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Cattleman’s Corner

Risk for hyperthermia increases as temperatures reach 30 C for too long a period.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Be watchful for animals overheating

Animal Health: Do your best to prevent it, and be prepared to provide relief on hot days

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Every year during the first few hot days of summer we hear many warnings regarding leaving pets or even children unattended in vehicles as the temperature inside closed vehicles on warm days can rise to more than 50 C. We often don’t realize how susceptible livestock are to the same condition. Many farmers and veterinarians […] Read more
Under hot and dry conditions this is a situation of pasture being depleted with no supplement food in sight.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

A feed strategy to help compensate for poor pastures

It’s a hot dry summer out there in many places — any grass just isn’t doing it

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Western Canada is having one of the hottest and driest summers in 30 years. It might not be the widespread drought of the past, but this year’s pastures are either simply nonexistent or filled with nutritionally hollow grass. As a result, cattle performance is likely to be compromised now and in months ahead with a […] Read more
Mom, Heather Eppich and son Joseph, saddled up for a ride.
Cattleman’s Corner, FarmLife, Livestock

Breeding season begins

With moisture to help the grass, cows and bulls head out to pasture

By
May turned out to be a warm month. We were lucky enough to get several rainstorms toward the end of May and beginning of June — very happy to get the much-needed moisture. On May 12 our last Bannerlane heifer calved. There was only one foot presented so we put her in the maternity pen […] Read more
Implement a good pinkeye control program
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Implement a good pinkeye control program

Understand how it is spread to keep cattle healthy

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I’m hearing about more cases of pinkeye in cows and in their calves than in the last few years. A few milder winters might have had something to do with it — not enough overwintering face flies (that spread the disease) were killed off. Each cow or calf infected with untreated painful pinkeye (caused by […] Read more
During a heat wave a dugout can dry up and endanger your herd.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Make sure livestock have water

Situation can get serious quickly if a pump fails, or a water hole dries up

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Water is the most essential nutrient of life and even though most areas have more than enough water this year, it’s always worth talking about the risk of water deprivation. Insufficient and poor-quality water can reduce weight gain and depending on the water source, there can be other issues such as foot rot and potential […] Read more
Cattleman’s Corner, Finishers, Markets

Yearlings gain on tighter supplies

Market Update: Feedlots counting on lower feed costs this fall

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In late June, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $243 to $245/hundredweight on a dressed basis and $143 to $145 on a live basis. The fed cattle market has dropped about $12 over the past month and will likely continue to grind lower into July and August. The U.S. and Canadian […] Read more
Dad, Gregory, gives young Joseph a horse ride on his first birthday.
Cattleman’s Corner, FarmLife, Livestock

Green grass, birthdays and branding

Calving is finished and cattle finally head out to pasture

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This calving season has had its challenges for sure. The temperature rose drastically in the middle of April and caused a lot of runoff, leaving our home pasture very wet. We held the cows and calves in the corral for as long as we could because we don’t have any natural windbreak or protection in […] Read more
Whether it is cows, horses, sheep, dogs, bison or any other class of livestock, develop a proper vaccination program and follow through.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Gaps in vaccination programs can be costly

Animal Health: Forgetting to vaccinate or missing booster shots can increase risk of disease

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We as veterinarians and producers should constantly review our vaccination protocols to check for lapses in either booster shot administration, missing certain antigens in our vaccines, or keeping current with new or emerging diseases to which vaccines are now available. Cattle transported to other areas where other diseases may be more prevalent have often been […] Read more
Cows leaving the dairy
Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle

Dirty conditions can lead to uterine infections

Barn cleanliness as well as nutrition can be among the contributors

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Many dairy cows come down with a uterine infection after calving. Some are slight but some are more serious. While there are host of factors which cause them, some reasons such as a dirty calving area are obvious, other reasons such as persistent metabolic problems are not so clear. Fortunately, a good spring-cleaning and improvements […] Read more
On the hottest days cows and bulls can drink 40 to 50 litres per head. They need plenty of fresh water.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Water and shade reduce impact of heat stress on cattle

Too much heat along with pests can affect breeding success

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I am no stranger to the effects of summer heat stress in cattle. Back when I was working on my master’s thesis at the University of Manitoba (the effect of molybdenum on copper status in beef cattle nutrition, 1983), I had 35 Shorthorn/Angus crossbred yearlings on full feed. During that particular summer, after July 1 […] Read more

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