Herd Health

We have all quoted, or at least heard, the age-old adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Attributed to Benjamin Franklin, the old saying is the go-to phrase for opening discussions everywhere regarding biosecurity.

If bovine respiratory disease (BRD) prevention measures have failed and you need to treat BRD with an antibiotic, the price on the bottle is easy to see. You’re likely not excited to make this purchase, which costs a pretty penny.

Have you ever heard a cattle producer say, “I’m in the cattle business for the money”? I can’t recall ever hearing those words out of a producer’s mouth. Through the years, I have heard:

I’ve lived and worked all over the West, and I never thought I could get too hot until I moved to Texas. Sometimes it would be so torrid there the horses would come up to the water trough looking like Appaloosas.

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.