HEALTH & NUTRITION...
Watch Aflatoxin Levels
Livestock producers should be aware of aflatoxin in corn grain, silage.
Heat and drought over the summer months created an ideal environment for Aspergillus ear rot to form in corn grain and silage. The disease is caused by a fungus that may produce aflatoxin, which can be harmful to livestock.
"Aflatoxin can be very toxic and carcinogenic," said Donna Amaral-Phillips, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture dairy specialist. "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits the amount of aflatoxin allowable in lactating dairy cow feed to 20 parts per billion (ppb) and 0.5 parts per billion in milk. These amounts are lower than what is allowed in diets of breeding beef cattle." Read more.
Test Forages Before Turning Out on New Growth
K-State veterinarian urges livestock producers to check nitrate,
prussic acid levels in forages.
Topsy-turvy weather this summer and fall posed plenty of challenges for livestock producers — one of which is the possibility of increased nitrate and prussic acid levels in forages, according to Kansas State University (K-State) Veterinarian Larry Hollis.
Producers in some parts of the state saw new plant growth after much-needed rains this fall ended months of severe drought. Testing of some forage supplies, however, indicated nitrate levels above safe levels in some cases, said Hollis, who is a beef cattle specialist with K-State Research and Extension.
Dave Kehler, director of the K-State Research and Extension office in El Dorado, Kan., is encouraging producers to test before turning cattle out on new-growth forages. Read more.
Mineral Program for Cows on Wheat Pasture
Provide mineral mix appropriate to offset grass tetany.
Many Oklahoma cow-calf producers will use wheat pasture as a major source of winter feed for beef cows. If wheat pasture is the predominant feed in the diet of mature beef cows, providing an appropriate "wheat pasture" mineral mix will be helpful in preventing grass tetany at, or after the calving season begins.
Grass tetany, caused by magnesium deficiency, does not seem to be a major problem in Oklahoma, although occasional cases are reported. It typically occurs in beef cows during early lactation and is more prevalent in older cows. The reason is thought to be that older cows are less able to mobilize magnesium reserves from the bones than are younger cows.
Grass tetany most frequently occurs when cattle are grazing lush immature grasses or small-grains pastures and tends to be more prevalent during periods of cloudy weather. Symptoms of grass tetany include incoordination, salivation, excitability (aggressive behavior toward humans) and, in the final stages, tetany, convulsions and death. Read more.
Rick Rasby
Ridin’ Herd
Corn-crop residue as a feed source this winter
The widespread drought of 2012 has challenged cow-calf producers to source feeds for the cow herd this winter. Many areas of the United States have an abundance of crop residue available for late fall and winter grazing. A number of those acres are corn crops that were irrigated this summer. However, a large number of acres are associated with corn grown on dryland acres. Because of the widespread drought, there will be more corn-residue acres grazed this year than any previous years. Read more.
Drought Feed Options for Feedlots
Iowa Beef Center (IBC) Director Dan Loy provides a quick overview of some feedstuff options feedlots may want to consider. Included in the discussion are drought silage, off-quality corn, alternative grains, commodity feeds and protein sources. Read more.
Understand The Limits Of Fecal Egg Count
Reduction Tests
Knowing the boundaries could save you money.
Many producers rely on fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRTs) to determine which parasites are affecting their herds or whether they might have resistant parasites on their property. However, knowing the facts about the tests can help you decide whether they are the right choice for your cattle — and your wallet.
A FECRT is a field-based tool that gives a qualitative estimate of internal parasite reduction in animals treated with a parasiticide. Many producers and veterinarians use FECRTs, but because the tests have many limitations, they often are misused or misinterpreted. Read more.
Rethink Use of MLV IBR Vaccine in Pregnant Cows
JAVMA article links abortion and pregnancy loss to use of modified-live virus vaccine.
A University of Wyoming herd of replacement heifers lost 25% of its calf crop to abortions and lost pregnancies after vaccinating pregnant heifers with modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines containing infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus, according to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).
A case report detailing the onset of abortions in the university-owned and well-managed herd was featured in the "Pathology in Practice" section of the JAVMA, which spotlights diagnostic case studies. The episode marks the latest piece of evidence implicating MLV IBR vaccines in cases of abortion and pregnancy loss, even when those vaccines are administered in full accordance with label directions. Read more.
Fall Parasite Control Helps Make the Most of Short Forage
Parasite control plays key role in making sure cattle get the most out of available feed resources.
Despite dry pasture conditions across the United States, internal and external parasites will continue to challenge beef cattle operations heading into fall and winter. An effective parasite control program in the fall can help cattle maintain body condition and make the most of purchased feedstuffs.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) professional service veterinarians from three key beef cow-calf regions share the following insights with cattle producers as they head into the fall:
- Diagnostics: Internal parasites are hard to diagnose without proper diagnostic tests. Work with your herd veterinarian to find out what species of parasites are challenging your herd. The main species to control varies from region to region in the fall of the year.
- Different ages of cattle have different challenges: Younger animals such as calves and replacement heifers are the most susceptible animals in the herd to internal parasites. By the time cattle have passed their second grazing season, they have developed a degree of ability to control Cooperia species on their own. Cattle do not appear to develop resistance to abomasal parasites such as Ostertagia (brown stomach worm) and Haemonchus.
- Read the label: The types of parasites controlled and for how long vary from product to product. Read the label to ensure you are controlling the parasites challenging your herd and that you are administering the proper dosage.
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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