During summer grazing, lameness is one of the most common ailments encountered in beef cattle. Whether it’s calves, cows, yearlings or purebred or commercial, none are immune from developing some types of lameness. Surprisingly, many cattle really don’t require much treatment, yet many are treated. Producers often use the all-encompassing term of ‘foot rot,’ yet […] Read more
Assess lameness problem before rushing to treatment
Animal Health: Don’t just assume a limping animal has foot rot, as several conditions may apply
A certain amount of scratching in cattle is natural
Animal Health: Most delousing products will do the job, but there are exceptions
With the advent of the reliable pour-on and injectable endectocides, scratching from lice or mange is rare unless a fall treatment was not done or we have biting lice or mange about. Veterinarians are sometimes called on to investigate apparent breaks in these products’ efficacies. I know we have observed a lot about cattle’s scratching behaviour which we […] Read more
Problems and benefits of twin calves
Animal Health: It is worth the extra management effort to save both calves
In my practice I often hear producers complaining about twins, mainly because often the focus is on the problems they can present. However, research done on a twinner population over the last 10 years in the U.S. found there to be a definite economic benefit with twins. So it is important to look at both […] Read more
Dealing with contracted or lax leg tendons in calves
Animal Health: In many cases, time and a bit of physiotherapy will fix the condition
It is not uncommon during calving season for producers to end up with calves with contracted tendons (knuckling over) or the complete opposite — cases of lax tendons whereby the back of the fetlock is touching the ground. Although it is difficult to prevent these abnormalities, fortunately they only occur sporadically. Even so it is […] Read more
Be prepared to resuscitate calves
Animal Health: Depending on the birthing difficulty, time may be running out to get a calf breathing
There have been many ways discussed among both dairy and beef producers regarding the best way to stimulate a weak calf that doesn’t want to breathe. With calving season just around the corner, certainly for many purebred producers, this is a good time to share techniques and get the calving area supplied. My experience has […] Read more
Provide calves a place of their own soon after birth
Animal Health: Calf hutches or creep areas help in disease prevention
Calf hutches are used by many producers at calving season and for very good reason. They are especially important if calving early in inclement weather. With the increasing size of our herds, young calves need to get away from the crowded stress of the herd. Even summer-calving herds will find hutches used for shade and […] Read more
Lead poisoning still No. 1 toxin killer for cattle
Animal Health: Check the yard for hazards and properly dispose of old batteries
There are a multitude of toxins, such as heavy metals and other substances that cattle can come in contact with. Even with ever-increasing education, lead poisoning is still the number one toxic cause of death we, as veterinarians, see in cattle producing areas — especially in calves. Perhaps a reminder about the hazards will result […] Read more
A solid case for the value of growth implants
Animal Health: A very safe technology for improving cattle efficiency and weight gains
Growth implants in the cattle industry have been used since the 1960s — way more than 40 years on hundreds of millions of cattle in North America as well as in other beef-producing countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, to name a few. We all know the benefits that come with a […] Read more
‘Decision tree’ helps guide drug use
Animal Health: It’s all about using the proper product to benefit animals and humans
Three years ago the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association along with several industry partners came up with a Therapeutic Decision Cascade for Animal and Public Safety (a decision tree). This is a great tool for reminding all veterinarians and producers how to properly select drugs for any species we are treating. This guide is an valuable […] Read more
Managing wildlife/agriculture conflicts
Animal Health: Proper compensation part of the solution
There have been many articles written on the escalating conflict between wildlife and agriculture (both livestock and grain production) in certain areas of Canada. Our governments struggle to find balanced management options. The most recent survey (2014) on wildlife damage by Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) and the Miistakis Institute shows a high percentage of farms […] Read more
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