Holistic management has made a difference in ranch sustainability for Ken and Bonnie Miller on their ranch in south-central North Dakota, near Fort Rice, along the Missouri River. Ken Miller says holistic management helped point the ranch in the right direction 30-plus years ago. “I went through the training with Allan Savory in the mid-1980s. […] Read more
Tag Archives Cattle Connect — page 8
Automatic weigh station open 24-7
Manufacturer says allowing animals to weigh themselves reduces their stress as well as farmers’ workloads and injury risk
Like the milking robot that revolutionized the dairy industry, a Swedish company is betting its new autonomous weigh scale will transform the beef sector. Hencol, based in Grebbestad, Sweden, is targeting the global beef market with its unmanned weigh scale that provides continuous data. “The dairy business is far ahead of the beef business due […] Read more
Bolus provides early health warning for dairy
Monitoring system can provide early detection of conditions such as pneumonia and mastitis via text and email alerts
A monitoring system that places sensor devices permanently inside cows aims to protect the profitability of dairy operations by allowing farmers to remotely track the health of their herds. Cattle Scan can help provide early detection of conditions ranging from pneumonia and mastitis to retained placentas and displaced abdomens. Farmers receive warnings via text or […] Read more
Probiotics studied for feedlot cattle rations
Many Canadians eat yogurt to improve their gut health. The health benefits of probiotics in yogurt are debatable, yet a growing body of research suggests that probiotics, in general, may help prevent and treat disease. But what about cattle? Could it be possible to give feedlot cattle a probiotic so they are less likely to […] Read more
CCA prepares to push environmental plan
Bob Lowe, a cattle producer from Claresholm, Alta., was recently re-elected as president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Reg Schellenberg of Beechy, Sask., was re-elected as vice-president. Newly elected to the board are Linda Allison of British Columbia, George L’Heureux and Kelly Smith Fraser of Alberta and Matthew Atkinson of Manitoba. Departing board members include […] Read more
Test forage to protect cow health
Producers advised to ask for a wet chemistry test on forage samples rather than near infrared reflectance spectroscopy
Low snowfall and relatively dry winter conditions are raising concerns about spring pasture conditions. Ensuring proper nutrition for cows after calving could be more of a challenge than usual. Livestock nutritionist Barry Yaremcio of Yaremcio Ag Consulting said there is a good quantity of hay available in most areas to get producers through to spring […] Read more
Timing an important part of calf vaccination
Vaccinating too early, when calves still have maternal antibodies, may interfere with building their own immunities
Newborn calves gain temporary immunity against disease when they ingest colostrum because this first milk contains maternal antibodies. After a few weeks or months this temporary protection begins to wane, and calves must build their own immunities. Vaccinating calves at the proper time can help protect them until weaning age. Vaccinating them too soon, however, […] Read more
Consistent feed crucial in dry cows
It’s all about consistent feed intake and maintenance of rumen health for dairy cows in the transition period before calving. There was a time when producers believed a drop in feed intake in the high-straw diet was a natural process for cows in the days or weeks before calving, said Trevor DeVries, a professor and […] Read more
Retained placentas can cause other problems
Most cows do not need to be treated with antibiotics because they may interfere with the natural shedding process
Most cows shed the placental membranes within two to eight hours of calving. If it takes longer than that, infection could result. Dr. Carling Matejka, a veterinarian at Fen Vet in Airdrie, Alta., says that if a cow takes longer than 24 hours to shed the placenta, it is considered retained. “This is most common […] Read more
Castration debate: cutting versus banding
Many veterinarians prefer cutting if it can be done at an early age but say banding has its place in certain circumstances
Earlier is better when it comes to castration of male calves, and the method depends on its age and on producers’ preference and circumstance. Dr. Carling Matejka, a veterinarian at Fen Vet in Airdrie, Alta., says some people prefer to band rather than cut and it may depend on age of the calf. “Age is […] Read more
