Nothing in the beef industry flames fear more intensely than the spectre of foreign animal disease and the inevitable shutdown of export markets. The emergence of BSE and collapse of Canada’s beef markets in 2003 shaped a decade-long economic slump that exposed an industry unprepared. Emergencies in the cattle business cover the spectrum of missed […] Read more
Vet Advice: Emergency response is about learning the right things
Vet Advice: Exploring the ‘hygiene hypothesis’
As a veterinarian, I wondered for many years if animals and humans could function normally in an environment free of pathogens, free of stress and devoid of all things considered harmful. What might the balance be between not enough and too much? Are city kids raised in a semi-sterile milieu advantaged or disadvantaged compared to […] Read more
Grazing management: The essence of ranching
Cattle are unique: they came to us as creatures capable of grazing; as ruminants with the ability to convert roughage to energy; and, ultimately, energy to protein. Grazing is how ranches create value. Grazing management is maintaining the balance between soil health, plant growth, sunlight, and moisture on rangeland. The amount of effective moisture — […] Read more
Rethinking strategic deworming in beef cattle
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
Concepts around deworming the beef cow have moved from “not necessary” to “routine” in many progressive cow-calf operations. The evolution of internal parasite control as an integral component of health management shadowed development of highly effective chemical families that revolutionized parasite control. Reasons for the shift include: Economic studies that clearly demonstrated deworming pays. Evidence […] Read more
Doin’ what needs doin’: Part 1
A wise old farmer once advised me, “Do what needs doin’, scratch what needs scratch’in. A good piece of advice as we look ahead to calving season and the grazing season beyond. Being sure cows and bred heifers are fed properly through winter and later stages of pregnancy tops the list. Do this well and […] Read more
The AMR dilemma: Part 3
Animal Health: Turning the tide
While it may not be possible to solve the antibiotic resistance issue, it is possible to stop talking past the issue and work co-operatively to forge a way forward. Dr. Lonnie King, dean, Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine in his keynote address to the National Institute of Animal Agriculture (NIAA), November 2014, was confident […] Read more
Search for simplicity when planning for calving season
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
As Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “The chief work of civilization is making the means of living more complex.” In the cattle industry, striving for optimum production and managing change sparks a counter-impulse toward simplicity. Preparing for calving season is always a chance to look for simpler ways. A big part of getting to “simple” is […] Read more
Get ready for calving
Another list you might say. Seems important things tendered as advice always come in a list; some is trivia, some make sense, others simply repeat what’s been said before. The following is a bit of all three, but needs to be offered as a reminder each calving season. Hang this one by the door and […] Read more
The AMR Dilemma: Part 2 – The impact
Finding the missing pieces to the puzzle of antimicrobial resistance
Although accurate statistics are difficult to tabulate, over two million people in North America become infected with bacteria resistant to antibiotics annually. At least 23,000 people die as a direct result of these infections. Virtually, all significant bacterial infections in the world are becoming resistant to the antibiotic treatment of choice. Health authorities in North […] Read more
Take ‘preg-checking’ beyond face value
It’s not just a matter of she is or isn’t pregnant. The ritual of fall pregnancy checking can and should be much more than a simple yes or no. Beef producers, with their veterinarian at the end of the chute, get feedback on potential calving dates, body condition scores, eye lesions, feet and udder problems, […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
