Most folks think summertime is typically a time to relax for cattle owners. If we’ve had sufficient rain and grass is good, we can turn cows out and not worry too much except to check water, fences and put out summer mineral. However, there are a few calf diseases that can change those plans.

It’s never too early to think about a calf’s respiratory health. The steps producers take this spring with young calves not only help protect them through grazing season, but can help prepare the calves for a more complete immune response with preweaning and weaning booster vaccinations.

This year it is important for ranchers to prepare for upcoming changes to the rules regarding purchasing medically important antibiotics.

Heart failure has been emerging as an increasingly important disease in feedlot cattle. There are many causes of heart failure in cattle, including exposure to low oxygen levels at high elevations, bacterial infections of the heart muscle and toxins that affect cardiac function. 

Persistently infected (PI) calves continue to be a substantial threat to all segments of the cattle industry, but many producers don’t even know they are in the herd.