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
A safe product for grazing alfalfa
Tetanus — a nasty disease, but easy to prevent
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
Tips on practical heat detection
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 moreCommon pitfalls of semen evaluation
Reading Time: 4 minutes In the past 31 years of semen evaluating bulls, I have come across many tricks of the trade to make this procedure run very smoothly. Every situation is different and every set of bulls somewhat unique so most of these points involve common-sense and casual observations I have made over the years. A common dilemma […] Read more
Protocols For Chronically Ill Cattle In Feedlots
Reading Time: 3 minutes Times are changing and with change comes new ways we should look at our chronic pens in feedlots. Each decision should be based on sound medical judgment, economics and the possibility for salvage. All these factors must be weighed on each individual case to determine the course of action. There are no cookbook answers to […] Read more
Using Anti-Inflammatory Drugs To Reduce Pain In Cattle
Reading Time: 3 minutes With the advent of the increasing consciousness in animal welfare, any products which can relieve pain, decrease inflammation and reduce fever are a welcome addition to the repertoire we as veterinarians have to treat clinical disease. They also may have a place in controlling post-surgical pain or inflammation such as with castration or dehorning. With […] Read more
Many Reasons For Lameness At Pasture
Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the most common conditions encountered in beef cattle during summer grazing is lameness. Neither calves, cows, yearlings nor bulls are immune from developing some types of lameness. Surprisingly, many are treated even though they really don’t require much for treatment. Producers often use the all-encompassing term of foot rot, yet most lameness at […] Read more
First Combination Product Approved For Several Years
Reading Time: 3 minutes Many of us recall that many years ago there were several combination drugs for cattle. For example, Pen-Strep or Azimycin, which were a combination of two antibiotics, a steroid and an antihistamine, all in one bottle. These products were pulled in the interests of meat safety and beef quality assurance. Today, with more thought on […] Read more
Blue-Green Algae Poisoning
Reading Time: 3 minutes Having practised in Western Canada for over 25 years I have yet to diagnose a known case of algae poisoning. In Eastern Canada with the growing human and livestock populations surrounding water bodies there have been increasing problems, and it may only be a matter of time before the incidence increases out west. With recent […] Read more
Responsible Use Of Drugs In Treating Beef Animals
Reading Time: 4 minutes With today’s tighter and tighter controls on residues in meat and milk, we must have the utmost responsibility how we treat our livestock. Beef Quality Assurance benefits by this, and with human antibiotic resistance increasing, we as producers must be prudent in the use of antibiotics and other drugs. This article will review some areas […] Read more