Beef Herd Health and Quality Assurance
All Beef Herd Health and Quality Assurance Content
Toe Abscess (Toe Tip Necrosis) in Feeder Cattle
Toe abscess (toe tip necrosis) is most commonly seen in feedlot cattle and is likely subsequent to excessive abrasive damage to the hoof, especially the toe tip. Feet may become infected when the white line is damaged which opens the claw to bacteria, dirt and manure.
Grain Overloads: A Possible Consequence of Cornstalk Grazing
Corn residues are a great source of winter feed, but in certain situations, cattle producers should be aware of the possibility of grain overloads, which can impact herd health.
Minimizing the Neospora Threat by Using Serology in Beef Replacement Heifer Selection
Neospora caninum is one of the lesser-known causes of infectious reproductive failure in beef herds. It’s always possible for herds to encounter new Neospora infections in a given year, but in herds in which it’s already established, using Neospora serology can be one consideration in choosing replacement heifers.
Johne’s Disease Testing in Beef Herds: Testing Plans and Responses
While still somewhat imperfect, testing herd animals for Johne’s Disease is an appropriate tool for producers and their veterinarians to begin to get a handle on the level of infection and to implement sound strategies for limiting the disease’s effects.
Johne’s Disease Testing in Beef Herds: Looking at the Available Tests
Once thought to be a dairy cattle problem, Johne’s Disease is increasingly a topic of conversation for beef seedstock and commercial producers alike. An understanding of the Johne’s Disease testing options available is a good first step in devising a herd health plan.
COVID-19 and Livestock: Is there a connection?
When reports of the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the US, very few people had likely heard of coronaviruses—with some notable exceptions: cattle producers and their veterinarians.
Questions and Misconceptions Surrounding Implants
Growth promoting implants are among the most widely used technologies in the beef industry. The first implant received FDA approval in 1954, yet in spite of a long history, there are still myths and misconceptions surrounding their use.
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.
Bigger Cattle. Warmer Weather. What Can Go Wrong?
The disruptions in the beef processing sector caused by COVID-19 continue to interfere with the orderly marketing of finished cattle. While we all hope that the situation is resolved quickly, the reality is that because the shipment of so many harvest-ready cattle has been delayed, there will be increased numbers of heavier cattle on feed for the foreseeable future.
Yellow Sweet Clover: Information and Management
Sweet clover is an opportunistic plant that is going to be abundant in pastures and hay fields when growing conditions are favorable, ideally for two consecutive years. Although it can cause problems, it is valuable to wildlife and pollinators and is a nutritious forage source.