Herd Health

One requirement for making a profit in the cattle business is to have a good working relationship with a large-animal veterinarian.

The cows are preg-checked, being fed and we are in that unhurried phase of the year, waiting for that first calf needing assistance or care.

For veterinarians, this is the time for contemplation, reflection and strategic thinking. What occurred in our geographic region and in the U.S. as a whole in 2011 that impacted and will continue to impact our industry? On a global level, what circumstances are altering the way we practice?

Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension, says farmers in southwest Missouri should be watching for symptoms of fescue foot in their cattle, especially as winter sets in and temperatures get colder.

Feedlot operators are turning to veterinarians and nutritionists to help prepare cattle for the best defense against fall parasites.

For years, cattle producers have castrated bull calves as early as possible to reduce stress and minimize the interruption in calf growth. Recently, there has been some interest in delaying castration.

The problems caused by drought in the South are no secret. Farmers and ranchers across several states are trying to hold on to their herds.