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A stock pond with noticable blue-green algae bloom throughout.

Blue-Green Algae and Livestock

With warmer temperatures, the conditions are right for blue-green algae blooms. Different species of blue-green algae contain various toxins, which can poison livestock, resulting in rapid death.

Close-up of the feet of a man standing on a bathroom scale with a blue towel lying nearby.

Overweight & Obesity: Leading Cancer Risk Factor

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study that links overweight and obesity to 13 different types of cancers.

An older man with his back to the camera looking over a pond.

Brain Health: The Impact of Chronic Stress

Stress affects everyone. Stress is your body’s response to a real or perceived harmful situation.

Producer approaching a young dairy calf.

How did a Poultry Germ Change to Cause Severe Disease in Calves and People?

In 2015, a specific strain of a germ called Salmonella heidelberg made 56 people sick in 15 different states.

Flock of mosquitoes in front of sunset.

West Nile in South Dakota: Expect Cases Into Early Fall

While it’s true that in South Dakota most West Nile Virus cases occur during August, new human infections are detected well into September in most years.

Outside of a veterinary clinic.

Veterinary Feed Directive: What You Can’t Do With a VFD

Livestock producers and veterinarians have been adjusting to the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rules put into effect on January 1, 2017. With the onset of the rules, producers need to square their previous treatment methods with what a VFD can and can’t do.

Small group of black angus cattle at pasture.

Springtime Vaccines: Tools For Healthy Summer Calves

Vaccines can be a valuable tool for cattle producers looking to help keep their calves healthy on summer pasture.

A series of swine pens at a state fair.

5 Things Hog Producers Should Know: Flu at Swine Exhibitions 

Every year, thousands of youth across the country raise pigs and show them off at local exhibitions and county and state fairs. These experiences allow young people to learn about animal care and management, and also allow the public the rare opportunity to observe pig care and behavior.

herd of beef cattle grazing in a pasture

Pre-weaning Pneumonia in South Dakota Beef Herd: A Persistent Problem, Suddenly Gone

This case report describes a southeastern South Dakota cow-calf herd’s experiences with pre-weaning pneumonia. Unlike many beef herds that experience pneumonia in calves on pasture, this herd’s problems were consistent year after year: widespread calf illness was documented in each of 6 consecutive summers. Anecdotally at least, the occurrence of pre-weaning pneumonia in beef herds is more likely to be sporadic and unpredictable from year to year. This herd’s persistent problems were followed by a year in which, after a change in calf vaccination protocol (informed by herd diagnostics), very little pre-weaning pneumonia was observed.

Labeled cooler and vaccines ready for anyone who is loading syringes.

Keeping Your Vaccines Viable

Vaccines are a vital part of keeping all livestock healthy. Vaccines help in the prevention of disease, which results in less utilization of antibiotics due to fewer sick animals. A valid vet-client-patient relationship will help you as you select the vaccine of choice for your livestock health program.