The full force of summer months and hot temperatures are almost upon us. With it will come heat stress, a major concern in the beef industry. Heat stress can cause countless problems in cattle, such as a decrease in feed intake, changes in the rumen which lead to diminished digestibility and a significant negative impact on performance.

The new Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) comes into effect in December 2016, bringing all feed-grade antibiotics under vet supervision or prescription without the option of extra-label use. So, by this time next year, you and your veterinarian are going to need a health plan that complies with the VFD.

As cow-calf producers, we hear a lot about what we can do to reduce calf scours. We often feel as though we’re doing our job when we make sure our calving areas are clean and we’ve got cows bedded prior to calving.