Nutrition, health and performance could be considered the most widely talked about aspects of cattle production. Currently, greenhouse gases and their related emissions are giving them a run for their money.

Technology marches onward, changing work processes and management in every industry. These continually evolving advances are also greatly affecting modern agriculture, including how pests are controlled.

In the past, the process of acquiring a new herd bull likely included the scouring of a local newspaper, visiting a neighbor or attending a nearby auction sale. The bill of sale’s fine print may or may not have detailed the requirements and results of a semen test.

“Genetic improvement” is a term with far-reaching implications, uniquely and individually defined by those in the beef industry.

It’s surprising how quickly winter can creep up on cattle producers each year. Many times, it appears in force, while cattle-handling equipment, pens, alleys and related infrastructure remain either in a state of disrepair or only partially complete.

Cattle producers face a list of virtually unending challenges, tasks and responsibilities, and when tackled without the aid of a bovine veterinarian, they can become overwhelming in both size and intensity.

While cow-calf operations, feedlots and packing plants grab the most press and media coverage, the North American beef industry performs well largely because of consistent value-based contributions from those in unheralded sectors.

Unlike in decades past, nailing a hand-painted plywood sign to a fencepost or running a small print ad in the local paper no longer fills out the itinerary of a cattle sale’s marketing campaign.

Neonatal diarrhea, or calf scours, is one of the costliest diseases in the cattle business and is responsible for more mortalities in calves under 1 month old than any other disease.