Herd Health

Sonja Swiger is the livestock veterinary extension entomologist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services. When asked, “What are the natural remedies for fly control?” Swiger has a simple answer: there aren’t any. 

Beef producers that focus on creating a culture of continuous improvement for their business likely know their strengths and weaknesses and are prepared to adapt to challenges that face the cattle industry.

Once you have made the progressive decision to implement A.I. into your cow herd, there is one big word you need to focus on: stockmanship.

With calving coming to a close for most producers, it is time to organize an efficient and safe branding and processing day before the cow-calf pairs are sent to pasture.

“Wow, I finally understand the problem a few persistently infected (PI) calves can have on my cattle. More than 60 percent of the cattle in all my pens and pastures were exposed to BVD because 30 percent of the loads I received had one or more BVD-PI calves on them.” This is a typical statement a cattleman makes after experiencing a BVD-PI herd health problem.

Cattlemen, Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are waging a constant battle to keep the fever tick contained in counties along the border to Mexico.