Craig J. Louder

Liver biopsies: A cow’s mineral gauge

Liver biopsies are a quick and efficient way of noting a cow’s trace mineral status.

July 2, 2024

Unfortunately, cows don’t have a dashboard with gauges to tell us which minerals they are low on. Minerals may be considered when things aren’t going well, but how do we know if minerals aren’t adequate? Liver biopsies allow us to check the actual status of the cow without assuming they are OK simply because minerals were offered in the feed. In that sense, liver biopsies are the gauge to tell us how the cow is doing.

Rumen upsets: Do they have to be upsetting?

Understanding what cud chewing and normal rumen function looks like can keep cows ruminating at peak efficiency.

May 30, 2024

Gene Gengelbach and Craig J. Louder

If cows could just tell us when they get an upset tummy, maybe we could help them get through the episode without a hitch. Before we can discuss rumen dysfunction, we need to understand what normal rumen function looks like.

Decoding trace mineral formulations

Important minerals such as zinc, copper and selenium are deficient in Idaho. Comprehensive knowledge of mineral formulations, concentrations and consumption techniques is essential for effective supplementation and maintaining herd health.

March 25, 2024

Craig J. Louder

While Idaho is known as the Gem State, the minerals that gave Idaho its nickname are not the same minerals that are needed by cattle.

Vaccination protocols: Maximizing vaccine efficacy

Vaccines should be used as a management tool to bolster the special forces of the adaptive immune system.

March 13, 2024

Craig J. Louder

The immune system is the body’s military. It is tasked with being able to recognize pathogenic invaders that have entered the body and eliminate them as quickly as possible.

The key to successful transition cows: The rumen

While the key to a healthy transition may be in the rumen, the key to a healthy rumen is having the correct bacteria at the correct time.

October 30, 2023

Craig J. Louder

The dry period is a time of rest and relaxation for the dairy cow. While her body continues to finish growing a calf, other organs are recovering from the lactation that has just been completed and preparing for another year of milk production.

Improving calf rumen health during times of stress

October 26, 2023

Craig J. Louder

While failures of the immune system are often seen, little is taken into account of what the immune system requires and if it is getting what it needs from the digestive system of the animal.

What is a trace mineral and why does a cow need it?

Ensure cows receive the mineral nutrients required for immune function and reproductive efficiency.

May 26, 2023

Craig J. Louder

A close examination of the feed ration reveals that the garden salad-looking bovine meal may contain corn silage, hay and flaked corn.

Transition success with injectable trace minerals

Recognizing the fluctuation of trace mineral availability at calving allows producers to supplement cows in a way that avoids antagonism and low absorption.

January 25, 2023

Craig J. Louder

Recognizing the fluctuation of trace mineral availability at calving allows producers to supplement cows in a way that avoids antagonism and low absorption.

Four hurdles of trace mineral nutrition in the close-up dry cow

Four major hurdles that must be addressed for micro-minerals in the close-up dry cow are intake, absorption, excretion and antagonism.

September 27, 2022

Craig J. Louder

FWe are all familiar with mineral imbalances in dairy cows; the recently freshened cow that can’t stand up and has her head turned into her side with cold ears. When this situation is encountered, we immediately recognize the condition as milk fever or hypocalcemia.