Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 16 2004 09:32

Swine Newsletter 2nd Quarter 2004 Swine Influenza virus has caused problems in the swine industry for over 50 years. The cause of SIV is a virus that has its origins in the bird population and also is somewhat related to the human strains of influenza. SIV is found worldwide and causes high fevers, increased respiratory distress and a severe characteristic barking cough. When SIV hits a group of pigs, it causes over 80% of the group to have severe clinical problems and it is highly contagiou... [More]

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 16 2004 09:27

Swine Newsletter 4th Quarter 2004 Respiratory disease is a common cause for increased morbidity and mortality in nursery and grow/finish operations. It leads to decreased rate of gain and feed conversion. Signs of respiratory disease include coughing, lethargy, runny eyes, off feed, nasal discharge, fevers, and difficulty breathing. Viruses involved in causing respiratory disease include PRRS, SIV, and Circovirus. Bacteria involved include Mycoplasma, Haemophilus parasuis, Pasteurella multoc... [More]

Posted by Dr. Reed Leiting on June 16 2004 09:15

Swine Newsletter 1st Quarter 2004 From a swine ingredient standpoint in the upper Midwest, we live in a corn and soybean meal world. At times we have the opportunity to include other sources of energy and protein (amino acids) when they are cost effective. We have some alternative feedstuffs that need to be considered at this time. Dried Distillers Grains with Soluables (DDGS) The price of DDGS has moved around in recent months. In the summer and fall months of 2003 the price of DDGS was ve... [More]

Posted by Administrator on June 16 2004 09:08

Newsletter 2004 The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Minor Use and Minors Species (MUMS) Animal Health Act on July 20, providing small ruminant and other veterinarians more options for treating minor species and uncommon conditions. Mississippi Congressman Chip Pickering championed the House version of a companion bill that passed in the Senate earlier this spring. President Bush signed the legislation into law on Aug. 2. The MUMS Act will provide companies the opportunity to develop... [More]

Posted by Administrator on June 16 2004 08:58

Ovine Newsletter 3rd Quarter 2004 White Muscle Disease Is caused by a deficiency in vitamin E and/or selenium. This usually effects rapidly growing lambs. The are usually three presentations: Bright, alert, weak/down in hind limbs, Tremble if forced to walk Sudden death Increased incidence of infectious disease (esp. pneumonia) Treatment is focused around getting vitamin E and selenium into the affected lambs, initially with an injection and then by supplementing it in diet. Urolit... [More]

Posted by Administrator on June 16 2004 08:52

Ovine Newsletter 2nd Quarter 2004 Short pasture conditions are favorable for more severe internal parasite infestations because more larvae are normally found on the lower parts of the plants near the soil surface. This makes sheep more prone to problems because they are short grazers. This free-living stage of the life cycle of these internal parasites can vary from several weeks during cooler months to only a few days in the warmer months. Extreme temperature will affect the development or s... [More]

Posted by Administrator on June 16 2004 08:41

Ovine Newsletter 1st Quarter 2004 Orphan lambs often can be seen at one or two weeks of age by their thin condition and dirty faces due to them robbing small amounts of milk from other ewes. It is recommended that the strongest lamb be weaned and the weakest lamb(s) left on the ewe. A higher survival rate and better performance is seen when this method is used. However, if the weak lamb left on the ewe dies, another graft should be made. Some lambs will not adapt to a nipple as well as others... [More]

Posted by Dr. Cory Reng on June 16 2004 08:16

Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) Many of you have heard about the hot topic causing loads of controversy in the American Quarter Horse Association. Many quarter horse owners remain blissfully ignorant of a fight that could potentially rock the AQHA to its core. Many people are very vocal of their opinion and taking up the fight, and many are standing quietly on the sidelines withholding comment until a decision is made. I think regardless of the final outcome, the debate about HYPP will... [More]

Posted by Dr. Cory Reng on June 15 2004 16:40

Equine Newsletter 3rd Quarter 2004 Q: What is floating? A: Floating involves using a set of special files to remove the sharp points on horse teeth. Q: Why do points form? A: Unlike human teeth, horse teeth grow continuously. As the horse chews, the teeth grind on the opposing teeth. Due to the offset nature of a horses jaw, the teeth wear in a way that leaves points on the outside of the upper teeth and the inside of the lower teeth. Q: How can you tell if your horses teeth need to be fl... [More]

Posted by Dr. Cory Reng on June 15 2004 15:38

Equine Newsletter 1st Quarter 2004 These (H/H) horses will pass the trait on to 100% of their offspring. While the genetic test does a good job determining whether or not your horse will pass HYPP on to offspring, it does not predict how severe symptoms may be. For example, a (N/H) horse may die of an HYPP attack while a (H/H) horse may never have severe symptoms, especially if managed correctly. Managing HYPP horses has become something of an art form, especially since many of the top horse... [More]