Baxter Black, DVM: THE MISERY INDEX 2011

Baxter Black, DVM: THE MISERY INDEX 2011

Economists have a mythical figure called the misery index.  It is the total of the unemployment rate added to the inflation rate.

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Scrotal circumference: Does bigger mean better fertility?

Scrotal circumference: Does bigger mean better fertility?

Bill Beal

Angus Journal

Scrotal circumference measurements are the best indicator of a bull’s daily sperm production potential. Bulls must exceed the minimum acceptable levels for scrotal circumference, sperm motility and sperm morphology to pass a breeding soundness exam (sometimes referred to as a BSE).

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‘Cowboy Monks’ Operation Sent Out To Pasture

‘Cowboy Monks’ Operation Sent Out To Pasture

Jim Kent

NPR

There’s a chill in the air today as high plains winds beat against the walls of Assumption Abbey. Brother Placid Gross has been the main cowboy wrangler for the black angus herd almost since he arrived here at the abbey in 1957.

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BRD and sickness behaviors in calves

BRD and sickness behaviors in calves

Geni Wren

Bovine Veterinarian Magazine

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in young dairy calves can have profound production and economic consequences in the short-term and even later in life.

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Wintering yearlings on residue can be profitable

Wintering yearlings on residue can be profitable

Gayle Smith

Tri State Livestock News

As corn moves upward in price, wintering yearlings on grass and crop residue is becoming a more viable option for some cattle producers in Nebraska.

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Cull Breeding Stock Carefully

Cull Breeding Stock Carefully

By Dr. Ken McMillan

DTN

If a cow is in good health, at what age should you consider eliminating her as breeding stock?

Annual performance, not strictly age, should be a primary criteria come culling time.

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Vaccine handling

Vaccine handling

Kenny Barrett Jr., DVM, MS

Tri State Livestock News

Many ranchers in the Northern Plains will be administering a variety of vaccinations with weaning around the corner. Which vaccine to use is just one piece of the puzzle to have effective immunization and disease-free calves at weaning.

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EPA: We never said hay is a pollutant

EPA: We never said hay is a pollutant

Western Farm Press

A Kansas feedlot operator is trying to make hay by falsely claiming that EPA defined hay as a water pollutant.

The owner of the Callicrate Feeding Company has been spinning a "hay-as-pollutant" myth through the blogosphere for a couple of weeks now.

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Western Pa. man pleads in prized cow’s killing

Western Pa. man pleads in prized cow’s killing

Houston Chronicle

A western Pennsylvania man faces up to 20 years in prison for his role in killing and butchering a prize-winning cow along with five other vandalism related crimes involving a vacant house fire and vehicles damaged by shooting.

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Livestock Fatalities Often Tied to Aggressive Cattle

Livestock Fatalities Often Tied to Aggressive Cattle

Claire Vath

Progressive Farmer

Every farmer, rancher or vet has a personal story about a run-in with livestock. Sometimes it seems that busted lips, broken toes, bruised ribs and sprains come with the territory.

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