Parasites are present on nearly all cattle operations and are thought to be one factor that can negatively impact efficient production. While clinical parasitism can have obvious effects on herds, subclinical parasitism can manifest in ways that may initially go unnoticed.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), also known as shipping fever, is one of the most prevalent and economically significant diseases within the beef cattle industry. Treatment rates of cattle in feedlots for respiratory disease is more than all other diseases combined, with recent years realizing a marked increase in the disease.

The use of antibiotics in the livestock industry has provided a hot topic for media and imposed government regulations. Current measures have been set in motion to reduce and further regulate antibiotic usage through the Guidance for Industry #213 plan released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December of 2013.

We think of cattle and symbiotic relationships primarily with rumen microbes. The animal provides habitat and the microbes help optimize roughage digestion in the cow.

Rising feed prices and shrinking margins have generated significant discussion on animal efficiency. We have all seen those cows that we call “easy doers” but did not give them much thought until recently.

Horses are used extensively for pleasure either through trail riding with friends or competing at various equine events. This is rodeo season, and there are many horses going up and down the highway.

It seems that each new day brings some new technology that is either going to revolutionize our industry or at least make our work easier.

Profitability will always be the primary driver behind all cattle operations. We all know that we have to have successful reproduction in order to be profitable.

Horses are a valuable tool on ranches across the country to get work done. There is a certain amount of inner peace and tranquility acquired when quietly moving cows from one pasture to another.