Vaccination

Why Cattle Vaccination is a Lifetime Investment in Reproductive Success

Thu, 07 May 2026 15:24:31 GMT

Cattle vaccination is more than a seasonal chore; it is a lifetime investment in reproductive efficiency. According to Dr. Becky Funk, a veterinarian at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, producers must move beyond “automatic” vaccination and adopt an intentional, long-term strategy.

Funk was a featured speaker during the Beef Reproduction Task Force’s 2025 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Symposium. She says producers should view vaccination as a long-term strategy, not just a short-term fix for the breeding season.

What is the Metabolic Cost of Vaccinating Cattle?

Vaccines are not free, either in cost or impact on cattle. There is a metabolic cost that impacts their immune response, affecting overall performance.

“Research has shown that even a single immune response requires significant energy,” Funk says. “In young calves, that energy demand can represent a meaningful portion of their daily maintenance needs.”

Why is Colostrum the Foundation of Lifetime Immunity?

Every vaccine given should be intentional, not automatic. At birth, colostrum is the foundation of immunity. Building a strong immune system for calves is critical for their productive life.

“Calves that don’t receive adequate colostrum are more likely to get sick or die early, and those that experience illness early in life are often less productive in the long term,” Funk says.

Shifting to Reproductive Protection

A lifetime of immunity is hard to reach without a strong start. By the time a heifer is ready to be bred, her immune system has already been shaped by early decisions.

“As heifers enter the breeding herd, vaccination programs typically shift to reproductive-focused vaccines,” Funk adds.

What is the Difference Between Killed and Modified-Live Vaccines?

Depending on the animal, the right vaccine matters. According to Funk, heifers and cows require different approaches.

Killed Vaccines: These are often safer for pregnant animals because they do not contain live pathogens, but they do not stimulate as strong of an immune response. As a result of dead pathogens, the immune system is more stimulated, causing a larger impact on their metabolic response. They often require a booster.

Modified-live vaccines (MLV): These contain weakened live pathogens that replicate in the animal. While they offer stronger, more complete protection, they carry a risk of causing abortions if used improperly in pregnant cattle. While MLVs can offer stronger protection, they carry more risk if misused.

Defining Your Vaccination Goals

Funk recommends selecting vaccines based on what you are specifically trying to protect:

Conception: Ensuring the cow is ready to breed.
Pregnancy: Preventing early embryonic loss.
The Fetus: Protecting the unborn calf from pathogens like BVD.
The Newborn: Ensuring the cow produces high-quality colostrum to protect the calf after birth.

Different goals result in different vaccines used. All equally important but depend on the operation.

Built Over a Lifetime

Health is a long-term investment in a cow’s productivity. Choosing the right vaccines and using them at the right time, plays a critical role in their life. That process begins before birth and continues throughout the animal’s life.

“The goal is to build a herd that’s resilient over time, not just protecting them for one breeding season,” Funk summarizes. “We’re not just vaccinating for today; we are setting these cows up for the rest of their productive life.”

Your Next Reads:

The Rancher-Designed Solution for Efficient Cattle Processing

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:35:28 GMT

Necessity is indeed the mother of invention, as Seth Davis discovered while working cattle on his commercial cow-calf ranch. He encountered a problem that has frustrated ranchers for years. His vaccine gun syringe was always just out of reach when he needed it, or it was in his hand when he needed his hands free for other jobs.

That moment sparked an idea. What if there was a way to free your hands while keeping the vaccine gun right where your hand expects it to be? That idea, now ready for spring processing, became the VacHolster , a rugged, hands-free vaccine syringe holster built to allow ranchers to keep their syringe clean, secure and always in reach.

“I built it because I needed it,” says Davis, founder of VacHolster. “And it turns out a lot of other ranchers need it too, as they showed us last fall. This is about making the work faster, safer and less stressful on both the livestock and humans.”

Made with heavy-duty, ranch-proof materials, the VacHolster adjusts to fit the user, protects vaccine potency, reduces needlestick risks, helps get more done with less stress on the herd and allows cattle to be worked up to 20% faster. By keeping syringes ready at hand, ranchers spend less time fumbling and more time focusing on what matters.

(VacHolster)

Ranch-Tested Benefits:

Get Your Hands Back: Free your hands for all the other jobs with confidence that your syringe will be there when you reach for it, whether you rope and drag or work ‘em through a chute.
Work Faster: No more setting syringes down or hunting for where they landed.
Reduce Stress on Livestock: Shorter livestock handling time equals less stress on you and your livestock.
Protect Vaccine Potency: Reduces exposure to sunlight, dust and damage to ensure that your vaccine provides maximum protection for your herd.
Work Safer: Reduce needlestick risk with the wraparound needle guard.
Fits You: Wear on the right side or left side and adjust to fit any size user.
Fits the Job: Strong enough to handle heat, cold, mud and daily use.

Since its launch, VacHolster has been used on more than 10,000 head of cattle and 6,000 calves. It has been worn for hundreds of miles on horseback, four-wheelers and in pickup trucks. Ranchers praise its durability, comfort and time-saving functionality.

“Very handy to be able to have hands free but still have syringes within my grasp at all times,” says Iowa rancher Nolan Hagen.

See it in action on YouTube .

Your Next Reads:

BQA at the Chute: 10 Tips for Spring Calf Processing

Mon, 04 May 2026 12:58:30 GMT

Spring calf processing is a critical window for establishing herd immunity, but its success depends entirely on the details. By following Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) principles, producers can maximize vaccine efficacy and protect carcass value through precise needle selection, proper injection site placement and strict adherence to the “one-hour rule” for modified-live vaccines.

“It will soon be time to process spring-born calves, which brings up the topic of best management practices and following BQA principles for all treatments,” says Chris Clark, Iowa State University Extension and outreach beef specialist, in a recent Growing Beef Newsletter. “The overall concepts are pretty simple, but it takes attention to detail to get the most out of each treatment and to ensure our product is as safe, wholesome and palatable as possible.”

Clark shares these 10 simple reminders for spring processing:

Follow label directions for all treatments, including injections, implants, pour-ons, insecticide ear tags, etc.
Administer all subcutaneous and intramuscular injections in front of the shoulder in the injection site triangle of the neck.
Select the appropriate needle diameter and length based on the weight of the animals being treated, viscosity of products being injected and routes of administration. Needles should be small enough to minimize tissue damage but large enough to prevent bending and breaking. The diameter should be appropriate for the viscosity of the product, and the length should be appropriate for the route of administration. For young calves weighing less than 300 pounds, 18-gauge needles are reasonable for most vaccines. For subcutaneous injections, ½ inch to ¾ inch needle length should work well, and for intramuscular injections, ¾ inch to 1 inch needle length should be appropriate. Keep in mind the greater the needle gauge, the smaller the diameter and vice versa.

Recommended needle size based on animal weight, viscosity of product and route of administration.
(BQA Field Guide)
Practice injection technique and pay attention to the angle of injection and the feel of the needle within the tissue. Subcutaneous injections should be applied at approximately 45 degrees to the body and intramuscular injections should be applied at approximately 90 degrees to the body. With experience, you can learn to feel whether you are in that subcutaneous space or whether you have entered the underlying muscle.
Change needles frequently. At a minimum, needles should be changed every 10 to 15 head. Additionally, a new needle should always be applied before refilling a syringe and any bent or burred needles should be immediately replaced.
For reusable syringes, clean well after each use by thoroughly rinsing with hot water. Refrain from using soaps and disinfectants because residues of these substances can damage vaccines and reduce vaccine efficacy.
Handle vaccines with care. When using modified live vaccines, mix only what you can use in an hour. Keep vaccines at steady, reasonable temperatures and take care to avoid freezing, excessive heat and exposure to UV light. Reconstitute modified live vaccines with sterile transfer needles and roll or invert gently to mix rather than shaking vigorously.
When possible, choose subcutaneous routes of administration over intramuscular routes. Some products are labeled to be given either way and when you have the choice, choose subcutaneous. Any insertion of a needle or injection of a substance into muscle tissue will cause tissue damage, potentially impacting the quality of that product.
Document complete processing/treatment records, including animal or group identification, treatment date, products administered, withdrawal times, earliest date animals would clear withdrawal times, dose administered, route of administration, name of person administering drugs and any prescription information.
Do not mix different vaccines or drugs in the same syringe or use a syringe to administer different products without washing in between. Try to place injections at least 4 inches apart from other injections to avoid product mixing/interaction within animal tissue.

Why Your Chute-Side Manner Matters

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 22:21:25 GMT

Good chute-side manner isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about how cattle experience handling, how accurately treatments are delivered and how safely people can work. During a chute-side demonstration at CattleCon in Nashville, Tenn., Ron Gill and Paige Pratt emphasized that many of the most common problems seen later — leakage, injection-site reactions, poor efficacy and safety risks — start with small decisions made at the chute.

From how handlers move around cattle to how needles and syringes are selected and used, chute-side technique plays a central role in animal welfare and Beef Quality Assurance outcomes.

1. Movement Around the Cow in the Chute Matters

Handlers continue to influence cattle behavior even after the headgate closes. Gill showed how small changes in handler position — stepping forward, stepping back or changing angle — can prompt cattle to adjust their stance and head position. Using your movement when the animal is inside the chute can improve neck access and reduce resistance, allowing procedures to be performed more calmly and accurately without escalating stress.

“One thing you can do a lot of times, you can step forward,” says Gill, who proceeded to move to the front of the cow. “Notice that the animal steps back when I do that, and then I’ve got better neck access.”

2. Proper Restraint Determines Accuracy and Safety

Accurate injections and safe handling depend on adequate restraint. When cattle are not properly positioned, injections are more likely to leak or be misplaced and handlers are placed at greater risk. The speakers caution against leaning into crowded or partially restrained animals and emphasize that rushing procedures undermines both safety and efficacy.

“If you have to lean over in there to give a shot and one of them throws her head up or jumps, then that’s where people get hurt,” says Gill, who advises against working cattle in line for the chute without restraint, even if they’re packed in tight.

3. Needle and Syringe Selection Is a Chute-Side Decision

Choosing the correct needle and syringe is part of chute-side technique, not an afterthought. Needle gauge and length must match cattle size, skin thickness and injection route. Inappropriate needle selection or damaged equipment increases pain, leakage and treatment failure, particularly when combined with poor restraint or rushed technique.

“The lighter those cattle are, probably the smaller gauge, the smaller diameter we want,” says Pratt. She also highlights the importance of needle length, to make sure the injectable is getting to the right depth, and syringe tip style, favoring Luer lock.

4. How Syringes Are Handled Affects Whether Products Work

Syringe handling influences dosing accuracy and product effectiveness. Common chute-side mistakes include exposure to sunlight, contamination during filling and improper cleaning practices. These errors can reduce vaccine efficacy before the product ever enters the animal, making careful syringe management a critical part of chute-side manner.

“Once you sterilize these, don’t be pulling the plunger back until you have a needle in a bottle,” Gill says. “What have you just done? You sucked all the dust out of the corral into your syringe.”

5. Chute-Side Manner Reflects Management Priorities

Chute-side habits reflect how seriously an operation takes stewardship and animal welfare. Consistent techniques such as using the same locations, spacing injections appropriately and avoiding shortcuts help prevent long-term problems such as abscesses and lost performance.

“If you’re going to be doing it, spending the money ... do it correctly,” Gill says.

Refining these small chute-side decisions ensures that every animal is treated with the respect it deserves and every investment is given the best chance to succeed.

Managing Endotoxin Load in Cattle Vaccination Programs

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:14:16 GMT

Calves that look rough the day after processing are a familiar sight in both cow-calf and feedlot systems. While infection, handling stress and weather are often blamed, another contributor is increasingly part of veterinary conversations: endotoxin load associated with vaccination.

“Think about if you got the stomach flu and you’re sitting on the couch all day and you just don’t feel good. Same thing with these calves,” says Dr. Jeremi Wurtz, beef cattle technical consultant for Elanco Animal Health, when describing vaccine sweat from endotoxin stacking.

Endotoxin exposure is neither new nor is it inherently harmful. The challenge arises when cumulative exposure overwhelms an animal’s ability to respond appropriately. Understanding how endotoxin stacking occurs and how vaccine design influences that risk gives veterinarians another tool to fine-tune herd health programs.

Why does Endotoxin Load Matter?

Endotoxins, primarily lipopolysaccharides (LPS), are components of the outer membrane and cell wall of gram-negative bacteria. These can make their way into an animal’s system through natural pathogen exposure or through vaccination with killed gram-negative bacterial vaccines.

The concern is not exposure itself, but the cumulative physiologic response when multiple sources are introduced close together.

“Say we vaccinate a calf with a Mannheimia haemolytica vaccine, and then we also vaccinate that same calf with a somnus vaccine, and then we give him a Moraxella vaccine,” Wurtz says. “Sometimes there will be multiple different isolates in those vaccines, and so you’re really loading up the additive effects of those endotoxins.”

When this happens, the endotoxin load can pass a threshold causing that calf to react negatively.

What Endotoxin Load Looks Like in the Field

Clinically, endotoxin reactions can resemble early respiratory disease. Affected calves might be off feed, lethargic and slow to recover after vaccination. Timing is one of the most useful clues: Endotoxin-related responses typically appear about 24 hours post-vaccination.

“It’s usually the next day,” says Wurtz, noting the events surrounding vaccination also influence calf response. “The stress of handling those calves through the chute, maybe going from one pen to another, maybe there was a shipping event, these stressors can cause calves to have more sensitivity to endotoxins.”

The overlap in presentation with other ailments explains why endotoxin effects can go unrecognized or be attributed solely to handling or disease pressure.

Endotoxin Stacking

Endotoxin stacking most often occurs when multiple gram-negative vaccines are administered at the same time. Each product contributes its own endotoxin load and the effects are additive.

“If one vaccine has 80,000 endotoxin units, and the other has another 80,000, and another 80,000, all of a sudden you are now going to really push that calf into a susceptible state,” Wurtz says. “Any time we can minimize the stacking or loading of endotoxins is pretty important.”

In practice, spacing vaccines is not always feasible. Labor, chute time and cattle flow frequently dictate protocol designs, making vaccine selection an important variable.

Is there a Magic Number for Endotoxin Load?

There is no single endotoxin threshold that predicts clinical response.

“To say ‘oh, you have to be under 180,000 endotoxin units’ is not a real proper thing to say because it’s relative,” Wurtz says. “A 900-lb. yearling calf is going to be more tolerant to endotoxin loads than a 300-lb. calf that just got weaned.”

This variability underscores why endotoxin management is best viewed as risk reduction rather than strict compliance. Along with stress, immune and nutritional status also play a role on the endotoxin load a calf can handle.

Vaccine Handling Mistakes can Increase Endotoxins

Vaccine handling plays a critical role in endotoxin release. Freezing, thawing and aggressive agitation can damage cellular components, increasing the amount of free endotoxin delivered at injection.

“A lot of times a vaccine will say shake before using. That doesn’t mean to take it and shake it like crazy, because that can damage the antigens in there and release a lot more free endotoxin as well,” Wurtz advises. “You want to just lightly turn and rotate those vaccines so you don’t overagitate and damage those antigens.”

Proper refrigeration and storage is also important for optimizing antigen delivery by avoiding damage and minimizing free endotoxins within the vaccine.

How Low-Endotoxin Vaccines are Designed

Low-endotoxin vaccines aim to reduce exposure by limiting unnecessary bacterial components. Recombinant and subunit approaches use only the specific antigen required to stimulate immunity, avoiding much of the LPS contained in whole-cell vaccines.

The Nuplura PH and Nuplura PH+5 vaccines from Elanco are examples of these low-endotoxin vaccines. They use recombinant technology to produce and isolate leukotoxin proteins for vaccine incorporation instead of including the whole bacterial cell.

“Any time you have a full cell or cellular components in a vaccine, you’re going to have the risk of having additional endotoxin,” Wurtz says.

Practical Takeaways

Low-endotoxin vaccines are not a replacement for sound herd health planning. They are one component of risk management, alongside careful product selection, realistic stacking decisions and proper handling.

“There’s no magic number to be under for endotoxin load, but anytime we can lower it is a good opportunity,” Wurtz says.

By matching vaccine design to calf risk, veterinarians can reduce unnecessary inflammatory stress while preserving protective immunity, especially when conditions are less than ideal.

Breathing Easy: Protecting Livestock from Respiratory Disease

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:47:19 GMT

Keeping livestock healthy can feel like a delicate balancing act, and winter weather makes that even harder. Cold fronts, sudden temperature swings, and damp conditions can weaken animals’ immune systems, making them more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia.

Dr. Kevin Washburn, a professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, explains what causes pneumonia, how to recognize it, and how to keep animals healthy during the cold winter months.

Clearing the Air on Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a common and serious respiratory illness that can be caused when certain viruses or bacteria infect the lungs. The condition leads to inflammation, fluid buildup, and lung damage, making it difficult for animals to breathe.

“Most of the bacteria that cause pneumonia live in the animal’s sinuses without causing disease until their immune system weakens,” Washburn says. “When the immune system weakens, the bacteria can be inhaled into the lungs and are able to multiply and cause damage.”

Stress is one of the main factors that can weaken an animal’s defenses, enabling bacteria to reach the lungs and cause disease.

Common stressors include:

Transportation over long distances (also known as shipping fever)
A viral infection
Weaning
Severe weather changes
A new environment
Mixing with calves of different ages at an auction
A change in feed
Introduction of new animals to the herd

More than Meets the Nose

Pneumonia often begins quietly but can progress rapidly, sometimes within hours. Detecting the early signs can significantly improve an animal’s chances of recovery.

“Loss of appetite is one of the very first signs of pneumonia,” Washburn said. “This is accompanied by an increased respiratory rate and elevated temperature.”

As pneumonia progresses, animals may exhibit changes in posture and breathing.

“The animal may stand with its neck outstretched and its elbows flared out. This is often accompanied by an increased effort to blow air out of its lungs while breathing,” Washburn says. “Sometimes, the animals may ‘grunt’ as they exhale because they are forcibly pushing air out.”

In severe cases, animals often alter the way they breathe even more.

“The animals may start to open-mouth breathe — this is a severe sign indicating the animal can’t get enough oxygen and may be near death,” Washburn explains. “Farm animals are obligate nose breathers, meaning they normally only breathe through their nostrils. When these animals open their mouths to breathe, it indicates that they are desperate for normal breaths.”

Recognizing and responding to these signs early helps prevent spread of disease and improves treatment success. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your local veterinarian to plan the next steps for your animal.

Prevention Is in the Air

Air flow is an important part of preventing disease, so owners should be aware of ventilation needs when bringing animals into barns for the winter.

“Poor air circulation leaves the animals breathing in more of the same air as their surrounding herd or flock mates, leading to viruses being easily transmitted through aerosol droplets from the lungs,” Washburn says. “Stagnant air allows this to happen more easily, as moving air would typically sweep these droplets away before they can reach a nearby animal.”

Another way to help reduce the risk of pneumonia is to vaccinate.

“Like all forms of respiratory diseases, vaccination is the most important tool in prevention,” Washburn says. “There are vaccines for all the common bacteria and viruses that cause or lead to the development of pneumonia in all species of farm animals.”

Planning ahead can also help protect animals during travel or when they come into contact with unfamiliar livestock.

“In addition to a regular vaccination schedule for all animals, those that are going to undergo transportation for exhibition should be given booster vaccinations three weeks prior to their event,” Washburn says. “Avoiding nose-to-nose contact with other animals as much as possible can also aid in prevention of disease either on-site or when the animals return home.”

Another consideration is when you are weaning young animals in the spring.

“Weaning is a very stressful event for all farm animals,” Washburn says. “Vaccination three weeks prior to weaning and again at weaning can aid in the prevention of pneumonia.”

With proper preparation — including good ventilation, vaccination and stress reduction — owners can lower the risk of winter pneumonia. By understanding its causes and recognizing early signs, you can help keep animals healthy throughout the coldest months of the year.

Your Next Read: 7 Steps for Assessing Calf Abortions

5 Tips for Vaccine Handling

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:53:41 GMT

Vaccines are one of the most effective and economical tools available to maintain herd health, reduce disease loss and support animal well-being. However, even the best vaccine can fail if it’s not handled correctly. Dr. Jon Townsend, dairy technical services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health, recently touched on the topic during a Dairy Calf and Heifer Association webinar .

“You’ve made the investment in those vaccines. You want to get the best response out of them. You want to get the best cow health possible,” Townsend says.

Whether you’re working with calves, replacement heifers or mature cattle, following consistent vaccine handling practices ensures your investment delivers the intended immunity. Here are five key guidelines to keep in mind.

1. Store Vaccines at the Right Temperature

Vaccines are sensitive, biological products. Many must be kept refrigerated at a specific temperature range to remain effective.

Use a dedicated refrigerator (not the one used for drinks and lunches), as frequent door opening causes temperature swings.
Place a thermometer in the fridge to monitor temperature regularly.
Avoid storing vaccines in the refrigerator door where temperatures fluctuate the most.

2. Don’t Mix all your Vaccine at Once

Many livestock vaccines are sold as two-part products. Once mixed, the live organisms begin to break down.

“Only mix what you’ll use in the next one to two hours if you have to mix up a vaccine,” Townsend advises. “Your modified live vaccines you have to mix. So don’t mix a huge bottle that’s going to take the whole day to use. By the time you get to the last dose that vaccine has potentially degraded, and you won’t get the same response that you would have immediately after reconstitution.”

3. Keep Mixed Vaccines Cool and Out of Sunlight

Heat and sunlight can rapidly damage vaccines, particularly modified-live vaccines.

Keep syringes and mixed bottles in an insulated cooler with cold packs.
Do not place vaccine bottles on the chute, in your shirt pocket, or on a truck dashboard.
Check your cooler throughout the day to ensure cold packs are still cold and not melted.

Unsure about what cooler to use? Consider making it yourself.

“You can either buy a fancy one, or you can make one yourself with an Igloo cooler and drill some holes,” Townsend says. In the end, the goal is the same. “It’s really important to keep that vaccine cool. If you’re using a multi-dose syringe, make sure you’re keeping [it] cool between calves.”

4. Maintain Needle Cleanliness

Contamination can destroy vaccine potency and introduce infection to animals.

Use new clean needles when drawing vaccine from the bottle.
Do not set uncapped syringes or needles down on surfaces like tailgates or barn rails.
If a needle becomes dirty, bent or touches anything questionable, replace it.

“We need to be thinking about changing out needles more frequently than [we] did 30 years ago,” Townsend says. “Then disinfect the needle and syringes after use or dispose of them, and think about disinfecting multi-dose syringes.”

Townsend also highlights the importance of making sure there is no disinfectant residue remaining after cleaning as it has the potential to inactivate your vaccines. Producers and veterinarians should work together to set up protocols for syringe reuse.

5. Use Sharp, Appropriate Needles

A sharp needle ensures a clean injection and reduces animal discomfort.

Replace needles regularly and check for sharpness.
Choose needle size based on animal size, vaccine viscosity and route of administration:
- Subcutaneous: typically 16 to 18 gauge, ½" to ¾"
- Intramuscular: typically 16 to 20 gauge, 1" to 1½"

Townsend specifically warns about the development of burrs, small barbs or defects that can catch on skin, on your needles after too many uses.

“If you wouldn’t want it going into your arm for a vaccine, you shouldn’t be putting it into a cow or calf either,” he says.

Overall, the immunity an animal gains from vaccination is only as good as the care taken in handling the product. Proper storage, careful mixing, maintaining temperature and using clean, sharp needles are straightforward steps that protect your investment and your herd.

Break the Late-Calving Cycle: Maximize Heifer Productivity from Day 1

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:39:35 GMT

A heifer that calves late in her first breeding season is already behind — and likely to stay that way.

“It starts a vicious cycle,” says Jordan Thomas, Ph.D., University of Missouri, “Where she calves late, breeds late the next year and eventually falls out of the herd.”

Whether producers are raising or buying their replacement heifers, focusing on strong herd management, disease prevention and parasite control is the foundation of a successful breeding herd and long-term profitability.

Calving Windows and Nutrition Set the Stage

Ideally, heifers should conceive their first calf at 15 months of age and calve by 24 months. Breeding early sets her and her future calves up for success.

“If we take the average eight calving seasons into consideration, an early-calving heifer who continues to calve in the first 21 days as a cow will give an extra one-and-a-half to two calves over her lifetime, based on the higher weaning weights of her early-born calves,” says David Shirbroun, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim. “With the market prices right now, getting those heavier calves from a well-developed heifer is extremely beneficial.”

Good body condition and nutrition also play a critical role in accelerating reproductive maturity, managing stress and overall health.

“A body condition score of 6 at calving is critical,” Thomas explains. “We want heifers to have a smooth appearance, with fat depots around the tailhead and brisket. This extra cover serves as a savings account of energy that ensures heifers enter their first lactation period prepared for success while they continue to grow.”

Heifers with good body condition at calving breed back sooner, wean heavier calves and better withstand stress.

“Animals are a little bit selfish,” Shirbroun says. “They’ll meet their own energy needs before supporting reproduction.”

Balanced diets and quality forage help heifers meet those energy demands.

“If we send her into a negative energy balance, we can compromise her ability to become pregnant, even if she has a fairly acceptable body condition score,” Thomas explains.

Producers should collaborate with their nutritionist to formulate balanced diets that are tailored to their environment and herd goals.

Vaccination Prevents Reproductive Disease Challenges

A pre-breeding vaccine program is one of the most effective tools to protect heifer health and long-term productivity.

“With replacement heifers, we really need to protect them from reproductive disease,” Shirbroun stresses . “If these heifers are infected by any number of different diseases, that’s going to set them back, either from a growth standpoint or cause reproductive issues.”

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) Types 1a, 1b and 2, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, leptospirosis, trichomoniasis and vibriosis are all top concerns for the breeding herd. While there are many implications of each disease, all are commonly known to cause infertility, embryonic loss or abortion.

(Boehringer Ingelheim)

BVDV is particularly threatening to a herd. If a pregnant heifer is infected, the virus can pass to her fetus, resulting in a persistently infected (PI) calf. Many PI calves appear completely healthy and go easily unnoticed, silently spreading BVDV to susceptible herd mates and their future offspring.

To reduce the incidence of reproductive diseases and PI calves, Shirbroun recommends a five-way viral vaccine, such as EXPRESS^® FP, which includes the Singer strain.

“A vaccine with the Singer strain is proven to prevent the formation of PI calves due to BVDV,” he says.

(Boehinger Ingelheim)

Control the Negative Impacts of Parasites

Keeping parasites in check is one of the simplest ways to help heifers stay healthy. Taking away gut irritation or damage associated with parasites allows heifers to fully utilize nutrition, gain weight efficiently and reach reproductive milestones.

“Parasite control is important for all cattle, especially if they’re going to be on grass for a long period of time,” notes Shirbroun. “One of the best things we can do is give those cattle an extended-release dewormer like LONGRANGE^® [eprinomectin]. If they’re on grass for three to four months, they’re going to have protection against parasites for the entire grazing season.”

He continues, “Oral, standard injectable or topical dewormers are great when we need to purge the system or provide around 30 days of therapy. But when producers have cattle out on grass for 120 to 150 days, an extended-release product can prevent reinfection of parasites, and provide continued protection to the bovine’s digestive tracts.”

To get the most out of any deworming program, work with a veterinarian to select the right dewormers for your region and parasite pressure, and work with them to conduct diagnostics like fecal egg count reduction tests to ensure your program is effective.

Herd development is a long game

“Heifer development doesn’t start at weaning — it begins before conception,” Shirbroun points out. “The only true way to set up a heifer to achieve 100% of her reproductive potential and longevity is to have influence on the animal before it is even conceived.”

He recommends producers manage cow health before and during gestation with balanced nutrition, disease prevention and parasite control.

“Once the heifer is born, her development is not just a six-month process,” Shirbroun emphasizes. “When done correctly, heifer development is about three years — from the time she’s conceived until she has had her first calf at 2 years of age.”

First Generic Bovine Respiratory Disease Treatment Approved by the FDA

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:02:47 GMT

Updated October 8, 2025

Bimedia US has now launched Gamrozyne, an FDA approved antibiotic (gamithromycin) injectable solution for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) caused by Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and Mycoplasma bovis in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle. Additionally, Gamrozyne has been approved to help control respiratory disease in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle at high risk of developing BRD associated with M. haemolytica and P. multocida.

This marks the first FDA-approved generic version of Zactran (gamithromycin; Boehringer Ingelheim) injectable solution and has been determined to be bioequivalent.

Gamithromycin has been shown to reach target lung tissue within 30 minutes and delivers 10 days of treatment with a single subcutaneous injection.

How To Recognize BRD

BRD is the most common and costly respiratory disease affecting the North American beef cattle industry. Delayed diagnosis and treatment increases the risk of secondary bacterial infections and can lead to severe illness and death. Clinical signs of BRD in cattle depend on the age of the animal, the causative organism(s) and the stage of the disease. However, the general clinical signs are:

Fever (over 40°C/104°F)
Labored breathing
Nasal and/or ocular discharge
Depression and/or dullness
Lack of appetite
Rapid, shallow breathing
Coughing
Salivation

Of these symptoms, fever in cattle is most commonly attributed to BRD and can be one of the earliest signs of disease. Further, the type of coughing can be indicative of the severity of the infection. In early cases, the lungs and airways are painful, so the animal will try to clear the airway with tentative, soft coughing. Later stage infection is characterized by more prominent coughing, and at this point, treatment is difficult.

BRD Prevention

To prevent BRD in cow-calf operations, close collaboration between the veterinarian and the producer is key. Developing a prevention-based herd-health program can improve the reproductive performance of the cow herd and help prevent illness in pre-weaned calves. This program should include:

A vaccination program tailored to the risk factors of your herd
Adequate herd nutrition (including assuring passive transfer with colostrum intake)
Consistent cattle handling to reduce stress
Testing for and removing cattle persistently infected with BRD

Your Next Read: Risk Factors Associated with BRD in Preweaned Calves

Bull Tests Positive for Brucellosis: Herd Quarantined and Investigation Continues

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 16:08:05 GMT

On Friday, August 15, the Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) received confirmation that an animal from a Beaverhead County herd within Montana’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) tested positive for brucellosis.

According to a press release , the herd has been placed under quarantine pending the completion of an epidemiological investigation.

The positive bull was identified as a brucellosis suspect during required testing at a livestock market in late July. The animal was euthanized and taken for necropsy at the Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory where tissues were collected and sent to the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, for confirmatory testing. NVSL was able to grow the Brucella abortus organism from one of the lymph nodes collected from the animal.

The disease investigation will include testing and tracing of animal contacts and movements to ensure the disease is not present in other livestock herds. MDOL will work with the affected operation to minimize the impact of this diagnosis by conducting a tailored and focused investigation.

Montana’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA)

(Montana Department of Livestock)

Montana’s DSA exists due to the risk of disease spillover from infected wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA). Program testing requirements help ensure cases of brucellosis in livestock are detected before animals leave the DSA. Successful early detection provides confidence to Montana’s trading partners that any Montana cattle they may receive are brucellosis free. Brucellosis causes reproductive issues in livestock including abortions, still births and neonatal mortalities.

“While detections of brucellosis are a hardship on operations, this detection is still a reflection of the success of our state brucellosis program,” says Dr. Brenee Peterson, MDOL veterinarian. “Through the work of DSA producers and local veterinarians, we continue to detect the disease early and prevent the export of a brucellosis-infected animal to one of our trading partners.”

Previous Brucellosis Detection

This herd is the 14^th brucellosis-affected herd confirmed in Montana since the implementation of the DSA in 2010. The most recent detection was within the DSA in Madison County in April 2023. While the source of infection for this latest infected bull has not yet been determined, DNA genotyping and epidemiological investigations have concluded the previous 13 infections came from wild elk. Prior investigations have also confirmed brucellosis has not spread to neighboring herds through fence-line contact.

What is Brucellosis?

According to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (AHIS) brucellosis (also known as contagious abortion or Bang’s disease) is a costly disease of livestock and wildlife. It is caused by a group of bacteria in the genus Brucella. The disease has significant consequences for animal health, public health and international trade.

Brucellosis occurs mainly in cattle, bison and swine, but can affect other animals (cervids, goats, sheep and horses) as well as people.

In cattle and bison, the bacteria of concern is Brucella abortus. It has been present in the U.S. since the 1930s. A longstanding national eradication program mostly eliminated the disease in U.S. cattle. Today, only occasional spillover cases occur in cattle and other livestock near the GYA. Wild bison and elk in the GYA are the last remaining reservoir of this disease in the U.S.

According to the APHIS website , when signs do appear, they’re most obvious in pregnant animals. Here’s what to look for:

Abortion (usually at five to seven months of pregnancy)
Birth of weak, unhealthy calves
Decreased milk production
Weight loss
Poor conception rates or infertility
Retained afterbirths with resulting uterine infections
Enlarged, arthritic joints (occasionally)

“Appearance alone isn’t an effective way to detect brucellosis,” according to the website. “Infected animals may appear healthy, even during pregnancy. However, they can still harbor and spread infectious bacteria and serve as dangerous sources of infection.”

Producers or owners who suspect an animal disease should contact their veterinarian to evaluate the animal or herd.

Success From The Start: Calf Health Starts Before Birth

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:11:34 GMT

If a calf struggles during its first 60 days of life, it’s going to carry that through all phases of production. Starting a calf, whether in a traditional beef or beef-on-dairy scenario, the right way is paramount to the lifetime health of that animal.

This is the message stressed by Dr. Taylor Engle, Four Star Veterinary Services, during episode eight of “ The Future of Beef Show ” podcast. He says success starts before a calf is born.

“There are a lot of really good genetics in the beef industry we can use. However, if you put that calf in an environment to fail, genetics does not play a factor,” he says. “We have to do everything right from an environmental piece to maximize the genetic potential.”

Check out the podcast to learn more about these five key messages discussed by Engle and the podcast’s hosts:

Environment matters more than genetics. Engle emphasizes if you put a calf in an environment to fail, genetics won’t save it. Management and early life conditions are critical to an animal’s success.
Calf health starts before birth. Proper care of the cow before calving, quality colostrum and a clean birthing environment are crucial for a calf’s lifetime health.

Engle encourages producers to think about the cow’s condition before, during and after breeding.

“Everyone gets really fired up — and rightfully so — about colostrum. Not all colostrum is created equal,” he says. “It’s what we are doing to set that cow up to have the best colostrum for that calf. Whether it’s beef-on-dairy or native, the right vaccines for the right diseases at the right time matters.”
Communication is key across the production chain. Sharing information about calf health, vaccination history and management practices between different stages of production can significantly improve overall animal performance.

Engle encourages producers to record vaccination and treatment information and then share it. Communicating with the feedyard is important to help the feeder decide on how to treat cattle.
Don’t be quick to treat — understand the root cause. Instead of immediately administering antibiotics, veterinarians should first investigate the underlying management or environmental issues causing health problems.

“We were trained to think it’s a disease, and more often times than not, there is a disease present. But there’s been something along the process where we have stressed that animal and caused disease,” he explains. “We’re always looking at it from an environmental standpoint and a management standpoint — the calf isn’t the culprit. What’s going on? Why did that calf break with respiratory disease? They don’t spontaneously get sick. Something happened. Was it a weather, feed or stressful event?”

He adds management strategies and mentality can be keys to determining the cause of a sickness.

“It’s a hard thing — whether you’re a nutritionist or vet — to have that hard conversation with a producer, be upfront with them and say, ‘It’s something we’ve done,’” he says. “A lot of times, there’s management practices that messed up along the way, and the result is a disease.”

In his practice, he works with the producer to help them understand and recognize the management strategies to improve the outcomes.

“In the beef industry, a lot of the mentality is, ‘We’ve never done it this way,’” he says.
“In comparison, in the poultry and pig industries, producers will say, ‘If it increases my production, I’ll do it.’ They have the mentality of being willing to give something a try to see if it increases health.”

Engle adds, “I always tell producers if you want A results, you got to give A effort,” he explains. “You can’t have a C -plus effort and expect A results.”
Stress management is more important than treatment protocols. Focus on reducing stress and creating optimal conditions for calves, rather than relying solely on medical interventions.

“The calves don’t lie,” Engle says.

He emphasizes the importance of careful observation, advising producers to “read calves every day” and make real-time adjustments.

Beef-on-Dairy Calf Health
Engle also has extensive experience with beef-on-dairy calf management and production and discussed how those animals compare to traditional beef calves, highlighting how multiple touch points and movements bring beef-on-dairy calves unique challenges — including different feeding systems and varied vaccine and management protocols at each location.

As a positive, he says, “In the beef-on-dairy space, we have all the data points, or we have the opportunity to collect all the data points. Then you can start making decisions.”

With this complex — but data-rich — production model, there is significant potential for improving calf health and performance.

Engle challenges producers to think holistically about animal health, management and production.

“It’s not the animal that’s usually causing the problems,” he says in summary. “It’s usually producer’s management or oversight. As farms have gotten bigger, the skill gap as we go higher actually closes. Everybody who has 10,000-head of cattle on feed, or more, probably knows a lot about feeding cattle. But what are you going to do for a competitive advantage that the next feedyard isn’t? I think a lot of that’s looking internally at your management strategies and your consulting team. It’s a team effort to get to where you want to be. Set those goals and look at what you need to do better to be where you want to be in the next five to 10 years.”

Protect Your Herd: The Signs to Watch for Calf Pneumonia

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 10:52:01 GMT

Pneumonia in young calves is an important contributor to death loss before weaning. Many veterinarians and cattle producers think of post-weaning respiratory disease, also known as Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), when they think about pneumonia in cattle; but calves can get pneumonia while they are still suckling their dams.

Bob Larson, K-State veterinarian, says because the risk factors associated with pre-weaning respiratory disease differ from BRD in stocker and feedlot cattle, which is usually associated with commingling and transportation.

“Our understanding of how to prevent and control BRD in post-weaned calves is not sufficient to address pneumonia in suckling calves,” he says. “Several studies investigating calf pneumonia have reported that an average of 3% to 11% of calves are expected to suffer from the disease each year. In addition, nearly 1.5% of calves will die from pneumonia before they reach the age of weaning; which makes it the second leading cause of pre-weaning death with only scours causing more losses.”

The most likely age for calves to be diagnosed with pneumonia is between 70 and 150 days of age.

Larson says cases of pneumonia are most likely to appear in:

Herds that have more cases of calf scours
Herds that bring in nursing calves from outside herds to graft onto cows that lost their calves
Creep-fed calves
Herds that synchronize cows

“Calves born after a difficult birth and calves that failed to consume enough colostrum have been shown to be at higher risk of getting sick and dying before reaching weaning age,” Larson explains.

Veterinarians indicated in a survey that weather, calving in confinement, failing to adequately vaccinate the herd, and nutritional deficiencies were also suspected for contributing to the risk of calf pneumonia.

Signs of Pneumonia

“Many times, the first sign that a herd has a problem is when a calf is found dead,” Larson warns. “Because death in young calves can also be caused by other diseases such as blackleg, digestive tract disease, or trauma, a veterinarian will probably need to examine the dead calf and may need to submit samples to a diagnostic laboratory to identify the cause of death.”

If you find calves that show signs of pneumonia such as rapid breathing, laying down and being reluctant to rise, and having a high temperature should be treated with an appropriate antibiotic after consulting with your veterinarian.

Tips for Prevention

Larson says vaccinating calves against viruses such as bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and bacteria such as Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida may help prevent outbreaks of calf pneumonia or reduce the severity of disease, but we know that a young calf’s immune system is not able to respond as well to vaccinations as an older calf’s.

“Because even a calf with a good immune response can be overwhelmed by a large exposure to germs, a successful plan to prevent disease in young calves needs to involve more than just vaccinations,” Larson adds.

He says the herds that have the best calf health have a short calving season and few heifers and cows experiencing calving difficulty. In addition, try to keep young calves away from mud and other calves as much as possible.

“Cows that calve in good body condition and that are on a good plane of nutrition are more likely to have healthy calves,” Larson says. “The best disease-control strategy is to focus on having good overall health of the cows and calves by meeting the herd’s nutritional needs, providing a good environment and timely use of vaccinations in the cows and calves.”

In summary Larson says, if calves are affected with pneumonia while suckling their dams on summer range, you should be prepared to recognize and treat cases as early as possible with appropriate antibiotics in order to minimize death losses.

Your Next Read — Combating Pinkeye: Tips for Detection and Treatment

Five Myths of Internal Parasite Control

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 12:37:47 GMT

It’s estimated that the cattle industry loses about $3 billion each year in lost weight gains, poor feed conversion and increased disease because of internal parasites. With the financial impact and animal welfare concerns on cattle operations, it is important for producers to understand parasite control, as well as the misconceptions about parasite control.

Here are five parasite control myths that might be putting a producer’s management program at risk.

Myth No. 1: All active ingredients in parasite control products have the same efficacy.

There are different active ingredients and different classes of dewormers, which should be used strategically on an operation for effective parasite control, advises Mark Alley, DVM, Zoetis managing veterinarian.

Products such as Dectomax^® Pour-On, Dectomax^® Injectable or Valcor^® (doramectin and levamisole injection) provide both extended therapy and good efficacy against both adult and inhibited Ostertagia, the brown stomach worm. However, in populations of cattle where Cooperia, Nematodirus or Haemonchus are an issue, white dewormers such as Valbazen^® Suspension may be a better selection. It is important that a producer has a discussion with his or her veterinarian or animal health provider to determine which is most appropriate.

Myth No. 2: My animals look fine, so I don’t have a parasite resistance problem.

“Parasitologists agree that no dewormer provides 100% effectiveness against parasites,” Alley says. “We make the assumption that all parasite control products are 100% effective, but even with 50% kill of parasites, producers will see a clinical improvement in the animals.”

Alley says producers can’t tell visually if there is a resistant parasite problem in the herd. They need to work closely with their veterinarian to diagnose resistant parasites and establish a comprehensive deworming program.

Myth No. 3: Parasites cannot withstand winter’s cold temperatures.

“It is a mistake to think it gets cold enough to kill parasites over the winter,” Alley says.

Parasites can simply overwinter in cattle or pastures. While winter may take its toll on many things, studies demonstrate that infective larvae were able to survive on pastures during winter months.

Myth No. 4: Antiparasitics can be administered to work at a producer’s convenience.

Timing is critical for administering antiparasitic products. Often, producers deworm when it’s most convenient for them, rather than when it’s most effective to control parasites or most beneficial to the animal. Alley recommends deworming prior to turnout on fresh pasture, typically in the spring, and later when pastures become dormant. Geography and weather conditions may alter this timing.

Myth No. 5: Dosing to the average weight of the group is adequate.

It’s important for producers to not only match the dewormer to the type of parasite challenge but also to administer each dose per the animal’s calculated weight. Incorrect dosing has been identified as a major contributor to the development of resistant parasites. A common practice is to dose products to the average weight of the herd, rather than to the individual weight of the animal. In this case, half the herd could be underdosed.

For more information about parasite management, please visit with your veterinarian.

Your Next Read: Five Pre-Pasture Turnout Tips

Five Pre-Pasture Turnout Tips

Wed, 28 May 2025 15:15:33 GMT

Pasture turnout is an important time in a cow herd management calendar. It is critical to make sure both the forage and cattle are ready before opening the pasture gate.

Considering your cow herd, what should you consider before turnout? AJ Tarpoff, DVM and Kansas State University Extension veterinarian, shares his top five tips producers should consider before sending cattle to pasture this summer.

Perform Spring Herd Health Program. Tarpoff reminds producers the importance of doing bull breeding soundness exams before putting the bull to work. He also encourages producers to do pre-breeding vaccinations, consider synchronization options and plan for common pasture ailments such as foot rot and pinkeye .
Make a Plan for Internal/External Parasites. Now is the time to decide how you are going to tackle flies, ticks and internal nematodes. Aaron Berger, University of Nebraska beef systems Extension educator, reminds producers there are several options available to help control flies and to consider the option that works best for your management plan.
Establish Summer Mineral Program . Tarpoff encourages producers to prepare mineral feeders and calculate needs and delivery intervals.
Assess Forage and Fences. Tarpoff says it is important to walk fence lines and scout pastures to determine forage and water availability. “Be sure to check forage availability and make any stocking rate adjustments, if necessary,” he says.
Check Cattle Identification. Be sure cattle are identified before turnout. This can include brands if required in your area or tags. Along with identification, Tarpoff shares these tips for protecting cattle from theft: lock gates and don’t leave cattle penned up overnight in an easily accessible location. He also encourages producers to communicate with neighbors who share a fence line when turning out about what types of cattle are going and how the cattle are identified.

Ron Lemenager, Purdue beef specialist, reminds producers to watch for two potential health issues that can occur at grass turnout: grass tetany and bloat .

Minimize Grass Tetany Risk

Early season lush pasture grasses are high in water content, potassium and soluble nitrogen, but low in magnesium and energy content. It should be noted that pastures containing legumes provide a grazing diet that is somewhat higher in magnesium.

“ Grass tetany can be a problem, especially in older lactating cows that are less efficient in mobilizing magnesium from body stores,” Lemenager explains. “Feeding a high magnesium mineral for several weeks prior to turnout is a standard recommendation to minimize the incidence of grass tetany.”

He reminds producers magnesium, usually in the form of magnesium oxide, is not palatable. Therefore, it is important that mineral intake be monitored.

Watch for Bloat

Lemenager says legumes are beneficial to diet quality — providing nitrogen for companion grasses and increased forage production — but lush legumes can cause bloat . As legumes advance in maturity, the risk for bloat does decrease.

He shares these recommendations to minimize the incidence of bloat:

Prior to turnout, survey the pasture. Look for large areas in the pasture where legumes are the predominant forage. These areas seen to attract cattle and can exacerbate the bloat problem.
Make sure cows are full of a dry forage, such as hay, at turnout to reduce the risk of immediately consuming a large meal of lush legumes.
Don’t turnout until the forages are dry. Wet forages (dew or rain) reduce the amount of saliva production as cattle consume and swallow forages. Saliva is important not only as a rumen buffer to control rumen pH, but also as a surfactant that can reduce the surface tension of stable gas bubbles (frothy mass) formed during rumen fermentation.
Poloxalene containing supplements fed prior to turnout and during the early grazing season act as a surfactant to weaken the surface tension of the stable foam and reduce the risk of bloat.

Through following these strategies with accurate planning and preparation, pasture turnout can be stress free for both the producer and the cow herd.

Your Next Read: Pasture Turnout Tips: Optimum Forage Strategies

Protect Your Herd: Essential Tips for Preventing Pinkeye Post Pasture Turnout

Mon, 26 May 2025 13:40:04 GMT

As herds are being turned out on pasture, most calves will get an immunity boost for select diseases through a vaccination program.

“Arguably the most common health nuisance on pasture — pinkeye — doesn’t have an easy vaccine solution with consistent efficacy,” says Chris Clark, Iowa State University extension beef specialist. “In part, this is because pinkeye is complicated, involving multiple bacterial strains and risk factors.”

The solution? Prevention, prevention and early intervention.

Prevention Points

Reduce corneal irritants. The cornea provides a protective layer over the eye, and when it is healthy, bacteria cannot attach. Irritants that damage the cornea allow bacteria to colonize and infection to occur. Common irritants on pasture include UV light, seedheads and dust.
Control fly populations. Flies contribute to cornea irritation, but the primary role of flies in regard to pinkeye is carrying the bacteria from one animal to the next, and facilitating transmission. Because flies can travel distances, the adage “your fly control program is only as good as your neighbor’s” bears truth. But by taking steps in your herd, populations can still be significantly reduced. Multifaceted approaches are the most effective.
Prioritize nutrition. Multiple macronutrients and micronutrients are essential for an effective immune response. A well-balanced mineral program is important in keeping the herd healthy. Mineral supplements can become costly, so a solid understanding of mineral levels in the available feed and water can help reduce some costs without sacrificing animal performance.

Early Intervention

Check cattle regularly and watch closely for early signs of infection. Once clinical signs are observed, initiate treatment as soon as possible to minimize complications and severe cases.
Treat with systemic antibiotics labeled for pinkeye and be diligent in following label directions. Weigh animals to ensure appropriate dosing. Use good injection site practices to ensure optimal drug absorption.
Adjunct therapy such as eye patches, stitching eyelids shut and subconjunctival injections are sometimes used in addition to systemic antibiotics. Evidence is somewhat inconsistent regarding efficacy of these practices. Eye patches have been shown to speed corneal ulcer healing, but for best results, leave a spot open to facilitate drainage and airflow when applying. Pinkeye increases sensitivity to UV light, so shade can be helpful for animal comfort. Pain associated with pinkeye may warrant the use of an anti-inflammatory as well. Topical ointments and sprays are also sometimes used.

“As with all health challenges, work closely with your veterinarian to develop a plan for dealing with cases,” Clark says. “Before using any medications, talk with your veterinarian about safety and legality for use in the eye, required dosing schedules and required withdrawal times.”

Your Next Read: Spring Pastures Alert: Be Aware of Frothy Bloat Risk

Unlocking Success with Cow Herd Health Metrics: A Scorecard Approach

Fri, 23 May 2025 15:12:10 GMT

Tracking performance and evaluating herd success is a year-round process. Similar to tracking athletes, consider developing a scorecard to monitor your herd. Understanding how your herd is performing throughout the year is important when considering management, nutrition and culling decisions.

The first scorecard suggested was post-calving ; the next one to consider is herd health metrics. Illness and death loss in a cow herd are situations cattle producers must routinely address.

To help producers know where their herd health metrics should be, experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute offered some guidelines during a recent “Cattle Chat” podcast .

“The first metric in cow-calf operations that I look at is the first treatment response percentage,” says Brian Lubbers, K-State veterinarian.

He recommended producers aim for an 85% to 90% treatment success rate when treating one of the most common illnesses: Bovine Respiratory Disease, also referred to as BRD. He says that metric can be deceiving.

“Producers who aggressively treat BRD cases are likely treating some animals that didn’t have BRD, and that leads to a high spontaneous recovery rate,” Lubbers says. “If you are seeing a 100% first treatment success rate, you may be treating some animals who didn’t need the treatment. Very high treatment response rates should at least trigger a conversation with your veterinarian about case definitions.”

K-State veterinarian Bob Larson says another metric that producers should be aware of is the percentage of death loss in the calves. During the first year of life, there are three key times when calves are more susceptible to death: at birth, between birth and three weeks of age, and from about one month to weaning, he says.

For each of these periods, producers can expect a 1% to 2% loss, Larson explains, however, that percentage will vary from year to year.

“In the first year of life, difficult births, scours and pneumonia are some of the reasons that calves get seriously ill and sometimes die,” Larson says.

K-State beef nutritionist Phillip Lancaster says what he monitors in the herd is the body condition of the cows.

“If the cows are receiving good nutrition and maintaining their body condition, that is an indicator of the overall health of the herd,” Lancaster says.

Along with those metrics, Logan Thompson, K-State beef cattle extension sustainable grazing specialist, recommends producers treat the herd against parasites as part of an overall wellness program.

“Treating the herd against parasites is an easy win from a production efficiency and cattle longevity standpoint, and it increases the rate of passage of grass through the rumen,” Thompson says. “It is a hard metric to measure, but in some herds, cattle that are treated for parasites have an increased efficiency between 20[%] to 30%.”

In summary, the key takeaways from the podcast are:

Health metrics are multifaceted and require careful tracking.
Different perspectives (veterinary, nutritional, sustainability) offer comprehensive insights.
Metrics should be specific, measurable and contextualized.
Collaboration with veterinarians is crucial for effective health management.

Your Next Read: Early Shedding Cows Produce Heavier Calves at Weaning

Hidden Hazards: Now is the Time to Rethink Gun Use in Cattle Handling

Tue, 13 May 2025 14:17:49 GMT

With the smallest cattle herd size on record, the impact of every pound of beef and every head lost due to foreign material contamination is even more significant today than it has ever been.

Pat Mies, Tyson Fresh Meats vice president food safety and quality assurance and beef industry food safety council chair, shares alarming math regarding foreign material contamination.

There is an economic loss due to cattle contaminated with foreign materials. Mies explains regulatory rules consider any foreign material, regardless of size, to be an adulterant and unfit for human consumption.

There’s more than 50 griding/further processing facilities across the U.S.

(NCBA)

The issue is industry-wide and not just state or region specific. Processors from across the U.S. have frequently reported challenges with foreign material in beef cattle.

“It’s not a Texas issue or New Mexico issue or a South Dakota issue,” Mies says. “It’s an entire U.S. issue.”

Trey Patterson, Padlock Ranch president and CEO, says “Food safety in our industry is non-negotiable; it’s now an expectation.”

(Schwartz, West Texas A&M)

Patterson says the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit revealed a significant problem: 100% of non-fed plants reported finding foreign objects in beef, with half experiencing customer complaints about items like shotgun pellets. And in the audit, 50% of fed plants are having the same issue.

Trent Schwartz, West Texas A&M University assistant professor, explains, “This is not a fed versus non-fed issue. This is all cattle being sold for meat consumption, and we believe highly that all of this is happening in the production phase, whether it be cattle gathering techniques or treating cattle.”

Mies acknowledges plants have access to resources and technology to catch foreign material but it is not 100% accurate.

“We have metal detectors, defect eliminators, X-ray systems and vision systems,” he admits. “We’re using artificial intelligence to train these systems to do a better job, to get rid of these foreign objects. And then we also have the human element — people watching product and pulling product that may have foreign objects in it. We have all these things in our plants, yet we still have problems. It’s not 100% foolproof. It’s not 100% fail-safe.”

Economic Impacts

Patrick Linnell, CattleFax analyst, provided an economic perspective regarding cull cows and the financial loss due to foreign material contamination.

“Cull cows is one area in particular where there’s an especially strong connection between animal welfare and husbandry and value to the producer,” Linnell says.

With cow inventory at its lowest since the 1950s, and as the beef and dairy industries try to stabilize and rebuild, Linnell says cull cow supplies will remain tight for the foreseeable future. Cull cows on average represent 20% of total marketing and management for an individual operation and the industry as a whole, he adds.

“The consumer wants all the beef through the system that we can provide them,” Linnell says. “That’s why making sure we don’t have to dispose of this high-value product because of foreign material contamination is important.”

The economic and reputational implications of foreign contamination are severe. With current beef prices, each contaminated animal represents a significant financial loss. Moreover, these incidents can damage domestic as well as international market confidence.

Linnell says that 50% of U.S. beef consumption is in the form of ground beef.

“If you do the simple math and look at what ground beef costs today in retail stores, it’s on average, about $5 per lb. across the U.S. That is a lot of money that we’re pulling out of the system because people decided to use a shotgun and bird shot to move stubborn cattle,” Mies says.

Starts With the Live Animal

Schwartz is the lead researcher working on a checkoff-funded study in partnership with NCBA regarding foreign material detection techniques in live animals before the animal enters the processing facility.

He says a wide range of foreign objects have been found in live animals, with metal shot being the most common. He points out that most of the foreign material found relates back to metal objects coming from the live side, not something that’s added to the product post-harvest.

His team is cataloging pictures and materials received from plants and individuals for future use and educational purposes. The primary source of these foreign objects appears to be cattle handling practices.

“Cattle get in rough country and won’t come out,” he says. “The first instinct is to use a shotgun or rat shot, and to move those cattle with some metal shot.”

Hunters are another concern for the shot residue.

“We don’t feel like this is a hunting issue,” he says. “This is direct contact, point-blank type issue. Criminal mischief has also been brought up. Criminal mischief or criminal acts is certainly a possibility.”

He also says unintended exposure or living conditions can lead to the foreign material such as cattle ingesting wire and it protrudes through the stomach and into the skirt or other organs.

Darts are also becoming an increasing concern, with some found deeply embedded in muscle tissue and even lungs.

“We need to start looking at the production side and how we can limit some of these items that are making their way into the plant,” Schwartz summarizes.

His ongoing research project is focusing on developing methods to detect objects in live animals under the hide using ultrasound, X-ray and metal detection techniques.

“The goal of the research is to determine efficacy. Does it work?” Schwartz explains. This work will allow for technology advancements to potentially identify foreign material throughout the supply chain in the live animal.

How You Can Help

Patterson suggests a voluntary, industry-wide effort to address the problem before it reaches processing facilities.

“I need your help,” Mies says in a plea to all beef producers. “I need you to talk to your friends, your family, your neighbors, anybody that you can about moving cattle with shotguns, and that it should never happen in our industry.”

To learn more about foreign materials found during beef processing watch this NCBA webinar:

Your Next Read: Streamline Spring Cattle Processing with These 3 Stress-Reducing Steps

Marketing Options for Small Producers

Fri, 09 May 2025 15:32:35 GMT

The more controlled the calving season the better for producers when it comes to marketing calves, team members shared on a recent BCI Cattle Chat podcast in response to a listener question.

“If you can shorten and have a more uniform calving season, then think about the marketing side,” says Dustin Pendell, K-State associate professor in agricultural economics. “If you’ve got calves that may be similar size, weight, and age, that might be more attractive to a buyer.”

Bob Larson, K-State professor clinical sciences, agrees saying “a uniform calf crop, whether it’s a large calf crop or a small one, is more attractive to buyers.”

Another management tool includes preconditioning those calves.

“Vaccination protocols, dehorning, castration are management decisions that might lead to some various marketing strategies that buyers would buy those calves,” Pendell says.

Develop alliances or sell through a co-op also offers marketing potential.

“If you can pool your calves you have more selling power, potentially,” Pendell explains.

It takes time to build alliances or relationships with other producers, but we do see several small producers selling load lots of cattle together, Larson adds.

“They have to, first of all, the people need to get along well, because you’re going to make some compromises on timing of marketing and things like that. But by having several producers that are relatively small, but by combining them, you get into those semi load, lot size, groups of cattle. There’s some marketing advantage there.”

Niche markets, direct-to-restaurant or direct-to-consumer sales are also options, depending on the time producers want to spend creating them.

Think about to optimizing cull cows vs. retaining or buying heifers, Pendell adds.

“When it becomes more expensive to import cull cows or meat that goes into hamburgers, that relative value of those cull cows are going up right now relative to heifers,” Pendell says. “Does it make sense to maybe keep a cull cow around a little longer versus bring in a heifer? You have to think through some of those kinds of things.”

Jason Warner, KSU extension cow-calf specialist, suggests producers work with their seedstock provider.

“For some of those providers, there are opportunities where they provide some marketing outlets for calves that are sired by those genetics those producers are selling,” Warner says.

Another consideration for small producers with less than 100 cows is to evaluate the bull costs relative to the number of females.

“If bulls are selling for $6, 7, 8,000 a head, and if we only use that bull in one breeding season or two breeding seasons, and the number of females that bull actually services is pretty small, then our cost per pregnant female goes up,” Warner says. “I think there’s opportunities to look at the true cost of artificial insemination relative to bull ownership with a fewer number of females or potentially leasing bulls in some of those situations. How we figure out how we get those pregnancies in those small herds is important too.”

Your next read: More Than Annoyance: Flies Can Impact Health and Profits

BVDV: A Threat The Beef Industry Can’t Afford to Ignore

Tue, 06 May 2025 19:43:33 GMT

Some veterinarians and producers think of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in narrow terms – as the virus that causes persistently infected (PI) cattle. And while that perspective is correct, Dr. Thomas Passler, DVM, PhD, says there are broader implications for BVDV and its impact on cattle and some other animal species worldwide.

“(BVDV) has evolved over the years and is not a single virus or just a diarrhea-causing problem. Today it’s made up of three related viruses and 19 subtypes that cause similar diseases,” explains Passler, the Jack Rash professor of internal medicine for food animal medicine at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“It’s a sneaky, insidious disease,” he adds.

Passler estimates 0.5% of U.S. cattle are persistently infected by BVDV. Of that percentage, only a small number of those animals become PI cattle – a result of infection caused during fetal development between 40 and 125 days of gestation and which persists during the animal’s entire life.

The PI problem differs from transient infection (TI), which occurs when an animal becomes infected after birth. A TI animal is infected temporarily, but during that time is capable of shedding the virus and transmitting it to other herd members or pen mates.

Multiple Health Issues And Losses Across Species
BVDV-positive animals, especially PI cattle, significantly impact U.S. herds by causing immunosuppression, weakening immune systems and making herd mates more susceptible to other infections. Passler says that immunosuppression often manifests as increased calf death losses from diseases such as scours and pneumonia, as well as poor weaning weights.

Passler adds that he has seen similar problems from BVDV in other animal species, including hogs, white-tailed deer, alpacas and goats.

BVDV is one of the costliest bovine diseases for beef producers and dairy producers, as well. Losses average between $15 to $88 per head, conservatively, according to Indexx Laboratories , citing older data from 2002 and 2008.^1-3

Despite the associated costs, a 2017 National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) study of 75 U.S. cow-calf producers (the summary was released in 2023) reported only 57.5% of participating producers said they knew some basics or were fairly knowledgeable about BVDV. In addition, 26.9% of producers said they “recognized the name but not much else,” and 15.3% of respondents said they had never heard of it (see Figures 1 and 2).

Furthermore, most BVDV infection problems in cattle herds go unnoticed since 70% to 90% of BVD infections are subclinical (do not result in observable disease), according to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory .

The Beef 2017 study was conducted in 24 of the nation’s major cow-calf States. In 2017, operations in these states accounted for 86.6 percent of the U.S. beef cow inventory and 78.9 percent of all U.S. operations with beef cows.

(NAHMS)

Only 24.4% of the cattlemen surveyed said they are “fairly knowledgeable” about BVDV.

(NAHMS)

Contributing Factors To PI Cattle
Direct contact with infected animals and with contaminated fomites (water buckets, calf feeders, feed bunks, IV equipment, etc.) are common ways BVDV gains a foothold in a herd.

One risk factor that often flies under the radar is the use of intranasal vaccines that do not address BVD viruses, reports Dr. Dan Thomson, PAC veterinarian and Iowa State University professor emeritus.

“We’re using a lot more intranasal vaccinations, thinking that we’re covering for BVDV when we’re actually not,” says Thomson, who spoke with Passler recently on an episode of DocTalk.

It’s a perspective Passler says he agrees with. “We see mucosal disease in the clinic – something we shouldn’t be seeing at all – and often from herds that vaccinate,” he adds.

Intranasal vaccines for respiratory disease do not currently contain BVDV Type 1 & 2, so a separate injectable BVDV vaccine is required, according to Craig A. Payne, DVM, and Celeste Morris, DVM, respectively, at the University of Missouri. Payne and Morris discuss this contributing factor further in their online article, Vaccination Program for a Cow-Calf Operation .

Key Into The Correct Timing To Test Calves
Payne and Morris recommend that “because PI animals are so detrimental, the standard recommendation in herds where BVDV is suspected is to implement a testing strategy and remove any PI animals detected. Vaccination alone cannot counter the effects PI animals can have.”

Specific to calves, Passler says it’s important for veterinarians to let producers know the timing of the testing can impact results – maternal antibodies can skew the results.

“Either test the calf as soon as it hits the ground, before it can nurse, or wait at least a week or [even up to] a month later,” he advises.

He encourages practitioners to talk with cow-calf producers about testing calves to identify BVDV.

“A lot of people don’t test until those animals are stockers or going to the feedlot, and that’s too late,” Passler says. “We want producers to test earlier so they can remove PI cattle sooner.”

Evaluate Vaccines And Protocols
There are two main types of vaccines for BVDV: modified-live (attenuated) and killed (inactivated).

The most significant value for beef producers in using a vaccine that addresses BVDV is being able to protect a dam’s fetus, Passler says. But no vaccine is perfect, he adds, noting producers must also be diligent with their management practices.

“What we have seen here in the clinic is that even in well-vaccinated herds – those we know use killed vaccines religiously – they still get PI cattle if they’re not careful about biosecurity,” he says. “These might be herds that religiously vaccinate, but they still go to the stockyards and buy replacements or take some other sort of risk.”

As for vaccine use protocols, Passler says his review of other researchers’ work indicates it’s best if producers use at least one modified live vaccine and then an inactive (killed) vaccine to vaccinate cows and heifers.

“I’d probably [vaccinate] two cycles and well before gestation, because vaccine seems to reduce fertility a little bit,” he says. “Some researchers say 42 days in advance [of gestation] is a good number to use”

Another practice Passler advises is using products from more than one manufacturer. “Different manufacturers use different vaccine strain viruses, so you might increase endogenic exposure,” he explains.

Thomson supports that recommendation. “We do that when we deworm, we do it with how we treat bacteria, so why wouldn’t we do that to prevent BVDV? That’s great advice,” he says.

Your next read: Can Oxytocin Boost Colostrum?

References

1. Bartlett B, Grooms D. BVD-PI eradication: unintended consequences. Michigan Dairy Review. 2008;13(3).

2. Chi J, VanLeeuwen JA, Weersink A, Keefe GP. Direct production losses and treatment costs from bovine viral diarrhoea virus, bovine leukosis virus, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, and Neospora caninum. Prev Vet Med. 2002;55(2):137–153. doi:10.1016/s0167-5877(02)00094-6

3. Ridpath J. Why BVD is a tough problem. Hoard’s Dairyman. 2002;147:697.

Streamline Spring Cattle Processing with These 3 Stress-Reducing Steps

Thu, 01 May 2025 11:23:00 GMT

Reducing stress during livestock handling can increase productivity, maintain or improve meat quality, reduce sickness and enhance animal welfare. Implementing low-stress handling techniques when working with cattle is important to reducing stress.

As producers prepare for spring processing, Beth McIlquham, University of Wisconsin-Madison regional livestock educator, encourages producers to consider these low-stress handling strategies.

“While temperament in cattle is moderately heritable, environment does play a role and even cattle that are less docile will benefit from low-stress handling methods,” Mcllquham says. “A good handler can help reduce fear in an animal, which is the primary driver of negative consequences associated with handling stress.”

Even if the animal is not experiencing any pain, fear can still cause physical responses in the body, such as high cortisol levels. These responses can ultimately lead to increased susceptibility to illness, lower meat quality and overall lower performance.

Mcllquham says one negative handling experiences can affect future handling situations.

Identifying stress through body language
Cattle in a state of fear or under stress can be identified through their body language. Obvious signs of fear in cattle are running, kicking, vocalizing and aggressive behaviors toward handlers. Subtle signs of fear are heavy breathing and showing the whites of their eyes. Stressed cattle can cause serious injury to themselves and humans. Relaxed cattle are quiet and walk or trot calmly. When low-stress handling techniques are used, the risk of injury is lowered.

“Besides increasing performance and lowering sickness and injury rates, consumers have indicated that they care that their food is humanely raised,” McIlquham explains. “Implementing low-stress handling is a great place to start and comes with many other benefits. Although it may sound like a daunting task, utilizing low-stress handling techniques can be done in smaller steps.”

Step 1: Put away the electric prod
“Our first step is to put away the electric prod,” she says. “To decrease use, place electric prods away from where you’re handling cattle but still be accessible in an emergency. This way, instead of instinctively reaching for it, the inconvenience of going to grab it can decrease electric prod use.”

Step 2: Understand cattle’s natural instincts
“We should utilize these instincts to work for us instead of against us,” she says. “The fact that cattle are prey animals drives a lot of their behaviors.”

Cattle are herd animals and like to be in groups. When moving them, keeping cattle in small groups (two to five head) can help keep them calmer and easier to handle. Additionally, cattle want to see you. Humans are naturally predators, and because cattle are prey animals, their instinct is to be able to keep handlers in sight.

Cattle want to go toward lighted areas and will resist going into darker areas. It is easier to see any potential threats in areas that are light. Keep in mind shadows can reduce cattle flow through an area.

Step 3: Study and use cattle’s natural flight zone
Good handlers study and use cattle’s flight zone and point of balance, McIlquham explains.

Two concepts are illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Flight Zone and Point of Balance

(Beef Quality Assurance Cattle Care & Handling Guides)

Walking into the flight zone makes the animal move away from the handler. Stepping out of the flight zone will take pressure off and remove the animal’s desire to continue to move away. Note that the size of flight zones varies between animals. The point of balance allows handlers to move the animal forward or backward. Stepping into the flight zone in front of the point of balance will make the animal move backward. Stepping into the flight zone behind the point of balance will drive the animal forward.

Keep in mind cattle have a blind spot directly behind them. If you approach the animal in the blind spot, they could get spooked. Walking in a zigzag pattern behind cattle helps let them know you are there.

Extra tip: Taking breaks
Calm cattle are easier to move than stressed cattle. Fearful cattle are more reactive, more easily injured, and more likely to engage in aggressive behaviors. If a handling situation does get intense, take a little break and release pressure on the cattle.

“Even taking a brief break can help both the animal and handler calm down and come back to the situation in a more positive light,” Mcllquham summarizes.

Your next read: Effective Needle and Syringe Strategies to Ensure Spring Processing Success

Are You Wasting Money on Vaccines? Proper Protocols Explained

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:16:35 GMT

Herd health and vaccination protocols are critical to the success of ranches across the country. But there are common handling and usage mistakes that can lead to vaccines being less effective or completely ineffective.

Blane Lowe, DVM, has built a career and lifestyle around veterinary medicine, research and animal health. He joined the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast to share tips and strategies to help ranchers see a return on investment from their vaccine protocol.

“The vaccination program is a fairly small cost in relation to all the other inputs and costs associated with our cows and preventing disease is going to help them perform,” Lowe says.

Even at a low cost it is important vaccines are handled appropriately.

“The most expensive vaccine you’ll find is one that doesn’t work,” he adds. “Simple errors in handling vaccines can contribute to these expensive outcomes.”

The first tip Dr. Lowe shares is to read the label.

“Labels are being updated continuously, so if you read a label two years ago for a product something might have changed for how to best use it today,” says Lowe.

Additionally, avoid shortcuts such as mixing multiple vaccines together.

“If you can combine those products, the companies will do that which they certainly have, in the past, with things like viral BRD vaccines and manhemia,” Lowe says.

How vaccines are stored and used on working days also impacts vaccine efficacy. Specifically with modified-live vaccines, how you mix the solution matters.

“If you are shaking the solution hard enough to get bubbles, you are probably denaturing some of the vaccine and rendering it un-useful,” Lowe explains. He suggests gently inverting or swirling the solution instead.

Additionally, only mix what you’ll use within the hour and keep all vaccines out of the sunlight and at the right temperature. In northern climates, this means being mindful of vaccines freezing too.

When administering the vaccine, be sure to use sharp needles of the appropriate length and designate one syringe per vaccine type to prevent cross-contamination of your vaccine.

After all the cattle are through the chute, take the time to clean syringes right away. Lowe reminds people not to use soap or disinfectant and instead to use hot water.

“Three to five flushes of hot water over 180 degrees will thoroughly clean your syringes,” says Lowe.

Disassembling and boiling them is also an option.

Outside of basic handling and cleaning, vaccine efficacy can also be dependent on the weather and current stress load of the animals.

“If the weather is not agreeing with you, try to postpone it for a day if you can,” Lowe says. “This is especially important to consider for wet-hided animals.”

Of course, all these vaccine handling tips don’t matter if the proper vaccines are not being administered.

“The producer needs to view the veterinarian as more than the person you call when things go wrong,” Lowe adds.

Both parties should take the time to discuss the goals of the entire operation and immunity challenges that may arise.

“Our industry does a remarkably good job at producing beef and part of that is managing immunity,” Lowe says. “Take the time to review your herd health protocols with your veterinarian and review BQA materials to be prepared for any challenges that may come your way and boost performance in your herd.”

Listen to the full conversation here .

Needle Selection Important for Breeding Synchronization Protocols

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 20:45:55 GMT

Needle size matters depending on the type of substance being administered to cattle. In a recent DocTalk episode, Veterinarian Kirk Ramsey shares things to consider when using hormones during synchronization protocols for breeding cattle.

“Synchronization protocols always require a hormone injection, and there are a few really important factors that we have to remember when approaching hormone injections in cattle,” says Ramsey, who works for Neogen Cattle North America. “All hormone injections of prostaglandin analogs have to be given in the muscle. If those injections fail to get in the muscle, they’re definitely not going to be as effective, and they’re probably going to lead to synchronization failure.”

Needle length and gauge are important depending on the size of the animal. Ramsey says the best rule of thumb is to stick with a one-and-a-half-inch needle for intramuscular injections of hormones.

“The gauge of the needle is a little bit less critical, but the longer the needle, the more likely they are to bend or break, making these injections dangerous to the injector as well as the animal,” Ramsey states.

For most cattle injections, Ramsey recommends an 18-gauge or 16-gauge needle when giving these injections.

In addition, producers should always follow Beef Quality Assurance guidelines for injection sites, which means the injections are best given in the muscles of the neck.

“Hormones associated with cattle synchronization can be very dangerous,” Ramsey explains. “It’s good practice not to handle these hormones if you are pregnant or maybe pregnant, and always wear gloves and protective equipment when giving these injections.”

Your next read: What Needle Size To Use When Working Cattle

Synchronizing Cows With One Injection, One Time Through Chute and Bull Breed

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 19:43:59 GMT

By using this protocol, producers can achieve more calves born earlier in the season without increased labor, cost and facilities using estrus synchronization and artificial insemination. The protocol shown (Figure 1.) can increase the number of cows coming into estrus early in the breeding season, with one time through the chute, one injection, and breeding using only natural service.

Protocol for using one shot of prostaglandin to synchronize estrus and the use of only natural service.

(UNL)

This protocol calls for bulls to be turned out with the cows on Day 0. On Day 5, cows are given a shot of prostaglandin (PGF2α) which synchronizes a majority of the cows to be in heat/estrus from Day 6 through Day 10. The injection of prostaglandin causes any cows with a corpus luteum present on one of their ovaries to regress, ceasing progesterone production. This then triggers the cows to come into heat/estrus.

If the cow conceives during Day 1 to 5, she will not abort when given the prostaglandin injection on Day 5 because the developing corpus luteum at the site of ovulation on the ovary has not yet reached maturity and will not respond to prostaglandin.

Research conducted at the Fort Keogh Research Center near Miles City, Mont., utilized this protocol over a three year period, achieving pregnancy rates over 85% in a 32-day breeding season. Research from the University of Nebraska showed 75% of cows calved in the first 21 days of the calving season utilizing this estrus synchronization protocol as compared to only 63% of cows from non-synchronized natural service breeding.

Utilizing natural service with this method of estrus synchronization will require adequate bull power. A bull to cow ratio of 1:15 with yearling bulls or 1:25 with mature bulls should be sufficient. Because early breeding and the synchronized estrus is occurring over a 10 day period, fertile and active bulls with adequate libido should be able to handle the number of cows that will be coming into heat. Breeding bulls should undergo a breeding soundness exam prior to the breeding season.

Producers considering the use of this synchronization tool should remember that a number of factors affect pregnancy rate including cow body condition score, plane of nutrition, cattle health, and bull fertility.

Estrus synchronization can shorten the calving season. The article “ Use of Natural Service Sires with Synchronized Estrus ” highlights other advantages of estrus synchronization and natural service.

Note: A relatively new prostaglandin product, which is in a high-concentration formula, allows for a 2-mL dose to be injected subcutaneously (under the skin). Other prostaglandin products have an intramuscular injection (IM) label requirement, which requires a longer needle for deep muscle penetration. IM injections have a greater risk to develop lesions in the muscle that affects meat quality. The 2018 Nebraska Beef Report article “ Comparison of Two Alternate Prostaglandin Products in Yearling Beef Heifers ” showed beef heifers performed similarly to either the IM injection of prostaglandin or the subcutaneous injection of high-concentration prostaglandin.

For more information visit UNL Beef .

Your Next Read: Needle Selection Important For Breeding Synchronization Protocols

Livestock and mRNA Vaccines: What You Need To Know

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:56:43 GMT

As misinformation regarding the use of mRNA vaccines in livestock filter through social media, there are facts begging to be set straight.

Recently, a claim was made saying producers are required to inject livestock with mRNA vaccines.

According to USDA spokesperson, Marissa Perry says, “There is no requirement or mandate that producers vaccinate their livestock for any disease. It is a personal and business decision left up to the producer and will remain that way,” in response to the claim, Associated Press shared in an article .

National Pork Board’s Director of Consumer Public Relations, Jason Menke echoed the statement to AP, noting that the decision to use vaccines and other medical treatments to protect animal health and well-being are made by the farmer under the direction of the herd veterinarian.

To further explain mRNA vaccines and shed light on controversies, Dr. Kevin Folta, a molecular biologist and professor at the University of Florida, shares his viewpoint and experience with the technology.

What are mRNA Vaccines?

First introduced to the population through the COVID-19 vaccines, mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccines have been in development for decades, says Folta in a recent AgriTalk segment.

He adds that the technology’s potential in human health makes it a likely candidate to have a place in animal health as well. However, “the technology is being maligned in social media, and is now shaping decisions at the level of state legislature,” Folta says. This leads to the growing importance that producers and consumers become more educated on the topic.

What Folta believes began in January of this year, based on claims with very little data, certain advocates against mRNA vaccines are concerned that mRNA vaccines are in use and development in livestock. Additionally, these vaccines may then be present in the food these animals provide.

Why mRNA Vaccines Are Not Present in Food

“It’s not in your food. It’s a vaccine for the animal that, just like any vaccine, protects the animal from disease,” Folta says.

Current mRNA vaccines being used in swine are injected into the muscle, Folta explains, which causes the development of the immune response protein to then stimulate the body to work against the virus.

“In the absence of the virus, it’s kind of like giving the virus or giving the body a ‘wanted’ poster that says, ‘when this individual comes along, and this virus comes along, work against it,’ and it’s all gone within hours,” he adds.

The mRNA never leaves the cells from where it was injected. RNA is a very unstable molecule that must be kept cold, buffered and in solvent, to remain viable, Folta explains.

Additionally, any licensed vaccine comes with a minimum time before that animal can enter the food chain, also known as the “withdrawal time,” says Alan Young, professor in the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences at South Dakota State University and founder of protein platform (non-mRNA) vaccine company Medgene.

The Animal’s Genes Are Not Altered

While mRNA vaccines include genetic code, Folta says the use of a mRNA vaccines does not alter the animal’s genes in any way.

“This [mRNA] is an intermediate between the gene itself and the products that the gene encodes. So, it’s like having a blueprint and a house. The mRNA is like the construction worker. It takes the blueprint and manufactures the house. In the case of the cell, it takes the DNA blueprint and then takes a little bit of that information to build part of the final structure. The mRNA is just that intermediate, it does not change the genes. It doesn’t change the DNA itself,” he explains.

What are the Benefits of mRNA Vaccines?

More flexibility and faster response to new disease, Folta describes as reasons why mRNA vaccines are becoming more popular.

Traditional vaccines require large amounts of a virus to be raised and purified before being injected to elicit an immune response, he adds. Meanwhile, mRNA encourages the body to make a little piece of protein to elicit the desired immune response.

“It’s much cleaner, much easier. If you’re moving parts in this machine, to make this product that induces an immune response, it’s so good in so many ways,” Folta says.

In pork production specifically, researchers are working with mRNA vaccines that will work this way against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), which is a viral disease that causes economic loss totals around $664 million per year in the U.S. (Holtkamp et al., 2013).

Additionally, the use of mRNA technology adds another tool to the toolbox, which may be helpful in combating diseases, such as African swine fever (ASF), avian influenza and other food-animal diseases.
“This stands to be a revolutionary technology if we don’t get in the way,” Folta adds.

Are There Risks to mRNA Vaccines?

Folta says everything has some sort of risk, but it’s important to weigh the benefits against the risk.
As seen with the COVID-19 vaccines, in rare cases, people experienced side effects from the vaccine. However, Folta is encouraged by the initial results in livestock.

“If you look in animals where these [vaccines] have been used, there have been no unusual effects noted. Everything potentially has risk, but it’s monitored, and especially in large animal populations, we can look very carefully at that for surveillance,” he explains.

mRNA Enters State Legislation

While some consumers spread misinformation about the use of mRNA vaccines, the ideas have also crept into state legislation.

The Missouri House Bill 1169 , with a special hearing set for Apr. 19 on the matter, aims to require a label be used on meat from animals treated with an mRNA vaccine, identifying the “potential gene therapy product.”
This bill falsely claims that mRNA vaccines would modify the genes of the organism, Folta explains.

mRNA vaccines are simply another modality that can protect animal health, which results in healthy animals producing the best and safest food products, Folta says, and provides producers with more options to help combat disease.

“To have affordable food, we need to have continual innovation in the animal, medical, veterinary space and mRNA vaccines are safe and an effective way to treat the animal that does not change the final product,” he adds.

The COVID-19 pandemic simply “broke the seal” to the development of these new modalities that will change the way human and animal diseases will be treated in the years to come.

More on Vaccines:

Genvax Technologies Secures $6.5 Million to Advance Novel Vaccine Platform

Cattle Veterinarians Have New Vaccination Guidelines

Don’t Assume That Old Refrigerator Is Good Enough To Store Vaccines

OTC Livestock Antibiotics Will Require Prescription June 11

Canada To Develop a Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 14:24:46 GMT

The Government of Canada is continuing to advance its work of protecting animal health by establishing a foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank, according to a news release from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The vaccine bank is a key part of Canada’s response plans to control and ultimately eliminate an outbreak of FMD should it be detected in Canadian animals, CFIA said.

In late August, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued by Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the CFIA, to supply vaccine products to the FMD vaccine bank.

The successful bidder(s) would provide concentrated FMD vaccines that could be rapidly transformed into usable vaccines. Information about the RFP including requirements, criteria, processes and timelines is available to interested bidders on CanadaBuys.

“It’s vitally important that we continue to take steps to protect livestock, and the livelihood of our hardworking farmers, against the threat of animal disease. By creating a dedicated foot and mouth disease vaccine bank, we’re working to reduce the spread of the disease and the impact that a potential outbreak would have on market access for Canadian producers. The announcement marks another step forward in the on-going work of supporting our animal disease preparedness efforts,” said Lawrence MacAulay, Canada Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, in the release.

The vaccine bank would help protect Canada from the emerging threat of FMD, maintain public confidence in the Canadian food supply, and help reduce the spread of the disease, should an outbreak occur. An effective and efficient response, including vaccination, will also help mitigate prolonged market disruptions to trade.

Quick Facts

Budget 2023 committed $57.5 million over five years, with $5.6 million ongoing, to the CFIA to establish an FMD vaccine bank for Canada, and to develop FMD response plans.
FMD is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hoofed ruminants but not horses. Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them weakened and debilitated.
Canada has been free from FMD since 1952, and strict measures are in place to prevent the disease from entering Canada. FMD is not a public health risk and is not considered a food safety issue.
The CFIA would use a vaccine only in the event of an outbreak to protect animals and help stop the spread of disease. This complements Canada’s current access to vaccines through the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank (NAFMDVB) ensuring readily available vaccines for Canadian producers.
In Canada, FMD is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all suspect cases must be reported to the CFIA.
The CFIA monitors the status of FMD worldwide and has emergency preparedness and response plans ready.

Check out these reads from Bovine Veterinarian:
New Vaccine Protects Cattle From Deadly Tick-Borne Disease
Embryo Surrogacy – The Next Dairy Niche?
How One Veterinarian Offers Support on Transition Planning to His Clients

How to Increase the Marketability of Beef-on-Dairy Calves

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 14:00:00 GMT

Many farms have become more innovative over the past few years by implementing beef genetics into their breeding programs. There have been two main advantages to adopting beef on dairy: management of replacement numbers and increased market value of the calves leaving the farm. A Wisconsin study found that 65% of the farmers surveyed sell their dairy beef crosses within the first week of birth, while 12.5% raised them to finish. No matter when beef cross calves are being marketed, steps can be taken to make them more marketable.

Don’t Skip Day One of Calf Care

The calves are not staying on the farm, but they should be treated like any other replacement animal. Dip navels with 7% iodine, administer proper vaccinations, and feed high-quality colostrum. Colostrum should be greater than 50 IgG to be considered high quality. Some farms have concerns about using their high quality colostrum on calves that may leave the farm. Many farms have had luck keeping their colostrum stocked by saving 50 to 70 lgG colostrum for market calves and greater than 70 for replacement heifers. Just like with replacement heifers, ensure colostrum is fed within a couple of hours of birth.

Track Calf Growth

For those marketing weaned calves, track average daily gain. Calves should have an average daily gain of approximately 1.5 lbs per day or double their birth weight by 8 weeks of age. Tracking weights weekly by using a weigh tape or portable scale will help determine whether these goals will be met. Collecting calf weights will also help determine when to vaccinate. Respiratory vaccinations should be given between 400 and 500 pounds. Ensure vaccinations are given at least two weeks before being transported from the farm.

Keep Health Records

Health records are extremely important when selling calves to a private buyer or through a contract. No matter what age the calves are marketed, buyers want to see that the calves are well cared for. Keep track of and provide vaccination and processing records. Signs of navel infections and respiratory disease will decrease the calf’s value. By collecting passive transfer for each calf, the farm can prove that the calves were given high-quality colostrum to set them up for future success. Being able to prove that providing the buyer with healthy calves by providing health records and sound calves will make your calves more marketable.

For more on beef-on-dairy, read:

Could BRD Cases Decline In High-Risk Cattle With Delayed Vaccination?

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:29:46 GMT

While vaccination is widely considered a critical component of cattle health management, could the timing of vaccination impact the efficiency of the product?

A study by the West Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Sciences and the USDA Agriculture Research Service Livestock Issues Unit in Lubbock, Texas shows there may be more effective vaccination protocols for stressed, high-risk calves arriving to a backgrounding or feedlot operation.

While bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains the costliest disease in the U.S. cattle industry , modified-live virus (MLV) vaccination against respiratory pathogens in cattle on feedlot arrival has been unanimously recommended by consulting veterinarians. However, there is surprisingly limited, but emerging literature, describing the efficiency and safety of vaccination in different cattle production environments, including delayed administration of MLV vaccines in stressed, high-risk cattle, says the study report published online in the National Library of Medicine.

According to the USDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the USDA approval process does not require examining the safety of vaccination in highly-stressed, immunosuppressed cattle. Additionally, products are labeled to “be effective for the vaccination of healthy cattle” and not necessarily proven to “work” on cattle under physiologic stress.

Cattle during different times of their life experience stress: birth, branding, weaning, marketing and relocation. However, it’s important to understand how acute or short-term stress differs from chronic or long-term stress.

At the cow-calf phase, calves experience acute stress at birth, branding and weaning, which may actually result in priming of the immune system and contribute to an enhanced vaccine response—allowing sufficient time for vaccinates to develop immunologic protection before natural challenges with BRD-causative agents occur, the report explains.

Similarly, the pre-conditioning phase, when calves are vaccinated and retained on the operation after weaning, the report explains how these calves exhibit less morbidity and health costs at the feedlot while typically generating greater net return to the cow-calf producers as calf value increases. However, only 39% of all beef operations vaccinate calves against respiratory disease before sale, the report states.

When calves reach the stocker phase, many beef calves are immunologically naïve and stressed. Producers should consider vaccine safety and the potential for inadvertent antigenic enhancement of MLV vaccines when administered to newly received stocker calves.

“Because subsequent disease challenge in the feedlot phase is probable, stocker calves should be administered vaccines with adequate time for immunization to occur before feedlot shipment. However, stocker producers should consider delaying MLV vaccination for 14 to 30 days after arrival, as improved health and performance outcomes have been reported in high-risk stocker calves using this strategy,” the report explains.

While the adoption rate of respiratory vaccination in the feedlot phase is nearly 100%, the report suggests further research is needed to understand the efficiency of vaccination and if a delayed MLV vaccination may improve health outcomes in auction-derived feedlot cattle.

In a study with 528 high-risk stocker calves, a delayed (Day 14) MLV administration procedure was evaluated against the traditional on-arrival (Day 0). Results showed calves receiving delayed vaccination had improved performance and numerically less BRD-associated morbidity, relapse and mortality.

Another study of 5,179 auction-derived heifers observed a decrease in the number of heifers treated twice for BRD and numerically less morbidity, mortality and case fatality rate for those receiving their initial MLV at 30 days after the feedlot arrival compared with on-arrival, the results explain.

While delayed vaccination shows promising results in initial studies, the report explains the challenge remains in accessing current literature explaining the benefits, or lack thereof, of vaccinating cattle immediately on feedlot arrival.

As cattle vary in immune status, age, breed, and marketing channels used, as well as addressing the complex nature of BRD, the “best” vaccination protocols likely remain a challenge to define.

While it’s widely accepted that vaccines provide immunologic protection against economically important cattle diseases, the report cautions that vaccine efficiency may not be realized if the timing of vaccination is inappropriate, cattle are immunosuppressed at the time of vaccination, and/or if the infectious challenge is greater than the immunologic protection by the vaccination. Emerging research studies and literature may help provide more insight for producers in the coming years.