Reading Time: 3 minutes Numerous articles have been written over the years on how and when to intervene at calving, how to recognize malpresentations, and what to do about them. Producers now see fewer and fewer calving-related problems as our breeding has improved and we select for easy-calving heifers with larger pelvises and moderate birth weight bulls. Ensuring cattle […] Read more
Calving problems are becoming rare, but be prepared to act
Beef 911: The first key step is to note when the birth process starts and investigate if too much time passes
Here’s how to assess the risk when bringing in calves
Beef 911: Mingling animals, transport times, light weights, and even weather can be factors that increase the risk of BRD
Reading Time: 4 minutes There are many factors to consider when bringing in calves to feed in order to minimize BRD (bovine respiratory disease), which is still the No. 1 cause of morbidity and often mortality in our feedlots. Knowing the history of the calves regarding weaning time, distance transported, vaccination, and health history — as well as upcoming […] Read more
We need to do better when it comes to castration
Beef 911: Doing it early and properly brings benefits to the producers, addresses animal welfare concerns, and prevents problems later on
Reading Time: 4 minutes We now have many tools at our disposal when it comes to castration of calves in the beef and dairy sectors of our industry. When used together in skilled hands, newer techniques at castration along with NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) will ensure welfare issues are addressed. Much has changed in the feedlot industry. Cattle are not […] Read more
Body condition scoring pays dividends
Beef 911: Having a good handle on body condition allows you to fatten thin cows and feed less to fat ones to boost performance
Reading Time: 4 minutes Body condition scoring really means assessing the condition and fat cover on your cow to enable you to feed them for optimal growth and reproductive performance. It may mean separating the fat and thin groups from the main herd, which allows you to feed them separately to save feed on the fat ones and build […] Read more
The revised Beef Code of Practice a win for everyone
Beef 911: Everyone involved in the cattle industry should keep a copy handy and consult it frequently
Reading Time: 4 minutes There has been a lot written about the revised Beef Code of Practice, which was released in 2013 and was the first revision since 1991. It is most definitely worth a read, whether you are a beef producer, transporter, marketer, nutritionist, veterinarian, or are involved with the cattle industry in any way. At 56 pages, […] Read more
Don’t let freemartins become a management headache in your herd
Beef 911: Some will reproduce normally and are well worth keeping, but others need to be culled
Reading Time: 3 minutes With better nutrition and management and a higher incidence of twins in the Charolais, Simmental, and Holstein breeds, some larger herds can have up to a 10 per cent twinning rate. With the odds of 50 per cent of the twins being mixed sexes, it is no wonder freemartins are not an uncommon occurrence. Remember […] Read more
The criteria for selecting the right antibiotic
Beef 911: There are a lot of factors at play and all of them need to be considered in every case where antibiotics are an option
Reading Time: 4 minutes Although a few very effective antibiotics have been removed from the marketplace over the years, the choice has never been greater. The challenge is there are so many factors hinging on the outcome, so deciding which antibiotic to use — or if one is necessary at all — can be a very difficult decision. Also […] Read more
Hormone-free beef pros and cons
Beef 911: There’s a lot of confusion about these programs — here’s a take from a veterinary perspective
Reading Time: 4 minutes With all the terms we are hearing in the beef industry — such as organic, natural, hormone free, sustainable — there is no doubt confusion even for you the producers trying to raise cattle to fit into these programs. Most of these branded or niche programs are trying to differentiate themselves from the traditional ways […] Read more
A lack of macrominerals for cattle can be a true emergency
Beef 911: Grass tetany can be successfully treated if caught early, but you need to watch for symptoms and contact your vet immediately
Reading Time: 3 minutes Over the last few years several herds have been affected with grass tetany in our area. These herds will often have multiple cases in short order. Once clinical signs occur and cattle go down, chances of recovery are very poor so treatment-wise they are a true emergency. Early in the course of the disease, treatment […] Read more
It’s worth the effort to find out what happened
Beef 911: Autopsies can provide very valuable information you can use to enhance preventive medicine protocols
Reading Time: 4 minutes When an animal dies, producers often simply have it disposed of. But that often means valuable information is lost — so decisions for the rest of the herd or altering treatments for subsequent cases cannot be made. An experienced veterinarian can glean very valuable information from a complete autopsy and often give you the cause […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
