The hardest time for a young bull is when it’s turned out with cows for its first breeding season after being well fed all winter. Most bulls are confined after weaning and are fed high-concentrate feed for fast growth. Some have gone through bull test or feeding programs to measure rate of gain and feed […] Read more
Stories by Heather Smith Thomas
Do farm’s lice bite or suck?
Most cattle harbour lice in winter, especially in northern regions with cold temperatures and short winter days. Lice are cold-weather insects. Summer heat and sunlight reduce their ability to live and multiply, but their numbers increase dramatically when weather is cold and cattle have long winter hair for lice to hide in. Dr. Nathan Erickson […] Read more
Good lice control depends on type, timing
Dr. Gerald Stokka of North Dakota State University says producers need to be aware of the different louse types and species. “Sucking lice are vulnerable to systemic treatment such as avermectin products but the biting/chewing lice are not,” he says. Producers used injectable and pour-on ivermectin for many years and got good lice control. “But […] Read more
Cattle, deer liver flukes cause rising problems
Deer liver flukes in particular are becoming a more common problem in cattle herds, and treatments can prove tricky for producers
Liver flukes start their life cycle in tiny freshwater snails but end up in the livers of grazing animals, where they mature and pass their eggs. Feces containing fluke eggs must land in water for transmission to snails. If the animals’ feces lands on dry ground, the eggs die. Cattle generally get two types of […] Read more
Well-fed bulls make good breeders
Proper nutrition for young animals has been found to be vital for breeding success, but it should start before weaning
Years of research have shown that bulls with larger testicles tend to have more sperm and can settle more cows than bulls with small testicles. Also, well-fed bulls generally reach puberty quicker than undernourished bulls. Dr. John Kastelic, a veterinarian and professor in cattle reproductive health at the University of Calgary, has done a lot […] Read more
Breeding season common time for bull injuries
A penile hematoma, also known as broken penis, is an injury that most often occurs in bulls that breed cows in pasture
Bulls occasionally get injured when fighting or breeding. Jennifer Pearson, assistant professor of production animal health at the University of Calgary, said most injuries happen during breeding season. “These injuries fall into two categories: reproductive injuries and musculoskeletal injuries, usually feet and legs. “A common reproductive injury is a penile hematoma, often called broken penis. […] Read more
Bull soundness exam vital to breeding success
A physical examination includes scrotal circumference measurement, semen quality test and checking sperm appearance
Semen quality, conformation, soundness and a desire to breed cows all play a role in bull fertility and breeding ability. A breeding soundness examination can ensure all is well before breeding season begins. Such exams include physical and reproductive tract soundness, scrotal circumference, percentage of normal sperm cells and sperm motility. Dr. Colin Palmer of […] Read more
Scrotal frostbite may have lasting impact
Any injury to the testicles that damages stored sperm may put a bull out of action until it heals and produces new sperm
Scrotal frostbite in bulls is a risk to fertility and ranch profitability. Cold weather and wind chill can damage bulls’ testicles and deteriorate semen but it is hard to gauge without a test. Dr. Colin Palmer, associate director at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence at the University of Saskatchewan, says scrotal frostbite commonly […] Read more
Vaccine reactions rare but deadly
Occasionally cattle have a reaction to vaccine. Most commonly, the reaction is mild, with local swelling and soreness at the injection site, but sometimes a reaction is serious and can be fatal if the animal goes into anaphylactic shock. Dr. Andrew Niehaus of Ohio State University says anaphylaxis is a systemic reaction that affects the […] Read more
Pinkeye requires swift treatment to prevent outbreaks
Prevention can be difficult because the disease is spread by flies and vaccines usually work on only one strain
Cattle pinkeye, more scientifically known as infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, is an expensive illness. It costs cattle producers thousands of dollars annually due to poor weight gains in affected animals, reduced milk production, cost of drugs and labour to treat infections and lower prices at sale time for animals with eye damage or blindness. Stockmen generally […] Read more
