Protein Producers Spring 2022

PROTEIN producers

TM

2022 Volume 10 Issue 1

EDITORIAL TEAM: Brandi Bain, Andrea Dietel, Darcy Howard, Lisa Taylor

SPONSORS Thank you to all sponsors for supporting PAC & Protein Producers.

Animal Health International Bimeda, Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Daniels Manufacturing Co. DOCTalk Huvepharma Inc. Lallemand Animal Nutrition Merck Animal Health Micro Technologies Neogen Newport Laboratories Norbrook Zinpro Corporation Zoetis

FRONT COVER PHOTO CREDIT Thank you to Klaire Jorgensen for the photo from Jorgensen Farms in Exeter, Nebraska.

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Crook, Colorado

Photo Credit: Chelsea Deering

We want to showcase unique photographs from our readers here!

Please submit your photographs to protein.producers@ pacdvms.com.

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WELCOME Welcome to Protein Producers! The end of one year and the beginning of another allows us to reflect on our happenings but also look towards the start of a new chapter in the beef industry. As we look forward to 2022, we also want to remember the loved ones lost and count the so many blessings granted to us in 2021. This magazine is about being a part of a special family dedicated to producing food for mankind. Raising animals for food is a privilege afforded to very few people in this world today. We at Production Animal Consultation consider it a humbling honor to work with you in this journey.

All food animal industries are different, but they share the core values. Our three non-negotiable core values are safety of our people, animal health and welfare, and food safety for our consumers. Human safety starts with great mentoring, teaching, and care. We need to understand how to work with animals, equipment, housing systems, rolling stock, and so much more. We must understand with the increased pressure on the labor market, we will have to attract people that have never been on a farm but are willing to learn and work hard. We welcome all that want to be a part of our industry to our farms, feedlots, and ranches. It will take open minds and intense training programs to keep people safe while taking care of our stock and producing our food.

Animal health and welfare are core to supply chain sustainability. There are two reasons why animals get sick: an overwhelming dose of a pathogen or a suppressed immune system. We must manage animal stress through handling, proper horsemanship, feeding practices, shelter, shade, and so much more. We are seeing more and more beef on dairy crossbred animals coming into our facilities. These animals act differently, feed differently, and present stress or sickness differently than conventional beef cattle we receive in feedlots. What an exciting opportunity! Digestive disease in feedlot cattle represents an incredible opportunity to improve health and well-being on the back end of the feeding period as respiratory disease presents during the starter phase. Every day these animals are entrusted to our care is another opportunity to learn and move the needle on animal health.

Back on the ranch, stress management for our cows, calves, and bulls is central to adequate reproductive efficiency, performance, and health. Gathering animals done correctly does not elevate stress markers in cattle.

But done incorrectly, gathering can increase the number of open cows and the number of sick calves. We have to take care of our bulls to be sure they are sound to breed cows while also developing a thorough checklist for the cows and calves prior to summer turnout. Once on the pasture, our management does not stop as we need to prevent stress and improve biosecurity against diseases such as pinkeye, anaplasmosis, and so many more.

We are blessed to produce food for our neighbors and live in rural America. Each day veterinarians, producers, packers, and retailers are partnering to make sure the food we produce is safe, wholesome, and nutritious. We sit down to the table to eat great beef recipes like the filet recipe shared THANK YOU this issue, and we always give thanks to our We want to thank the industry partners, publications, and Lord for another meal and another day. associations who have pro vided content to Protein Thank you to all for allowing PAC profesProducers. Also, a big thank you to our readers for sup sionals to work with you every day. porting us, offering content, and helping us improve each We hope you enjoy this issue, and here’s issue. We could not do any of this without all of you! to a safe and healthy 2022!

Dan Thomson, PhD, DVM Production Animal Consultation

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and information expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect Production Animal Consultation's policy or position.

contents SPRING 2022 10

6 Welcome Dan Thomson, PhD, DVM

19 PAC Member Highlight: Ben Osborne, DVM

62

20

Parable: The Photograph

68 Newest PAC Members Chuckles from Down Under

81 Risa entre dientes desde Oz

❙ ANIMAL STEWARDSHIP

82

10

The Pot Roast: Pan-seared Filet Mignon with Wine and Mustard Sauce

Consistent Routines with Our Horses

84

Effects of Cattle Stress Management on Health and Performance

14

PAC Member Highlight: Joseph Connor, DVM

❙ COW-CALF

20 Secrets to Achieving Tighter Calving Windows

26 Gathering of Cattle 8

contents

30 Living the Dream – Productive Cows and Happy Calves

36

54

Pinkeye in Beef Cattle

40 Breeding Soundness Examination

❙ EQUINE

44

62

Equine Podiatry for Bovine Protein Production

❙ FEEDLOT

❙ LEADERSHIP

54 BeefxDairy Calves: What Exactly is Going On?

48 Handling an Employee Who is Not Meeting Expectations

58 Five Points of Animal Health Evaluation: Digestive Health

❙ EN ESPAÑOL

70 44

– administracîon de animales

Efectos del Manejo del Estrés del Ganado en la Salud y el Rendimiento

74

– vaca-becerro

Conjuntivitis en Ganado de Carne

78 48

– corrales de engorda

Cinco Puntos de la Evaluación de Salud Animal: Salud Digestiva spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

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CONSISTENT ROUTINES WITH OUR HORSES

By Ted Howard, Ted Howard Stockmanship, Production Animal Consultation

I

recently returned from a week in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I enjoyed roping in the World Series of Team Roping event. While in Las Vegas, I enjoyed watching all the horses compete at very high levels, whether in the amateur team roping or in the NFR. What came to mind was the consistency in behavior of the most successful horses.

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To achieve consistent behavior in our horses, we must have consistent routines with our horses. I want a horse to be willing to meet me at the gate each morning. When a horse is willing to meet you, he is confident in what is expected of him in the day’s work.

The first step in my routine is to examine my horse. I make sure he has all four horseshoes and no cuts or abrasions. A curry comb and brush are used to clean him off, and then I run my hands down his withers, back, and cinch area to ensure there are no sore spots. A horse will flinch when you run your hand over a sore spot.

The second step is to examine my saddle blanket/ pads to make sure they are clean and free of any debris.

I use just enough blanket/pads to keep my saddle gullet from touching my horse’s withers. I then check my cinches for cleanliness, weak strings, and worn areas.

Tighten the front cinch just enough to keep the saddle from slipping until you are ready to mount, then tighten just enough to ride a short distance. The back cinch should only be barely touching your horse’s belly. After I ride off a little way, I will dismount and then tighten the front cinch slightly more as my horse has relaxed. I want my saddle just tight enough that it does not roll across my horse’s withers.

How I enter a feedlot pen is the third step in a consistent routine. Always open the gate the easiest way possible for your horse so he does not have to struggle.

Try to never back a horse through a gate when the ground conditions are muddy. This is a good way to cripple or have your horse pull a stifle. Look over the pen when the ground conditions are challenging to determine the best 12 animal stewardship

route for your horse that still allows you to see each animal in the pen.

The fourth step in my consistent routine is at the end of the day. I curry my horse and wash his legs, especially in the winter with dried mud. I will wash my entire horse in the heat of the summer. The last thing we do at night will be the first thing they look for in the morning.

Scolding our horse is our fault for allowing him to make the mistake. We have to help our horse through repetition of our expectations. Do not scold your horse; just continue on and ask him again and through proper horsemanship help him to not make the same mistake. Riding a confident horse will allow us to take sick cattle to the gate easier as well as our other horseback duties like shipping and pen moves. Repetition in our routines helps establish this confidence in our horse.

Even though I enjoyed some time in Las Vegas, I did not win enough money in the arena or at the poker table to retire, so I will be seeing you at a feedyard, ranch, or clinic in 2022!

Ted Howard’s life has always revolved around the horse. He holds a deep respect for the horse and has always made his living with one.

Twelve years riding pens allowed him to recognize the importance of the horse in relationship to handling cattle. Ted has owned a horse shoeing and training business and currently owns and operates a cow/calf operation. Running cattle on grass and in stock fields allows him to use stockmanship principles in an environment different from the feedyard. In 2013, Ted was offered the opportunity to consult with Production Animal Consultation’s Animal Stewardship division. By specializing in horsemanship, Ted can help others utilize the horse to become better stockmen in the feedyard industry.

EFFECTS OF CATTLE STRESS MANAGEMENT ON HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE

By Tom Noffsinger, DVM, Production Animal Consultation

C

attle stressors can be defined as any stimuli that activate the base of the brain (HPA axis) and the sympathetic nervous system to deal with a perceived threat. Stressors can be classified as physical/physiological or psychological. Examples of physiological stressors include dehydration, malnutrition, trace mineral deficiencies, weather, transport, pathogens, and pain. Examples of psychological stressors include confinement, relocation, social disruption, unfamiliar environments, transport, and predator threats.

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Teach cattle to move as a family and be willing to walk by handlers and travel straight to the bunk or tank. Realize that herds are comprised of individual animals.

Prey animals including cattle are blessed with two defense systems to respond to threats real or perceived.

The primary defense system is to first respond to external threats originating from the environment or from caregiver activities. The brain’s response to cattle anxiety is to ask the adrenal glands to release stress hormones like cortisol, adrenalin, and epinephrine to enhance animal flight and defense. These hormones enhance survival by improving flight and masking signs of lameness, injury, or disease so predators fail to select weak members of the herd. Herd behaviors that indicate anxiety include panic motion, vocalization, lack of water intake, and crowding into corners of a pen.

Although hormones released during periods of anxiety and confusion enhance external defense mechanisms, secondary internal defense mechanisms suffer.

These defense stress hormones are very immunosuppressive and increase disease susceptibility, especially to the BRD complex. The presence of cortisol inhibits white blood cell function by inhibiting antigen detection and protective antibody production. The presence of stress hormones is a powerful signal to the existing resident gram-negative bacteria population including Mannheimia and Histophilus to colonize in the lung leading to devastating pneumonia lesions. Relocation 16 animal stewardship

stress can lower disease resistance and contribute to morbidity and mortality.

Beef production managers need to focus caregiver activities on shifting brain-induced hormone production of cortisol to production of health hormones like serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and norepinephrine.

These activities should include every step of cattle movement and need to result in rehydration, nutrition, rest, and cattle confidence soon after arrival. Keys to success include understanding the creation of voluntary cattle flow. “Reading” cattle and working from the front of the herd so cattle can see their source of guidance simultaneously with their destination is a requirement for cattle to perceive to belong where we intend. Greeting arrival cattle during unloading and learning to “lead” new arrivals to their new home reduces cattle anxiety and enhances acclimation activities.

Proper receiving pen management includes pen surface sanitation, palatable forage availability in the bunk, bedding near bunk aprons, and adequate, clean water availability. Bedding is a powerful message to tired arrivals that their destination is an improvement over their previous home. An important measure of cattle confidence in their new home is willingness to drink with purpose. Dream about flow meters in receival

tanks to monitor water intake just like we measure dry matter intakes.

Consider delaying arrival processing until cattle are full of water, nutrition, rest, and confidence. Spend a few minutes with new cattle creating counterclockwise herd movement completely around the pen. Teach cattle to move as a family and be willing to walk by handlers and travel straight to the bunk or tank. Realize that herds are comprised of individual animals. Degrees of stress are determined by previous experiences, genetics, and sensory inputs. What upsets a sentinel animal may not be noticed by a herd mate. Watch for sensitive individual cattle that deserve special care. Inviting timid, sensitive cattle to travel in an orderly fashion to the bunk or tank will encourage the rest of the herd. Three simple cattle behaviors signal the presence of reduced cortisol and an increase in dopamine and serotonin hormone levels.

These behaviors include REM sleep, active cud chewing, and willingness to pass by handlers with trust, exuberance, and play. Learning to create these behaviors soon after arrival is an exciting opportunity to reduce disease, improve health, and enhance cattle well-being.

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Dr. Tom Noffsinger is a founding partner of Production Animal Consultation and an expert in low-stress animal handling and staff development. He received his DVM from Colorado State University and completed the Beef Production Management Series at the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center.

He is a member of American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Academy of Veterinary Consultants, American Veterinary Medical Association, and Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Tom has received multiple honors, including the 2001 AVC Consultant of the Year, the 1999 NVMA Distinguished Service Award, and the 2008 AABP Merial Preventative Medicine Award for Beef. He and his wife Diane reside on their ranch outside beautiful Benkelman, Nebraska.

This article has been translated to Spanish on page 70.

PAC MEMBER HIGHLIGHT•••••••••

BEN OSBORNE, DVM Uinta Veterinary Hospital, Fort Bridger, Wyoming Castle Rock Veterinary Hospital, Green River, Wyoming

The Bridger Valley area of southwest Wyoming is located north of the Uinta Mountain range, part of the Rocky Mountains. With high elevation (6,800 feet at the valley floor), rugged geography, and cold, harsh, and windy weather, agriculture opportunities in the Valley are limited to growing wild native grass and English and Continental breeds of beef cattle. The Valley is home to four communities – Fort Bridger, Mountain View, Lyman, and Robertson – all served by Dr. Ben Osborne and his colleagues at Uinta Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Osborne shared, “We are very rural; the total population of the valley is just over 4,000 between the 4 towns. This geography, climate, and isolation has created a unique community of tough, independent individuals, a community our family is proud to call home.”

Dr. Osborne has been practicing at Uinta Veterinary Hospital since 2010 and loves the daily challenges presented with a rural mixed animal practice and the mental and physical gymnastics involved in helping whatever walks through the door. Over the years, he has channeled his passion to develop a program with local ranchers called the Uinta Veterinary Hospital Comprehensive Herd Health Program. The program is a consultation and service-based program where the hospital provides all herd services, data collection and analysis, and herd marketing.

Dr. Osborne joined Production Animal Consultation as an opportunity to further himself, his associates, and the practices. His drive for constant self-improvement and continual learning were inspired by his mentor, Dr. Robert Taylor.

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SECRETS TO ACHIEVING TIGHTER CALVING WINDOWS

By Todd R. Bilby, Ph.D., Director of Dairy Technical Services, Merck Animal Health

T

here is nothing more satisfying to a cattle producer than a pasture full of cows, all with uniformly sized calves by their sides.

But a consistent calf crop is not just eye-appealing – it also leads to economic advantages at weaning time and beyond.

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Achieving a tighter calving window with bull breeding

One secret to achieving uniform calves is maximizing the number of pregnancies early in the breeding season. Producers can gain profit potential by striving for tighter calving windows. The key to success is getting the majority of cows and heifers bred early in the breeding period.

Advantages of earlier calving Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) found key performance advantages for calves born during the first three weeks of the calving season. Earlier born calves not only have higher weaning weights and more value at market time, heifers born earlier have higher reproductive performance when they reach breeding age themselves.1 UNL researchers studied calving records over 10 years from the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory in Whitman, Nebraska. Records analyses found these advantages for calves born during the first 21-day period, compared with calves born later: •

Calves born in the first 21 days were 75 pounds heavier at weaning compared to calves born in the last 21 days of the calving season.

•

Earlier-born steer calves had higher carcass weights, marbling scores, and yield grades at harvest – adding up to higher overall carcass value.

•

As mature cows, heifers born earlier weaned heavier calves and had greater longevity in the herd.

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Estrus synchronization is a useful tool for producers looking to calve earlier, tighten calving windows, and produce higher value, more consistent calves. Although many cattle producers connect estrus synchronization with artificial insemination (AI) breeding, research demonstrates the benefits of using synchronization programs with natural service breeding as well.

In a second study at UNL, researchers compared calves born during non-synchronized, 60-day breeding seasons with calves born during a shorter, 45-day calving season achieved using estrus synchronization.

To synchronize estrus, cows received a single injection of prostaglandin administered 108 hours after mixed-age bulls were turned in. Control cows were not synchronized.2 Results showed that estrus synchronization with prostaglandin increased the number of cows giving birth early in the calving season. Here are key research findings: •

Seventy-three percent (73%) of synchronized cows calved during the first 21 days, compared with 61% of unsynchronized cows.

•

Calves born to synchronized dams were 20 pounds heavier at weaning.

•

Calves born in the first three weeks of the calving season recorded higher carcass performance, with greater carcass weights, marbling scores, and yield grades than calves born later.

•

Overall, calves born to dams given prostaglandin were worth $77 more in carcass value.

Synchronization timing matters When using estrus synchronization with natural service, the ideal time to give prostaglandin is four to five days after turnout with the bulls. That is because the corpus luteum (CL) is more responsive to prostaglandin by day five to six of the 21-day estrus cycle. Cows that show heat in the first five days of their cycle will not respond to the prostaglandin, but bulls often catch these cows in heat regardless. And a prostaglandin shot will do no harm.

To achieve the best response from prostaglandin, cattle must be cycling at the time of the shot. By giving prostaglandin at day five after turnout, 75% of cycling cows will likely respond and be bred by the bull in the following two to five days. The best approach is to run

all cows through the chute to administer prostaglandin at day five.

Due to labor or facility limitations, this protocol may not be practical on every cow-calf operation. In such situations, an alternative is giving one shot of prostaglandin when you turn cows out with the bulls. This “Plan B” protocol will induce more cows to show heats sooner and facilitate a tighter breeding window than breeding with no synchronization.

Management steps for reproductive success

Vaccinations for cows and heifers should focus on optimizing conception and preventing embryo loss.

•

Breeding soundness. To ensure your bulls are highly fertile, ask your veterinarian to conduct breeding soundness examinations (BSE) within 60 days of the start of the breeding season. Early testing allows ample time to purchase replacement bulls if necessary.

•

Stocking rate. Plan for an adequate number of bulls to ensure a short breeding window. The industry-recommended standard of 1:25 bull-tofemale ratio is sufficient when using a one-dose prostaglandin protocol for synchronization. More bull power may be needed if using younger, inexperienced bulls.

•

Adequate nutrition. Heifers and cows need good body condition to conceive and carry a calf successfully. Provide good nutrition, including mineral supplements, based on your nutritionist’s recommendations.

Many management factors can impact the success of reproductive programs, with or without estrus synchronization programs. Keep these steps in mind as you plan for the breeding season: •

Vaccination. Work with your veterinarian to develop a vaccination program that protects heifers, cows, and bulls against the reproductive diseases that are prevalent in your area. Implement yearly vaccinations against diseases such as BVD, BRSV, IBR, PI3, leptospirosis, and vibrio.

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•

•

Parasite management. It is ideal to deworm animals after they come off pasture in the fall.

Keeping pregnant animals free from internal parasites during the winter helps them maintain body condition and maximize nutrients for fetal development. Administer a dewormer again in the spring. Consider a Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT) to measure effectiveness of parasite control.

Accurate recordkeeping. Keeping accurate records can help you measure reproductive success, evaluate the value of your management tools, and make culling decisions based on cow fertility. Examples of reproductive goals include: – Greater than 90% of females in heat during the first 21 days of the breeding season.

– Seventy percent (70%) conceive on first breeding.

– Less than 5% difficulty calving.

– More than 90% of bred cows successfully wean a calf.

Investing time and resources to tighten the calving window is beneficial, regardless of size of operation or breed of cows. Consult your veterinarian for assistance in developing a successful breeding program that fits your needs. Another useful resource is the Beef Reproduction Task Force website at BeefRepro.org.

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References __________________

1 Funston RN, Musgrave JA, Meyer TL, Larson DM. Effect of calving distribution on beef cattle progeny performance.

J. Ani. Sci. 2012; 90:5118-5121.

2 Larson DM, Musgrave JA, Funston RN. Estrus synchronization increases early calving frequency, which enhances steer progeny value. Nebraska Beef Report.

2010; 14-16.

Based in Texas, Todd Bilby, Ph.D., leads a fieldbased, customer-focused technical services team at Merck Animal Health.

He holds a doctorate in reproductive physiology from University of Florida, Master’s degree in reproductive physiology from the University of Arkansas, and a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University.

Before joining Merck Animal Health in 2013, Dr. Bilby was associate professor and dairy extension specialist at Texas A&M University.

GATHERING OF CATTLE

By Kip L. Lukasiewicz, DVM, Production Animal Consultation

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athering of cattle is the art of going to a pasture or pen and bringing individual cattle or pairs together back into a herd to prepare for moving to a new destination. That destination may be a new pasture, new pen, or simply coming into a corral for annual or routine processing for vaccinations and health prevention strategies to improve immune function and protection of the herd. How we prepare and collect the individuals to bring them back into the herd is imperative to how they respond to their new environment or vaccinations they will receive.

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In this article, I will go into the purpose, method, and expected results and then follow up with a short discussion of gathering cattle or pairs in the ranch or feedlot environment.

Purpose

On some ranches, they move pairs to a new pasture post calving or move them for general processing at about 8-12 weeks of age for the new calf. When we go to gather these pairs, it is essential that we go with a plan of pairing them up first.

When we go to gather cattle, we are intent on moving the animals to a new destination that may be permanent, or for a short 1-2 hour stay and then back again to a home pen or pasture. One reason for moving pairs is to take them to new or fresh grass that is prime for grazing. Depending on the grazing strategy, some rotationally graze with fences and have to move their cattle every 1-3 days, others may move them every 30 days, and some may move them every 5 months.

In the feedlot scenario, we may be moving the cattle to a new pen to make room for new cattle additions to the yard. In some cases, we may be gathering cattle to simply process and provide vaccinations and/or deworming protocols to the cattle for preventative herd health events.

No matter the reason for gathering, it is important that the caregiver knows the reasons and purpose for the movement and that how they conduct this event will have some lasting impact on the animals they are

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moving in a positive or negative way depending on the method used. Therefore, it is important that we strategize and know how we are going to handle the cattle and have a plan for the time we start, where we are moving them, and how we settle the cattle at the end of the process.

Method

I would like to start with the cow-calf scenario as this is the first time calves will be handled, moved, and asked to pair up with their moms. If you are intent on tagging or placing identification on your calves when they are about 12 hours old, then understand that you are training the animal at that age to move, separate, and come back together with its mom for the very first time. This is the first day of weaning and preparation for all the events that animal is going to undertake in its life and how you handle this can make all the difference for future generations and shaping the herd’s disposition for life.

On some ranches, they move pairs to a new pasture post calving or move them for general processing at about 8-12 weeks of age for the new calf. When we go to gather these pairs, it is essential that we go with a plan of pairing them up first. To do this, we ride through the

herd and ask cows and calves to find each other, stand, stretch, and begin nursing. I would never ask the herd to move until I have gotten all of them up and then allowed enough time (30 minutes or more) to nurse and get a meal for the calf prior to moving. The reason this is important is that now the calf can move more comfortably and will have the energy needed to make the move with mom to the new destination. This also provides comfort to the mom as she knows where the calf is and can move with confidence as she is not searching for her lost calf.

Once you have allowed enough time for nursing, you can begin creating movement by asking individual pairs to move together. Understand the calf is typically slower than the adult, so moving and focusing on the calf is your primary goal and working to keep pairs together or in the same vicinity during the moving process is important. If you notice separation of the pairs as you move and the calves are falling to the back, you need to pull off the herd and allow time to pair back up or just slow down.

The main reason for separation is your speed of movement. Learn to take time as this will be faster in the end. The final goal of moving pairs is that you do not have 20 or more calves at the back of the herd without a mom and all animals have gone into the corral or new pasture gate except these 20 or so calves. The calves’ strongest instincts kick in when they feel they have lost their mothers. That instinct is to return where they came from. A lost calf will always go back to where it felt it was safe and it is difficult to change its mind. Therefore, the goal of moving pairs is to end with a cow-calf pair at the very end and all animals paired up or in some order of pairs so that the calf has comfort and the cow has comfort once they enter the new corral or pasture.

Once to their new pasture, you will want to settle the herd. Take them to a place in the pasture, preferably where the water source is, and fall off the herd or remove the pressure of movement and allow the pairs to find each other, find the water or fresh grass, begin to drink and eat, and simply settle. Today, we think we need fences to stop the herd or to provide organization but in reality, we need a presence. We need to be the shepherd and learn to guide, lead, and create organization and yet freedom so that the herd is always in a better place, and we always need to do this in a form of giving and receiving.

Results and Discussion The end results of our methods should be a calm, collected herd oozing with confidence and wanting to

graze and hydrate themselves with no fear of their new environment. There is always a level of stress no matter if you are a prey or predatory animal. Stress of not having enough nutrition or hydration is on their minds always.

Stress of losing protection or being alone can be consuming. Understand that your presence at the end makes a big difference. Settling cattle to their new environment is essential to reducing that stress. An understanding of the purpose and method used in gathering and a knowing of what you want your final result to look like are equally important.

We do all of this to ensure that we keep the herd safe and healthy, and if our purpose is to vaccinate, then we want to the herd to be in a mindset of confidence and not of worry. We want our actions to be of positive leadership and not in a fighting mode. Know that your attitude bleeds to the cattle. Your actions depict how the day is going to turn out. Gathering cattle should not be a chore; it should be a positive adventure that we all look forward to. It should be you and your animals enjoying nature and all the great things that are out there. I realize that Mother Nature sometimes throws a zinger in there and conditions can be harsh when gathering has to occur. Do not let that impact your results. Remember your attitude, leadership, and guidance will make all the difference for what can be a positive or negative day.

It all starts with YOU!

Dr. Kip Lukasiewicz received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1999 from Kansas State University. He is the owner of Sandhills Cattle Consultants, Inc. and a partner with Production Animal Consultation, LLC. Dr. Kip’s primary focus is feedlot consulting, animal handling, and facility design. Dr. Kip trained under the late Bud Williams and has worked and trained extensively with Dr. Tom Noffsinger utilizing Bud’s thoughts on low-stress cattle handling and caregiving. Dr. Kip along with Dr. Tom works and trains with over 20% of the US fed cattle industry and also travels to Canada training feedlot clients on low-stress cattle handling and caregiving. Dr. Kip resides in Grand Island, Nebraska, with his wife and two children. He is an active member of the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association, and American Association of Bovine Practitioners. spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

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LIVING THE DREAM – PRODUCTIVE COWS AND HAPPY CALVES

By Richard Prather, DVM, Ellis County Animal Hospital, Production Animal Consultation

I

n the Fall 2021 issue of Protein Producers, Dr. Ray Stegeman provided the perspective of stewardship in what we do as caretakers of God’s creatures. Dr. Nels Lindberg emphasized the importance of people accomplishing our mission while here on earth. The origin of Dr. Ray’s and Dr. Nels’ wisdom can easily be followed in Genesis 2:19 when the Lord brought every living creature to Adam to see what he would call them. In that era of our history, Adam was destined to spend unlimited time enjoying the blessings of grazing livestock and we are told each animal was designed “to be fruitful and multiply”.

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If we continue to follow the history of the interaction of God with people and animals, we see one of the early concepts of genetics, DNA, and animal caretaking. Noah, along with his wife and family, followed precisely the designed plan for the first recorded animal husbandry equipment that would meet the needs of both his family and the animals during the great flood. The people and animals that heeded the call of the Creator and survived the storm carried with them the genetic DNA for understanding and appropriately responding to the impending elements of a challenged world.

Practical implementation of sound principles and lessons from the past improve the likelihood of successful reproduction and fruitful growth of a highly marketable calf. Jumping forward to today’s challenges in animal husbandry, Dr. Randall Spare described how strategically measuring Body Condition Score (BCS) during the annual management cycle of a cow herd benefits nutritional decisions and mitigates risk of challenging winter weather as well as the everchanging seasons of rain or drought. If today’s beef producers are to be sustainable, the cow-calf operation must be profitable as well as enjoyable. In today’s discussion, we will elaborate further to combine the science and animal husbandry tools made available to us by astute animal caretakers.

Body Condition Score at Calving (BCS) The critical factors that determine when a cow will cycle for rebreeding after calving are: 32 cow-calf

•

day of calving relative to calving season length

•

Body Condition Score at calving

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milk producing ability

•

nutritional status

Each of these factors have a built-in cost. Kansas State University and the Kansas Farm Management Association data show that 60% of the annual cow-calf profit is affected by cost and 40% of the profit is determined by revenue.1 To optimize the cost/revenue equation, cowcalf producers must find balance between feeding enough to achieve adequate breed back after calving while being careful not to consume too much of the revenue of weaned pounds sold. The nutritional requirements from calving until early in pregnancy is the most expensive portion of the annual cow cycle in terms of dollars that need to be spent for both energy and protein. The number of days from calving to first breeding is largely determined by the BCS of the cow on the day she calves as well as her ability to produce milk. Cows have an average 283-day length of pregnancy, which leaves 82 days to become pregnant again and continue to calve once every 12 months. The uterus requires a few weeks to recover after calving before the cow is capable of cycling or successfully becoming pregnant during bull exposure. Cows are only receptive to the bull once every 21 days, leaving roughly 2-3 opportunities to become pregnant and maintain one calving per year. A thin cow, calving with a BCS of 4 or less, will take longer to rebreed and likely miss these critical opportunities. Ideally, to breed and stay in sync with the calendar, the breeding cow herd manager should attempt to target an average BCS of 5 or slightly greater at calving. As Dr. Spare discussed, to keep cows from falling behind or culled as open, intentional monitoring of BCS can help mitigate this risk.

Forage management, feed supplementation, and strict commodity cost control are key management tasks required for the operation to remain profitable. A frequently overlooked method of managing the high cost of feed is matching the cow to her environment and selecting replacement offspring from successful cows.

Simply put, a 1,600 lb. cow producing 30 lbs. of milk per day grazing the tall grass of southern Missouri is not as likely to succeed in a harsher environment of the Texas

panhandle as would a cow weighing 1,200 lbs. and producing 20 lbs. of milk per day grazing little bluestem and grama. The bottom line is to find balance in managing BCS at calving while keeping feed cost under control.

Utilizing Technology to Increase Pounds Marketed – Front Loading the Breeding (Calving) Season Pounds of offspring sold is the largest revenue stream for the cow-calf operation. The single most important influence on pounds weaned is days of age. Technologies available to maximize pounds weaned include use of natural service sires with synchronized estrus, artificial insemination (A.I.), and implanting. University of Nebraska Extension researchers demonstrated that turning bulls out on day 0, followed by a single dose of prostaglandin on day 5, shortened the breeding and subsequent calving season from 60 to 45 days and numerically increased weaning weights.2 NAHMS data show A.I. to be highly underutilized in commercial beef cow-calf operations.3 Seedstock producers recognize the benefits of A.I. and have made tremendous genetic

progress in far less time than would have been required by natural service. With the development of new products and the improved estrus synchronization protocols over the past several years, commercial cowcalf producers are now successfully utilizing fixed-timed artificial insemination (FTAI) for improved genetics and profit at the market. With existing facilities and labor, FTAI can be conducted at the same or less cost per pregnant cow as natural service. Producers may choose to utilize the benefits afforded by the technology of implanting without any additional labor or facility modifications. Implanting nursing calves that are at least 30 days of age has been shown to increase weaning weight by as much as 32 lb. in an independent multiphase study involving multiple university extension researchers.4 Commercial herds that have adopted both FTAI and implants have improved weight per day of age from 2.9 lbs. weight per day of age to 4.7 lbs. weight per day of age at weaning.5

Sire in the Equation Producers with an intentional effort to front load the

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calving season are diligent in their efforts to ensure proper fertility of the pasture sires. If the cow herd nutrition has been appropriately addressed, a fertile sire should be able to settle approximately 2 out of every 3 coverings for an anticipated 65% or greater first service conception rate, with 85% of the cows pregnant by the end of the second 21-day breeding cycle. Sires that have a semen morphology analysis with >70% normal sperm are necessary to achieve adequate front loaded calvings.

Numerous complications can arise in any given year such as the tremendous cold weather surge experienced over a large part of the country in early 2021. Therefore, annual bull breeding soundness evaluations are necessary prior to each breeding season and will be discussed in further detail in this issue.

Calf Health and Production Regardless of the technologies applied after calving to improve weaning weight, nutrition remains the top priority in the breeding female to maintain milk production, become pregnant again, and provide adequate nutrients to her calf prior to processing and vaccination at branding. For vaccination to have its expected outcome, the calf must be on an adequate plane of nutrition. Vaccination with the expected result of improved resistance to disease challenge is largely affected by the length of the calving season. Colostrum that is consumed appropriately at birth aides in disease protection for various diseases for a period of weeks to months after calving but also creates some challenges in timing for vaccinating the calf. A shorter breeding season will obviously shorten the subsequent calving season which results in less age difference between the youngest and oldest calf at first vaccination. When the calves are more similar in age, the maturity of the immune system of the calf group is similar and the interference from maternal colostrum is less impactful in developing good health after vaccination. Recent research has shown that certain aspects of the calf immune system can adequately respond to vaccination even when the protective effects of the cow colostrum are still present.6 Vaccination against respiratory disease at branding has been shown to improve the booster response to vaccines administered at weaning.6 Springtime after calving is my favorite time of year.

I am convinced the Lord has a sense of humor as He watches the young calves darting through the pasture with their tail up, bucking and kicking as they 34 cow-calf

enjoy life. Here in Ellis County, Oklahoma, we are just doing the best we can not to mess up what He has so wonderfully made.

Resources __________________

1. Pendell, D & Herbel, K. Differences Between High-, Medium-, and Low-Profit Cow-Calf Producers: An Analysis of 2016-2020 Kansas Farm Management Association Cow-Calf Enterprise. Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics Extension Publication, December 1, 2021.

2. Larson, D, Musgrave, JA, & Funston, RN. Effect of Estrus Synchronization with a Single Injection of Prostaglandin During Natural Service Mating. University of Nebraska – Lincoln Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports, 1-1-2009.

3. National Animal Health Monitoring System. Beef 2017: Beef Cow-calf Management Practices in the United States, 2017. May 2020.

4. Webb, MJ, et al. Cattle and Carcass Performance, and Life Cycle Assessment of Production Systems Utilizing Additive Combinations of Growth Promotant Technologies. Translational Animal Science, 2020 Nov 21; 4(4).

5. Internal data, Ellis County Animal Hospital.

6. Kirkpatrick, JG, et al. Effect of Age at the Time of Vaccination on Antibody Titers and Feedlot Performance in Beef Calves. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 2008 Jul 1; 233(1).

Richard and Angie Prather received their DVM degrees from Oklahoma State University in 1986 and 1987.

After joining Dr. John Kirkpatrick in mixed animal practice in Shattuck, Oklahoma, they became coowners of Ellis County Animal Hospital in 1990.

Dr. Richard has been involved in dairy and cow-calf practice with an emphasis on production medicine while Dr. Angie tended to small animal medicine and surgery. The Prathers have also been involved with improving cow-calf herd profitability as well as rabies prevention and public health in Zambia, Africa, since 1995. Together, they have hosted over 40 interns and preceptors as they strive to inspire the next generation to provide care and services that promote sustainable agricultural practices through science and evidencebased decisions.

PINKEYE IN BEEF CATTLE

By Dan Thomson, PhD, DVM, Production Animal Consultation

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inkeye is one of the most common diseases in cattle. Yet, it seems like it continues to happen and influence cattle around the globe every summer. Pinkeye is not a fatal disease in cattle, but it is extremely painful, and debilitating, depending on the severity of the case.

Driving through a pasture to find your best calf blind decreases our profits and can be demoralizing. Dr. Dan Upson at Kansas State University used to teach, “There are two reasons why animals get sick: 1) an overwhelming dose of a pathogen and 2) a suppressed immune system.”

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Pinkeye is no different than any other disease on a mucosal surface like pneumonia, mastitis, or scours. In this column, we will discuss causes, treatment, and prevention of pinkeye in beef cattle.

The pathogen most commonly associated with pinkeye in beef cattle is Moraxella bovis. This bacterium is cultured routinely in pinkeye cases along with some lesser known bacteria. The clinical signs of pinkeye start subtly. Calves will begin to have watery eyes and then start wincing or blinking around 4 to 5 days before actual pinkeye lesions appear. Pinkeye lesions are light colored areas in the very center of the eye surface. If left to progress, these lesions can cover the entire eye surface, cause severe swelling of the eye, and lead to ulceration.

Calves with severe pinkeye have severe sight impairment or blindness in the affected eye.

There are many theories to why M. bovis can set up and colonize on the eye surface which causes pinkeye

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lesions. Remember, overwhelming pathogen and/or suppressed immune system. The first line of immunity defense is the physical barrier of mucosal surface. Constant irritation of the cornea can create an abrasion that allows the bacteria a place to take hold on the eye surface. Constantly hitting the cornea of the eye with an irritant is similar to getting a blister on your thumb from constant rubbing or irritation. Irritants like seed heads, tall grass, severe pollen, and flies all can lead to irritation of the eyes. Gases, such as ammonia, in confinement facilities can cause irritation to the eye surface.

Once there is an abrasion, the bacteria can grab hold and colonize on the eye surface.

The second line of defense in the calf’s body is the internal immune response. Colostrum, calf nutrition (vitamins and minerals), and environmental conditions are all important to maintain to maximize the immune response and decrease stress in the calf or cow. A solid

Constantly hitting the cornea of the eye with an irritant is similar to getting a blister on your thumb from constant rubbing or irritation. Irritants like seed heads, tall grass, severe pollen, and flies all can lead to irritation of the eyes. Gases, such as ammonia, in confinement facilities can cause irritation to the eye surface. Once there is an abrasion, the bacteria can grab hold and colonize on the eye surface. herd health program including vaccinations is vital. The jury is still out on the efficacy of M. bovis vaccines to prevent pinkeye, but we do know that they are safe. Viral bovine pathogens can cause immunosuppression in the calf. Vaccinating for IBR, BVD, PI3, and BRSV are all important to overall health of the cattle, including pinkeye.

The key to treating pinkeye is to catch it early and treat early. There are many antibiotics on the market labeled for treating cattle for pinkeye. Work with your veterinarian on the right antibiotic for your herd.

Secondly, protecting the eye from UV light and from further irritation is important. The use of eye patches (commercial or Wrangler jean patches) is one option.

The other option has been to use absorbable suture to sew the eye lids shut for 10 to 14 days. But rest assured, the more severe the lesion is at the time of pinkeye treatment, the lower the chance for a positive case outcome.

Pinkeye prevention in your herd health program is the key. Pinkeye control starts at birth by making sure the calf gets colostrum. Next, work with your veterinarian to develop a vaccination program at branding prior to summer turnout for calves, cows, and bulls. After turnout, many producers prevent pinkeye by mowing improved pastures to keep seed heads and grass height down which lessens eye irritation. Fly control is also important for preventing pinkeye in cattle. The use of fly tags at the proper times is great in your fly control strategy on pastures. Lastly, proper vitamin and mineral nutrition for the cows to pass to the calves or for the calves to consume themselves is vital to a great pinkeye control program on your ranch.

Pinkeye is a non-lethal but terrible disease in beef cattle. Most times in pinkeye outbreaks, we change a lot

of management practices and use treatments. The problem goes away but we really do not know what we did to stop it. This is not different from other disease outbreaks in cattle. Once the disease hits, we care for the animals and they have to have the ability to heal themselves. The key is for every producer to be vigilant about pinkeye prevention and control as if it is going to happen every summer.

Dr. Dan U. Thomson is a third-generation bovine veterinarian from Clearfield, IA. Thomson is an owner/ partner in PAC veterinary and research services which oversees the veterinary care, health and well-being for 20% of the U.S. cattle of feed. He is recognized internationally as a leader in animal welfare, beef cattle production, and cattle health management.

Dr. Thomson’s research program has been granted over $35.3 million with $16.0 million of those funds coming with him as the primary investigator. Thomson is the founder and host of Doc Talk, a nationally aired beef cattle health veterinary show on television. He has hosted nearly 500 episodes of the show in its ninth season that reaches over 45 million homes world-wide. Dr. Dan is married to his wife Cindy. They have four daughters: Kelly, Katelyn, Tory, and Sarah. They enjoy basketball, fishing in southwest Iowa, and traveling together.

This article has been translated to Spanish on page 74. spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

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BREEDING SOUNDNESS EXAMINATION

By Gary Warner, DVM, Elgin Veterinary Hospital, Production Animal Consultation

I

f properly performed, breeding soundness examinations (BSE) of bulls may reduce risk to producers, improve bull utilization, and increase overall herd fertility. The examination is a uniform process to evaluate a bull’s ability to accomplish successful pregnancies in an appropriate number of healthy, cycling, and open females within a prescribed breeding season.

Bulls have an important economic impact on the cow herd. To have calves with heavier weaning weights, the bulls should get cows pregnant at the beginning of breeding season so their calves can drop early in the calving season. Under the best management conditions, 75-80% of cows bred during a natural service conceive on the first service with highly fertile bulls. A study conducted at the King Ranch evaluated the pregnancy rate of cows serviced naturally by bulls that had a complete BSE compared to cows serviced by a randomly selected group of bulls without a BSE. Cows serviced by bulls that passed a BSE had 5-6% higher pregnancy rates when compared to the herds serviced by bulls without a BSE. Another study conducted in Brazil found that using bulls that passed a full BSE improved calf production 31% and increased weaning weights by 50 pounds.

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Research has shown that one in eight to ten bulls are sub-fertile. This can cost the herd a 30% reduction in pregnancies that the sub-fertile bull serviced. In the unfortunate event that the sub-fertile bull is in the dominant position in the herd bull battery, the impact on the herd pregnancy rate could be even greater on ranches with a high-density stocking rate. Other studies have shown the sub-fertile male to cost a producer as much as 4,000 pounds of live calf crop per 35 cows for the production year.

The breeding soundness examination was the result of decades-long research and collaboration by members of the Society of Theriogenology as well as others in the veterinary and animal science communities. The exam is intended to determine the reproductive fitness of bulls.

Bulls must pass a physical exam, reproductive organ exam, and semen analysis.

The physical exam pays particular attention to hooves/legs, eyes, oral cavity, body condition, and ensuring that there is no overt evidence of disease. After gross physical examination, the veterinarian will evaluate the underline, particularly the sheath, prepuce, and scrotum. The testicles and associated structures are palpated to appreciate symmetry and consistency. Each teste should feel similar to an orange with the rind on.

Scrotal circumference is measured and is especially important when evaluating yearling bulls. At a minimum, the scrotal circumference should be 30 centimeters by 14 months of age and 34 centimeters at 24 months of age. Several studies indicate that a larger scrotal circumference in yearling bulls leads to improved semen quality and early fertility in that bull’s progeny. However, mature bulls with an excessively large scrotal circumference (48 centimeters or greater) may be at an increased risk of trauma during ambulation.

Next, secondary reproductive structures are evaluated

Scrotal circumference properly performed. Notice tension applied to the tape.

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Rectal examination of internal genitalia is an important portion of the complete BSE.

during rectal examination. These include the seminal vesicles, ampullae, prostate, and inguinal rings. The seminal vesicles of young bulls are prone to developing infections that spontaneously resolve. Mature bulls can also have an infection of the seminal vesicle but the frequency is much less than the yearling bull and mature bulls are much less likely to resolve the problem on their own or with parenteral antibiotics. During the rectal exam, the veterinarian should massage the pelvic structures to stimulate the bull which can enable an easier collection process.

Most bulls having a BSE in the United States have their ejaculate collected via electrostimulation. The objective is to collect a quality, concentrated sample with the least amount of distress and vocalization. It may take patience and time to collect the sample, and the speed of collection should not be emphasized. Many electroejaculators have automatic settings that provide guidance to the less-experienced practitioner and may decrease bull stress while increasing the quality of the semen sample. During electroejaculation, the bull should exteriorize the penis with a semi-rigid erection for evaluation. If this does not happen, the veterinarian should attempt to evaluate the bull’s penis by manual extension after the semen sample is collected.

Proper restraint and cleanliness in the work area are important in completion of the examination.

Selection of the appropriate probe for the size of the bull is important.

Mature bulls require a larger probe for better contact and response to the procedure.

Next, the semen is protected from adverse temperatures (including during collection) and quickly examined under a microscope to decrease the impact on sperm cell motility (ability of the sperm to move forward in a straight line) and morphology (appropriate cell shape). To start the examination, a drop of semen is placed on a microscope slide to evaluate gross motility.

Good motility is described as a profound wave action.

Improvements in microscope technology have allowed the practitioner to evaluate progressive, linear movement of individual sperm cells. In the US, at least 30% of the sperm cells should be aggressively motile with a good linear track to pass this portion of the exam; in Canada, 60% motility is the minimum standard for acceptable semen motility.

Either a special stain or a specialized microscope is used to evaluate semen morphology. A minimum of 70% normal cells must be present for a bull to pass this component of the BSE. The veterinary practitioner should have a good staining technique and thorough knowledge of cell defects. Abnormal cells contribute directly to lower conception, either through a lack of fertilization of the egg or through early embryo mortality due to damaged DNA within the sperm cell.

Remember, the breeding soundness examination is just a “snapshot” in time of the bull’s reproductive health and only speaks to his fertility on the day he is tested.

Over time, the only assurance the producer has about a bull’s continued reproductive ability is to retest the individual at the beginning of the breeding season. If low conception rates in the herd are being investigated, be aware that the BSE does not incorporate any other diagnostics, such as testing for communicable disease, therefore a frank discussion between the bull owner and veterinarian should occur about ancillary health tests that can be performed while the bull is restrained in the chute.

Lastly, a breeding soundness exam should be performed any time there is an expected sale of a bull as protection for both the buyer and the seller. It is also

strongly recommended that bulls be tested after the breeding season to identify injuries and seminal dysfunction in order to allow time to correct any issues before the next season and to prevent expensive maintenance costs during the interim season for those bulls found unsound for breeding.

Dr. Warner grew up in north Louisiana in a family run cow/calf and stocker operation. His dad moved the family to Ferriday, Louisiana, in 1965 where his dad operated an auction barn and continued in the cow/calf business and was also a procurer of replacement cows. Dr. Warner received a BS from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 1977 and received his DVM degree from the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. Immediately after graduation, Dr. Warner entered clinical practice as a mixed animal associate at Elgin Veterinary Hospital. After two years of employment, he became a partner and developed a primary interest in large animals and eventually, just beef cattle practice. Today, the practice is largely referral based, focusing primarily on lameness and reproductive problems in both the male and female. Dr. Warner has been actively involved with the Professional Bull Riders as a consultant and practitioner for many years, providing for animal welfare and the wellbeing of the animals involved in their sport.

Other practice interests involve the purebred and show cattle industries and servicing the needs of individual producers. He has been actively involved in the show steer industry in Texas, helping many children with their projects and even raising a few of his own. All three of his children grew up showing steers with many championships. Two of his children, Dr. Jenna Beyer and Dr. Kelly Warner, now practice veterinary medicine and the youngest, Jacob, is a third-year veterinary student at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Warner is a career-long member of AVMA, TVMA (served as longtime member and chair of the Beef Practice Committee), AVC, AABP, Production Animal Consulation, and the Society for Theriogenology, where he served a long tenure on the executive board culminating in becoming president of that organization in 2011-2012. Dr. Warner, along with his wife Terry, remain actively involved in the cattle industry at their ranch north of Elgin, producing show steers and high quality replacement females. He continues to support the beef cattle production community and is always available to colleagues for consultation. spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

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EQUINE PODIATRY FOR BOVINE PROTEIN PRODUCTION

By Matthew J. Wimer, DVM, CJF, Ranchland Forge Veterinary Medicine and Equine Podiatry Services

I

n the history of cattle production in Kansas, horses have been an efficient and dependable partner of producers to care for their cattle.

From the times of cattle drives across the plains to the now daily jobs of the cowboy-horse team pulling sicks in the feedyards, checking and treating grass cattle, and caring for and working cow-calf pairs, horses have been an invaluable asset in efficient care of stock. In these modern times, the advent of feed trucks, four wheelers, and side-by-sides have aided producers further in production. However, many still rely on the horse to get the job done, as there is no other “vehicle” like them.

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Farriery has always played an important part in this.

Not much has changed in traditional farrier practices over the past couple hundred years. The “keg” horseshoe, or factory-made shoe, has been around since the Civil War. (It has been said that this industrial component helped the North win as the Southern blacksmiths were still making every horseshoe by hand out of any steel material they could get their hands on.) A lot of farriers still build shoes from bar stock as everyone had to before the keg. Either way, the traditional method of trimming the foot and nailing on the shoe until next time still applies. Yet, in the past several decades, a countless amount of modern farrier materials and veterinary podiatry technologies and diagnostics have begun to aid the hoof care provider to keep our equine working partners and athletes going soundly.

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Why do we need shoes and other applications of modern materials on our horses? The answer is, we don’t… that is, if the horse can do their job efficiently and soundly while keeping their rider and themselves safe. There are some horses that are able to accomplish that, as they are either big-boned, solidfooted specimens of every farrier’s dream, or they simply do not have much asked of them. For many of our working horses used for cattle production, this is just not the case.

We accomplish several things by adding the shoe and/or package to the equation: - protection of the hoof capsule - addition of mass to the capsule - reduction of leverage - addition of (or reduction of) traction - added safety for the cowboy and horse When applying steel (or other material) to the foot, we are adding protection and stability to the capsule.

This protection can be viewed as adding vertical depth to the foot itself, eliminating wear from the foot and decreasing the chance of injury from the terrain and its potential contents. A wide web shoe (a shoe that is simply wider at the branch) is a great selection for a lot of working horses from this aspect. Modern materials such as leather and plastic pads, pour in pads, hoof glues, hoof casts, and a long list of others aid in this goal when necessary.

These applications also aid in adding mass to the capsule. There are many times that feet have been worn off and basically need to be made bigger by the crafty hands of the hoof care provider. Applying a hoof cast tape to a hoof capsule and nailing a shoe to this now “enlarged foot” is a good example of this. Anatomically, compared to a human, horses stand on their middle finger and toenail. Between the two species, the weight ratio is much different, but this illustrates the importance for mass and protection of the hoof capsule.

The more mass the hoof capsule has (within reason), the less potential for injury or pathology (disease process) of the foot.

By applying these shoes or packages appropriately, we can decrease the leverage arm on the hoof capsule and lower limb. This creates a healthier foot and decreases the possibility for injury to the anatomical components of the lower limb. In turn, we see an increase in performance in the horse and decrease in the potential for the rider to be injured. This may not be able to be accomplished with a foot that is bare.

The more mass the hoof capsule has (within reason), the less potential for injury or pathology (disease process) of the foot.

Traction application is not appropriate for every horse. Many performance horses benefit from less traction in the hind end, depending on their job. Some work horses, on the other hand, benefit a great deal from it. There are many ways to add traction to the foot.

Drilled and tapped caulks, drive-in studs, forge welded borium, or concave shoes are a few.

The addition of traction has the potential to put more wear and tear on a horse’s hoof capsule and limb anatomy, such as ligaments; however, sometimes it is simply necessary. Furthermore, the type of horse that is required for the work that requires traction should be one built for the trade. A feedlot horse often benefits from added traction such as borium or drive-in studs on hard surfaces and icy situations. This gives the horse the grip underneath him to keep from potentially going down and the cowboy stays safe from harm. Feedlot horses are not the only ones sometimes needing traction. Some work horses that are in situations taking care of cattle on slick grasses do as well. Some farriers use a handmade concave stock shoe or rim shoe that has more grip in this situation. These riders can feel the purchase (ability to propel forward on a surface) of these shoes on these grasses compared to a flatter shoe. They can also feel the confidence in their horse to travel with more traction (ability to stop or turn comfortably without hesitance or slip). (Note: An example in the cattle production industry of traction and purchase is adding tire mats in front of chutes or adding texture to concrete in high traffic areas.

For example, as a bovine comes out of the chute, the mat gives traction to help them not slip and adds purchase for them to take off down the alley.) As the horse has more confidence, there is less chance for rider and horse injury. There are riders that say the horse is always “tensed up” when they do not have the confidence of purchase or traction under them, which can lead to potential accidents. A farrier may compare it to being under a horse that is not fractious but has a constant pull on the farrier’s body while under the horse working, causing the farrier to be constantly “tensed up”. This can certainly turn into wear and tear or injury.

Unfortunately, in all aspects of cattle production, we hear of horse related accidents often. Work horses that are essential for cattle production that do not have enough foot protection or mass, too much foot and limb leverage due to inappropriate hoof care, anatomy, or dis-

ease process, or do not have enough traction or purchase sometimes travel without confidence. This has a probability of leading to injury to rider and/or horse due to accidents resulting from such. The incidence of injury to the cowboy or rider and the work horse can be drastically diminished with appropriate hoof care and application of the multiple “tools in the toolbox” that the farrier possesses. It is extremely important that the cowboy or rider and the farrier have open dialogue about what each working equine athlete requires. No horse has read the textbook, and each is different in its shoeing need due to the variable of the work it is asked to do. It is particularly important to involve the veterinarian when the occasion arises, as well, whether it be a lameness work-up for a horse the farrier has questioned the need for or sedation for a young or unruly horse to keep the farrier safe. (Note: Sedation can often be avoided just by good handling by the rider while the farrier does their work.) Sometimes no matter how many “tools in the toolbox” the farrier has, veterinary intervention is greatly beneficial at times to help the rider-farrier-veterinary team accomplish its goal: keep the horse sound, and ultimately keep everyone safe.

Dr. Wimer, along with his practice as a veterinarian, is a Certified Journeyman Farrier with the American Farriers Association. He started shoeing ranch horses almost twenty years ago and continued to shoe ranch and rodeo performance horses through college and veterinary medicine school. His involvement with the AFA and the local Kansas chapter fostered qualification for Certified Journeyman Farrier during his senior rotation. Dr. Wimer is a member of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2014. After graduation, he completed an internship in the podiatry department at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, KY. He now practices general veterinary medicine, veterinary podiatry, and general and performance shoeing across many breeds and disciplines in Kansas. Dr. Wimer is an adjunct faculty member at Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center. He works with other veterinarians on cases, including the staff at AMC in Great Bend. He and his wife reside in rural central Kansas. spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

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HANDLING AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS NOT MEETING EXPECTATIONS

By Nels Lindberg, DVM, Production Animal Consultation

T

he last few years have been the most difficult time I have ever seen in most industries in regard to having enough team members to get the work done. Every single business I work with is looking for employees.

Many leaders have had conversations with me on “accepting mediocre performance” in an effort to not lose the employees they do have. Managing and leading people in the workplace is as challenging as I have ever seen in the last 20 years. There are more open jobs in the United States than ever, with over 10 million job openings currently, yet there are still more than 6 million Americans unemployed that are actively looking for work.

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Given the difficulties of having enough team members, as managers or team leaders, we may have a person or more than one person on our team that we are letting get away with a bad attitude, being late to work, or being a poor team player. Many leaders “let it slide” or ignore it because they just flat need the help. However, in the long term, that simply is not doing those team members any favors if we truly care about them.

As leaders, we must take the opportunity to address challenging areas for our team members, going against our natural inclination to ignore the conversation. Our brain is subconsciously telling us to avoid these situations. It is an automatic function that occurs regardless of our ability and the number of times we have addressed such issues. We must remain committed to facing the challenge and addressing it intentionally. The following are six keys to having a successful difficult conversation about employee performance.

1. Create clarity around your responsibility as the leader. As leaders, we must ensure that we have been very clear on our expectations, and it is always good to reflect inward and ask ourselves if we have done so. Have we created clarity in our expectations of performance? Have we done our part in not just verbally setting expectations but also in training employees in all specific duties, communication needs, and how to do what we expect them to do? Thoroughly evaluate these questions so you as a leader can improve before 50 leadership

placing blame on someone else when actually the blame is on you for not meeting expectations as the team leader.

2. Ask questions rather than point fingers in areas of poor performance. Often times, an underperforming team member knows where they are not meeting expectations. Good honest team members can tell you where they are not meeting expectations. Asking them to assess themselves will generally yield the best long-term results.

Self-assessment allows people to recognize the key areas you have identified without you needing to point them out; then you can clarify the needs going forward. If we point out the shortcomings, some of our people may not truly “hear us” and learn from the opportunity we have presented to them. Questions often allow a person to reflect and come to the same conclusions on their own.

There are many self-evaluation forms available online you can utilize if needed. We like to use a self-evaluation form which allows them to read the questions and write down answers for you to review specifically.

3. Set the tone. Recognize that the conversation might provoke an emotional outburst and set the tone at the start that everyone must remain calm, cool, and collected, there will be no yelling or cussing, and no one leaves. If the challenge is severe and we know the conversation may elicit

anger from a team member, we must work to set the tone. In doing so, this opens their heart to the conversation they are about to have. If we do not set the tone, the conversation may turn aggressive fairly swiftly, their heart may close off, and they may not hear a word we say.

4. Ask if there is something going on outside of work that is bothering them. If you have a team member that is not meeting your expectations or has a sudden decline in performance, there might be something going on at home or in their personal life that is hindering them. We have all been there. When my wife lost her job about 15 years ago, it affected my daily intensity and thought process periodically each day before we moved on. When my son was accidentally shot and paralyzed, I was distracted for a bit. I routinely tell leaders in feedyards that if they have a team member that has lost a loved one or is going through a divorce, that valued team member will “be off” for six months. Those are more extreme examples, but everyone has relationship hiccups,

family illness, financial strains, or some poor decision making at times that creates friction in their lives. As leaders, we look to have some empathy and grace when needed. I often will simply ask people, “You seem to be distracted a bit. Is everything okay?” or “Is there anything going on at home you would like to talk about or I can help with?” Asking and relating to them is often all it takes to help team members out and better understand their situation. You will discover if they need a little time off, some financial help, or some words of wisdom from you as their leader to help them out personally.

5. Be clear. When addressing performance concerns, give explicit examples of the problem(s) and outline exactly what meeting expectations looks like.

For example, “On Monday, you were late for work again. You were late last Friday, and I am worried you being late is telling the team it is okay to be late for work. And we all know, everyone cannot be late for work. If I let you be late, then it sends a message that it is okay for everyone to be late to

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work. We care about you and your success here with this team. The expectation is that every cowboy needs to have their horse saddled and be out of the barn by 7:15am every day.” Each day you check in with them, talking specifically to them about your expectations. They will learn and understand the importance and seriousness of your discussion with them and that it means just that much to you that they get there on time every single day. If the problem recurs, you then begin to have conversations outlining the negative consequences of their performance. For example, “Hey, you know the expectations of getting to work on time and the negative effect you are having on the team, don’t you? We have talked on this expectation previously, and will continue to, but you need to understand that while you are not losing your job TODAY, we expect you to be to work on time every single day. If not, your team cannot have you on their team.” Another specific example is, “We have a plan each morning, and when we left the barn yesterday, you were told to ride the south half of the yard first with the crew.

Instead, you rode the north half. If you disagree with the plan, I need you to speak up so we can hash things out. Or I need you to execute the plan with the team each day.” Then confirm that they understand the problem and the need to fix it. Ask them, “Will you be able to do this?” or “Can you let me know if and when you disagree with the plan?” Then let them know you will be checking in with them tomorrow and routinely afterwards.

6. Take responsibility to help them and reward them. It is the team member’s responsibility to fix the problem at hand, but it is your job as a leader to walk alongside them in their journey, giving them the support and care they need. You can ask them, “What else can I do for you to be successful here?” We must make sure we do everything we are responsible for in terms of providing training, information, or knowledge they may need to meet our expectations. We also need to do daily checkins, so the employee can ask questions after they have processed our conversation. As time goes along, we must be intentional about noticing and rewarding improvements in performance. Often times a simple “Thank you for getting to work on time each day!” or “Great job telling us you disagreed!” goes a long way. Or if you like, throw 52 leadership

them a little financial “pat on the back” and give them a $20 bill or a $100 bill. Rewarding good behavior incentivizes more good behavior. Our number one challenge as Gen Xers and Boomers is we were not rewarded much for our performance or work throughout our lives, so rewarding excellent work is not something we are good at doing. We must make this a priority and be intentional about rewarding the work we want done and the behaviors we want to see.

No one ever taught us how to have crucial conversations or work with our team members on how to get better at what they do every day. Your lifetime level of success will often be dictated by your ability to address performance issues with team members. It is unkind to be unclear with our teams of great people. When we choose not to address areas of opportunity and improvement with our team members, our team members who are executing at high levels are watching and taking note. If this goes on for any length of time, those highperforming team members may choose to leave us. We must take the time to have these crucial conversations, address areas of needed improvement, and not sanction incompetence. It is our responsibility to them, to ourselves, and to our operation. It is not drama, chaos, or politics; it is because we care about our team members and their personal success.

Dr. Nels Lindberg is a people coach, team coach, business coach, and keynote speaker, all virtually or in person. If you have any interest in these opportunities, please reach out to his office at 620-792-1265 and visit with his right-hand lady, Jill.

BEEFxDAIRY CALVES: WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON?

By Pete Anderson, Ph.D., Midwest PMS, LLC

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hange tends to happen slowly in the cattle business, but there are occasional exceptions and one is happening right now. Cattle feeders are experiencing one of the most rapid transitions in a long time – an influx of millions of BeefxDairy cross feeder cattle. These cattle are not exactly beef cattle but they sure are not dairy-breed cattle either. We all have some learning to do.

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First, some numbers. There are about 9.4 million dairy cows in the US, so about that many calves are born each year with dairy cows as dams. For a long time, that resulted in 3.5-4 million Holstein (and a couple Jersey) steers to feed, plus a few open heifers. Out of a total fed cattle population of 26 million or so each year, that represents a significant amount.

That is changing. Straightbred dairy feeder cattle are rapidly disappearing. Over the past few years, dairy producers have shifted to using beef breed semen on a percentage of their cows, creating calves that are 50% dairy, 50% beef. Ten years ago, there were maybe a few hundred thousand such calves each year, but industry projections are for 3 million 50:50 calves in 2023. Maybe even more.

Why the sudden transition? Lots of reasons but three main ones. First, sex-specific semen allows dairy producers to get nearly 100% heifers out of their best cows. They can breed the top 30-40% of their herd to high genetic merit dairy bulls and get all of their replacements from them. The rest of the cows are then bred to beef bulls to produce feeder cattle, usually steers and heifers.

This technology has been available for a while but recent improvements in the fertility rate with sex-specific semen make it a feasible strategy.

Another explanation is the increase in large dairies and the shift toward dairy production in cattle feeding areas like Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, and Kansas. Smaller dairies in Eastern states are less likely to employ this strategy but larger dairies have adopted it rapidly, especially those in cattle feeding 56 feedlot

states that may already have business relationships with cattle feeders.

The third reason is the occasionally challenging dairy economics. Having a calf that is worth a few hundred dollars at one day old, instead of a dairy bred calf that may have no economic value whatsoever, creates a meaningful source of additional revenue for dairy producers.

So, a big change is occurring.

What does this mean for the beef industry?

There are three potentially very positive developments from the influx of BeefxDairy calves. First, they will create higher quality beef products than straight dairy calves would have. Adding beef genetics, especially the high quality genetics that most dairy producers are using, will result in high grading cattle with more acceptable muscle shape and higher red meat yield than dairy feeders would have produced.

This will accelerate a very positive trend in the industry. Current beef quality grading is at an all-time high.

Beef demand and eating satisfaction for consumers have improved substantially over the past two decades. The premium product that we are all producing now allows beef to sell for much higher prices than competing proteins in the meat case. The transition to BeefxDairy calves should enhance that.

Also, feedyard performance will be improved. Midwest PMS data indicate that performance of BeefxDairy calves is not halfway between beef cattle and dairy breed cattle. Rather, these calves perform closer to, although

still below, straight beef calves. High quality beef genetics and heterosis (hybrid vigor) are two of the reasons why. This improved performance (and cutout yield) means we can produce more beef with less resources, improving both efficiency and sustainability of the beef industry.

Third, this transition is creating alliances between cattle feeders and dairy producers. Done right (and they are not all) this allows for a large population of cattle that can be age and source verified and earn premiums based on that. Knowing more about genetics, health practices, and previous nutrition on incoming feeder cattle should all be positive for production results.

What does this mean for cattle feeders?

Cattle feeders will be getting a large population of feeder cattle that should deliver superior results, compared to the straight dairy feeders that we used to feed. They will probably get to the feedyard lighter than most yearling cattle so they will stay a long time and eat a lot of feed. That is the good news.

On the other hand, most facilities are not ideally suited for light cattle or small groups, which is the best way to manage BeefxDairy calves for at least the first part of the feeding period so that means either capital investment or a poor match between facilities and cattle. Also, incoming health and immunity of these calves could be better than typical feeders, or it could be way worse. In general, they are younger and have not been “hardened” by time on grass. Since they have been on feed for their entire lives, they could have impaired digestive tracts due to mismanagement prior to the feedyard. It is already clear that some of these calves are pushed too hard between weaning and arrival at the feedyard. It also appears that BeefxDairy feeders exhibit some of the worst behaviors of dairy cattle, which can be hard on facilities and employees.

What challenges and opportunities are presented?

Challenges abound. The biggest ones are on either end of the feeding period. First, we really do not know how packers will view these cattle in the long term.

Already, concerns about liver abscesses and udder development are causing pushback from packers and it is clear that BeefxDairy cattle will be discounted, relative to fed beef cattle, but there is no consensus on how much. As one form of risk management, cattle feeders should have the sale of the fed cattle all buttoned up

before they ever take delivery of BeefxDairy feeders or they could get in a position with even less leverage than usual. Another challenge is in pricing these calves as feeders. We simply do not have enough accurate historic performance data to precisely calculate their value, especially without knowing what discounts might be applied when they are sold.

The biggest opportunities are the improved performance and sustainability that these cattle bring, relative to straight dairy feeders, as well as the branded beef potential, especially for those that are source and age verified. These are great opportunities but will require much more cooperation and information transfer from feeder cattle producers to feeders than we are used to.

Any organization that can create a solid lifetime database for the genetics, health, and nutrition practices of these calves will have a significant advantage.

The bottom line Feeder cattle that are 50% beef genetics will certainly be better cattle to feed than those that are 100% dairy.

That much is clear. What is not yet clear are the ideal health and nutrition programs between the calf hutch and the feedyard, the right way to market them, or what these calves are worth, at any stage of production. We have a lot to learn. Let’s get to work.

Pete Anderson is Director of Research for Midwest PMS, LLC, a provider of liquid suspension nutritional supplements and consulting services to cattle feeders and dairy producers. Dr. Anderson directs research conducted and sponsored by MWPMS and provides technical support to MWPMS nutritionists and clients. In addition, he leads the company’s efforts in the areas of performance records analysis and business consulting and has quality assurance, feed safety and regulatory responsibility for the firm’s production facilities. Pete received a B.S. degree in Animal Sciences and Industry from Kansas State University in 1983 and a M.S. (1987) and Ph.D. (1989) from Michigan State University with emphasis on growth and muscle biology, particularly as affected by exogenous agents. Pete and his wife, Denise, reside in Loveland, Colorado, and have three adult children. spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

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FIVE POINTS OF ANIMAL HEALTH EVALUATION: DIGESTIVE HEALTH

By Jose Valles, MS, Production Animal Consultation

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n the fall 2021 issue of Protein Producers, we began to talk about a five-point animal health evaluation that I like to implement when working with animal caregivers in the area of pen riding in feedyards. This evaluation not only consists of detecting cattle that may need medical attention but also helps promote animal health in the lameness, digestive, respiratory, neurological, and mental categories. In the fall, we discussed the lameness category; in this article, we will address the most common digestive issues.

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Cattle are such special herbivores because they have the ability to convert cellulose from grasses that are non-usable for human consumption into nutritional beef for human consumption.

When we enter a pen of cattle, it is important to get all cattle up and ask them to move a reasonable distance or time that will allow us to make a careful digestive evaluation. The distance or time the animal is asked to be in motion should be sufficient to cause the animal to pass manure. Observation of the sides and the abdominal area of the animal is essential. The fill of paralumbar fossa region can give us an idea if the animal has been eating and drinking and is also the anatomical area that presents clinical signs of tympany.

Evaluation of fresh stools provides important information for digestive health evaluation for individual animals or at the pen level. Fresh manure characteristics such as consistency, color, and odor can help in reaching a diagnosis. Taking notes of clinical signs presented by the animal in its home pen is highly recommended. This information will help the doctor with case definition, diagnosis, and treatment.

Some of the most common digestive issues in a feedlot include ruminal acidosis, infectious diseases like coccidiosis and salmonellosis, and tympany.

Cattle are such special herbivores because they have the ability to convert cellulose from grasses that are nonusable for human consumption into nutritional beef for human consumption. Over the years, the beef industry has adapted different types of cattle feeding programs 60 feedlot

for beef production. Feedlot confinement settings for grain fed cattle are the most popular feeding program.

Ruminal acidosis is a disease commonly seen in feedlot settings during the initial phase of the animals’ feeding period. Nutrition programs vary between feedlots, their consulting nutritionists, and the availability of resources within their area. Cellulose from grasses ferments slowly in the rumen while our most common feed ingredients such as corn, wheat, sorghum, and barley are highly fermentable. These highly fermentable ingredients produce volatile fatty acids and lactic acid at a much faster rate, producing a lower ruminal pH. Drastic changes in diets such as change in amount delivered, ingredients, concentration, consistency, or timing can cause acidosis in cattle. The objective is to adapt cattle from a lower concentration diet to a higher concentration diet over the shortest period of time possible without causing digestive discomfort. This requires lots of monitoring and communication from our feeding crew as well as our animal health teams. Some of the most evident clinical signs of acidosis include diarrhea, excessive clear salivation, and hesitation to move. In situations of subacute acidosis, implementation of additional water tanks, forage, and cattle exercise can help regulate ruminal content without making major changes in diet.

In cases of acute acidosis, implementation of the previously mentioned strategies is critical as well as a change in the fed diet. It is always advisable to pull some of the most affected individuals for chute side evaluation to determine if antibiotic use is needed.

Coccidiosis is an infectious disease caused by the coccidia parasite that affects the infected animal’s intestinal tract. There are several species of the parasite but not all cause disease. Eimeria and Isospora are two disease-causing species. Eimeria and Isospora are passed in

manure as a non-infectious oocyst. Within 5 to 10 days, under the right environmental conditions, the oocyst transforms into an infectious form, which can then be ingested by cattle. Once in the digestive system of the animal, the oocyst releases a sporozoite, an infective agent that penetrates intestinal cells. The sporozoite goes through a growth and reproduction cycle repeatedly over a 21- to 28-day period, damaging the lower intestines, cecum, and colon and producing an oocyst that will be passed through manure. Although cattle in feedlot settings are susceptible to coccidiosis throughout their feeding period, outbreaks are more likely to occur during the first 30 days post arrival. Mild cases of coccidiosis usually present with foul-smelling, dark diarrhea, while moderate to severe cases usually present bloody diarrhea. Infected animals can appear depressive, reduce feed consumption, and become dehydrated, which leads to weight loss.

Ruminal tympany, better known in feedlots as bloat, is another digestive disease that commonly affects cattle in confinement. Bloat is the overdistention of the rumen and reticulum caused by the accumulation of gases produced in the rumen during the process of microbial fermentation. Bovine normally expel these gases by eructation. There are two types of bloat in cattle, the primary form and the secondary form.

The primary form, also known as frothy bloat, occurs when ruminal gases mix with ruminal contents in a stable foam and cannot be eructated. Primary ruminal tympany commonly appears in feedlot settings due to the high levels of ground grain fed to cattle. The rapid digestion of these small feed particles produces bubbles of trapped gas and particular species of ruminal bacteria produce an insoluble slime that develops into a stable foam.

The secondary form of ruminal tympany, commonly known as free-gas bloat, results when the bovine cannot eliminate ruminal free gas due to an esophageal obstruction. The cause of obstruction varies and is often never determined. It can be a result of ingested foreign objects, hernias, tumors, abscesses, and other lesions.

When evaluating cattle for digestive abnormalities, it is important to consider general pen information such as days on feed, the ration being fed, and ration transition history. Animals that present digestive abnormalities or overdistention in the paralumbar fossa and/or abdominal area that make them look different from the rest of the group deserve to be pulled and evaluated chute side to determine the appropriate treatment

or mitigation strategy to be implemented. Keep in mind that the timing of our pulls will significantly impact our treatment success rates.

Resources __________________

Constable, PD. Bloat in Ruminants. Merck Veterinary Manual.

June 2016. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestivesystem/diseases-of-the-ruminant-forestomach/bloat-inruminants Constable, PD. Coccidiosis of Cattle. Merck Veterinary Manual. June 2016. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/ digestive-system/coccidiosis/coccidiosis-of-cattle Kvasnicka, B. Coccidiosis in Beef Cattle. Extension Beef Cattle Resource Committee, Beef Cattle Handbook BCH3300. https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/bch/Coccidiosis.pdf Ruminal Acidosis (Grain Overload). Colorado State University, VIVO Pathophysiology. January 2020. http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/ herbivores/acidosis.html Ruminal Tympany (Bloat, Hoven). Colorado State University, VIVO Pathophysiology. January 2020. http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/ herbivores/tympany.html Jose Valles graduated with his Master of Biomedical Sciences from Kansas State University in 2013. He was born in the state of Durango in Mexico. He spent his childhood in both Durango and in southwest Kansas. In Mexico, his family has been dedicated to a cow-calf operation and the farming of dry beans, corn, and oats. After high school, Jose decided to further his education at the university level and has since lived in the U.S. He attended Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas, and during that time worked at the Liberal Animal Hospital. Jose transferred to Kansas State University through the Developing Scholars Program and Bridges to the Future Program. While attending Kansas State University, Jose worked at the Beef Cattle Institute from 2007 to 2013.

After graduating from Kansas State University in 2013, Jose joined the PAC team, then later that year married his girlfriend Areli, and moved to Kearney, Nebraska. Jose enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife Areli and his sons Matteo and Antonio. He also enjoys riding a good horse, horse races, and grilling steaks.

This article has been translated to Spanish on page 78. spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

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THE PHOTOGRAPH

By Doug Ford, DVM, Production Animal Consultation, and Greg Quakenbush, DVM, Geissler Corp.

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hen you look at the photograph of your dreams what do you see? Do you see restoration of a broken relationship, renewed health, emotional peace? What excites you?

What energizes you? What do you dream of becoming?

What do you dream of accomplishing? As a boy I was captivated by the outdoors, wildlife, the splendor of the four seasons, cattle, horses, and the practice of veterinary medicine. Bear Creek, Turkey Creek, the South Platte River, and the local veterinary clinic were my personal domains. I would spend every free minute exploring, hunting, fishing, camping, trapping, dissecting dead stuff, and shadowing my hero Dr. John.

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Two of the many photographs in my personal dream album were to someday own river bottom on the South Platte with free-flowing warm water sloughs, winding creeks, wetlands, and thousands of trees, and to become a practicing large animal veterinarian.

Dreams without action are only empty wishes. I have always been confident that my dreams would someday come true, energized by mountain moving faith on one extreme and in my occasional weaker moments, tempered by a twinge of doubt. I know from scripture that God always desires the best for our lives. I truly believe that the seeds of dreams are divinely and strategically placed in the fertile soil of our lives. It is part of our earthly destiny. God’s will for our lives is navigated through the Holy Spirit. It is not simply a matter of name it and claim it but part of a preordained path involving action, effort, faith, trust, patience, challenges, and obstacles. Fulfilment of dreams comes only after a season of waiting. Did you ever feel like the labor of a growing season in your life would never end? As a practicing veterinarian of 43 years, I look back on what I thought would never end (pre-vet and vet school) as only a minor obstacle to the fulfillment of my dream. Today I see that with the Holy Spirit, there is no stopping God’s plan for our lives.

My quest for river property has been no different. Over the years many properties have come and gone. I have to admit that with each new budding prospect, doubt and discouragement chipped away at the reality of ever fulfilling my vision. The obvious question was always

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“Did I miss pulling the trigger on that once in a lifetime opportunity?” Over time disappointment sometimes overshadowed my dream. The uncertainty of every perceived opportunity began to interfere with my faith, confidence, and the intentional pursuit of my dream.

Early one morning in my frustration and doubt, I took a rare moment to be still and to listen to that ever present little voice. The voice reminded me that my ways are not God’s ways, God works all things for good, He can always be trusted “even if,” and his timing is perfect. In that defining moment I was able to redirect some of my frustration to a mindset of reverent focus, confident that God’s unmerited favor (GRACE) would protect me from bad decisions and my impatience. In that moment of release came gratitude, amazing peace, renewed confidence, and clarity.

Miraculously, one week later I was approached by the owner of a long-established fourth-generation river bottom ranch near Snyder, Colorado. It was the last place in Morgan County that you would expect to be offered for sale. The property was never advertised and ultimately sold private treaty to my wife Jan and me. The property could not have been more perfect. It had several paddocks that could be hayed or pastured, out buildings, an old ranch house, a shop, a scale house, and feedlot corrals. Everything needed fixin’ but the challenge and projects would be gladly welcomed. It did not border the river but had several prime warm water sloughs, habitat, abundant wildlife, and thousands of beautiful cottonwoods.

Providentially, the property is located one mile west of the North Sterling Reservoir Diversion. Bottom line, when the water is diverted from the river to the reservoir everything east of the diversion experiences lower water levels sometimes leaving the river and sloughs almost dry. Everything west of the diversion experiences normal to high water in the river with a 6-inch rise in the water table causing the sloughs to run full all winter. A “minor” detail I overlooked in the natural scheme of things. God’s timing, grace, and direction again protected me from myself and another run of bad decisions.

Over the next ten years we would be given the opportunity to add parcel after parcel to the original home place, like pieces of a puzzle or images in a photograph if you will. We were even blessed to purchase an adjoining irrigated farm. The additional pasture, afterfeed, and exceptional calving ground has allowed us to expand our cow herd, another unexpected blessing.

What is my point? Have you ever wanted something so bad you would go to any lengths to make it happen?

Only to find it was a mistake, causing you to settle for less, creating anxiety, unrest, heartache, and regret. A lot like buying one of those river properties east of the diversion instead of west. I am thankful and filled with humble gratitude that the Lord continues to protect me from myself and my flawed earthly judgement. With every occasion I have to get it wrong, his everlasting grace continues to make my dreams come true. His timing and favor are always perfect! To be continued…

Digging Deeper The Birth, Death, and Fulfillment of a Vision

unique God-centered phenomenon that has been described as the birth, death, and fulfillment of a dream or vision (BDF). The three unique pieces of this sequence are almost impossible to identify when it is happening in your life. However, after we dig deeper, unpack, and explain this vision sequence, you may gain some insight and realize that you already have first-hand experience in this matter.

The Birth of a Vision or Dream God has made each one of us unique. We each have different personalities, skills, abilities, and interests. We also have unique desires, aspirations, and goals. It seems that within each individual there is a want to achieve or accomplish certain things. It is hard to know exactly the origin of these desires and aspirations. Some may be from God and others from self, but regardless God has special plans for each of us.

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

From the beginning it is easy to see that Dr. Doug was born with a natural love and passion for the entire outdoor experience. Therefore, it seems almost to be expected that he would harness his inbred love for the outdoors and translate it into a dream or vision for the foundation of his future. In Dr. Doug’s story, we see an example of a dream conceived and given birth.

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

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The Death of a Vision or Dream The birth of a dream or vision is naturally the easiest part of the BDF sequence. The number of different hopes and dreams is unlimited but so is the number of difficulties, roadblocks, and other dream destroying situations. Dreams can be killed by any number of people and/or circumstances. All have experienced the BDF triple play in one way or another. Covid, for example, has been an unforeseen dream crusher for many, disrupting plans, finances, health, businesses, families, and more in more ways than one can count. In some instances, Covid has created obstacles that will never be overcome. On the other hand, it has possibly provided or created future opportunities that were never considered or foreseen.

John 12:24 (NLT) I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives.

The worst of these situations may cause even the strongest of us to cry out, “Why God?” Our greatest problem is to have believed that we were in control in the first place. Dr. Doug has noted that maybe the reason behind the seeming death of a vision was one for our benefit. Maybe it was to our benefit that our path was stopped for reasons we do not know and may never appreciate. Maybe the original vision was so large that only God could accomplish the outcome and you were attempting to do it on your own. Maybe the timing is off.

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Like a blacksmith, God is going to use the disappointment and difficulty as a fire to heat us up and then hammer us into an even better and more useful tool. In looking at your own life, what has caused you to grow spiritually? Success or struggle? Victory or defeat?

James 1:2-4 2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

To see many examples of the birth, death, and fulfillment of a dream or vision one needs to go no farther than the Bible. Here are a few story lines...

• (Birth) Abraham had the vision that he would be the father of a great nation and many people.

(Death) So much time passed that Sarah became way beyond the age to have children.

• (Birth) Moses had the vision that he would be used by God to deliver the Jews out of Egyptian slavery. (Death) Both his countrymen and Pharaoh ran him out of the country into a foreign land where he was in exile for 40 years.

• (Birth) The apostles had the vision that Jesus would establish the Kingdom of God on earth.

(Death) The very people he came to save turned against him and proceeded to plot, demand, and secure his execution.

The Fulfillment of a Vision or Dream Not all dead dreams are revived. On the other hand, many visions that underwent a death or near-death experience come back different than originally envisioned, even better than first planned and much grander than originally conceived. It is in these cases where death of the dream seemed so final and complete that the resurrection of this dream has an obvious response of gratitude, gratefulness, humility, and a continual “Thank you, Lord!” The exception to this response would be from the individual who perceived his success came via luck, chance, or personal might.

If you want to see the reality of the birth, death, and fulfillment of a dream then I would highly recommend you see the movie American Underdog. This movie is the true-life story of NFL quarterback Kurt Warner and provides a perfect example of what we have shared. His dream was overreaching, and the death of his dream seemed more than final. In God’s timing, realization of his dream went beyond what anyone would have imagined or foreseen. All along his path, God was breaking, forming, realigning, and developing Kurt for His divine purpose.

In Kurt Warner’s first year as an undrafted NFL quarterback, he won Super Bowl XXXIV and was MVP of both the Super Bowl and the NFL. Following the Super Bowl win, ABC’s Mike Tirico interviewed him in front of the crowd after the game: “Kurt, first things first – tell me about the final touchdown pass to Isaac.” The response from Kurt was one that could only come from an individual who had been trained by hardship and a growing dependency upon the Lord. Kurt’s famous response was: “Well, first things first, I’ve got to thank my Lord and Savior up above – thank you, Jesus!”

Ephesians 3:20 (NASB) Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us

Doug Ford, DVM is the owner of Beaver Creek Veterinary Clinic in Brush, Colorado. Doug earned his DVM degree from Colorado State University. Brush, Colorado has been his home since graduating from Colorado State. Doug’s practice has been remarkably diverse over 40 years of veterinary medicine. Dogs, cats, cow/calf, feedlot, two sale barns, and spaying thousands of heifers for grass. The last 20 years of practice has been 50% large western dairies and 50% beef cattle (spaying, cow/calf, and feedlots). In 2005, Doug was given the privilege to become one of the six founding members of PAC. Doug and his wife Jan ranch in their “spare” time. They are also heavily involved in a wetland’s development project on the South Platte River near Snyder, Colorado. Doug’s dad used to say, “Get your grades up. Do you want to grow up to be a ditch digger?” Doug had no idea how much fun it is to play in the dirt with dozers and track hoes.

He feels truly blessed and believes that the best days are yet to come.

Greg Quakenbush, DVM is a 1978 graduate of Colorado State University and spent 16 years in large animal practice in Porterville, California. For 19 years, Dr. Q worked for Zoetis (Pfizer) and was Director of the US Cattle Technical Services team.

Since 2013, Dr. Q has worked with the Geissler Corporation assisting in the development of new veterinary diagnostic technologies. Dr. Q enjoys Bible study, shooting sports, fly-fishing, and being a part-time farmer growing citrus and nuts in the central valley of California. spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

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68 newest PAC members

CHUCKLES FROM DOWN UNDER....

“PROFESSIONAL” SIGNS In the front yard of a funeral home: “Drive carefully. We’ll wait.”

At a car dealership: “The best way to get back on your feet – miss a car payment.”

Outside a car exhaust store: “No appointment necessary. We hear you coming.”

In a vet’s waiting room: “Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!”

Courtesy of Bell Veterinary Services

A couple had been married for 45 years, raised a brood of 11 children, and been blessed with 22 grandchildren.

When asked the secret for staying together all that time, the wife replies, “Many years ago we made a promise to each other: the first one to pack up and leave has to take all the kids.”

Courtesy of Bell Veterinary Services

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EFECTOS DEL MANEJO DEL ESTRÉS DEL GANADO EN LA SALUD Y EL RENDIMIENTO Escrito por Tom Noffsinger, DVM, Production Animal Consultation Traducido por Jose Valles, Production Animal Consultation

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os estresores del ganado se pueden definir como cualquier estímulo que activa la base del cerebro (el eje HPA) y el sistema nervioso simpático para hacer frente a una amenaza percibida. Los estresores se pueden clasificar como físicos/fisiológicos o psicológicos. Ejemplos de factores estresantes fisiológicos incluyen deshidratación, malnutrición, deficiencias de minerales traza, clima, transporte, patógenos y dolor. Ejemplos de factores estresantes incluyen confinamiento, reubicación, interrupción social, ambientes desconocidos, transporte, y amenazas de predadores.

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Los animales de presa incluyendo el ganado son bendecidos con dos sistemas de defensa para responder a las amenazas reales o percibidas. El sistema primario de defensa es para primero responder a las amenazas externas que originan del entorno o de actividades del cuidador. La respuesta del cerebro a la ansiedad del ganado es para pedirle a las glándulas suprarrenales que liberen hormonas del estrés como cortisol, adrenalina y epinefrina para mejorar la huida y la defensa del animal. Estas hormonas realzan la supervivencia al mejorar la huida y la ocultación de signos de cojera, lesiones o enfermedad para que los depredadores fallen en seleccionar a los miembros débiles del hato. Los comportamientos de hato que indican ansiedad incluyen movimiento de pánico, vocalización, falta de consumo de agua y amontonamiento en las esquinas de un corral.

Aunque las hormonas liberadas durante los períodos de ansiedad y confusión realzan los mecanismos de defensa externa, los mecanismos secundarios de defensa interna sufren. Estas hormonas de estrés de defensa son muy inmunosupresoras y aumentan la susceptibilidad a enfermedades, especialmente al complejo de enfermedad respiratoria bovina (BRD, por sus siglas en ingles). La presencia de cortisol inhibe la función de los glóbulos blancos al inhibir la detección de antígenos y la producción de anticuerpos protectores. La presencia de las hormonas del estrés es una señal poderosa para que la población de bacterias gram negativas existentes incluyendo Mannheimia y Histophilus se colonicen en el pulmón y produzcan lesiones devastadoras de neumonía. El estrés de reubicación puede reducir la resistencia a las enfermedades y contribuir a la morbilidad y mortalidad.

72 administración de animales

Los gerentes de producción de carne deben enfocar las actividades de los cuidadores en cambiar la producción de hormonas de cortisol inducida por el cerebro a la producción de hormonas de salud como la serotonina, la dopamina, la oxitocina y la norepinefrina.

Estas actividades deben incluir cada paso del movimiento del ganado y deben resultar en rehidratación, nutrición, descanso y confianza del ganado poco después de su llegada. Las claves del éxito incluyen la compresión de la creación de un flujo voluntario del ganado. “Leer” el ganado y trabajar desde el frente del hato para que el ganado pueda ver su fuente de orientación simultáneamente con su destino es un requisito para que el ganado perciba que pertenece donde pretendemos. Darle la bienvenida al ganado recién llegado durante la descarga y aprender a “guiar” al ganado recién llegado a su nueva casa reduce la ansiedad del ganado y mejora las actividades de aclimatación.

El manejo adecuado de los corrales de recepción incluye el saneamiento de la superficie del corral, la disponibilidad de forraje apetecible en el comedero, cama cerca de las plataformas del comedero y la disponibilidad adecuada de agua limpia. La cama es un poderoso mensaje para el ganado que llega cansado de que su destino es mejor con respecto a su casa anterior.

Una medida importante de la confianza del ganado en su nueva casa es la voluntad de beber con propósito.

Sueñe con medidores de flujo en los bebederos de recepción para monitorear el consumo de agua al igual como medimos los consumos de materia seca.

Considere retrasar el procesamiento de llegada hasta que el ganado esté lleno de agua, nutrición, descanso y confianza. Pase unos minutos con el ganado nuevo

creando un movimiento de hato en sentido contrario a las agujas del reloj alrededor del corral. Enséñele al ganado a moverse en familia y a estar dispuesto a caminar a un lado de los cuidadores y seguir directamente hacia el comendero o bebedero. Hay que entender que los hatos son compuestos de animales individuales. Los grados de estrés están determinados por experiencias previas, genética y aportes sensoriales.

Lo que molesta a un animal centinela puede no ser notado por un compañero de hato. Este atento a ganado individual sensible que merece un cuidado especial.

Invitar al ganado tímido y sensible a moverse de manera ordenada al comedero o al bebedero alentará al resto

del hato. Tres simples comportamientos del ganado indican la presencia de cortisol reducido y un aumento en los niveles de las hormonas dopamina y serotonina.

Estos comportamientos incluyen el sueño de movimientos oculares rápidos (REM, por sus siglas en ingles), rumiar activamente y la voluntad de pasar a un lado de los cuidadores con confianza, exuberancia y jugueteo. Aprender a crear estos comportamientos poco después de la llegada es una gran oportunidad para reducir la enfermedad, mejorar la salud y realzar el bienestar del ganado.

Este artículo está disponible en Inglés en la página 14.

El Dr. Tom Noffsinger es socio fundador de Production Animal Consultation y experto en el manejo de ganado de bajo estrés y el desarrollo de personal. Recibió su doctorado en medicina veterinaria (DVM, por sus siglas en ingles) de la Universidad Estatal de Colorado y completó la Serie de Manejo de Producción de Carne en el Centro de Educación Veterinaria de Great Plains. Es miembro de la Asociación Americana de Veterinarios Especialistas en Bovinos, la Academia de Consultores Veterinarios, la Asociación Americana de Medicina Veterinaria y la Asociación de Medicina Veterinaria de Nebraska. El Dr. Tom ha recibido múltiples honores, incluyendo el Consultor del Año de AVC del 2001, el Premio de Servicio Distinguido de NVMA de 1999 y el Premio de Medicina Preventiva Merial de la AABP para la Carne del 2008. Él y su esposa Diane residen en su rancho en las afueras del hermoso pueblo de Benkelman, Nebraska.

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CONJUNTIVITIS EN GANADO DE CARNE Escrito por Dan Thomson, PhD, DVM, Production Animal Consultation Traducido por Jose Valles, Production Animal Consultation

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a conjuntivitis es una de las enfermedades más comunes en el ganado. Sin embargo, parece que continúa sucediendo e influyendo en el ganado de todo el mundo cada verano. La conjuntivitis no es una enfermedad mortal en el ganado, pero es extremadamente dolorosa y debilitante, dependiendo en la gravedad del caso. Conducir a través de un pastizal para encontrar nuestro mejor becerro ciego disminuye nuestras ganancias y puede ser desmoralizador. El Dr. Dan Upson de la Universidad Estatal de Kansas solía enseñar, “Hay dos razones por las que los animales se enferman: 1) una dosis abrumadora de un patógeno y 2) un sistema inmune suprimido.” La conjuntivitis no es diferente a cualquier otra enfermedad en una superficie mucosa como la neumonía, mastitis o diarrea. En esta columna, hablaremos sobre las causas, el tratamiento y la prevención de la conjuntivitis en el ganado de carne.

El patógeno más comúnmente asociado con la conjuntivitis en el ganado de carne es Moraxella bovis. Esta bacteria es cultivada de forma rutinaria en casos de conjuntivitis junto con algunas bacterias menos conocidas.

Los signos clínicos de la conjuntivitis comienzan sutilmente. Los becerros comienzan a tener los ojos llorosos y luego comienzan a hacer gestos de dolor y parpadear alrededor de 4 a 5 días antes de que las lesiones reales de la conjuntivitis aparezcan. Las lesiones de conjuntivitis son áreas de color claro en el pleno centro de la superficie del ojo. Si se dejan progresar, estas lesiones pueden cubrir toda la superficie del ojo, causar una inflamación severa del ojo y producir ulceración. Los becerros con conjuntivitis severa tienen una discapacidad visual severa o ceguera en el ojo afectado.

Hay muchas teorías sobre el por qué M. bovis puede establecerse y colonizar la superficie del ojo, lo que causa lesiones de conjuntivitis. Recuerde, patógeno abrumador y/o sistema inmune suprimido. La primera línea de defensa de la inmunidad es la barrera física de la superficie mucosa. La irritación constante de la córnea puede crear una abrasión que le permite a la bacteria un lugar donde establecerse en la superficie del ojo.

Golpear constantemente la córnea del ojo con un irritante es similar a tener una ampolla en el dedo pulgar por frotación o irritación constante. Irritantes como las cabezas de semillas, pasto alto, polen severo y las moscas pueden producir irritación de los ojos. Los

gases, como el amoníaco, en las instalaciones de confinamiento pueden causar irritación en la superficie del ojo. Una vez que existe una abrasión, las bacterias pueden sujetarse y colonizarse en la superficie del ojo.

La segunda línea de defensa en el cuerpo del becerro es la respuesta inmune interna. Es importante mantener el calostro, la nutrición del becerro (vitaminas y minerales) y las condiciones ambientales para maximizar la respuesta inmune y disminuir el estrés en el becerro o la vaca. Un programa sólido de salud del hato que incluya vacunas es vital. El jurado aun sigue deliberando sobre la eficacia de las vacunas contra M. bovis para prevenir la conjuntivitis, pero si sabemos que son seguras. Los patógenos virales bovinos pueden causar inmunosupresión en el becerro. La vacunación contra la rinotraqueitis infecciosa bovina, la diarrea viral bovina, el virus parainfluenza 3 y el virus respiratorio sincitial bovino (IBR, BVD, PI3 y BRSV, por sus siglas en ingles) es importante para la salud general del ganado, incluyendo la conjuntivitis.

La clave para el tratamiento de la conjuntivitis es detectarla y tratarla a tiempo. Existen muchos antibióticos en el mercado etiquetados para el tratamiento de la conjuntivitis en el ganado. Trabaje con su veterinario para determinar el antibiótico adecuado para su hato. En segundo lugar, es importante proteger el ojo de la luz ultravioleta y de irritación adicional. El uso de parches en los ojos (parches comerciales o de mezclilla spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

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Wrangler) es una opción. La otra opción ha sido utilizar sutura absorbible para coser los párpados durante 10 a 14 días. Pero tenga la seguridad, que cuanto más grave sea la lesión en el momento del tratamiento de la conjuntivitis, menor será la posibilidad de un resultado positivo del caso.

La prevención de la conjuntivitis en el programa de salud de su hato es clave. El control de la conjuntivitis comienza al nacer asegurándose de que el ternero reciba calostro. Luego, trabaje con su veterinario para desarrollar un programa de vacunación para el momento de la marcación antes de soltar los becerros, vacas y toros a pastoreo en el verano. Después de soltar a pastoreo, muchos productores previenen la conjuntivitis podando los pastizales mejorados para mantener bajas las cabezas de semillas y la altura del pasto, lo que reduce la irritación de los ojos. El control de moscas también es importante para prevenir la conjuntivitis en el ganado. El uso de los aretes contra las moscas en los momentos adecuados es excelente en su estrategia de control de moscas en los pastizales. Por último, la nutrición adecuada de vitaminas y minerales para que las vacas la pasen a los terneros o para que los becerros la consuman por si mismos es vital para un excelente programa de control de conjuntivitis en su rancho.

La conjuntivitis no es una enfermedad letal, pero si es terrible en el ganado de carne. La mayoría de las veces en los brotes de conjuntivitis, cambiamos muchas practicas de manejo y utilizamos tratamientos. El problema desaparece, pero realmente no sabemos qué hicimos para detenerlo. Esto no es diferente a otros brotes de enfermedad en el ganado. Una vez que la 76 vaca-becerro

enfermedad ataca, cuidamos a los animales y ellos tienen que tener la capacidad para sanarse por sí mismos. La clave es que cada productor esté atento a la prevención y el control de la conjuntivitis como si fuera a suceder cada verano.

El Dr. Dan U. Thomson es un veterinario de bovinos de tercera generación de Clearfield, IA. Thomson es propietario/socio en servicios veterinarios e investigación PAC, grupo de consultoría que supervisa el cuidado veterinario, la salud y el bienestar del 20% del ganado en alimentación en los EE. UU. Es reconocido internacionalmente como líder en el bienestar animal, la producción de ganado de carne y el manejo de la salud del ganado. El programa de investigación del Dr. Thomson a recibido más de $35.3 millones de dólares y $16.0 millones de esos fondos llegando con el como el investigador principal. Thomson es el fundador y presentador de Doc Talk, un programa de televisión veterinario enfocado en la salud del ganado de carne que se transmite a nivel nacional. Ha presentado casi 500 episodios del programa en su novena temporada que llega a más de 45 millones de hogares en todo el mundo. El Dr. Dan está casado con su esposa Cindy.

Tienen cuatro hijas: Kelly, Katelyn, Tory y Sarah. Disfrutan del baloncesto, la pesca en el suroeste de Iowa y viajar juntos.

Este artículo está disponible en Inglés en la página 36.

CINCO PUNTOS DE LA EVALUACIÓN DE SALUD ANIMAL: SALUD DIGESTIVA Escrito por Jose Valles, MS, Production Animal Consultation Traducido por Jose Valles, Production Animal Consultation

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n la edición de otoño del 2021 de Protein Producers, comenzamos a hablar sobre una evaluación de salud animal de cinco puntos que me gusta implementar cuando trabajo con cuidadores de animales en el área de revisión de corrales en las operaciones de corrales de engorda. Esta evaluación no solo consiste en detectar ganado que pueda necesitar atención medica, sino que también ayuda a promover la salud animal en las categorías de cojera, salud digestiva, respiratoria, neurológica y mental. En el otoño, hablamos sobre la categoría de cojera; en este artículo, abordaremos los problemas digestivos más comunes.

Cuando ingresamos a un corral de ganado, es importante levantar a todo el ganado y pedirles que se muevan una distancia o tiempo razonable que nos permita hacer una cuidadosa evaluación sobre la salud digestiva. La distancia o el tiempo que se le pide al animal que este en movimiento debe ser suficiente para causar que el animal expulse estiércol. La observación de los lados y del área abdominal del animal es esencial.

El llenado de la región de la fosa paralumbar nos puede dar una idea de si el animal ha estado comiendo y bebiendo y también es la zona anatómica que presenta signos clínicos de timpanismo. La evaluación de heces frescas proporciona información importante para la evaluación de la salud digestiva de animales individuales o a nivel de corral. Las características des estiércol fresco, como la consistencia, el color y el olor, pueden ayudar a llegar a un diagnóstico. Es altamente recomendable tomar notas de los signos clínicos presentados por el animal en su corral de casa. Esta información le ayudara al doctor con la definición de caso, el diagnostico y el tratamiento.

Algunos de los problemas digestivos más comunes en las operaciones de engorda incluyen acidosis ruminal, enfermedades infecciosas como coccidiosis y salmonelosis y timpanismo.

El ganado es un herbívoro tan especial porque tiene la capacidad de convertir la celulosa de los pastos que no se pueden utilizar para el consumo humano a carne nutritiva para el consumo humano. A lo largo de los años, la industria de la carne de res ha adoptado diferentes tipos de programas de alimentación de ganado para la producción de carne. Los entornos de confinamiento en las operaciones de corrales de engorda para ganado alimentado con grano son el

programa de alimentación más popular. La acidosis ruminal es una enfermedad que se observa comúnmente en las operaciones de corrales de engorda durante la fase inicial del período de alimentación de los animales. Los programas de nutrición varían entre las operaciones de corrales de engorda, sus nutricionistas consultores y la disponibilidad de recursos dentro de su área. La celulosa de los pastos se fermenta lentamente en el rumen, mientras que nuestros ingredientes alimentarios más comunes, como el maíz, el sorgo y la cebada son altamente fermentables.

Estos ingredientes altamente fermentables producen ácidos grasos volátiles y ácido láctico a un ritmo mucho más rápido, lo que produce un pH ruminal más bajo.

Los cambios drásticos en las dietas, como cambios en la cantidad entregada, los ingredientes, la concentración, la consistencia o el tiempo de alimentación pueden causar acidosis en el ganado. El objetivo es adaptar al ganado de una dieta de menor concentración a una dieta de mayor concentración en el menor tiempo posible sin causar molestias digestivas. Esto requiere mucho seguimiento y comunicación por parte de nuestro equipo de alimentación, así como de nuestros equipos de salud animal. Algunos de los signos clínicos más evidentes de acidosis incluyen diarrea, salivación clara excesiva y vacilación para moverse. En situaciones de acidosis subaguda, la implementación de bebederos adicionales, forraje y ejercitación del ganado puede ayudar a regular el contenido ruminal sin hacer grandes cambios en la dieta. En casos de acidosis aguda, la implementación de las estrategias mencionadas anteriormente es crítica, así como también un cambio en la dieta alimentada. Siempre es recomendable sacar algunos de los animales más afectados para llevar a spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

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El ganado es un herbívoro tan especial porque tiene la capacidad de convertir la celulosa de los pastos que no se pueden utilizar para el consumo humano a carne nutritiva para el consumo humano.

cabo una evaluación en hospital para determinar si es necesario el uso de antibióticos.

La coccidiosis es una enfermedad infecciosa causada por el parásito coccidia que afecta el tracto intestinal del animal infectado. Hay varias especies del parasito, pero no todas causan enfermedad. La Eimeria y la Isospora son dos especies que causan enfermedades. La Eimeria y la Isospora son expulsadas en el estiércol como un ooquiste no infeccioso. Dentro de 5 a 10 días, bajo las condiciones ambientales adecuadas, el ooquiste se transforma en una forma infecciosa, que luego puede ser ingerido por el ganado. Una vez en el sistema digestivo del animal, el ooquiste libera un esporozoíto, un agente infeccioso que penetra las células intestinales. El esporozoíto pasa por un ciclo de crecimiento y reproducción repetidamente durante un período de 21 a 28 días, dañando los intestinos inferiores, el ciego y el 80 corrales de engorda

colon y a la vez produciendo un ooquiste que pasará a través del estiércol. Aunque el ganado en las operaciones de corrales de engorda es susceptible a la coccidiosis durante todo el período de alimentación, los brotes son más probable que ocurran durante los primeros 30 días posteriores a la llegada. Los casos leves de coccidiosis generalmente presentan diarrea oscura y de olor fétido, mientras que los casos moderados a severos generalmente presentan diarrea con sangre. Los animales infectados pueden parecer depresivos, reducir el consumo de alimento y deshidratarse, lo que conduce a la pérdida de peso.

El timpanismo ruminal, más conocido en las operaciones de corrales de engorda como “bloat”, es otra enfermedad digestiva que comúnmente afecta al ganado en confinamiento. El “bloat” es la sobredistensión del rumen y el retículo causada por la acumulación de gases producidos en el rumen durante el proceso de fermentación microbiana. Los bovinos normalmente expulsan estos gases por eructos. Hay dos tipos de “bloat” en el ganado, la forma primaria y la forma secundaria.

La forma primaria, también conocida como “bloat” espumoso, ocurre cuando los gases ruminales se mezclan con el contenido runimal en una espuma estable y no pueden ser eructados. El timpanismo ruminal primario aparece comúnmente en las operaciones de corrales de engorda debido a los altos niveles de grano molido que se alimenta al ganado. La digestión rápida de estas pequeñas partículas de alimento produce burbujas de gas atrapado y ciertas especies de bacterias ruminales producen una baba insoluble que se convierte en una espuma estable.

La forma secundaria de timpanismo ruminal, comúnmente conocido como “bloat” de gases libres, se produce

cuando el bovino no puede eliminar los gases libres ruminales debido a una obstrucción esofágica. La causa de la obstrucción varía y a menudo, nunca se determina.

Puede ser el resultado de objetos extraños ingeridos, hernias, tumores, abscesos y otras lesiones.

Al evaluar el ganado en busca de anomalías digestivas, es importante tener en cuenta la información general del corral como los días en alimentación, la ración que se está alimentando y el historial de transición de ración. Los animales que presentas anomalías

digestivas o sobredistensíon en la fosa paralumbar y/o área abdominal que los haga ver diferentes al resto del grupo merecen ser sacados de su corral y evaluados en hospital para determinar el tratamiento adecuado o la estrategia de mitigación a implementar. Es importante tener en cuenta que el tiempo de detección del ganado impacta significativamente nuestras tasas de éxito de tratamiento.

Este artículo está disponible en Inglés en la página 58.

Recursos __________________

Constable, PD. Bloat in Ruminants. Merck Veterinary Manual. June 2016. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/ diseases-of-the-ruminant-forestomach/bloat-in-ruminants Constable, PD. Coccidiosis of Cattle. Merck Veterinary Manual. June 2016. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/ digestivesystem/coccidiosis/coccidiosis-of-cattle Kvasnicka, B. Coccidiosis in Beef Cattle. Extension Beef Cattle Resource Committee, Beef Cattle Handbook BCH-3300. https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/bch/Coccidiosis.pdf Ruminal Acidosis (Grain Overload). Colorado State University, VIVO Pathophysiology. January 2020. http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/herbivores/acidosis.html Ruminal Tympany (Bloat, Hoven). Colorado State University, VIVO Pathophysiology. January 2020. http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/herbivores/tympany.html

José Valles se graduó con su Maestría en Ciencias Biomédicas de la Universidad Estatal de Kansas en 2013. Nació en el estado de Durango en México. Pasó su infancia tanto en Durango como en el suroeste de Kansas. En México, su familia se ha dedicado a una operación de vacabecerro y al cultivo de frijol, maíz y avena. Después de la secundaria, Jose decidió continuar su educación a nivel universitario y desde entonces ha vivido en los EE. UU. Asistió al Colegio Comunitario del Condado de Seward en Liberal, Kansas y durante ese tiempo trabajo en el Liberal Animal Hospital. José se transfirió a la Universidad Estatal de Kansas a través del programa Developing Scholars y el programa Bridges to the Future. Mientras asistía a la Universidad Estatal de Kansas, José trabajó en el Instituto de Ganado de Carne del 2007 al 2013. Después de graduarse de la Universidad Estatal de Kansas en el 2013, José se unió al equipo de PAC, luego ese mismo año se casó con su novia Areli y se mudaron a Kearney, Nebraska. José disfruta pasar tiempo con su hermosa esposa Areli y sus hijos Matteo y Antonio. También disfruta montar un buen caballo, las carreras de caballos y cocinar bisteces a la parrilla.

RISA ENTRE DIENTES DESDE OZ Una pareja había estado casada durante 45 años, criaron una prole de 11 hijos y fueron bendecidos con 22 nietos. Cuando se les preguntó el secreto para permanecer juntos todo ese tiempo, la esposa responde, “Hace muchos años nos hicimos una promesa: el primero en hacer las maletas y marcharse se tiene que llevar a todos los niños.”

Cortesía de Bell Veterinary Services

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At our house, it is almost never too cold or snowy to grill or smoke something outside, but every now and then it can be fun to make some nice food indoors too. Here is my favorite way to make nice steaks inside. Great tasting and a little fancylooking but really easy!

Ingredients •

4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) chilled butter, cut into pieces

•

2-4 filet mignon steaks (8-10 oz. each, 1 3/4” thick)

•

olive or grapeseed oil

•

1/2 c. finely chopped shallots

•

1 1/4 c. Cabernet Sauvignon

•

2 generous tbsp. drained capers

•

2 tbsp. Dijon mustard

•

1/3 c. finely chopped fresh parsley

For more great recipes and lots of grilling and smoking tips, plus a little philosophy and a few giggles, check out www.petesmeats.com.

Discovering recipes from agriculture’s finest

Be sure to get high quality steaks that are at least 1 1/2 inch thick; I prefer even a little thicker. Trim off any excess fat or connective tissue (there usually isn’t any on filets). Sprinkle both sides of the steaks with kosher salt and a generous amount of ground black pepper, then let sit at room temperature for 45 minutes.

Do not oversalt them, but there is no such thing as too much pepper on a thick piece of beef, especially when you are going to sear the surface with high heat. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F.

If you have a recipe that you would like to feature in The Pot Roast section of Protein Producers, email us at protein.producers@pacdvms.com.

PAN-SEARED FILET MIGNON with Wine and Mustard Sauce

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and

Remove steaks from skillet and place on cutting

add oil to coat skillet but not enough to pool. When

board to rest, with foil loosely tented over them. The

skillet is very hot and oil is just starting to smoke,

temperature will go up another 5 degrees or so while

place steaks in skillet and sear until the first side

they rest.

releases from sticking to the pan (2-3 minutes). Turn

While the steaks are resting, put the skillet back on

steaks and sear the second side. The second side

the stove over medium heat. Melt 2 tablespoons of

may take a minute longer because the skillet will be

the butter. Add shallots and sauté 2-3 minutes to

cooler when you turn the steaks than when you first

soften. Add wine, capers, and mustard; simmer until

placed them in the skillet. When the second side

slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley.

releases, about another 3 minutes, place skillet with

Reduce heat to medium-low. Whisk in remaining 2

steaks in the preheated oven to finish cooking.

tablespoons butter and stir until melted. Season

Depending on thickness and desired doneness,

sauce with salt and pepper.

steaks will require 6-12 minutes in the oven to complete cooking. Cook until an instant-read thermometer

Sauce can be spooned over steaks or served on the side.

reads about 130 degrees for rare or 140 degrees for

This is really nice, fancy food that is very easy too.

medium steaks. If you want filets done more than that,

Your old pal Pete makes this all the time, but one night

save your money and just cook burgers. If you do not

he just watched while his teenage boys did all the

have a good instant-read thermometer, that’s a few

work. It turned out spectacularly well and the fellas

bucks you ought to spend.

were rightly proud of the best thing they had ever cooked at that point in their lives.

spring 2022 | pacdvms.com

83

PAC MEMBER HIGHLIGHT•••••••••

JOSEPH CONNOR, DVM JF Connor Consulting, LLC Carthage, Illinois Transparency with customers is one of the core values of Joseph Connor, DVM, owner of JF Connor Consulting, LLC. His practice is 100% swine focused with both domestic and international clients. Dr. Connor works with about 500,000 sows and corresponding growing pigs. During his career, he was instrumental in developing a management and research integrated pork system involving 150 family owners.

Dr. Connor has been practicing veterinary medicine in the same practice in Carthage, Illinois, for the past 44 years. His passions include production, population medicine, and pathogen elimination. He enjoys interacting with producers as a typical day consists of on-farm visits and phone calls.

Dr. Connor was inspired to become a veterinarian by his local veterinarian and highlights the great opportunities for family and business that come with rural veterinary medicine practice.

84 PAC member highlight

Production Animal Consultation PO Box 41 Oakley, KS 67748 pacdvms.com

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