Any discussion about getting ready for calving season should start with an evaluation of the body condition of pregnant cows and heifers. There are also significant economic factors to consider. Several issues recently shifted priorities away from routine body condition scoring, such as beef supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and sudden swings in cattle. […] Read more
Thin cows cost money
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
Plan ahead for winter calving
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
In Canada, cold weather potentially spans five to six months. Generally, December, January and February are considered cold months, although winter weather can start in November and last through late March or early April. Successful management of calving in cold weather requires planning. Consider the nutritional needs of bred heifers and cows before calving. Adequate […] Read more
Cold stress in newborn calves
Veterinary Case Study: Although Jim had prepared a warm calving shelter, he hadn’t counted on a cold snap that threatened his newborn calves
Jim came to the office to talk about the 20 Angus-cross heifers he bought last month, bred to calve in February, a month before his cows. The heifers were in great condition and Jim had a clean, warm, well-bedded shed to protect heifers ready to calve. He could watch new mothers for a few days […] Read more
Cheap steers bring more than bargained for
Veterinary Case Study: An effective biosecurity plan is essential to prevent infectious diseases from entering your herd
Jim visited the office one morning and asked if we could talk. He looked worried, a bit like a child that had gotten into the Halloween candy early. Two years ago, Jim had started team roping with a local club. Good crops and strong cattle prices allowed Jim to build his own small arena. His […] Read more
Vet Advice: Viral storms endanger wildlife
Wildlife health is an indication of the health of the environment on which we rely
Listening for blue jays call in early mornings in need of peanuts is a favourite pastime. I sit with Addie, our golden doodle, within a foot or two of what’s offered, coffee in hand and watch my friends wrap a beak around whole peanuts, then squirrel them away in adjacent spruce. The routine stopped midsummer […] Read more
Can we banish stupidity?
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
We often hear and use the term “stupid” without understanding what stupid really means and the negative connotation stupid can have on those it might be directed toward. In its simplest form stupidity describes behaviour that shows a lack of good sense or judgment. One need not search far to understand why human beings are […] Read more
Anthrax: A maverick killer for livestock that never grows old
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
Ancient Greece and Rome were well acquainted with anthrax many famous scholars from those times mentioned it in their writings. Today we continue to write about anthrax, partially because the soil-borne pathogen continues to surface as a livestock killer, mostly in small outbreaks, but makes remarkable news when discussed in the context of biological warfare […] Read more
Viewing COVID-19 from a veterinary practice perspective
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
COVID-19 changed the world. It changed perceptions in animal care, human responsibilities regarding animal health management and how humans will think about their own health down the road. Opinions on what the future offers vary widely between individuals. Personal opinion, level of understanding about issues and acceptance of what’s right and what’s wrong in the […] Read more
The role animals play in pandemics
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
The world has hardened to COVID-19: the many variants, the masks, public isolation, health precautions and the reminders that SARS-CoV-2 hasn’t gone away. Globally, WHO reported over 500,000,000 cases with 6,400,000 deaths at press time. A total of 12,300,000 doses of vaccine were administered. And the numbers keep climbing. On January 30, 2020, WHO declared […] Read more
Tick paralysis
Veterinary Case Study: These small insects can cause big health problems in livestock and pets alike
Wyatt managed a community pasture southeast of Regina. Being an excellent horseman, one of the gratuities his job offered was starting young horses for clients, the opportunity to instill cow-sense into green horses while conditioning them, readying them for competition and ranch life. Wyatt’s call conveyed panic. He had found a promising and expensive filly […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
