Foot Rot Causes More Issues Than Pain
Veterinarian shares tips on treating bacterial infection.
Kansas State University veterinarian Gregg Hanzlicek says a bacterial infection that causes lameness in calves could be decreasing the breeding effectiveness of the cow herd and costing producers profits.
Hanzlicek refers to a recent research stocker-calf project indicating lame calves gained ½ pound less than their healthy counterparts.
Benefits of Early-weaning Calves
An early-weaned calf is a flexible option in the marketplace.
Sometimes weaning calves earlier than traditional weaning dates can be a good strategy. For producers whose pastures were drought-stressed in 2021, early weaning might be something to consider, according to Bart Lardner, a professor in the Department of Animal & Poultry Science at the University of Saskatchewan. This might mean weaning a month or more earlier than usual, or even weaning calves at 3 to 4 months of age.
Tips for Sorting Calves From Cows
A calf-stripper gate allows calves to slip into another pen while cows walk past.
It pays to sort cattle quietly and calmly, especially when sorting cows away from the calves. Dylan Biggs from TK Ranch near Hanna, Alta., Canada, realized the benefits of handling cattle quietly several decades ago. He learned many techniques from Bud Williams.
June 7, 2022 | Vol. 15 : No. 6
Save Antibiotic Use for the Ones That Really Need It
New technology explores ways to predict cattle health risk.
There are always clues. Management history, genetics, plane of nutrition — they all provide some prediction power. Yet, even with all that context, it can be hard to tell exactly which animals are going to get sick and which ones won’t.
That’s why metaphylaxis, or the process of treating an entire group of cattle with preventative antimicrobials on arrival, has been such an important tool to keep high-risk cattle healthy, says John Richeson, animal scientist at West Texas A&M University.
Pandemic Pricing Lessons
Feeding cattle through a pandemic provides case study.
2020 wasn’t ideal for a traditional cattle-feeding research trial. However, in retrospect, it may provide real-world answers for hard-to-study questions. Check out this video to learn more.
Why, Who and How of a Biosecurity Plan
It takes thought and action to keep your operation safe.
“Remember that biosecurity is a verb.”
Julia Herman, beef veterinarian specialist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says biosecurity is a necessary consideration to help keep both foreign and domestic diseases out of an operation. Successful biosecurity plans require a cattle producer to find the balance between what’s necessary and what’s practical, she adds.