Reading Time: 4 minutes Since the traditional time for getting calves ready for grass is close to over, it is good to review your protocols, methods, and any issues you had this year and introduce ways to improve next year. There are two main ways ranchers process calves. The first is the traditional way we call ‘branding,’ where calves […] Read more
Now’s the time to make a list on improving calf processing
Beef 911: There are always ways to improve and it’s worthwhile reviewing how things went this year
The last thing you want to see in a prized bull
Beef 911: Injuries that prevent a bull from breeding can be successfully treated, and about 50 per cent of cases will heal
Reading Time: 3 minutes Numerous times during the breeding season, calls come in to veterinary clinics in regards to swellings along the sheath of bulls. In many instances, a favourable outcome is highly attainable. And with today’s bull prices this may be good news. The location of the swelling says a lot about its cause. Generally if the penis […] Read more
A close look at the Breeding Soundness Evaluation form
Beef 911: Evaluating a bull isn’t straightforward and there is a number of factors to consider
Reading Time: 3 minutes In talking with astute, diligent and thorough cattlemen, it’s come to my attention that a close examination of the Breeding Soundness Evaluation form is clearly warranted. All conscientious breeders will make them available before a sale or for sure at the point of delivery. Specific things on the form may be more applicable depending on […] Read more
Intestinal problems are frustrating, and not well understood
Beef 911: Some conditions will strike calves that seem to be flourishing until they are suddenly struck down
Reading Time: 4 minutes Every spring, the sudden deaths of apparently healthy calves frustrate good managers. This article will shed some light on the cause of these internal conditions and help producers realize some things are simply beyond their control. We see one to two per cent perforating ulcers every spring on many well-managed farms. These are ulcers on […] Read more
Calving during hot weather with no shade is a recipe for trouble
Beef 911: Being proactive and taking a few simple steps means you may never need to deal with hyperthermia
Reading Time: 3 minutes Every year during the first few hot days of summer, we hear media warnings about leaving pets unattended in closed vehicles, where temperatures can rise to over 50 C. We often don’t realize how susceptible livestock are to the same condition. Many a farmer or veterinarian has been fooled by symptoms resembling a toxemia or […] Read more
Ways to reduce the risk of bloat when pasturing on alfalfa
Beef 911: Producers can take steps to reduce the risk through management and preventive products
Reading Time: 3 minutes Pasturing alfalfa can improve gains, but bloat is always a worry. Thankfully, advancements in technology, along with pasture management, can make this a viable option. Adhering to several principles can go a long ways to preventing unnecessary deaths when turning cattle out into leguminous pastures. Cattle should initially be turned out in the heat of […] Read more
Sick cattle: When to treat, call the vet, or pull the plug
Make an informed decision, but do it sooner rather than later
Reading Time: 3 minutes When first assessing sick mature cattle, there are four main choices or treatment streams to choose. Is it a treatable condition in which a positive response is likely? Is this a condition where the animal can be shipped for immediate slaughter? If the condition has gone past the point of return and the animal should […] Read more
Hands-on synchronization programs have many benefits
Beef 911: Some suggestions for running a successful AI program for beef cattle
Reading Time: 3 minutes We have come a long way from the synchronization programs of one shot of prostaglandins, observation, and breeding according to heat. Prostaglandins are still a very useful tool in combination with other drugs and intravaginal devices containing progesterone. Many of you will have seen the numerous protocols put out for synchronization — American Breeders Service […] Read more
On-farm semen collection is a valuable tool
With a valuable bull, on-farm collection becomes like an insurance plan preserving his genetics for the future
Reading Time: 4 minutes This is the time of year when either your own hot breeding prospects or ones for sale are coming to the forefront. A good insurance plan is collecting semen on these hot new or proven prospects, especially when you incorporate artificial insemination into your program. This article will review some of the finer points of […] Read more
A full breech birth is a dangerous situation
Beef 911: Cows with a history of twins more likely to have a full breech birth
Reading Time: 3 minutes In the true breech, the calf presented tail first with both back legs pointing forward under the body of the calf. A lot of producers refer to a straight backwards calf as a breech, but that is a misnomer. The true full breech has both back legs forwards so the first thing you feel when […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
