You probably won’t make money by using pain control, but your calves will feel better, pair up faster and you’ll be doing something that promotes animal welfare in your industry, veteriarian and researcher John Campbell says.
Cattleman’s Corner
Calves recover quicker with pain control at castration
Animal Health: A recent survey showed 85 per cent of cattle farmers were castrating calves at less than three months
The Eppich family takes a trip to the States
Eppich News: It’s great to have people who can look after the farm when you’re away for a visit
The Eppich family took a long trip through Montana, Idaho, Washington and Alberta, before arriving back home.
Well-balanced starch and forage levels make milk
Dairy Corner: The amount of starch in corn and barley silage can vary greatly between harvests
Starch levels in corn and barley silage can vary widely between harvests, so they need to be balanced in a dairy ration, nutritionist Peter Vitti says.
A new season on a Korean beef farm
Better Bunks and Pastures: Why this farm is feeding heifers this time around
Most cattle feeding operations in Korea are like that of my girlfriend’s uncle and aunt — Sang June Kim and Hee Jong’s operation — in the form of an open-roof and dairy-like barn with two longitudinal rows of cattle pens.
Teamwork from a cow’s perspective
Costs of Production: How are you as a herd manager hitting the salary cap and identifying players that don’t fit?
Managing a herd of cows can be much like managing a sport team, as explained by Sean McGrath of Ranching Systems Ltd.
Mastering elastic band castration: techniques for a stress-free procedure
Manitoba rancher Jodi Suchoplas offers expert advice on the preferred castration method for cow-calf operations
When done properly, elastration is quick, requires minimal restraint, is less invasive than surgical methods, and eliminates the need for stitches. It’s also simply less stressful for both the animal and the handler.
Cattle markets try to adjust to tariffs
The Markets: There continue to be tight supplies for cattle that are ready to market, keeping prices high
There continue to be tight supplies for cattle that are ready to market, keeping prices high, despite tariff uncertainly in North America, analyst Jerry Klassen says.
Keep on top of pain this calving season
Controlling pain during calving can help keep both calf and mother healthy and lead to better outcomes
A more comfortable delivery generally jumpstarts the odds of a healthy cow and a calf that will pair well and start nursing without issue.
Reframing the view on heifer retention
Expanded screening tools can take the guesswork out of choosing replacement heifers
Replacing heifers based on visual phenotype and genetic merit, rather than early screening, leaves potential long-term herd retention on the table, University of Missouri animal scientist Jordan Thomas says.
How to manage Salmonella dublin on a cow-calf operation
Animal Health: The salmonella strain has become more common in Canada
Salmonella dublin is adapted to live in cattle, which remain the most important reservoir of this strain of the bacteria. It is also a strain of salmonella that’s very difficult to treat because it tends to be multi-drug resistant and will not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
