Reading Time: 4 minutes I don’t think this research has ever been done, but if one were to track purebred bull calves from an early age until sale you would find the two top reasons for culling, selling, death and other losses are fertility and injuries. I would include lameness in this tally as a high percentage of this […] Read more
What’s your secret to keeping bull calves from being injured?
Raising bulls and wintering them is challenging, and sharing tips and tricks would be very helpful
Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in livestock is hitting the next level
There are now a variety of NSAIDs and we can select the right ones for specific situations
Reading Time: 4 minutes I recently listened to a talk by two technical services veterinarians with Merck animal health. What I liked about the presentation was they broke down the different disease categories we have on our farms and ranches, and went over what probably would be the first choice for an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and the second […] Read more
We can’t hide our head in the sand when it comes to Johne’s disease
There are concerns that this contagious and chronic condition is on the rise in beef herds
Reading Time: 4 minutes There has been lots said about Johne’s disease over the years but a recent webinar by Dr. Cheryl Waldner at beefresearch.ca gave me lots of food for thought. Herds are getting bigger and as that happens, they are more confined. And since the bacterium that causes Johne’s can be spread in the manure, infection via […] Read more
Get out your calving season to-do list — and check it twice
Being well prepared not only saves headaches during calving but can prevent future problems
Reading Time: 3 minutes For the vast majority of you, calving is underway or will be shortly, so a quick review of a few points may lead to more live calves and minimizing disease problems. First, review your list of calving supplies and make sure you have extra on hand. You know what you have needed in the past, […] Read more
Videos are an easy way to add to your skill set on the farm
Having an expert show how to investigate or fix a problem is a great way to learn
Reading Time: 3 minutes We can always pick up ways to improve our cattle operations. One method is to ask lots of questions of the right people. Another is reading and investigating specific topics. And an increasingly popular way is to watch instructive videos. The issue here is making sure the source is ethical, reliable and not sensationalized. A […] Read more
Use that extra at-home time to boost your learning
Fewer meetings and networking opportunities offer more time to discover other info sources
Reading Time: 2 minutes As the world is recovering from and dealing with COVID-19 in 2022, we all are becoming more accustomed to keeping our bubble small. By spending more time at home and on our farms and ranches — and relying more on deliveries instead of getting out in person — how do we keep up with improvements […] Read more
The simple act of taking a temperature is a powerful health aid
A reading can be a warning, a sign that treatment is working or can define how sick an animal is
Reading Time: 3 minutes All of us in cattle production need to have thermometers and take the temperature of animals we are treating, especially when it comes to respiratory disease. Normal bovine temperature is 38.5 C to 39.5 C (or 101 F to 103 F), which is higher than for humans (or horses). While you as producers are very […] Read more
The cattle sector benefits enormously from a wide array of vaccines
There is a large number of vaccines for cattle — here’s a primer on key ones and their use
Reading Time: 3 minutes Healthy cattle production relies on good vaccination strategies. The general public is now hearing about efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, two doses of vaccine, storage and the logistics of transport. We are now hearing about supply issues. With a single-dose vaccine of 66 per cent efficacy, is that worse or better that needing two doses to […] Read more
Lessons learned on the farm apply to the pandemic
Maintaining herd health has taught us about the same good practices being used to combat COVID
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association designates the first week in October every year in order to increase awareness of veterinary involvement with all animals. Every year there is a theme and this year’s is most appropriate. It is Animal Health + Human Health + Planet Health = One Health. One Health really encompasses the entire […] Read more
The pandemic taught us many lessons in the animal health field
The supply chain stayed strong and co-operation made it stronger, and that’s very important
Reading Time: 3 minutes The direct contact between veterinarians and producers and pharmaceutical reps and technical services veterinarians has begun to open up again. Each pharmaceutical company had different restrictions on travel and rules on in-person contact and, of course, are fully abiding by the local health rules of the different provinces. The good news is that during the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
