Sweet clover poisoning occurs when cattle eat spoiled sweet clover. It causes bleeding problems, which can result in fetal deaths, bleeding under the skin and in joints, and sometimes a fatal anemia. Coumarin, a normal constituent in sweet clover, causes the problem. It is harmless on its own but is converted to toxic dicoumarol if […] Read more
Stories by Jeff Grognet, DVM
Younger, lighter cattle contribute to more feedlot deaths
The number of cattle deaths in American feedlots increased by 69 percent from 1994 to 2003. Respiratory disease losses were of particular concern, going up by 119 percent in all cattle on feed. Despite our ability to report these changes, it is still difficult to determine normal death loss in feedlots. A study that looked […] Read more
Alfalfa, distillers grain can reduce acidosis, boost weight gain
Cattle feeding in Canada is based on grain. One reason is that the cost per unit of energy is cheaper with grain than with other feed. It is also easier to store and handle than other feed and many consumers prefer the taste of grain-fed beef. However, reliance on grain leads to cattle’s susceptibility to […] Read more
Reducing foot injuries best way to prevent foot rot
Most producers are familiar with foot rot. They’ve seen the disease in their herd or they know someone who has had cattle with the condition. It is so ubiquitous because the bacterium that causes it can be found anywhere cattle are found. It sometimes seems inevitable that some cattle will suffer from this devastating disease, […] Read more
Treating respiratory diseases
A report in the latest issue of Bovine Practitioner compared the efficiency of two vaccines used to fight respiratory disease in cattle. The two were Pyramid5 and Ex-press5, and there is a difference. Undifferentiated fever/bovine respiratory disease (UF/BRD), commonly known as shipping fever, is an important contributor to losses in commercial feedlots. It causes illness, […] Read more
Reproduction control practices can be simple or complicated
Some beef producers find it profitable to control estrus and ovulation so that they can follow it with natural breeding or artificial insem-ination. This practice increases input costs but can also reduce labour requirements and produce a more concentrated breeding season. Many options are available to control reproduction, and which one is used depends on […] Read more
Ways to ensure maximum fertility
Reproduction is the most significant contributor to profit in beef cattle production. If a pregnancy is not established, it decreases the number of calves born and adversely affects economics. Producers can see the fruits of their past year’s management during calving time. What they do during the postpartum period can affect future fertility. The most […] Read more
Identifying mortality factors helps vets consider prevention – Animal Health
Producers often wonder about the cause of death when a cow dies. A post mortem can be performed and an exact cause identified, but due to cost and inconvenience, few producers ask their veterinarian to do one. More often, they ask the veterinarian to make a guess without the benefit of an examination. To help […] Read more
Colour can indicate important traits – Animal Health
Producers strive for a certain colour in their cattle. This may be to meet breed standards, but certain colours can also imply an economic benefit. Feeder cattle that are uniform in colour sell for a higher price than those less uniform. Producers can change the colour of their cattle by breeding certain ways. Every cattle […] Read more
Early calf castration easier on animal and producer
There are several benefits to castrating bull calves. Steers are less aggressive than bulls, which means fewer injuries from fighting, and they can be grouped with heifers because there is no danger of pregnancy. However, the best reason is increased value after castrating because processors prefer steers over bulls and pay more for them. Castration […] Read more
