Today we have robust capabilities to ingest and provide intelligence from animal health data.Through machine learning and artificial intelligence, we will be able to use data to predict in calf health which will allow targeted interventions to manage cattle better from birth to slaughter.
“Diagnostics need to be used more in beef cattle medicine. We need to quit guessing,” says Dr. Dan Thomson. “So many times we just guess why we have a swollen joint or why the calves broke with BRD. A 200-head pen of cattle today, it’s a half a million bucks. Investing slightly in better understanding the cause of disease will allow us to improve vaccine protocols and treatment outcomes for our cattle.”
Thomson, a PhD nutritionist, DVM and managing partner of Production and Animal Consultation (PAC), was the featured guest in “The Future of Beef Show” podcast episode 10.
“Many times we miss more by not looking than we do by not knowing,” he says. “Good stockmanship is about taking the time to find sick cattle, pulling them to the chute for a good clinical exam which includes lung auscultation, body temperature and recording clinical signs.Good early diagnosis of disease improves our treatment success rates tremendously.Treating the right animal, with the right dose, at the right time.”
According to Thomson, “redundancy is our friend,” highlighting the importance of consistent, repeated good animal health practices. He also stresses how veterinarians are critical partners in animal health, offering more than just treatment; they provide ongoing guidance, preventative strategies and a holistic approach to animal care.
Five key takeaways from the podcast are:
1. Animal welfare is critical: Proper animal health involves more than just treatment; it’s about preventing disease through vaccination, nutrition, shelter and low-stress cattle handling.
“We must build trust in cattle with caregivers. Cattle that don’t trust people hide their clinical signs until much later in the disease process, which decreases treatment success. Acclimating cattle builds trust and allows us to visualize cattle illness or disease sooner,” Thomson explains.
He emphasizes the importance of understanding cattle from birth, particularly highlighting the critical nature of colostrum intake.
“By six hours of age, we could tell if that calf was going to be failure of passive transfer,” he says, underscoring the importance of early health interventions.
2. Diagnostic testing is essential: Veterinarians should focus on understanding the root causes of health issues through comprehensive testing, rather than just guessing or treating symptoms.
3. Antibiotic stewardship matters: The goal is to use antibiotics judiciously — getting the right antibiotic to the right animal at the right time, while understanding the broader context of animal health.
“Antibiotics are incredible, essential tools for human and animal health. We need more antibiotics,” he says. “Antibiotic stewardship is getting the right antibiotic in the right animal at the right time. The core to antibiotic stewardship is a veterinary client patient relationship.”
4. Technology and human interaction must work together: New technologies like active tags and artificial intelligence can help improve animal health, but they cannot replace the importance of hands-on care and veterinarian-producer relationships.
“Just because you have a baby monitor doesn’t mean you don’t need a mother,” he says.
Thomson sees technology as a tool to enhance, not replace, human care. Active tags and wearables can help identify sick animals earlier, but they require skilled interpretation.
5. Holistic approach to animal health: Success comes from understanding the entire life cycle of cattle — from cow-calf operations through feedlots — and addressing health challenges at each stage through communication, proper management and continuous learning.
Thomson says it all starts with breeding the cow herd with a tight calving window. He says this results in more calves the same age at branding and weaning that are the proper stage to receive vaccines.
Colostrum is key to calf health throughout its life. He stresses the importance of newborn calves getting colostrum in the first six to 12 hours. Past that time there is little passive immunity absorption.
“I’m talking about improved health of that calf throughout its life, that’s where it all starts,” he adds. “The industry continues to do a better job of vaccinating and preconditioning and preparing cattle for the feedlot.”
To decrease stress and morbidity at the feedlot, Thomson suggests preconditioning. This includes getting calves bunk broke and used to the water tank before sending them to the feedlot.
“There’s two reasons why animals get sick,” he says. “One, an overwhelming dose of a pathogen, that they’re naive to or, two, suppressed immune system.”
In summary, Thomson sees tremendous potential in integrating data, improving diagnostic capabilities and developing more targeted health interventions. However, he cautions progress requires patience, collaboration and a willingness to challenge existing practices.
He is optimistic about the future of the beef industry, particularly its ability to produce a versatile food product.
“Beef feeds every socioeconomic strata,” he explains, from ground beef to the white tablecloth restaurant where consumers celebrate the biggest and greatest days of their lives.
Be sure to check out the podcast to learn more about what it really takes to build a connected, resilient health system from cow-calf to packer.
