a calf grazing in a green pasture

Vaccines: Use as directed

Research On the Record with Reynold Bergen

Calves are born with a completely naive immune system. Unlike other species, cows don’t pass any immune protection onto their offspring during pregnancy. That’s why it’s so critical for calves to consume at least two litres of high-quality colostrum soon after birth, to give them some protection while their own immune system develops. The calf’s […] Read more



A newborn cow stands in straw

Preparing for calving season

Veterinary Case Study: Dr. Clarke coaches a beef producer who has purchased 50 first-calf heifers right before calving season

Jim came into the clinic one day. He’d even called ahead to say he needed a few minutes of my time to talk about the 50 new heifers he bought and what they might need to help them through calving season without problems. Jim had become an astute cattleman through the years, always trying to […] Read more







A cow disposes of the afterbirth as two young calves lay nearby. Newborn calves are vulnerable to disease, so farmers and ranchers should strive to reduce disease risk during calving season.

Reducing disease risk from calving season onwards

Whether it’s scours or Johne’s disease, farmers and ranchers can reduce the chance of transmitting it

With winter calving almost at a close, grassland producers are preparing for their own spring calving season. Chad Ross calves his herd of 800 to 1,100 cows as close to nature as he can. The owner and operator of L-7 Land and Cattle at Estevan, Sask., switched to grassland calving in the mid-2000s. Unless a […] Read more