As prairie farmers deal with drought conditions this summer, the water quality that cattle consume may also be affected. Sulfate is a common mineral component that is present at some level in most water sources as well as in many feeds. However, during a drought, water that may have been acceptable for animal consumption may […] Read more
Stories by John Campbell, DVM, DVSC
Weather, inadequate colostrum among factors for pneumonia in calves
Pneumonia is often considered to be a disease of weaned calves in the feedlot, and that is the most common presentation of the disease in cattle. However, nursing calves on pasture can also be severely affected by pneumonia outbreaks. The disease is sometimes known as “summer pneumonia” or “enzootic pneumonia.” It can affect calves as […] Read more
Foot rot only one cause of lameness in cattle
Lameness is one of the most common reasons for cattle producers to treat a cow with antibiotics. In my experience, producers assume that most lameness cases are foot rot until proven otherwise. However, treating all cases of lameness with antibiotics can be a significant mistake. The livestock industry’s use of antibiotics is under more scrutiny, […] Read more
Timing is key if euthanasia is required
Euthanasia is defined as the practice of intentionally ending a life in a painless, humane fashion to relieve pain and suffering. It can be a difficult subject to discuss, even within agriculture. Some producers are reluctant to consider euthanasia because they don’t want to “give up” on an animal. It is, however, an important subject, […] Read more
Astrovirus found in cattle with unexplained nervous disease
Neurological disease in cattle continues to be a diagnostic challenge in the field. There are a wide variety of causes of nervous diseases in cattle, and many of the symptoms are similar or have subtle clinical differences. Nervous disease symptoms can be the result of BSE, rabies virus, infectious thromboembolic encephalitis caused by Histophilus somnus, […] Read more
Heifer calving date influences weaning weights, longevity
Many producers will be in the middle or perhaps near the end of the 2015 calving season, hopefully with many healthy calves on the ground. I have written in the past about the importance of front-loading the calving season. Dr. Bob Larson from Kansas State University coined the phrase, and I’ve adopted it in many […] Read more
Mites, lice and fungal infections lead to hair loss, irritations
UPDATED: September 12, 2025 – I receive inquiries every year about calves or older cattle that are losing hair or even going bald. The most common skin conditions that can cause hair loss are caused by parasites such as lice and mites. Parastic causes of hair loss Most producers effectively control lice in their cattle […] Read more
Determine cause of abortion in cows
Many producers are naturally alarmed when a cow aborts a fetus. They don’t know if it is the first of many or an isolated incident. Abortions do occur normally at a relatively low rate. As many as three to five percent of cows can abort normally in a particular population. Many of them happen when […] Read more
‘Dummy calf’ may be suffering from acidosis
Most people who have dealt with beef cows at calving time have occasionally had to deal with a weak, dopey calf. These calves may be unable to stand or have difficulty standing without assistance. They have poor muscle tone and seem to have no idea where to put their feet or how to stand or […] Read more
Liver abscesses still significant challenge for cattle industry
Recent studies have demonstrated that liver abscesses are still a common occurrence among cattle at slaughter. Liver abscesses are associated with episodes of rumen acidosis caused by carbohydrate overload. It is most commonly observed in feedlot cattle and in dairy cattle that are fed high level grain diets. Risk factors include the amount of carbohydrate […] Read more
