Roy Lewis

Reading Time: 4 minutes A comprehensive survey was completed by Dr. Cheryl Waldner at the Western Veterinary College in Saskatoon looking at the incidence of early calfhood diseases across Western Canada. Surveys were distributed to veterinary clinics across this region and randomly distributed to their clients. Thanks to the participating veterinarians and their clients who responded and answered the […] Read more

Beef 911 Knowing the type will give you a head start on treatment 
for next calving season

Reading Time: 3 minutes Every calving season veterinarians are called on to examine calves with a multitude of problems. Some are herd related but many are individual problems of no concern to the rest of the herd. Most cases fall into a few broad categories. Each category has a much different treatment regime. This article will break out these […] Read more

beff 911 Vaccines are expensive, so make sure you store 
and administer them for maximum effectiveness

Reading Time: 4 minutes In order to achieve the maximum benefit out of vaccines or antibiotics this fall they must be handled properly right up to the time they are administered. You as producers pay good money for these products and the pharmaceutical companies want to ensure you get the maximum benefit. Vaccine failures are not desirable in anyone’s […] Read more

animal health Cancerous eyes are the leading cause of carcass 
condemnations at slaughter and so it pays to deal with this condition early

Reading Time: 3 minutes Cancerous eyes are a regular occurrence in most western Canadian beef herds, but early detection and treatment will alleviate the pain and suffering — and provide financial benefits for the producer. Cattle with white pigment around the eyes are more susceptible to this condition, as well as pink eye. Ultraviolet light, flies and other irritants […] Read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes There is a multitude of diseases to consider vaccinating for, and vaccines for them come in a multitude of combinations with different types of administration (subcutaneous or intramuscular) as well as different dosage amounts (usually two to five cc). These possibilities should all be considered when choosing vaccines. First and foremost, use the advice of […] Read more

Beef 911 Once almost never seen, this highly toxic plant has been 
found in several locations in my practice area this year


Reading Time: 3 minutes This year’s wet spring has seen increased sightings of western water hemlock — one of the most poisonous plants known in cattle production. Prior to 2006, I had only seen one occurrence of this highly toxic plant in 25 years of practice. This year, several multiple plants have been found a great distance apart in […] Read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes An effective prevention for frothy bloat is back on the market. Alfasure was pulled over a licensing issue (whether to be classed as a feed additive or a drug), but requirements were met and it has been relicensed as of June 2012. In the past producers have understandably been reluctant to plant and graze alfalfa […] Read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes In our practice, the incidence of tetanus has definitely been increasing in the last several years. This article will review some of the pertinent signs of tetanus and look at the prevention of this deadly disease. Tetanus is caused by the bacterium Clostridium Tetani, which is in the same family of organisms that causes blackleg. […] Read more

beff 911 It’s best to only AI for one or two cycles and then use good-quality cleanup bulls

Reading Time: 3 minutes When looking into any artificial insemination program, several goals must be kept in mind. Achieving pregnancies is of course the most important. Improving your genetic base is always a desire of any breeder whether you are a commercial operator or seedstock breeder. In order to be successful though, costs both for supplies and labour must […] Read more