Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 16 2005 10:02

Dairy Newsletter 2nd Quarter 2005 Special Considerations for First Calf Heifers One challenge that every dairy farm deals with on a regular basis is bringing first lactation heifers into the herd. These heifers bring their own set of potential and challenges and every farm should have a plan in place on how to maximize the potential of these animals so they do not get culled out of the herd during the first lactation. This article is going to look at several areas of the dairy operation wher... [More]

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 16 2005 09:52

Beef Newsletter 2nd Quarter 2005 What causes calf scours? As new calves arrive, so does the threat of the common condition known as "calf scours". Infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa can cause this condition. These agents have the common property of causing loss of water and electrolytes from the calf's body through the intestine. This causes potentially life-threatening dehydration and electrolyte imbalances that can result in death. The main infectious organisms that ... [More]

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 08:41

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 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]

Posted by Dr. Steve Dudley on June 15 2004 15:18

Dairy Calf Newsletter 4th Quarter 2004 Dairy calf pneumonia can be a costly disease. Morbidity can reach 100% and mortality up to 20%. Pneumonia can affect any age of cattle, but calves are more susceptible because of their immature immune system. Calf pneumonia is caused by infectious agents but environment, management, and the immune status of the calf can all contribute to the development of the disease. The bacteria that generally are associated with pneumonia include Pasteurella multoci... [More]