Baxter Black, DVM: Bull Rider’s Limp

Baxter Black, DVM:  Bull Rider’s Limp

When I was a kid we had what we called the ‘bull rider’s limp.’

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Commercial Replacement Heifer Selection

Commercial Replacement Heifer Selection

Alison Van Eenennaam,  Darrh Bullock, Univ of Kentucky

Extension.org

Typically only a subset of heifers are replacement candidates due to size (smaller heifers are often the ones that are born late(r) in the calving season and are too immature to be cycling in time for the first potential breeding season), other selection criteria (e.g. feet and legs, disposition), and the replacement rate (i.e. what proportion of replacement heifers are selected to return to the herd each year).

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When thinking about feed rations, think about weight gain

When thinking about feed rations, think about weight gain

Marty Anderson

Southern Livestock

The ration plays a critical role in cattle performance. Feed is important for getting protein, energy, vitamins and minerals into cattle. Maximizing weight gains and efficiency is normally the goal. Rumensin is known for improving feed efficiency and BOVATEC® is known for not only improving feed efficiency, but also weight gains.

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Keeping an Eye Out for Acidosis

Keeping an Eye Out for Acidosis

Feedlot Magazine

We’ve all seen it: that one steer standing in the dry lot looking miserable, staring into nothingness with its head down like his fa-vorite football team just lost a national championship. A football disappointment would be a less costly diagnosis, but this case is likely acidosis.

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Castration Less Stressful at a Young Age

Castration Less Stressful at a Young Age

Heather Smith Thomas

Cattle Today

There are several ways to castrate calves and bulls. Regardless of the method, it’s generally less stressful for the animal at a young age. Daniel Thomson, Kansas State University (Professor of Production Medicine and Epidemiology) says that castration, dehorning, branding are necessary but painful for the animal.

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Rotate, Diversify to Enrich Pastures

Rotate, Diversify to Enrich Pastures

Philip Gruber

Lancaster Farming

To build up healthy soil in their pastures, farmers should keep the cows moving and the forages changing, according to Sjoerd Duiker, a Penn State soil scientist. Rotational grazing and forage diversity are essential tools of pasture management, Duiker said as he led a pasture walk on Oct. 6 at the Eli Weaver farm in eastern Lancaster County.

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OSU scientists studying cattle feeding methods

OSU scientists studying cattle feeding methods

Vic Schoonover

The Lawton Constitution

Much is being said these days about greenhouse emissions, the release of methane gases, and carbon footprints as the global warming controversy continues. Oklahoma State University animal scientists have been studying what, if any, effect different methods of finishing, the final feeding stage before slaughter, has on those topics.

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Livestock diseases are ‘untold story’ of food waste

Livestock diseases are ‘untold story’ of food waste

Feedstuffs

An estimated one-fifth of livestock around the world are lost to disease. Dr. Margaret Zeigler, executive director of the Global Harvest Initiative, said that is perhaps the “greatest untold story of food waste today.”

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Producer Spotlight: Paige Pratt, Johnson Farms, LLC

Producer Spotlight:  Paige Pratt, Johnson Farms, LLC

The Beef Institute

Audrey Hambright

For Paige Pratt, the opportunity to work together as a family and share the ranch lifestyle with her kids in the hopes they develop the same love for it as she and her husband have, leaves her feeling pretty fortunate.

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EFSA weighs in on safety of beta agonist for cattle

EFSA weighs in on safety of beta agonist for cattle

Jane Byrne

Feed Navigator

Zilpaterol is used as a veterinary drug in cattle to enhance growth performance in a number of countries such as the US, Canada and Mexico, but it is prohibited in the EU. It is added at a concentration of 7.5 mg/kg feed corresponding to 0.15 mg/kg body weight (bow) per day for the last 20–40 days before slaughter of cattle.

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