Latest News From John Maday

The sight of frozen, snow-covered fields might not trigger thoughts of planting season, but late winter can be the ideal time for some low-cost pasture improvement.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced this week it has worked with Pfizer Inc. to help alleviate a shortage of certain injectable opioids available to treat pain in animals.

Members of the Animal Agriculture Coalition released a statement applauding animal health provisions included in the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report, which was sent to President Trump’s desk this week.

Noting the importance of keeping the use of antimicrobials as low as possible without compromising health, three international veterinary organizations have issued a statement regarding judicious use in food animals.

The FDA announced this week that it has requested that animal drug companies voluntarily revise the labels of drugs intended to treat internal parasites in livestock to add information about antiparasitic resistance.

While we think of wild animals as the primary carriers of rabies, domestic livestock including cattle are susceptible to the virus, and because of their more frequent contact with humans, can pose a risk of transmission.

Study indicates same levels of resistant pathogens in ground beef raised with and without antibiotics.

Weedy grass drastically reduces forage production in Western pastures.

Mass treatments can save stressed calves arriving at stocker or feeding operations, but a more targeted approach could reduce antibiotic use while improving outcomes.

Several studies have shown little to no negative impact of grazing, at typical stocking rates, on subsequent crop yields.

Grazing on harvested corn fields provides a fall and winter management option for cattle owners and an income opportunity for landowners.

USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach was welcomed to Kansas, on Monday, November 19, by beef industry leaders participating in the CattleTrace pilot project for disease traceability.

Long before humans understood the biology of genetic inheritance, they selected their domestic animals with the most desirable traits for breeding.

During its recent annual conference, the U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) discussed the need for improved traceability across the U.S. cattle marketing chain.

In 2011, researchers isolated an unknown virus, later categorized as influenza D virus (IDV), in a diseased pig. Since then, some of the same group identified influenza D antibodies in cattle, goats, sheep and horses.

A two-day workshop focused on unit cost of production for cow-calf operations will be offered at the Red Will County 4-H Building in McCook on November 5th and 6th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The University of Nebraska’s “State of Beef Conference” takes place November 7 and 8, at the Sandhills Convention Center Quality Inn and Suites in North Platte, Nebraska.

This necropsy image from a feedlot steer, was supplied by Dr. Dee Griffin at West Texas A&M University.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to two feed mills that mixed horse feed containing monensin.

Gene editing shows considerable potential for improving animal health and welfare and food safety while reducing dependence on antimicrobials and other treatments for livestock diseases.

Leadership and inspired teamwork help ensure that health and management protocols succeed.

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announces a finding of no significant impact related to oral rabies vaccine (ORV) field trials in New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and West Virginia.

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded a $50,000 grant to Elm Innovations and the University of California, Davis to investigate the potential for mitigating methane emissions from dairy cattle.

These days, long-term viability in animal agriculture requires identifying and capitalizing on efficiencies, while also conserving resources, protecting animal welfare and ensuring food safety and public health.

Emerging diagnostic tools could allow more targeted, efficient and effective treatment decisions for shipped cattle.

Here is the answer to our latest Mystery Malady.

While the need for change and adaptation remain critical, bovine veterinary practice will continue to thrive.

When feedlot and dairy workers enjoy their jobs, feel empowered to make decisions and understand the reasons behind their tasks, they are most likely to provide good animal husbandry.

In March 2017, the Starbuck Fire cause catastrophic damage across western Kansas. It could not, however, harm the spirit, generosity and resilience of the agricultural and rural community.

Bayer veterinarian discusses BRD, answers producers’ questions about the disease.

Farmers and ranchers develop a natural affinity toward “systems thinking,” says John Groves, DVM, with Livestock Vet Services in Eldon, Missouri.

The ESTROTECT Breeding Indicator features a new and improved precision design that includes the patent pending Breeding Bullseye™ to help producers and breeding specialists know exactly when animals are ready to breed.

Depending on how you perceive it, animal disease traceability is either an idea that’s too important to abandon in spite of all the complications, or a nuisance that just refuses to die.

Veterinarians will, over the next five years, become more involved in overseeing the use of all forms of medically important antimicrobials used in livestock.

Tribal Extension agent helps ranchers improve production efficiency in one of the nation’s largest cow herds.

Studies show RDD can deliver an appropriate treatment dose, but inconsistencies raise concerns.

CattleTrace names Board of Directors and focuses recruitment efforts on cow-calf producers.

After more than 15 years of discussing, strategizing, and in some cases resisting, could animal disease traceability finally be coming of age?

More than 200 attendees and 40 live streams participated in third conference.

APHIS is taking this action based on our review of the World Organization for Animal Health’s (OIE) supporting information regarding the risk designations for these four regions.

Over the past year, the invasive longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) has spread to at least nine states after first appearing in New Jersey.

On August 29, the USDA's National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) received a Regional Partnership Award for its role in the development of bird and mammal repellents to protect agricultural crops and property.

What if we could not only reduce carbon emissions from cattle production, but also redirect that carbon toward animal growth, and more beef production per unit of input?

Based on past history and international agreements, this atypical case should not affect beef exports or our negligible-risk status with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

While predicting disease risk in a group of cattle is relatively reliable for experienced cattle feeders, predicting risk in individual animals presents a much greater challenge.

While many ranchers prioritize calving ease in their genetic selection, differences in measurement and prediction tools can cause some confusion.

For cow-calf producers planning how to manage their calves through the stressful weaning period, deciding factors include available labor, facilities, weather, marketing goals and others.

This Maryland seedstock operation satisfies beef-loving urban consumers with Angus beef while collecting data for future genetic selection.

At the recent Academy of Veterinary Consultants summer conference, several presentations highlighted potential sources of cattle morbidity, where further study and increased awareness could help guide future management.

When a group of newly weaned, co-mingled, stressed calves with unknown vaccination history or immune status arrive at a feedyard, managers and veterinarians can predict they are at a high risk for BRD.