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Topics of Interest

Beef Cow Efficiency

Perhaps the greatest single factor affecting your profitability as a beef producer.


Body Condition Scoring

Use body condition scores (BCS) to improve herd nutrition and efficiency.

 

Feeding & Feedstuffs

Maximize pasture utilization and optimize feeding of harvested forages and supplements to efficiently meet the nutritional needs
of your herd.

 


 


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April 20, 2010


HEALTH & NUTRITION...

spring parasite control

Keeping Rural Veterinarians

Reports detail why veterinarians enter, leave rural practice.

Two special reports appearing in the April 15, 2010, edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) offer some interesting insight as to why veterinarians choose to practice in rural settings in the United States — and why some of them choose to walk away.

The first report summarized why veterinarians enter rural veterinary practice. Survey respondents put the rural lifestyle at the top of their list. Rounding out the top-five reasons for entering rural veterinary practice were working in animal care at the herd level; working with individual animals; the location of family and friends; and the desire to practice where a community need for veterinary care exists.

In the second report, summarizing why veterinarians leave rural veterinary practice, it was clear that quality-of-life issues played a central role. While survey respondents indicated that emergency duty and time off ranked low in importance in their decision to take a job, the tide turned when it came to those same veterinarians deciding to leave the field. In fact, emergency duty and time off were the top two reasons cited by veterinarians who left rural practice. Filling in the rest of the top-five reasons were salary, practice atmosphere and family concerns.

More details about the survey were provided in the April 15 Angus news e-List available at www.anguselist.com.

 


Changes to TB Eradication Program

USDA issues Federal Order modifying certain elements of the bovine TB eradication program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a Federal Order modifying certain elements of the bovine tuberculosis (TB) eradication program. The changes will better allow the program to meet the circumstances and needs of today's producers, according to a USDA news release. Read more.


TB Case Reported

Nebraska Department of Agriculture wraps up one TB incident, finds another.

Greg Ibach, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), April 7 provided information on the status of bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing in the state.

The update included details to wrap up the investigation into the June 2009 finding of two TB-positive beef cows in a Rock County herd. Ibach also offered information in follow-up to a January announcement regarding the department's cooperation with South Dakota officials on the finding of a TB-positive beef cow in that state.

"We are extremely pleased that after extensive testing, we did not find any additional positive cases of TB in association with the Rock County investigation," Ibach said. "Unfortunately the disease has been found in association with another investigation.” Read more.


Rick Rasby

Rick Rasby

Ridin’ Herd

What if spring-calving cows are thin now?

The winter and early spring was long and tough, and breeding season is just around the corner for March-calving herds. In many areas, cornstalk acres and some of the stockpiled winter range were not available this winter for grazing. Harvested feeds were fed for a longer period of time this past winter. Cows seemed to be in lower body condition at calving, and they are entering the breeding season possibly in lower condition. What options are there from a nutritional perspective? Read more.


Grass Tetany

Tetany season winds down in spring; providing cattle magnesium helps.

The risk of grass or winter tetany is lessening as spring approaches, but it is not totally out of the picture for beef cows, according to Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri (MU) Extension.

Tetany is a metabolic condition that results from low magnesium intake in older, heavy-milking cows. Symptoms in the affected cows show up as nervousness or marked changes in attitude (like a normally gentle cow acting aggressive and ultimately going into paddling convulsions). Death can occur if intravenous treatment is not given promptly. Read more.


Fescue Doppler

Doppler ultrasound helps scientists understand fescue toxicosis.

Doppler technology — the very same technology used by meteorologists to track thunderstorms — is being used by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists to better understand the rate at which fescue toxicosis restricts blood flow in cattle. Read more.


Tips for Using an Esophageal Feeder

There are times you must get fluid into a calf — when a newborn needs colostrum or a sick calf needs fluid and medications orally, for example. An easy way to do this is with a feeder probe — a nonflexible plastic or stainless steel tube [about ½ inch (in.) in diameter] with a larger-diameter bulb on the end that goes down the calf's throat. A container for milk or fluid is attached to the other end.

Idaho rancher Heather Thomas offers insight into using an esophageal feeder. Read more.


Tips on Using a Nasogastric Tube

For baby calves, most cattlemen use an esophageal feeder probe to administer colostrum or fluid. For older calves or adult cattle, a long flexible plastic tube that goes into the nostril and down to the stomach is more appropriate. For calves, a tube 4 feet (ft.) long is adequate. It should be about ¼ inch (in.) in diameter. For adult cattle you need a tube about ½ in. to ¾ in. in diameter, at least 7 ft. long. Cattle producer Heather Thomas explains how to use a nasogastric tube, tips for knowing that you have the tube positioned properly and cautions on what can go wrong when using the technique. Read more.


Cattle Diseases: Common Conditions/Terms

Click here for a list of common conditions and terms related to beef cattle diseases, such as anaplasmosis, brucellosis, BVD, E. coli, IBR and others.

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