Anoestrus in cattle

Anoestrus in cattle

Partnersinreproduction.com

If oestrus has not been observed in a dairy cow by 60 days post partum the condition is defined as Post Partum Anoestrus (PPA), whether she is cycling or not.

Definitions

Anoestrus: The cow is not observed in oestrus either because she has not come into oestrus (not cycling) or because oestrus was not detected (cycling).
FULL STORY

Parentage to Tenderness

Parentage to Tenderness

Barb Baylor Anderson

Angus Journal

Breeding may not be an exact science, but using MMI Genomics’ DNAbased breeding selection tools may move the Angus industry one step closer. For the last several years, the genomics technology research-and-development company has established successful results with its DNA products, including the parentage verification tool used by the American Angus Association. New desirable meat trait products are also now available.

FULL STORY PDF

Baxter Black: WOLF GANG

Baxter Black: WOLF GANG

A cheer was heard from animals throughout the land, the wolf is dead! The wolf is dead!

“In truth,” said Elk, “They are not dead. They are just no longer invincible.”

“Thank goodness,” said Whitetail Doe, “The violence the gang of wolves inflicts on us all will no longer go unanswered. We’ve all had children, friends or relatives killed or savaged by those cowardly, sneaking hyper-steroid weasels.”

“You’ve got to admit,” said Mule Deer, “As long as those wildlifely-challenged cows are plopping out fat little baby bite-sized calves, it takes the pressure off of us all.”

“Yes, but have you seen what happened to us in the Park,” said Elk, “no cows are allowed. They left us to the killers’ mercy! They even fed us in the winter so we’d be fat and easy to find!”

FULL STORY

Midland Bull Test Introduces Growsafe Systems

Midland Bull Test Introduces Growsafe Systems

Cattle Today

Forty miles southwest of where Leo McDonnell and Steve Williams stand, the Beartooth Range rises abruptly from the valley, blotting out the last traces of sunlight.

It is a still, perfect evening, and their cows have fanned out across the prairie, grazing the dry, native grass that spreads across the unbroken landscape.

The father-son duo spends a lot of time thinking about grass because they know their livelihood depends on their ability to understand the connection between grass and their cows, and to use both of them efficiently to produce products for the marketplace.

FULL STORY

Treatment of Retained Placenta: Do No Harm

Treatment of Retained Placenta: Do No Harm

Tom L. Bailey

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech

Treatment of retained placenta in dairy cattle comes under the heading of “first of all do no harm when initiating therapy.” Simple retained placenta, those cattle not demonstrating clinical signs of an elevated temperature or fever, off feed, down in milk, or no foul odor in the fluid discharge from the uterus should be handled as conservatively as possible. Research has consistently shown that those animals with antibiotics “dumped” into the uterus will have delayed uterine involution, increased days to first service, increased number of services per pregnancy and increased days open. Metritis and pyometra are more common occurrences in those cows that are indiscriminately treated with antibiotics in the uterus. Some beneficial bacteria may actually aid in the “uncoupling” of the placenta and antibiotics will eliminate these bacteria as well. Antibiotics in the uterus also decrease the migration of white blood cells that help fight infection in the uterus. One hundred cc’s of an antibiotic or a few ounces of a powder placed in a 20-gallon volume uterus is diluted; it is not going to be beneficial. “Cleaning” a cow or “pulling” the retained placenta can result in the ripping of the lining of the uterus with permanent damage, leading to infertility. Cattle with retained placenta should be monitored closely. Your best tool is your thermometer, observation of the cow in the parlor, and at the feed bunk.

FULL STORY

Rabies Infected Herd Destroyed by West Virginia Department of Agriculture

Rabies Infected Herd Destroyed by West Virginia Department of Agriculture

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) destroyed a herd of approximately 80 cattle exposed to rabies in Hampshire County on Thursday.

“The decision was made after it was determined a significant number of those exposed animals were showing symptoms days after three confirmed cases,” said West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass.

This is a serious health threat to the human and animal population and indicates the probability of additional rabid wildlife in the area.

There is little known about the incubation period and transmission of rabies in cattle. The possibility of cattle incubating the virus for months played a big part in the decision. The unusually high number of symptomatic cattle ruled out an extended quarantine for the herd.

FULL STORY

Ethanol and bio-diesel: Fuels or threats to food security?

Ethanol and bio-diesel: Fuels or threats to food security?

Abdul Waheed Bhutto

Onlinejournal.com

The world is going through the strongest surge in energy prices as crude oil prices have soared to more than $100 per barrel. The high price of fossil fuels, environmental concerns, and geopolitical instability in some major oil producing nations have spurred intense global interest in alternative fuels, especially from renewable energy sources.

Developments in solar panels and wind farms favored by eco-activist groups have been severely hampered in developing countries by their high initial costs. Nuclear power for developing countries is still viewed with suspicion; Crop-based fuel production has been the main focus of interest in developing as well as developed countries. In US and European countries ethanol and biodiesel are made from food or inedible crops, including corn, sugarcane, maize, cassava, rapeseed (canola oil), soybeans, and palm oil.

FULL STORY

Schering-Plough: Cattle Producer Survey Says Age & Source Adds $10 Per Cwt

Schering-Plough: Cattle Producer Survey Says Age & Source Adds $10 Per Cwt

cattlenetwork.com

A survey of more than 150 cow/calf producers across the country revealed that producers using age and source verification systems, like TRI-MERIT®, earned an average of $10 more per hundredweight than generic calves. Age and source verification certifies the accuracy and integrity of animal information and helps assure customers they’re receiving a consistent product supported by a documented quality management system.

The survey, sponsored by Global Animal Management, was conducted during January 2008 and asked producers about prices earned on calves sold during 2007. Survey participants represented herd sizes ranging from less than 50 to more than 5,000. More than 75 percent of participants sold their calves through a sale barn, about 6 percent sold calves direct to the feedlot, and just 2 percent of respondents sold direct to the packer.

FULL STORY

Beef is out; wheat is in: farmers

Beef is out; wheat is in: farmers

CBC News

Financially beleaguered cattle producers in Manitoba are selling off their herds and switching to wheat, capitalizing on soaring grain prices.

Martin Unrau, president of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association, is just one of hundreds of ranchers expected to sell off their animals this year and put their fields to work raising grain.

“Here we are growing grain for sale again, which is kind of hard to believe, I guess. But we’re doing it,” said Unrau, who has made his living raising cattle for more than 40 years.

“We’ve torn up some hay land and we’re going to put in about 400 acres of salable grain this year, something we haven’t done for about 10 or 11 years,” he told CBC News.

FULL STORY

Mineral Programs For Beef Cows Grazing Pasture

Mineral Programs For Beef Cows Grazing Pasture

cattlenetwork.com

After salt and supplementation of magnesium oxide in grass tetany areas, mineral supplementation programs can vary. Soils mineral profiles impact mineral profile in the forage and therefore impact the minerals that need supplemented. Also, forage maturity impact mineral composition. The 1996 NRC for Beef Cattle suggests there are at least 17 minerals required by beef cattle. There are minerals that interact with one-another and therefore impact their utilization and these need to be factored into a supplementation strategy.

FULL STORY

Still no deal between U.S. and South Korea on beef

Still no deal between U.S. and South Korea on beef

Peter Shinn

Brownfield Network

It looks like President Bush and the new South Korean President Lee Myung-bak won’t be announcing a deal to resume U.S. beef exports when Mr. Lee visits the U.S. tomorrow.

A South Korean deputy ag minister told Yonhap news Monday that South Korean and U.S. negotiators meeting in Seoul had been unable to reach a deal on the beef issue.

FULL STORY

Rabies cases force quarantine on livestock in Greenbrier

Rabies cases force quarantine on livestock in Greenbrier

Christian Giggenbach

Register-Herald

Greenbrier County health officials said Friday a goat from an Organ Cave area farm was euthanized earlier this month due to contracting rabies, and seven people and 20 livestock are being treated for the virus.

County sanitarian Amanda McMichael said a livestock owner near Second Creek had contacted veterinarian Dr. Amy Wasalaski about the sick goat, but its condition continued to deteriorate. A positive test for rabies was confirmed after the goat was euthanized.

“The incident has resulted in seven people being treated for rabies exposure and 20 cattle from the farm being quarantined,” McMichael said. “Domestic pets at the property were luckily current on their rabies vaccinations and have all been given booster shots by Dr. Wasalaski.”

FULL STORY

Accidents at Disease Lab Acknowledged

Accidents at Disease Lab Acknowledged

LARRY MARGASAK

Washington Post

The only U.S. facility allowed to research the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease experienced several accidents with the feared virus, the Bush administration acknowledged Friday.

A 1978 release of the virus into cattle holding pens on Plum Island, N.Y., triggered new safety procedures. While that incident was previously known, the Homeland Security Department told a House committee there were other accidents inside the government’s laboratory.

FULL STORY

Rodeo Reignites Old Debate Over Animals Well-Being

Rodeo Reignites Old Debate Over Animals Well-Being

by Christine Morente, San Mateo County Times, Calif.

Mycattle.com

Winchester backed up against the fence when Sarah Currie tried to place her stethoscope above his heart.

After he swung his head away from Currie’s outstretched hand, she caressed the 18-year-old paint horse’s mane. Again using her stethoscope, Currie moved it around his body, listening for abnormal lung sounds and gut movements.

“With colic, the gut stops moving,” said Currie, a veterinarian from Peninsula Equine in Menlo Park. “He’s looking pretty good.”

Currie was on-call Thursday during the Grand National Rodeo, Horse & Stock Show at the Cow Palace.

It was a slow day. But she had an oversized medicine chest in the back of her sport utility vehicle in case any livestock needed basic medical attention.

FULL STORY

Modeling Daily Water Intake In Cattle Finished In Feedlots

Modeling Daily Water Intake In Cattle Finished In Feedlots

cattlenetwork.com

Water is a very limited resource in many places, and its demand is expected to increase in next years as result of the development of the ethanol industry and by the greater demand for irrigation purposes. The relationship among ambient temperature and water intake in beef cattle has been a topic of interest but there are still some questions that need to be answered. Previous research conducted in Nebraska suggests that one steer consume around 9.0 gal/day of water during the summer and 4.5 gal/day during the winter (2007 Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 47-49). The current DWI recommendations of NRC are based in the work developed by Winchester and Morris in middle 50s.

FULL STORY