25 million cattle prove what affects prices
The biggest value-added protocol in calf health is weaning, not vaccination. This, according to 24 years of big data generated from 25,000 million cattle by Superior Livestock Auction. Ken Odde, Kansas State University animal science professor, revealed which calf health programs, premiums and genetic breeds have on prices during the recent National Red Angus Conference. . . . … [Read more...]
Producers can reverse BRD trends
The severe stress calves experience stress during weaning and shipping is opportunity for bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Despite producers’ and feedlot managers’ best attempts to manage the costly malady, mortality rates for feedlots continue to increase. John M. Davis with Beef Cattle Professional Services at Boehringer Ingelheim, suggests it is time to manage the disease … [Read more...]
Zoetis, CSU launch Incubator Research Lab targeting biotherapeutics for cattle
Zoetis and Colorado State University have agreed to establish a research lab that will be used to help develop alternatiives to antibiotics for food-producing animals. Ray Goodrich, professor and executive director of the Infectious Disease Research Center says, “Our agreement with Zoetis represents the beginning of an era of collaboration, cooperation and innovation between … [Read more...]