Year: 2022

Raising Holstein steers for beef continues to be a valuable market for these “dairy industry by-products.” With no differences detected in taste panels or tenderness between Holstein and Angus meat, there continues to be a demand and place for Holstein beef in the marketplace. However, getting healthy calves to raise can sometimes be an issue….

With more dairies choosing to breed only their genetically superior animals for heifers, the remaining cows are increasingly being bred to beef sires. This has opened another opportunity to increase the value of these crossbred steers. It also provides a chance to increase the value of dairy bulls calves that have traditionally very little value…

Grass tetany, also called grass staggers, wheat pasture poisoning, or hypomagnesemia, is caused by low blood magnesium. It is most common in late gestation or heavy lactation cows and ewes grazing lush spring pastures. Occasionally, cases present in fall as well. Forages growing rapidly tend to have low levels of magnesium. This is compounded by…

Water is simultaneously the most important and most overlooked nutrient for all livestock. Poor water quality can negatively affect multiple animal aspects including growth, general productivity, and reproduction. Death is also a possibility if water is severely contaminated and/or restricted. It is critical that water quality is monitored regularly to support optimal animal performance. Many…

Antibiotics have traditionally been used in the poultry and livestock industries to both treat illness and as growth promotants at subtherapeutic levels.  However, with the rise in concern over antibiotic use and resistance, the acceptability of antibiotic use has dwindled. In response, essential oils have grown in popularity as an alternative option to traditional medications….

Nutritionists and cattle raisers alike focus heavily on balanced rations, getting right down to grams of X and Y nutrients, but delivery of that feed is just as important. Successfully feeding cattle relies on walking the line between over- and under-feeding. Underfeeding limits performance and overfeeding is expensive and wasteful. Commercial feeders have turned to…

As the name suggests, Rumen Acidosis affects ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats, etc. It is the most common nutritional disorder seen on cattle operations. However, there are simple steps we can take to prevent acidosis from occurring. The normal pH of the rumen sits around 6.0 – 7.0. Acidosis occurs when the pH of…

Sub-acute rumen acidosis, also known as SARA, occurs when the rumen pH drops below the normal range for extended or frequent periods. Normal rumen pH run 6.0 – 7.0, while SARA occurs when the pH drops below 5.8 – 6.0 for an extended duration. After a high concentrate meal, rumen pH typically drops under 6.0…

Acidosis boils down to two main issues: the overproduction of acid within the rumen and decreased buffering of the rumen due to decreased saliva flow. The causes of these issues can vary and are cumulative. It is the most common nutritional disorder seen on cattle operations, while also being one of the easiest to prevent…

As the name suggests, avian influenza (AI) affects birds, both domestic and wild. Being natural hosts, migratory birds can carry and shed the virus without showing clinical symptoms. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a devastating disease that is highly contagious and almost always fatal (except in ducks and geese). Affected domestic birds include chickens,…