Summer is typically a highly anticipated season. School is out, vacations are planned and the long, sunny days are enjoyed. But for cattle producers, there is one summertime occurrence that is not looked forward to – pinkeye within the cattle herd.

Herd health is a foundational aspect of the ranching business, especially for those who sell calves that finish growing on another operation before harvest.

There are some threats to the beef industry we must never forget, even though it is painful even to consider them. One of these is foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Mycoplasma bovis is a devastating and often overlooked pathogen that affects cattle and bison.

Over time, while many aspects of managing cattle have stayed the same, much has changed. New innovations have brought faster growth rates and better performance. The way cattle are fed and cared for has become much more efficient.

Heat costs the cattle industry billions of dollars annually. This loss comes from reductions in feed conversion, growth, milk production and reproduction. Extensive research has been done to mitigate the impacts of heat stress in the cattle industry.

Animals can experience stress in all aspects of beef cattle management. Some stressful events are in a producer’s control, and some are not. But in any case, producers should do what they can to minimize stress that can compromise immune systems and make cattle more susceptible to disease.

Pinkeye, foot rot, bovine respiratory disease: These are all common cattle infections producers want treated, and treated quickly. With time and access to facilities being a common constraint on many operations,  it’s reasonable to opt for the most convenient drug delivery device – a dart gun.