As with your beef herds, in a veterinary practice many decisions need to be made regarding the treatment and welfare of our livestock. One must always ask if the problem requires treatment with antibiotics, and if so, is there still a possibility of shipping or on-farm butchering? There are many examples where the quick run […] Read more
Put thought into whether to treat or salvage
There are several questions to be asked when considering culling, slaughter or disposal
Be prepared for an animal disease outbreak
Hopefully, infectious diseases don’t appear in Canada but the industry needs to have a plan in place
Hopefully, infectious diseases don’t appear in Canada but the industry needs to have a plan in place
If there ever is a foreign animal disease outbreak in Canada, we all know it could be devastating to the industry. Contagious pathogens such as foot and mouth in bovines, sheep and swine, or African Swine Fever (ASF) in pigs, can cost individual producers in lost production and animal deaths, as well as closing the […] Read more
Creative ideas on accessing veterinary care
Animal Health: A few thoughts on how producers can perhaps help fewer veterinarians reach more animals
With a lot of talk about the shortage of veterinarians, especially large-animal practitioners but also small-animal and emergency veterinarians, steps are being taken to increase veterinary school graduates. It was recently announced that the University of Calgary vet school will expand from the current 50 students as of two years ago to 100 students within […] Read more
A few key points on producing livestock
Animal Health with Roy Lewis: A mixed bag of things to consider, and important topics to discuss with your local vet
With my training and experience as a veterinary practice owner, later in the pharmaceutical industry and also as a beef producer myself, I question things from several different angles. If there is a more practical, safe or cost-effective way of doing things, that’s the road I take. When veterinarians give advice. it’s also important that […] Read more
An esophageal feeder is a key tool in saving calves
Animal Health with Roy Lewis: It is an effective way to administer a range of products to newborn or sick animals
Modern tool boxes in cow-calf production would not be complete without preferably at least two esophageal feeding tubes. These relatively simple, multipurpose feeding tools allow a safe, convenient method to give things such as colostrum or colostrum replacers, electrolytes, milk replacers and a few other treatments to calves. No producer should feel they don’t know […] Read more
Tips for delivering a backwards calf
Animal Health with Roy Lewis: If one calf presents backwards, there is a good chance there may be another
With improved breeding practices nowadays, calving season is more about mothering up, colostrum consumption and keeping calves warm and dry. Cases of calving difficulty have been greatly reduced. However, the backwards calf is still the most common calving malpresentation that require some intervention. With the alignment of the calf and the way the feet are […] Read more
Important scour-prevention tips for calves
Keep calving facilities clean, and focus on good herd health status
Scours is the number-one killer of calves under two months of age. It takes many different management strategies to prevent scours and it is important to know that it is caused by many different things. The following points will offer some ideas to reduce the buildup of organisms and increase resistance in your calves. Disease […] Read more
Managing the stifled cow or bull
Animal Health with Roy Lewis: A condition that can be treated, but culling may also be best option
A stifle condition is more commonly seen in older cows and in bulls that suffer breeding injuries. Many of these lamenesses are probably diagnosed incorrectly and in many cases treated inappropriately, often resulting in an animals being kept too long. When we talk about a stifled cow or bull, we refer to injury to ligaments […] Read more
Important to follow proper implanting technique for calves
Growth implants can generate at least a 15:1 return on investment
After all these years, implanting is still one of the most underutilized management tools in beef production. The feedlot sector has pretty much adopted implanting routinely, but the cow-calf sector lags far behind. It is one thing if “natural, hormone-free, or organic” beef is being raised and implants must be avoided as part of these […] Read more
Producers need to be the voice of reason for vaccines
Roy Lewis: Animal health products are not intended for humans
In my view, cattle producers can be the voice of reason when it comes to helping the non-rural population understand the decisions about vaccine efficacy, safety, and adverse reactions the rare time it happens in their own cattle. All the discussions and debate about COVID vaccinations revolve around a few questions — whether to vaccinate, […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
