HEALTH & NUTRITION...
Calving 2010
Calving season proves challenging for some producers in 2010.
Exceptionally cold weather made the 2010 calving season tougher than the last several years for many beef producers, said Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef specialist.
Many calves were born with heavier birth weights, which resulted in more cases of dystocia, or difficult birth, in some herds.
"In a cold environment, cows shunt some blood flow away from their extremities to the internal organs in an attempt to maintain core body temperature," Lemenager explained. "When this happens, there is not only an increase in blood flow, but also an increase in nutrient flow to the pregnant uterus and developing fetus. The fetus grows faster in response to the increased nutrient availability, and we observe higher calf birth weights." Read more.
2010 ISBCW Coverage:
Shade Benefits Well-being, Performance
Positive effects in cattle performance and carcass quality offset costs associated with providing shade to improve cattle well-being.
Shade is beneficial to a feedlot animal's well-being and performance, reported Frank Mitloehner as he addressed the topic of environmental management of beef cattle May 20 at the International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare. The symposium was conducted on the campus of Kansas State University (K-State).
Mitloehner, who is an associate professor and air quality specialist with the Department of Animal Science at the University of California-Davis, shared results from two studies he has conducted relating to the use of shade by feedlot animals.
"Cattle will utilize shade extensively when they are prone to heat stress," he said. Read more.
2010 ISBCW Coverage:
Euthanasia Techniques
Admittedly a hard subject to discuss, humane euthanasia techniques provide veterinarians and other animal caregivers the means to provide 'a good death.'
Jan Shearer, professor and Extension veterinarian at Iowa State University, acknowledged at the beginning of his presentation on humane euthanasia that the subject itself is difficult to discuss. In his opening remarks at the International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare at Kansas State University (K-State) May 21, Shearer said he has to be in the right frame of mind to even talk about it at times.
"I characterize it sometimes as one of the easiest procedures to perform, but one of the most difficult things to do," he explained. Shearer said most cattle owners have a lot of difficulty euthanizing their own animals, and, because of that, it is not being done in a timely manner, which makes it important for veterinarians to accept the role. Read more.
Rick Rasby
Ridin’ Herd
Have a drought-management plan?
Drought seems to happen somewhere every year. The key to getting a cow-calf enterprise through drought conditions is to have a management plan. Drought forces forage/livestock producers to develop strategies that deal with indirect economic and biological effects of too many animals for the available feed resources, as well as direct effects of a possible reduction in water supply for animals. Trying to feed the whole herd through a drought with purchased feeds can be financial suicide, especially if drought conditions last more than one growing season. Many strategies can be used to reduce forage demand. Bottom line, have a plan written down and detail steps for implementation. Read more.
Vaccinating Bison
Scientists counter brucellosis threat to livestock and wildlife.
Armed with dart guns and medical pellets, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are vaccinating bison in and around Yellowstone National Park against brucellosis.
Researchers from the ARS National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, Iowa, are using a vaccine known as RB51. By vaccinating the wild bison, scientists hope to prevent the disease from spreading to nearby livestock. Currently, no cattle herds in the United States are known to be infected, although some near Yellowstone have been sickened in the last decade. Read more.
Find and treat foot rot early
Bacterial infection can lead to lameness, performance losses and premature culling.
Technically, it's called interdigital necrobacilosis — a bacterial infection that creates dead tissue between a critter's toes. It's foot rot, and it causes an estimated 75% of all lameness diagnosed in beef cattle. Affected breeding animals become lame and spend less time grazing. Bulls often stop breeding. Growing and finishing cattle exhibit reduced performance.
"The greatest economic loss probably occurs from reduced gains and even weight loss among yearling cattle on grass. We've seen cases where a 900-pound (lb.) animal lost close to 100 pounds," says veterinarian Harold McCaslin, who has practiced in Broken Bow, Neb., for 38 years. Read more.
Calf Health at Half the Age
Keeping young calves healthy can be easier than you think.
Jeff Heldt, field consultant with Land O'Lakes Purina Feed, says the cattlemen he works with in western parts of Nebraska and South Dakota have weaned approximately 2,700 calves at a 90-day target. At first, he encouraged them to wean early to conserve forage in drought years, but Heldt says he continues to do so because it reduces cow costs, increases grass availability and shows tremendous benefit to calf health and performance.
Offhand, producers may not see the logic because they often worry about the health of their smallest calves. 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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