Knowing when to reach for the calving jack — and when to put it down — can mean the difference between a live pair and a dead cow.
Cow-Calf
When should you use a calving jack — and when should you stop?
The calving jack is one of the most powerful tools in cattle production, but using it too soon or too aggressively causes injuries that cost more than the calf is worth
Biosecurity during calving: What’s your farm’s risk?
A well-designed plan for winter confinement period is essential to reduce disease risk for your herd
Cow-calf producers in Western Canada should have a well-designed plan for winter confinement period to reduce disease risks to herd.
Klassen: Feeder market extends rally
Western Canadian yearling prices traded back up to historical highs over the week ended Oct. 18, while calf markets made fresh highs at many locations. Western Canadian yearlings off grass traded $5-$10 higher on average compared to seven days earlier. Steer calves in the weight range of 550-825 pounds traded $8-$12/cwt higher on average while […] Read more
Body condition, nutrition and vaccination for brood cows
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
One of the remarkable events of the past century related to ranching has been the genetic evolution of brood cows. The industry moved from scrawny Texas Longhorn-crosses with 25 per cent calf crops to hardy European and English hybrids producing 90 to 95 per cent calf crops with offspring weighing upwards of 50 per cent […] Read more
Coccidiosis in beef calves
Veterinary Case Study: Treatment protocols to help manage this common, yet troubling, disease
Nate walked through a pen of calves he had just weaned from his first-calf heifers. The day before, he’d noticed flecks of blood in some of the stools, but overall, the calves seemed bright and were eating the hay and chopped oats he offered in bunks. Today, however, he saw blood clots in stools and […] Read more
Benchmarks indicate healthy calves
Preparing a calf for a healthy life begins before calving
With calving season in full swing, ensuring calves are primed to thrive is top of mind. When refreshing themselves on indicators of good health in calves, producers are encouraged to remember to trust in their knowledge of their own herd and to stay vigilant in monitoring them. “Early detection is always going to be key […] Read more
Skeletal deformities of beef calves
Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke
Much is written about genetic mutations in beef calves: why it happens, pathological descriptions and how to manage the deformities. Pathologists love to describe structural abnormalities of organ systems and what else has been discovered. The literature on genetic mutations goes far beyond what can be covered in one column, so I will only address […] Read more
IBR is a serious cause of abortion in beef cattle
Veterinary Case Study: After buying new stock, a rancher’s cow herd starts aborting third-trimester calves
Early one morning in January, Alf called upset over what he found when checking his herd of purebred Herefords. Lying in the straw were three aborted fetuses and two other cows appeared to be in the process of aborting third-trimester fetuses. Alf, an excellent stockman but very worried, asked the hard question of what might […] Read more
Colic in beef calves can hint at serious problems
Colic in calves can be caused by several things – many of them fatal
When people think of colic, they usually think of a human infant who is fussy and crying. But colic occurs in animals, as well. Horse owners are often well versed in colic, as it is a fairly common occurrence in equines. In the beef cattle world, colic can mean many things and can be a […] Read more
Preparing for calving season
Veterinary Case Study: Dr. Clarke coaches a beef producer who has purchased 50 first-calf heifers right before calving season
Jim came into the clinic one day. He’d even called ahead to say he needed a few minutes of my time to talk about the 50 new heifers he bought and what they might need to help them through calving season without problems. Jim had become an astute cattleman through the years, always trying to […] Read more
