Storage and care of livestock vaccines

Storage and care of livestock vaccines

We can’t always control how an animal responds to the vaccines we give (in terms of immune response, which can be affected by many factors including health issues and stress levels) but we do have complete control over how we handle and store the vaccines, to make sure they will be optimally potent. Russ Daly, […] Read more

mother cow and calf

Five steps to a successful calving season

Preparations in advance makes calving season both easier on you and your herd

Calving season is an exciting time of year in most operations. It is exciting to see new calves hitting the ground, but it can also be exciting in more of a pending emergency sort of way. Most herds that have successful, low-drama calving seasons have several things in common, regardless of their calving season, most […] Read more


With diagnosis, more mistakes are made from not looking than not knowing. The clues are there if you look for them.

The importance of field diagnosis

Health: The most common reason a treatment fails is due to a wrong diagnosis

If an animal has a health problem, it’s crucial to have the correct diagnosis before attempting treatment. Dr. Chris Clark of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon says the most common reason that a treatment fails is a wrong diagnosis. “We often complain about disease not responding to treatment. But the drugs we […] Read more

Can cattle be “fattened up” on pasture without grain supplementation?

Can cattle be “fattened up” on pasture without grain supplementation?

News Roundup: Virtual on-farm necropsy, VBP animal care module progresses, and calls to suspend COOL

Forage Can I do that on grass? By Jack Kyle, Ontario forage specialist With increased interest in grass-fed beef, people ask if it is possible to fatten cattle on pasture without grain supplementation. The answer is yes, with a few conditions. When grass finishing animals remember that the market is generally not looking for as […] Read more


Cow feeding calf

Start your calf vaccinations now!

BeefTalk

NDSU Extension Service – As calving winds down and calves are settled with their mammas, the inevitable day will come when the calves need to get a round of vaccinations. It is much like the old days when the school made the announcement that the county nurse was coming along with a bag full of […] Read more

Health: Hypothermia in newborn calves

Given the weather of recent weeks, hypothermia in newborn calves is a pretty legitimate concern, especially at this time of year. Tracey Renelt of South Dakota State University says the mortality in U.S. beef herds from birth to weaning ranges from three to seven per cent. The majority of these deaths occur within the first […] Read more