Cattle Health

Stay informed about New World screwworm

harold.newcomb@merck.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Are you prepared for New World screwworm (NWS)? Originally eradicated from the U.S. in 1966, NWS (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae (myiasis) presents a challenge many cattle producers have never experienced firsthand.

Early warning signs of heat stress in cattle: What to watch and how to manage

emmahoman@cattlekrush.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Heat stress in cattle develops progressively, often beginning with subtle changes before more severe symptoms appear. By the time obvious signs such as open-mouth panting or lethargy are visible, performance losses may already be occurring.

Creating healthy, high-value heifers from day one

abby@agproud.com — Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Today’s decisions, beginning even before a calf is born, can determine whether that heifer becomes a long-lasting, productive cow or falls short of her genetic potential.

West: Handling the summer heat

cwillmore@uidaho.edu — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

While producers can’t change the weather, they can adjust management practices to help cattle stay cooler and maintain productivity.

Rat-tail syndrome in beef cattle

kalyn.waters@ufl.edu — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Let's get right down to it: the what and whys of rat-tail syndrome (RTS) in cattle. This trait has been around for decades, and most ranchers and cattlemen are aware of it and can easily identify those tight, curly-haired little rascals at birth.

Autogenous vs. commercial vaccines: Exploring the trade-offs

john.pollreisz@zoetis.com — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As producers and veterinarians consider vaccination programs, it’s important to understand the key differences between autogenous and commercial vaccines.

Prioritizing reproductive efficiency during drought

lacey.quail@ndsu.edu — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

While environmental conditions are always fluctuating, cow-calf producers often plan to experience drought. As the saying goes: It’s better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it. Drought preparation follows the same advice.

Bacterial pneumonia: Delayed, not gone

jeff.okones@pharmgate.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Despite advances in vaccines, nutrition and management, bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains one of the most persistent and costly challenges in beef production. While the weather this fall has been off to an unseasonably mild start, producers shouldn’t mistake low rates of BRD in early months for a disease-free season.

Biosecurity best practices to maintain a healthy herd

pschark@clemson.edu — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

All producers aim to maintain the health of their herds. Because losses from sickness and death take a toll on cattle and producers alike, it can be helpful to periodically review farm biosecurity practices.

Timing BRD vaccination for better outcomes

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is essentially pneumonia. Caused by specific bacteria and viruses, it is the most expensive disease in the beef industry.

Beat the heat: Novel nutritional support to keep cattle eating and breeding when temps climb

aimee.hafla@devenishna.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Heat stress remains a costly, persistent challenge in U.S. beef production. Annual losses exceed $370 million annually, and the economic impact often begins before producers see obvious clinical signs. What feels like mild heat and humidity to humans may still impact cattle comfort and performance.

Scours prevention: Is it worth it?

sroberts@alltech.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Although Benjamin Franklin was referring to fire prevention when he wrote that phrase, the same phrase can have literal implications when it comes to saving pounds through scours prevention in calves.

Don't let your pasture kill your profits: Grazing and feeding hazards

troy.walz@unl.edu — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Physical hazards – from swallowed wires to toxic plants – can be devastating, not only to the cow but in certain instances can cause late-term abortions or permanent birth defects in the calf crop.

The dangers of grass tetany

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

With spring around the corner, now is the time to plan on making sure grass tetany never shows up on your ranch.

Cattle health at the forefront of CattleCon presentations

abby@agproud.com — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

With U.S. cow herd size at a 75-year low and with no reprieve in sight, it’s never been more important to protect your cattle and operation. Farmers and ranchers should consider how to protect their animals and operation before it is too late. Here are a few of the topics shared at Cattlemen’s College during NCBA’s CattleCon 2026 in in Nashville, Tennessee.

South Central: Grass tetany symptoms and treatment

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Grass tetany is a condition in cows caused by low magnesium levels in the blood and can lead to death.

Spring stress: Protecting herd health during a season of transition

kmidkiff@uada.edu — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The spring season brings longer days, greener pastures and a sense of relief from the freezing temperatures. However, the spring also carries its own set of challenges, as it is one of the most challenging times of the year for cattle health.

Getting breeding heifers off to a healthy start to their career

russell.daly@sdstate.edu — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Transitioning a heifer calf into a productive, long-term member of the breeding herd requires attention to many important factors, including nutrition, genetic and breeding decisions, and environmental management. Disease and health challenges, however, can undermine all that work.

Nurturing calves on pasture: Nutrition and health strategies for growth and resilience

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Ensuring optimal calving care for newborns is a top priority for producers. However, the responsibility doesn’t end as the calves leave the farmyard. Special attention must also be given to their nutrition and overall well-being as they transition to spring pastures and continue to grow during the summer months.

Colostrum management to improve beef calf health

rjv10@psu.edu — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

A tremendous amount of research has been published and continues to be performed related to colostrum management of dairy cattle. Much less research has addressed colostrum management in beef cattle and their calves.

Better mineral status, better breedback

louderdvm@gmail.com — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Injectable minerals rapidly restore levels, supporting fertility, healthy calves and timely breedback, ensuring economic stability for cow-calf operations.

Adding value to calves with vaccinations

rii@clemson.edu — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

While disease prevention remains the primary purpose of vaccine programs, a well-designed vaccination protocol is now an essential marketing strategy for producers selling calves into value-added and graded feeder sales.

Southeast: The employees you never see

kmason21@utk.edu — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Understanding how to support the “microbial workforce” in the rumen is key to improving feed efficiency, herd health and overall profitability.

Newborn calf leg issues: Causes, challenges and hereditary factors

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:11:26 -0500

Most calves are born without intervention, typically nursing on their own without significant attention from caretakers. They often adapt to their environment quickly, becoming productive members of the herd.

Customizing animal health disease prevention

jason.anderson@vaxxinova.com — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Technology intersects many segments of agriculture with applications extending into animal health for prevention, detection and treatment of illness. Many of the newer tools are aimed at blending data collection, analysis and specialized interventions.

Winter management of herd bulls: The forgotten investment

kjenkins2@unl.edu — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Cattle prices are at historic highs, making management of the cow herd investment more critical than ever. A lot of focus is put on developing heifers, rebreeding the 2- and 3-year-old cows, delivering a uniform, healthy calf crop to the next segment of the industry, or managing cull cows. Rightly so, as all these topics are important to the overall financial success of the beef cattle operation.

West: Safeguarding herd health in harsh conditions

sfonnesbeck@uidaho.edu — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Winter stress doesn’t have to mean compromised health. By implementing proactive winter protection from the elements and biosecurity measures, producers can minimize disease risk and maintain productivity through the cold months.

Investing in the first 60 days: How early-life vaccination prepares calves for feedlot success

sdavila@uidaho.edu — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

When done correctly, early-life vaccination helps calves handle the stressors of branding, weaning, transport and feedlot entry with resilience.

Don’t miss the signs: Catch BRD before it catches up

nathan.meyer@boehringer-ingelheim.com — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The earlier BRD is detected and treated, the better the opportunity to minimize lung damage. If it’s not caught quickly, cattle will be less likely to respond to antibiotic treatment and will be at a greater risk for relapse or mortality.

Understanding anti-infective classes to improve treatment outcomes

k.shawn.blood@zoetis.com — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

When it comes to any disease treatment, it’s imperative to match the drug to the bug – or in other words, use the correct class of antibiotic to control the disease-causing bacteria at hand. The same holds for anti-infectives used to treat bovine respiratory disease (BRD).