Animal Health

All Animal Health Content

blades of brome grass with a brown to black, thumbnail-shaped growth on one of the blades.

Ergot: A Potential Livestock Poisoning Problem

Cool, damp weather followed by warmer temperatures favors grasses becoming infected with ergot bodies, which can cause a certain kind of poisoning that can affect cattle on pasture.

Small black fly on pale skin.

Monitor Livestock, Pets and Yourself for Eye Gnat Activity

While being outside this week, I noticed a lot of small gnats flying around my legs and really bothering my dogs. I caught a few and identified them as eye gnats. Although this pest is considered a nuisance in most cases, it is capable of transmitting diseases and pathogens.

Teardrop shaped tick with a dark brown body and legs and an elongate white patch behind its head.

Ticks Becoming Active in South Dakota

The arrival of spring in South Dakota means warmer weather and more outdoor activities. However, it also brings an increase in tick activity.

Group of farm trainees gathered around a veterinarian.

Producing Safe Food Means On-Farm Antimicrobial Stewardship

Antibiotic stewardship and residue prevention programs can help establish trusting relationships with end users by ensuring safe, wholesome meat or dairy products on your farm.

Breeding goat in a show pen.

Summer Sheep and Goat Show Sale Requirements

Summer is on the way and with it many sheep and goat shows and sales. Do you have the right documentation to be transporting your animals?

Veterinarian using a digital tablet in a sheep barn.

Clostridial Disease Management and Vaccines for Sheep and Goats

Vaccination against clostridium perfringens is universally recommended for small ruminants. Learn some expert vaccine considerations for both sheep and goats.

White goat resting in a drought-stressed pasture.

Heat Stress in Small Ruminants

The Upper Midwest provides periods of extreme heat during summer and shorter periods of heat stress potential during spring and fall. Are your sheep and goats cool enough in their environment?

Three young trainees shadowing a veterinarian during a sheep examination.

Are Your Dewormers Effective For Your Sheep or Goat?

Using an effective dewormer properly can be part of a strategy in preventing internal parasites in sheep and goats. So how do you know if your dewormer is effective, and what does it mean to use it properly?

Hand holding a TDS meter in a water container.

Interpretation of Water Analysis for Livestock Suitability

Fact sheet to help decipher both the results of a “quick test” and laboratory analysis for livestock suitability.

A young man collecting a water sample from a pond using a water dipper.

Performing a Field Test for Livestock Water Quality

Learn how to use some simple, readily available tools that can help analyze the quality of your livestock water sources right in the field.