Friday, June 13 and a full moon. An astrological phenomenon made for witches and those rummaging for bad omens; an event not to be repeated until 2049 — a cycle of 35 years. It’s an interesting span of time that stirs the imagination of those, like myself, who spend most days wondering about the future. […] Read more
Microbes have emerged as the real predators
It's in the stars... antimicrobial resistance tops list of concerns for this century
Long winters: a tipping point in calf health
This year’s winter will go into the record books as one of the longest and coldest. The Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index based on daily temperatures, snowfall, and snow depths show the season’s severity exceeded cumulative totals for the last 50 years in many areas of Western Canada. The harsh winter took its toll on […] Read more
Trichomoniasis is still a threat
Cases on the rise, but control programs, testing and good management practices help limit disease spread
Trichomoniasis, abbreviated “trich” and pronounced “trick,” is a highly contagious venereal disease that can result in large numbers of open cows. While it is certainly not a new disease threat, the prevalence has increased dramatically in recent years across the northern tier of the U.S. and gradually edged its way onto ranches in Canada. Venereal […] Read more
Still a long way to go
A number of recent agriculture publications has questioned whether or not we are approaching the biological limit of individual animal production. The big question: How might this influence long-term sustainability of the cattle business? To think our industry might be approaching biological limits to how fast a feedlot steer grows, how efficiently it converts feed […] Read more
Seeking Credibility
Two recent events jumped agriculture’s role in the antimicrobial resistance merry-go-round into high gear. First was the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Final Guidance 213 (December 2013) that established a three-year time frame to end the use of medically important antibiotics as growth promotants. There were also new rules on veterinary oversight related to antibiotic […] Read more
Animals front and centre on emerging human diseases
In less than two decades, perspectives on the relationship of disease emergence in humans and domestic animals has changed dramatically. Toward the end of the 20th century, the underlying causes of emerging infectious disease were primarily attributed to aberrations in human behaviour. Methods of control and prevention were all too often centred on changing human […] Read more
The Top 10 list to an easier calving season
The chances of a successful and stress-free calving season are redoubled with planning. One part of the plan is advanced preparation for dealing with things that can go wrong once calving is underway. The other is handling the longer-term pieces of brood cow management that avert many common problems, things like nutrition and vaccination. As […] Read more
Be prepared for calving season
The busiest and most important time for producers is just around the corner. A successful calving season is an important kickoff for the year. Without a live, healthy calf at foot, the production year for a brood cow unravels. As with most things, planning ahead makes calving season go better and as calving season goes, […] Read more
Vet Advice: Will we ever learn?
Our family moved recently. During the tedium of moving and editing files, a copy of an article I wrote 10 years ago fell from a bundle of papers. “Ginny’s Sick” stared at me from the floor and brought back a flood of memories: a grandchild in Stollery Children’s Hospital on the end of a transfusion […] Read more
Vet Advice: An imposter among us
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is one of the most important diseases of deer in North America. The viruses that cause EHD are widespread in whitetail deer and cause serious epidemics in wild populations. Some of the EHD virus strains causing disease in deer can also affect cattle. While EHD is rarely fatal in cattle and […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
