On-Call / Vet

Show season is upon us again. Remember show animals are exposed to more diseases as they are co-mingled with others. Vaccinations of these show animals are a must. Consult your veterinarian as to which vaccines are recommended.

Recent weather conditions have raised several health problems for cattle producers. One of the most dramatic changes has been an increase in mastitis cases on dairy farms. Mastitis can be devastating to the economic well-being of a dairy operation, and successful treatment and control measures are needed to ensure financial stability, especially in the current economic environment.

Over the past several months, I have examined several beef cows that presented with chronic weight loss and diarrhea. Based on clinical findings, I decided to test several for Johne’s disease, and found cows from four separate farms that tested positive for the disease.

Spring is the traditional time of year for breeding on most horse ranches. Horses are long-day breeders meaning that natural reproductive activity peaks during the longer days of the year. Generally, from mid-spring through the summer mares regularly cycle every 21 days.

There are several tools available for cow/calf producers that can lead to a decrease in one of the primary problems seen in neonatal calves – diarrhea. Diarrhea is a leading cause of mortality in baby calves and has many causes.

This year has been a hard one on the cow herd. The heat and drought this summer resulted in short pastures, minimal to no stockpiled forage and a scarce hay supply for most producers. Furthermore, I have noticed a trend of more open cows on recent pregnancy checks, likely in direct relation to the heat stress and lowered nutritional plane encountered during the breeding season. It is always a good idea for producers to consider implementing practices that improve cow productivity and efficiency. However, this year carries with it a potential for maximum returns.

Bloat is a condition that occurs when an excess amount of fermentation gasses become trapped within the rumen of an animal. This condition can occur in any ruminant species including beef and dairy cattle, sheep and goats. Bloat can occur very rapidly and can quickly become a life-threatening condition if not treated. There can be many different causes for bloat and the appropriate treatment is based on determining the underlying cause.

Flies are a well known and common pest to most all classes of livestock. With heat and humidity, flies thrive and this makes summer in the Ozarks a prime environment for fly populations. Economic losses can be substantial, particularly in beef and dairy cattle. In cattle, flies can cause production losses in the way of reduced weight gain, lowered milk production and the transmission of disease.

In the last issue we introduced the topic of bacterial pneumonia in cattle and discussed the significance of the disease, the basic mechanisms involved that result in pneumonia and effective prevention strategies. In this issue our focus will be on prompt and accurate diagnosis, followed by currently recommended treatment protocols.