While the fire was unfortunate, the industry suffered more from an over-reaction by cattle markets in the week immediately following the fire.

Assessing the risk of cattle needing treatment for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) requires consideration of far more than exposure to patahogens.

While researchers and the industry work to develop systems to better prevent BRD, timely treatments with antibiotics will remain a critical tool for minimizing losses associated with morbidity.

Packers were hesitant to offer a bid on cattle early last week, and after a $5 decline, feeders still have many unanswered questions about the impact of harvest capacity.

We can’t bet the farm on technological updates, but we can invest in doing the right thing, in technology that tracks and proves we are doing the right thing.

So far this summer, the USDA has confirmed vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) on premises in six states.