Latest News From Animal Welfare

Summer often brings a few infectious ailments to beef cows. Common problems include eye infections and foot rot. Treatment of affected cows will often involve the use of antibiotics, so remember VFD rules.

“We have no idea what it is," Bruce Auchly, information manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said. “And we won’t until we get the DNA tests back.”

“We have no idea what it is," Bruce Auchly, information manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said. “And we won’t until we get the DNA tests back.”

Cattle producers are invited to attend a field day at the Mingo Farm in St. James, Mo., to learn how to use natural shade to improve their beef operation.

Cattle producers are invited to attend a field day at the Mingo Farm in St. James, Mo., to learn how to use natural shade to improve their beef operation.

Producers that are engaged in AI as a method of breeding cows and heifers need to be aware of the impact that handling cattle in summertime temperatures and humidity can have on reproductive success. 

“Is the temperature and humidity going to kill these cattle this afternoon if we work them?”

We’ve learned a lot about animal welfare over the past 20 years, but opportunities for continued improvement remain, according to a new report from the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST).

Normal handling techniques may be ineffective with traumatized livestock.

A new stable fly trap, now on the market, catches more flies than the standard trap, according to a recent Agricultural Research Service (ARS) study.

Boehringer Ingelheim supports NCBA on enhancement of cattle training events.

While it seems intuitive that gentle handling will lead to calmer cattle, we need objective measurements to evaluate progress.

A herd of least 150 feral cattle have become more than a nuisance in one of Southern California’s popular hiking areas.

Newly Formed Veterinary and Consumer Affairs Group Assembles Thought Leaders to Address “Advancing Animal Welfare Together.”

The checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program has launched a new training and certification program for cattle transportation.

Several cow shootings are being investigated in South Dakota.

More than 100 dairy cows and calves are believed to have been killed after a fire broke out in a large barn on a farm near the Canadian border in northern New York.

Company will increase the use of gas stunning in plants.

A northwest Washington farmer charged in April with starving his animals to death has avoided felony convictions and will get several surviving cows back.

Tyson Foods has installed video cameras in key areas of its poultry operations and will test new ways to slaughter birds — not in response to previous "gotcha" moments but under a corporate philosophy that notes its role as a steward for millions of chickens, the company said.

Animal rights activists don't want a new meat research facility to be built at Colorado State University.

Ohio farmers are sending hay, fencing materials and other supplies to Kansas to help ranches that were devastated by wildfires this month.

Hormones have been used in beef production since the 1950s. 

A small packing plant in Oregon has been cited for inhumane slaughter practices.

More cows, and even bison have been mysteriously killed and butchered in North Dakota pastures.

Good choices during load-out eases the ride.

Weaning calves before auction reduces stress and sets up cattle to perform better throughout the rest of their lives. 

Weaning is arguably the most stressful event in a calf's life.

Cattle owners had to rely on horses, boats and even a helicopter to round up their herds as floodwaters covered pastures in many areas of south Louisiana.

Authorities have seized 36 head of neglected cattle from a farm near Winterset in Madison County, Iowa.

More than a dozen cattle that escaped overnight from their pens have been struck by vehicles after wandering into a rural road in Clinton County's Dallas Township.

Authorities in eastern Colorado are offering a reward for help finding the person responsible for shooting and killing cattle.

Heat and humidity could lead to heat stress this week.

Most areas of Oklahoma experience 70 or more days each year with temperatures that exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, providing ample reason for cattle producers to guard against heat stress in their herds.

Summer heat waves pose a serious danger to cattle in feedlots.

Low-stress livestock handling suffers from many common misconceptions, mostly as a consequence of its name. 

Monday is the early bird deadline to register for Drovers Cow-Calf Cowboy College at a reduced rate. 

A K-State livestock specialist shares tips on how to prevent fly populations.

Branding day is often an anticipated neighborhood event for beef producers. As pastures green and turnout approaches, many producers enlist the help of neighbors and friends for branding day.

Correct administration of any injection is a critical control point in beef production and animal health.  

As we move out of winter and into spring, prolonged periods of mud and moisture can significantly hinder cattle performance and profitability.

Cattle make fewer trips to the feedbunk during muddy conditions which results in lower feed intake.  

With grass turnout comes exposure to parasites that have overwintered either in the pasture or in the cattle themselves.

The use of beta-agonists in beef cattle production has been highly scrutinized following concerns of animal welfare, which has led to the removal of Zilmax from the market by the manufacturer. 

Two speakers at the Range Beef Cow Symposium addressed today’s issue of disconnect between consumers and producers. Dr. Ronnie Green addressed why this disconnect is occurring while Michele Payn-Knoper discussed how to fix the problem. 

Every job outdoors gets harder in extreme cold, but few have it tougher than cattle farmers. And it's not just the cold snaps that grind agricultural operations to a churning slog, but also the brief warm-ups, which are proving difficult for Pennsylvania farmers.

The first few days an animal spends in a feedlot are critical to their health and overall performance through the feeding period. 

One of the downfall's to mud is the increase in energy requirement for cattle to navigate the terrain.

Winter storm Goliath left a wave of dead and stray beef cattle in its wake as the blizzard pushed across the Panhandle region of Texas last week.

Cattle health following Winter Storm Goliath will continue to be a concern for producers.