veterinary medicine Archives - Page 2 of 6

Ontario seeking new rules on scope of vet services

Changes also considered to veterinary sector oversight

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News November 22, 2022

Updated Nov. 23 — Ontario’s government is considering new legislation to more clearly spell out who can provide what kinds of animal care in the province’s veterinary sector. The provincial ag ministry on Monday launched a round of public consultation on the Veterinarians Act, which governs licensing of veterinarians and accreditation of veterinary facilities in […] Read more

Livestock

Saskatchewan, Manitoba to boost vet college seat quotas

Each province adding five subsidized seats at WCVM

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News September 30, 2022

Updated, Sept. 30 — With livestock producers’ needs at top of mind, 10 more student seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan will be spoken for starting next year. The college and the Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments on Thursday announced the two provinces will each step up their funding […] Read more

"Dr. Google" may work for an initial search for information, but are those links taking you to trusted websites or organizations?

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

An extensive list of information resources

Animal Health: It's important to assess the credibility of information you may find online

By Roy Lewis September 19, 2022

The answer is probably out there somewhere — you just need to ask. All of us in cattle production run into questions about things we haven’t seen before or don’t understand. There are always questions, whether they’re related to production, genetics, animal welfare or some other facet involving the whole animal production cycle. It is […] Read more

In the most severe cases the hair coat of cattle may change colour, but most copper deficiencies in cattle are subtle in nature, which makes it difficult to spot.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Several symptoms relate to copper deficiency

Poor pregnancy rates and lots of foot rot are common indicators of insufficient amounts

By Peter Vitti September 19, 2022

As a beef nutritionist, I have formulated hundreds of cattle minerals. Some are very simple and basic formulas while others are customized to take care of a specific cattle need. Still a few others may contain non-mineral feed additives. Regardless of their final mineral choice, beef producers often request that it be fortified with a […] Read more

Keeping alleyways as clean as possible and using disinfectant foot baths are a couple measures that reduce the risk of dairy cattle developing hairy heel warts.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Revisiting hairy heel warts in dairy cows

Proper nutrition and good sanitation in the barn help to reduce disease risk

By Peter Vitti August 18, 2022

About five years ago I worked with a 350-dairy cow operation with a significant hairy heel wart (HHW) problem. At the time, this dairy manager often had a series of lame lactating dairy cows at different stages of this disease. The foot problem was affecting feed consumption, milk production, reproduction and the general well-being of […] Read more

Alberta’s Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announces funding for the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine on May 10, 2022 at the university’s Spyhill campus. (Government of Alberta video screengrab via YouTube)

Livestock

More funds put up to boost Calgary vet school enrolment

Funding added for more staff, materials on top of infrastructure money

By GFM Network News May 12, 2022

The University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine, fresh off a major capital funding boost in February’s provincial budget, now gets another $8.4 million over three years to help expand enrolment. “This targeted enrolment funding will go towards hiring on more faculty/staff to teach the increased number of students,” Sam Blackett, press secretary for Advanced […] Read more

Understanding bull EPDs is important when making selection decisions, and Roy Lewis asks if there should be some adjustments made to scrotal circumference measurements.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

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

By Roy Lewis March 22, 2022

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

When pulling a calf, once you snug the chains up make sure the tail is down and there is enough room.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

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

By Roy Lewis January 11, 2022

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

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Managing the stifled cow or bull

Animal Health with Roy Lewis: A condition that can be treated, but culling may also be best option

By Roy Lewis November 19, 2021

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

Dr. Brett Terhaar from Frontier Veterinary Services in Winterset, IA using ultra sound equipment for prep checking cattle.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

The pros and cons of different preg-check options for cows

Herd size and speed of test can point to the best technique

By Heather Smith Thomas October 7, 2021

Pregnancy testing methods include palpation, ultrasound and blood tests. Dr. Don Driedger of Driedger Veterinary Services in Lloydminster, Alta., does a lot of pregnancy testing in his area, and uses both palpation and ultrasound. “The main reason most producers preg-check is to decrease the number of cows that are just freeloading through winter,” says Driedger. […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

GFM Network News