Roy Lewis Dvm

With free enterprise there is always a better way of doing things. This is no different with the marketing of cattle, bulls especially, in the new millennium. Purchased bulls represent one-half of the future genetics of your herd so they are an investment worth investigating and protecting. Each purebred producer has different things of value […] Read more

Much has been written about omphalophlebitis (navel ill) in calves. The bovine species appears to be fairly susceptible to developing these infections. The wet, damp environment calves are sometimes born into, often in close confinement, increases the incidence. Fighting against this trend is the growing tendency of producers to calve later in the year on […] Read more

With the reduction of calving problems in many herds today the treatments given to calves during this busy season have changed considerably over the years. Newer longer-acting products as well as anti-inflammatory drugs help get calves on their feet quicker and minimize relapses. Although daily treatments may still have their place the need for intensive […] Read more

The science and art of calving a cow out is being lost because there are fewer and fewer cows that give us problems these days. The new generation on the farm generally will have much less exposure to cows calving, calf pullers and the application of a calving chain. The fact that the genetics of […] Read more

There is an ever-increasing trend these days toward more and more specific genetic tests being developed as the cattle genome is being mapped. Your quandary as a cattleman and especially purebred breeders is which genetic test or tests will give an economic return or improve your herd. This could be a direct return in the […] Read more

While no one wishes to send their pet or performance horse to slaughter, the reality is the vast majority of them eventually end up there. As of July 31, 2010 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) requires that all horses sold directly to a federal plant or at auction that might later go to slaughter […] Read more

Over the years conditions seen at the feedlot have changed along with the method of treatment many operators are using. This article will review some of the common conditions seen where veterinary intervention is necessary and the common management practices to avoid or prevent them. With labour a precious commodity especially in the feedlot, labour-intensive […] Read more

I have always said farmers put a lot of effort, along with their veterinarians, into selecting their annual vaccination protocol. They should. Vaccines cost money and effort is required to administer them. We must maximize the immune response to get maximum protection of our livestock. This is good from both a biosecurity standpoint as well […] Read more

* accine reactions are not an uncommon occurrence today with more and more products being given subcutaneously, especially vaccines with oil-based adjuvants. The adjuvants are designed to protect the vaccine and give it a much greater immune response but reactions in the form of lumps are sometimes an expected, albeit undesirable, side effect. As many […] Read more

Many of us recall a time when several combination drugs were on the market for cattle. There were drugs such as Pen-Strep or Azimycin, which was a combination of two antibiotics, a steroid and an antihistamine all in one bottle. All these products have since been pulled in the interests of meat safety and beef […] Read more