Stories by Roy Lewis Dvm | Canadian Cattlemen

Treat individual cows to raise the reproductive rate

Ensure good uterine health to help prepare cows for re-breeding

By Roy Lewis Dvm March 5, 2018

As herds get bigger and electronic ID tags get used more for record-keeping, more attention can be given to individual cow medicine. We can learn lots from our colleagues in dairy production about looking after individual cows. Health and fertility go hand in hand. If by paying attention and potentially treating cows with everything from […] Read more

Features, Livestock

Well-timed updates on bull scrotal circumference

The third edition of the Bull Breeding Soundness outlines a few changes

By Roy Lewis Dvm February 15, 2018

The Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners (WCABP) has published a third edition of the Bull Breeding Soundness manual written by Dr. Albert D. Barth, which contains some changes to the accepted minimal scrotal circumference for the different breeds at different ages. The old standard was a few years old so this new version is […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Features

Peritonitis in cows and its causes

Health: In acute cases, a post mortem is critical to help determine the cause

By Roy Lewis Dvm November 30, 2017

Peritonitis refers to the inflammation or infection around the peritoneum which is the inside lining of the abdomen. Any infection involving the abdomen receives the nondescript description of peritonitis. This could be an infection around the intestines, stomachs, liver or uterus in cows and heifers. What is most important here is there are many causes […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Features, Livestock

Avoid lapses in your vaccination program

Health: A good vaccination strategy goes a long way toward minimizing preventable diseases

By Roy Lewis Dvm November 22, 2017

As veterinarians and cattle producers we need to constantly review our vaccination protocols to check for lapses in scheduled booster shots or missing antigens in our vaccines in response to new or emerging diseases. Cattle transported to new areas where different diseases are prevalent are often the cause of outbreaks such as redwater disease or […] Read more

If you suspect a calf with BRSV, getting it out into a fresh, cool area is critical.

Cow-Calf, Features, Livestock

BRSV (Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a deadly viral cause of pneumonia

Health: Know the signs and what actions you should take if you suspect the virus

By Roy Lewis Dvm November 8, 2017

I am sure most cattlemen have had the odd diagnosis of BRSV in their herds over the years, either individual animals or outbreaks, generally in cattle under one year of age. BRSV is suspected with pneumonias that do not respond to antibiotics or produce lots of fluids and frothing as well as runny eyes. Temperatures […] Read more

Features, Livestock

Pre-plan for emergency slaughter

Animal Health: An animal’s suffering should be ended as soon as possible

By Roy Lewis Dvm October 2, 2017

All producers run into the need for emergency slaughter from time to time to preserve the value of an animal and prevent the waste of good meat protein. By its very nature these are emergency situations so it is important to pre-plan the chain of events that would happen in cases when it becomes necessary. […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Facts about antimicrobial resistance

While the industry is already doing a good job, there is ongoing room for improvement

By Roy Lewis Dvm July 31, 2017

There have been volumes written on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the last several years. And it is important to remember just how good the Canadian cattle industry is doing in managing AMR and look to future changes veterinarians may make in their recommendations. For those of you craving more detailed information, there have been several […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Livestock

Preventing parasite resistance to worms and flies

Developing and using good protocols will keep these valuable treatments working for you and your herd

By Roy Lewis Dvm July 28, 2017

We heard years ago about resistance with fly tags. I believe the first one was called Bovaid and with no other tags on the market, researchers noticed resistance developing after a few years. Soon other companies were making tags with a different family of chemicals in them, so producers could rotate them and not allow […] Read more

You don’t need a firearms safety course to use a dart gun, but it’s a good idea if you’ve never handled a gun.

Cow-Calf, Livestock

Taking aim at dart gun pros and cons

Effective yes, but they need to be used with the proper diagnosis and product

By Roy Lewis Dvm July 26, 2017

Remote drug delivery (RDD) devices are becoming more common in some modern cow-calf operations. The older-style capture guns used in the past were generally used by veterinarians to tranquilize and “capture” cattle needing further treatment. Tranquilized animals could then be loaded and transported if that was necessary or put in a smaller compound if further […] Read more

Cow-Calf, Livestock

Meconium staining of newborn calves is a red flag

This spring think of meconium as an early warning sign of many things

By Roy Lewis Dvm March 14, 2017

As a veterinarian over the past 35 years I’ve been called many times to assist with difficult calvings or malpresentations that resulted in meconium (first manure) stained calves. The jury is still out on what causes this and what we should do about it. Veterinarians have many opinions on this topic, as it is a […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle demand improving

Denmark to compensate mink farmers after nationwide cull

Feds predict three per cent increase in canola acres

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