Herd Health

Chelates are strange creatures. They are synthetic hybrids of metals and proteins or parts of proteins, and we can include them in cattle feeds.

Eliminating spores that cause clostridial disease from a cattle herd’s environment is virtually impossible. Successful treatment of an infected animal is rare, and the first sign is usually death. However, with proper management and vaccination, producers can prevent losses associated with clostridial diseases.

When Lynn Cooper’s veterinarian told her she should start using pain relief during castration and dehorning, Cooper’s first reaction was to roll her eyes.

Autogenous or herd-specific vaccines remain an important tool for veterinarians in their efforts to help protect animal health.

There are many commercial vaccines available to protect cattle against infectious agents. Some are modified-live vaccines, and others are killed products. It’s not always easy to decide which ones are best when vaccinating calves.

As calving season approaches, we all try to make sure our cows have enough good-quality feed to get through gestation and lactation. Often, there are no problems meeting energy and protein requirements, but vitamins and minerals can easily be overlooked.