Key to Safe and Effective Injections
When giving injections it is critical to make sure needles stay clean and sharp. Regardless of which brand or type of hub (e.g. plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, etc.), needles should …
The Healthy Herd Plan
A preventative herd health plan includes vaccination, biosecurity, proper nutrition, parasite management, and understanding common routes of pathogen exposure. Clostridial spores that cause black leg, red water, and other clostridial …
Smart Phosphorus Use in Pastures and Hayfields
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium also referred to as N, P, and K are primary nutrients plants need for growth. Grasses require much more nitrogen and potassium than they do phosphorus. …
The Importance of Hay Testing
A good hay test is critical to designing an appropriate and cost effective winter supplementation plan. When possible, it is good to wait at least 6 to 8 weeks after …
Be Prepared for Pests
Grasshoppers and armyworms are forage insect pests that many producers deal with. Before purchasing products to treat these pests it is important to always read and follow label directions to …
Johne’s Disease
Johne’s disease causes profuse, watery diarrhea and weight loss in cattle. Unfortunately, there is not a treatment for Johne’s and cattle will continue to get worse with time. Johne’s is …
Think Before You Inject
I recently received a video clip from social media that showed someone giving injections to cattle in the hip. Regardless of animal age or type, injections should never be given …
Expected Progeny Difference (EPD)
EPDs allow bulls from the same breed to be directly compared from one seedstock operation to another. Weaning weight (WW) and yearling weight (YW) EPDs can be used to evaluate …
Castration
From a BQA and marketing standpoint all male calves that will not be kept for breeding purposes should be castrated before they reach 3 months of age. Castration can be …
Injection Sites
When giving injectable products to cattle it is important to separate injections from each other by at least the width of an adult hand. Separating injections allows for more effective …