Winter Preparedness for Cattle Farmers: Managing Cold Stress and Body Condition
Cattle farmers must focus on managing the health of their herds during winter months. Understanding cold stress and body condition scores (BCS) is crucial for maintaining cow productivity. This article explores effective winter management strategies, emphasizing the importance of nutrition, shelter, and monitoring BCS to ensure cattle can withstand harsh weather conditions.
Key Strategies for Managing Calf Scours in Beef Production
Effective calf health management is vital for beef producers to prevent calf scours, a condition that can lead to severe economic losses. This article outlines key strategies, including avoiding muddy areas, maximizing colostrum intake, and reducing stress, to mitigate the risk of this common illness in young calves.
Ragwort Poisoning Causes Cattle Deaths in Ireland
A recent incident in southwest Ireland highlights the dangers of ragwort poisoning in cattle, leading to significant livestock losses. The Limerick veterinary lab reported severe health issues in affected cattle, including liver cirrhosis and neurological disturbances. This alarming trend emphasizes the need for farmers to monitor grazing areas for toxic plants and implement effective management strategies to protect their herds.
USDA Reports 1% Increase in Cattle on Feed, Insights for Market Stakeholders
The USDA’s latest cattle on feed report reveals 11.3 million head of cattle in feedlots as of July 1, a 1% increase from last year. This vital data aids livestock producers and agricultural stakeholders in understanding market dynamics, feed costs, and export opportunities. Stay informed on agricultural trends with live demos showcasing market analysis tools and insights.
Improving Cattle Tag Retention Benefits Producers
Learn about the improvements in cattle tags, including increased reliability, color coding for breed identification, and efforts to decrease tag loss over time. Producers are benefiting from RFID tags connected to farm management systems for seamless operations.
Cattle Market Outlook for 2024 Shows Decrease in Feeder and Stocker Receipts
The cattle market outlook for 2024 shows a 6 percent decrease in national feeder and stocker receipts compared to 2023. Insights from auction receipt totals this fall will be crucial in understanding changes in the 2024 calf crop. Subscribe to our newsletters for valuable insights into beef production, management, and market updates.
Concerns Over Global Production Capacity for H5N1 Vaccine in Potential Bird Flu Pandemic
Concerns arise over global production capacity as massive amounts of H5N1 vaccine may be needed in the event of a bird flu pandemic. While the current system for producing flu vaccines is well-established, the global production capacity falls short of being able to vaccinate a significant portion of the population within the first year of an outbreak. Comparisons to the rapid production of Covid-19 vaccines raise questions about the ability to respond effectively to an H5N1 pandemic, highlighting the critical global health challenge of rapidly responding to emerging infectious diseases.
Promising Findings in Bovine Tuberculosis Study
A recent study led by the University of Cambridge and Penn State University has revealed promising findings that could potentially lead to the elimination and control of bovine tuberculosis. The research indicates that vaccination not only reduces the severity of tuberculosis in infected cattle but also diminishes its spread in dairy herds by an impressive 89%. This groundbreaking discovery marks the first time that BCG-vaccinated cattle infected with tuberculosis have been shown to be significantly less infectious to other cattle, highlighting the indirect yet substantial impact of the vaccine beyond its direct protective effect.
Understanding Cattle Grazing Personalities
Understanding cattle grazing personalities can lead to better animal health and environmental conditions on rangelands. Research from UC Davis shows that recognizing individual grazing patterns and preferences can help ranchers select herds that best meet grazing needs, ultimately contributing to sustainable rangeland management and the well-being of both the animals and the environment.
Sick Cows Test Positive for Avian Flu in 2 States
Sick cows in Texas and Kansas have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian flu, causing concern within the agriculture industry. Despite this, the USDA reassures that there are no concerns regarding the nation’s milk supply or threat to human health, as dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption.