Protein Producers Spring 2023

PROTEIN producers

TM

2023 Volume 11 Issue 1

EDITORIAL TEAM: Brandi Bain, Darcy Howard, Lisa Taylor

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

Animal Health International Bimeda Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Daniels Manufacturing Co. Diamond V Huvepharma Kemin Animal Nutrition & Health – North America Lallemand Animal Nutrition Merck Animal Health MicroTechnologies Newport Laboratories Norbrook Virbac Zinpro Zoetis FRONT COVER PHOTO CREDIT Thank you to Katie Jorgensen for the photo from Jorgensen Farms in Exeter, Nebraska. spring 2023 | pacdvms.com

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O’Byrne Cattle Co. Trenton, Nebraska

Photo Credit: Emily O’Byrne

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 2023 and another fact-filled edition of Protein Producers! Each quarter, it is a pleasure to read the well thought out and timely topics. The practical insight shared by the varied perspectives of the professionals of PAC is invaluable. In the winter 2022 edition of Protein Producers, Dr. Jim Lowe emphasized the value of perspective from other livestock production systems around the world. In this culture of abundant, readily accessible, safe and wholesome food, one can easily take our abundance for granted. In other parts of the world, protein in the diet is a luxury, and often less fortunate populations depend on high starch diets to fill empty cravings. Lack of reliable electricity for adequate cold storage in many countries predisposes both children and adults to numerous health challenges that are exacerbated by limited healthcare infrastructure. With our advanced agricultural processes, it is difficult to conceive that some cultures are still farming with ox-driven plows. As we start another new year, what a pleasure it is to celebrate the evidence-based and science-driven information from experienced animal husbandry men and women sharing their expertise in this edition of Protein Producers.

As we start off this year in our high-tech world of rapid change and amazing infrastructure, we can enjoy the opportunities we have to expand our knowledge and hone our skills. Even though our daily work is not as challenged as in some countries, we should accept the responsibility to educate a less informed society regarding our practices of responsible antibiotic use and carefully planned animal husbandry and embrace the challenges of the moment. Our goal in Protein Producers is to help our clients succeed and the consumer to thrive on the proceeds from a lifestyle that is second to none.

Here's just a glimpse of the articles in this edition: Ted Howard shares his gift of horsemanship and jewels in his toolbox of experience; Jose Valles discusses evaluation of neurological health in feedlot cattle; Dr. Lowell Midla reviews prevention of pinkeye; and Dr. Gerald Stokka and Dr. Dale Grotelueschen share insights on preventing neonatal calf diarrhea. As always, Dr. Nels Lindberg has a topic on leadership, and Dr. Doug Ford and Dr. Greg Quakenbush will keep it all in perspective with a parable that will turn our hearts toward Home.

Richard Prather, DVM Ellis County Animal Hospital Production Animal Consultation Shattuck, Oklahoma

THANK YOU We want to thank the industry partners, publications and associations who have pro vided content to Protein Producers. Also, a big thank you to our readers for sup porting us, offering content and helping us improve each issue. We could not do any of this without all of you!

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 2023 6 Welcome Richard Prather, DVM

27 PAC Member Highlights: Clayton Thorson, DVM Mike Gamble, DVM

10

54 Risa entre dientes desde Oz

56 PAC Member Highlights: David Rethorst, DVM Spencer Thompson, DVM

62

14

Parable: The Border Collie and the Trunk

❙ ANIMAL STEWARDSHIP

67

Peanuts

10

Chuckles from Down Under

❙ COW-CALF

68

14

The Pot Roast: Flat Iron Greek Salad

Prevent Pinkeye in Two Easy Steps

20 Neonatal Calf Diarrhea: A Systems Approach

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contents

❙ LEADERSHIP

28 Are We Accepting Mediocrity?

❙ FEEDLOT

34

38

Five Points of Animal Health Evaluation: Neurological Health

❙ INDUSTRY

38 Cybercrimes Are on the Rise: What You Can Do to Prepare in 2023

42 Foot and Mouth Disease 46 & 58 28

46 Beef Quality Assurance: Why It Matters to All Producers

❙ EN ESPAÑOL

50

– corrales de engorda

Cinco Puntos de la Evaluación de Salud Animal: Salud Neurológica

58

– industria

Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la Carne: Por Qué es Importante Para Todos los Productores 34 & 50

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PEANUTS

By Ted Howard, Ted Howard Stockmanship, Production Animal Consultation

P

eanuts wasn’t the easiest horse to be around. He always wanted attention. He would paw his metal bunk if he felt you weren’t moving fast enough with his feed. He was never very excited to be caught, and when he was being saddled, he spent most of the time pawing the barn floor. However, he was a great heel horse and a solid addition to my stockmanship work in the feedyards. He could adjust his speed to any situation at hand. I trusted him with any rider I asked him to carry, most importantly my granddaughters.

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Working on our horsemanship in the warmer months helps for an easier winter season.

A few weeks ago, my granddaughters came out to ride.

They had only ridden for a few minutes when I saw them dismount and start leading Peanuts and their other horse back to the barn. Peanuts had broken his back leg above the hock loping in a dry field.

Accidents can happen at any time. However, accidents are more prevalent this time of year with the difficult ground conditions and cold weather. Not only are we under more pressures in the winter months, so are our equine partners. Colder weather increases the nutrient and water requirements for our horses. It is important to make sure the energy in our horses is maintained at a high level. The inconsistent footing in the pens and alleyways is also a pressure for our horses.

In previous articles I have discussed the importance of the correct horseshoes for different types of ground conditions. Toes and heels, as well as rim shoes, need to be used appropriately to give your horse greater traction. We must also remember to use the horse that is best suited for the situation or day.

Horses are all different in their range of abilities. Just like in the horseracing world or on the barrel racing circuits, each horse handles ground differently. Some racehorses can run in mud while others cannot. Barrel horses have different successes depending on their 12 animal stewardship

abilities to manage all kinds of ground. Therefore, we cannot be surprised in the feedlots that we have horses that are better than others handling different types of ground conditions.

I normally see three horses per stockman used in a rotational manner. Two horses are interchanged every other day and another horse is turned out resting. This system rotates every ten days to two weeks. Know your horses well enough to know which one is appropriate for the day’s conditions. Sometimes a younger, less sure-footed horse is best used on a day that is not quite as slick or treacherous. However, with that being said, we cannot overuse our solid, more sure-footed horses.

More sure-footed horses handle the muddy or slick ground conditions and allow us to pull cattle quietly.

Horses that struggle keeping their feet under them tend to be nervous and preoccupied and therefore create unease in the cattle. Our cattle are struggling with the same ground conditions and will move more tentatively and perhaps slower. Remembering to allow the cattle to set the pace to the gate when pulling them is important.

We need to set up ourselves and our horses for a very safe experience. We cannot benefit our horse, the cattle entrusted to our care, or our team if we are hurt. Working

Each horse is special in its own way and deserves the best care we can provide. on our horsemanship in the warmer months helps for an easier winter season.

Now that we are headed into spring, we can start to rebuild the confidence in our horses. The tough ground conditions have caused us to lower our expectations for our horses. We haven’t been riding every corner of our pens to help with tighter time constraints and cold weather. However, this has set a poor example for our horses. As the climate changes, we can get back to our regular routines and ask our horses to travel throughout the pens freely. This will rebuild their confidence.

The horses that have been ridden all winter deserve a long break due to sore joints walking in deep mud. It is very important that we rest our horses for their physical and mental health. Each horse is special in its own way and deserves the best care we can provide.

I hope each one of you has had a “Peanuts” in your life or will someday have that special horse, that when they leave this world, you will remember them as one of the greats.

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.

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PREVENT PINKEYE IN TWO EASY STEPS

By Lowell T. Midla, VMD, MS, Technical Services, Merck Animal Health

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e have all been frustrated with infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK, “pinkeye”) at least once.

Given our dedication to our clients and our commitment to evidencebased medicine, when frustrated

by IBK, we go to textbooks, the published literature, etc. to try to find the answers.

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Damage to the cornea is a necessary first step in the pathogenesis of pinkeye. The importance of this cannot be overstated.

Unfortunately, while IBK has been studied for more than a century, there is still much to be learned.

Discouraged by both lack of definitive answers and sometimes conflicting answers, we turn to our experience. However, in our experience, we have seen huge problems with IBK in a given year or on a given operation, and little to no problem the next year or on the neighboring operation. Unfortunately, it is not at all clear what was different or what we did or did not do to lead to the difference.

If you have been discouraged by the lack of answers and conflicting answers, keep reading.

•

Some M. bovis vaccines are directed against the attachment pili. Unfortunately, M. bovis is adept at switching surface pili and antibody pressure can induce pilus switching, leading to apparent vaccine failure. An obvious solution would thus be to build a vaccine containing many different pilus epitopes. However, the inclusion of “too many” different pili leads to antigenic competition. That is, the immune system would “see” so many antigens that it would only respond to some. How many is too many is not yet well-defined.

What we are pretty sure we know:

•

O’Connor et al (JVIM 2011) reviewed nine trials of autogenous IBK vaccines and concluded that “autogenous M. bovis vaccines … are ineffective in controlling naturally occurring IBK.”

•

The disease triangle (host – pathogen – environment) is particularly applicable to pinkeye, and all three are equally important and must be considered in any prevention plan (see Figure 1).

•

Damage to the cornea is a necessary first step in the pathogenesis of pinkeye. The importance of this cannot be overstated.

•

Female face flies (Musca autumnalis) feed on ocular secretions and have microscopic sharp mouthparts that damage ocular tissues to stimulate production of these secretions.

Moraxella bovis, Moraxella bovoculi, and Mycoplasma bovoculi are commensals of the bovine eye. All three are pretty much always there.

• There is abundant, though interestingly not conclusive, evidence to support the generally accepted view that Moraxella bovis causes IBK. Abrading or otherwise damaging (e.g., using ultraviolet radiation) the bovine cornea followed by instillation of a pathogenic strain of M. bovis consistently leads to IBK. • The pathogenesis of M. bovis-associated IBK is a three-step process: 1. corneal damage, 2. microbial adhesion facilitated by attachment pili, 3. release of cytotoxins by M. bovis that rapidly “melt” the cornea in as little as 48 hours.

•

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M. bovoculi is commonly cultured from the eyes of affected cattle and has been associated with IBK. It is important to remember that association does not prove causation.

• The standard disease model (damaging the cornea followed by instillation of bacteria) does •

Figure 1

•

•

not lead to IBK when M. bovoculi is used. Indeed, there is not a disease model for IBK caused by M. bovoculi. That is not to say that Moraxella bovoculi is not involved in the pathogenesis of some cases of IBK, but simply that the pathogenesis of IBK potentially caused by M. bovoculi is not fully understood.

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR, BHV-1) is associated with a pinkeye like syndrome. There is some evidence that vaccination with modified live IBR vaccine may be a risk factor for IBK. Elimination of ocular M. bovis infection depends more on reaching therapeutic drug concentrations in the infected ocular tissues than in tears.

Oxytetracycline is selectively concentrated in ocular tissues including the epithelium of the conjunctiva and lacrimal gland ductules, reaching concentrations in these tissues that exceed those in serum.

•

•

Prevent pinkeye in two easy steps: •

What we speculate may be true: Electron microscopy studies suggest that M. bovoculi may attach poorly to the corneal surface but attach well to M. bovis. Furthermore, M. bovoculi growth may outpace that of M. bovis. This suggests a hypothetical scenario wherein M. bovis attachment to damaged cornea (via pili) is necessary to “get things started” followed by Moraxella bovoculi “taking over.” If true, then this implies both that timing of ocular culture is critically important vis-à-vis interpretation of culture results, and that vaccination against M. bovis should be sufficient to prevent disease.

• Pilus switching by M. bovis may occur between the time of isolate submission for development of an autogenous vaccine and the time of vaccination.

•

What we’d like to know: •

•

Given that M. bovis, M. bovoculi, and M. bovoculi are commensals of the bovine eye, why do we have apparent outbreaks of IBK? That is, why does the disease seem to be contagious? Is it simply that environmental conditions led to corneal damage in many individuals, or is a more pathogenic variant being spread from animal to animal, or both?

What is more important toward immunity to IBK, IgG or IgA? That is, might intranasal or intraocular vaccination be more effective?

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Is M. bovoculi important, and if so, how and under what circumstances does it fit in to the IBK picture?

Considering that the typical IBK season begins when maternal antibody may interfere with vaccination for spring born calves in the northern USA, when should we vaccinate? Similarly, should extensively managed calves that are only handled once prior to weaning be vaccinated at branding?

•

Decrease corneal damage. While easy to say but less easy to do, remember that difficult is not the same as impossible. A story may help to illustrate.

During a visit to a large heifer development facility in the southwest U.S. where the herdsman was complaining of an ongoing IBK problem, scraping and hauling of manure from a pen nearly half a mile away was occurring. Trucks were driving on the dirt road along the western border of the facility every two to three minutes. As I visited with the herdsman, my eyes were stinging from the dust. The herdsman stated that even when pens were not being scraped, the road was heavily travelled. This operation did not need a different or better vaccine, it needed a water truck to water the road. There is a reason that “clip pastures and control flies” appears in every IBK article. Evaluate each operation individually to identify and stratify sources of corneal damage and then work to minimize them.

Ensure that animals are prepared for the challenge. Minimize stressors, including parasitism.

Provide adequate protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. If possible, prepare the host with two doses of commercially available M. bovis (regardless of label) and M. bovoculi vaccine.

Dr. Lowell Midla is a technical services veterinarian for Merck Animal Health. Prior to joining Merck Animal Health, he served 24 years as a practicing veterinarian and 15 years teaching at Ohio State University Veterinary School.

NEONATAL CALF DIARRHEA: A SYSTEMS APPROACH

By Gerald Stokka, DVM, MS, Extension Veterinarian/Livestock Stewardship Specialist, North Dakota State University

T

& Dale Grotelueschen, DVM, MS, Emeritus Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

he traditional view of neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD, calf scours) could be described as a serious condition searching for an infectious causal agent. Traditionally, once the agent is identified, then treatment and preventive measures are implemented to reduce the impact of the current outbreak. Reduction of risk for occurrence during the following birthing and early in life season may or may not be addressed. There are numerous peer reviewed articles related to NCD. The majority of these are related to the infectious agent, passive immunity, pathogenesis, vaccination, and treatment.

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Additional references to NCD refer to imbalances in a system that create the environment conducive for calf exposure, stress at calving, plus the genetic selection choices that are conducive for NCD to flourish. A system is defined as a group of interacting bodies under the influence of related forces. Examples of force in a cowcalf system include capital, labor, weather, geographical location, and management expertise, including animal husbandry, nutrition, genetic selection, and preventive health measures. The more appropriate response to outbreaks of NCD must be to examine the system and implement changes to the system rather than a focus on individual pathogens.

Pathogens commonly associated with NCD include bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Bacterial agents include Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella species. Common viral pathogens are rotavirus and coronavirus, while protozoa pathogens include Cryptosporidium parvum and in calves more than three weeks of age, Eimeria bovis and zuerneii. The pathophysiology related to these organisms results in two basic mechanisms: secretory diarrhea such as in ETEC (enterotoxigenic E.coli) or malabsorption such as in rotavirus and coronavirus infections of the intestinal tract.

Treatment of the calf regardless of the mechanism focused on replacing fluid and electrolyte loss. The seriousness of fluid and electrolyte loss is compounded by the lack of energy intake. Unless signs and symptoms of septicemia are present, the benefit of the use of 22 cow-calf

antibiotics is questionable. Disease results from damage to the intestinal tract, especially the lining, resulting from progression of the infections. Frequently two or more pathogens are found in cases of NCD. Vaccination of the calf and/or the dam has been widely recommended. Vaccination of the dam involves administering specific antigenic material related to bacterial and viral agents. When given three to six weeks prior to the beginning of the calving season, the immunity produced is provided to the calf via the colostrum. The vaccine labels for use vary with available products, but in most instances, a two-dose regimen is recommended in the first year of use. Antibodies and other immune components are passed to the nursing calf through colostrum in the first 24 hours of life and can decrease the risk of infection against the pathogens listed on the label. Due to the number of variables related to nursing behavior and length of the calving season, there can be wide variability in the ability of the calf to nurse and absorb passive immunity and thus demonstrate protection.

The following are considerations regarding NCD, but also the stewardship of all health aspects, including handling, product use, and antimicrobial use. Our objective as veterinarians serving cow-calf clients is to frame the use of products in the following context: 1. Use only those products deemed necessary (risk) to help ensure good health and productivity outcomes.

2. Use only those products deemed to be effective according to label use.

3. Use only those products deemed to be safe to use according to label use.

As an example, many herds practice annual cow vaccination to reduce the risk of infection and clinical disease related to NCD. The initial year of this protocol involves cows and heifers given two doses of an NCD vaccine product. The protocol may involve the first dose administered 12 weeks prior to calving and the booster dose given 3 to 6 weeks prior to calving. Thus, the second dose is injected into heavily pregnant cows, at least those bred in the first cycle of the breeding season.

Immunity or protection from disease in calves is dependent upon adequate absorption of colostrum. Absorption has been shown to be quite variable in individual calves in beef herds. Calves born in the first cycle of the calving season would presumably receive a greater benefit of the specific immune response to the vaccines. Passive transfer of specific immunity to later born calves may not receive the same benefit. The economic pressure of losing calves to NCD often outweighs the concern of administering vaccines to late third trimester cows. The risk has been given priority over vaccine reactions, endotoxin reactions, and abortions due to handling. This logic does not consider reducing risk through the management of other aspects of the system.

The systems approach to the prevention of NCD must include the evaluation of all aspects of the system. As it 24 cow-calf

relates to pathogens, the objective is to reduce shedding, exposure, and exposure dose, and to increase space. Pertaining to stress, the objective is to reduce weather stress by utilizing confinement facilities or by moving the calving season to a late spring or fall calving season, and to reduce calving stress through the use of expected progeny differences (EPDs) related to birthweight (BW), calving ease direct (CED), and calving ease maternal (CEM). The objective regarding passive immunity is to enhance mothering ability and select for teat and udder conformation and adequate milk, with consideration of the age of the dam. Finally, the objective of biosecurity is to limit new introductions into the herd of calving age females, at least within six months of calving.

Specifically, the cow-calf system requires evaluation of management decisions regarding the overall approach to animal health and well-being. The following are system components that require consideration not only for NCD, but also for stewardship of livestock and sustainability of the operation.

1. Calving Season Date a. Is the calving date selected to reduce risk of inclement weather and reduce stress? This approach reduces stress to cow and calf, increases the space for each birthing cow, and reduces the chances of exposure, infectious dose, and labor. b. Is the calving date selected to avoid interfering

with crop production? This decision is related to labor needs and relates to adult cows needing personal attention to the birthing process. c. Is the calving date selected to enhance weaning weight and a specific marketing date in the calendar year? This is an economic decision and changes to this mindset require reconsideration of number of live calves sold vs. pounds of calf sold per cow.

2. Genetic Selection Pressure a. Is the selection pressure focused on mature cow size and reduced inputs? Cows that match the environment should result in reduced feed costs per cow, more cows on the same property, and more live calves to sell. b. Is the selection pressure focused on CED, CEM, and BW, with adequate growth dependent on geography and rainfall? This is related to reducing dystocia. Dystocia (calving difficulty) impacts calf vigor, with increased time to nurse, a decrease in colostrum absorption and increased risk of developing NCD. In addition, selecting for moderation in the EPD traits for calving difficulty reduces the need for labor necessary to assist the birthing process and yet producing more pounds and more calves sold. c. Is the selection pressure focused on weaning weight (WW) EPDs or yearling weight (YW) EPDs, with higher numbers being favorable?

This selection pressure over time yields increases in mature size, increased feed costs, and increased pressure on permanent pastures unless a reduction in cow numbers is the result. d. Is the selection pressure focused on milk EPDs, with higher numbers being favorable?

This selection pressure will lead to an increase in energy requirements for the cow herd and less resilience in years of rainfall shortages.

3. Nutrition of the Cow herd a. Is the nutrition of the cow herd designed to meet the nutritional needs of the cow herd with a focus on feed costs? This includes practical and economic decisions. Cows that match the environment will have lower energy requirements to maintain adequate body condition score (BCS).

b. Is the nutrition of the cow herd designed to meet the nutritional needs of the cow herd with a focus on providing feed to overcome high maintenance requirements? This nutritional approach may include some seedstock operations and should be avoided by commercial operations.

4. Labor a. Is the labor force sufficient to manage from 500-1,000 cows per person? Beef cows should work for the rancher, not the rancher working for the cow. b. Is the labor force sufficient and are facilities adequate to manage and house calving beef cows during inclement weather, cold, wet, mud, and snow? Facilities and labor are a considerable expense, and animal health becomes an important issue when the calving season is not matched to the environment.

Beef cow operations should be managed with good stewardship principles – principles that relate to the conservation of resources, soil, water, livestock, and people.

In relationship to livestock, animal health and well-being are of primary importance. Neonatal calf diarrhea is a condition that requires a systems approach to reducing the risk of occurrence and loss and enhancing the profitability and productivity of the cow-calf business.

References __________________

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2.

3.

4.

5.

Smith, G. W. (2009). Treatment of calf diarrhea: oral fluid therapy. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 25(1), 55-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.cvfa.2008.10.006.

Constable, P. D. (2004). Antimicrobial use in the treatment of calf diarrhea. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 18(1), 8-17. https://doi.org/10.1111 j.19391676.2004.tb00129.x.

Smith, D. R., Grotelueschen, D., Knott, T., & Ensley, S. (2003, December). Managing to alleviate calf scours: the Sandhills calving system. In Range Beef Cow Symposium (p. 70). https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/rangebeef cowsymp.

Barry, J., Bokkers, E. A., Berry, D. P., de Boer, I. J., McClure, J., & Kennedy, E. (2019). Associations between colostrum management, passive immunity, calf-related hygiene practices, and rates of mortality in preweaning dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 102(11), 10266-10276. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16815.

Maier, G. U., Breitenbuecher, J., Gomez, J. P., Samah, F., Fausak, E., & Van Noord, M. (2022). Vaccination for the spring 2023 | pacdvms.com

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prevention of neonatal calf diarrhea in cow-calf operations: a scoping review. Veterinary and Animal Science, 100238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2022.100238.

Murray, C. F., Fick, L. J., Pajor, E. A., Barkema, H. W., Jelinski, M. D., & Windeyer, M. C. (2016). Calf management practices and associations with herd-level morbidity and mortality on beef cow-calf operations. Animal, 10(3), 468477. https://doi.org/10.1017/ S1751731115002062.

Homerosky, E. R., Timsit, E., Pajor, E. A., Kastelic, J. P., & Windeyer, M. C. (2017). Predictors and impacts of colostrum consumption by 4 h after birth in newborn beef calves. The Veterinary Journal, 228, 1-6. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.09.003.

Heins, B. J., Ziegler, D., Schimek, D., Schuling, S. E., Ziegler, B., Chester-Jones, H., De Ondarza, M. B., Sniffen, C. J., & Broadwater, N. (2016). 1244 Relationships between birth season versus early life starter intake and growth and first lactation performance of Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Animal Science, 94(suppl_5), 599-599. https://doi.org/10.2527/jam2016-1244.

Waldner, C. L., & Rosengren, L. B. (2009). Factors associated with serum immunoglobulin levels in beef calves from Alberta and Saskatchewan and association between passive transfer and health outcomes. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 50(3), 275-281.

Smith, D. R. (2012). Field disease diagnostic investigation of neonatal calf diarrhea. Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice, 28(3), 465-481. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.cvfa.2012.07.010

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Novo, S. M. F., dos Reis Costa, J. F., Baccili, C. C., Sobreira, N. M., Silva, B. T., de Oliveira, P. L., Hurley, D. J., & Gomes, V. (2017). Effect of maternal cells transferred with colostrum on the health of neonate calves. Research in Veterinary Science, 112, 97-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.rvsc.2017.01.025.

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Wittum, T. E., Salman, M. D., King, M. E., Mortimer, R. G., Odde, K. G., & Morris, D. L. (1994). The influence of neonatal health on weaning weight of Colorado, USA beef calves. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 19(1), 15-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-5877(94)90011-6.

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Al-Alo, K. Z. K., Nikbakht Brujeni, G., Lotfollahzadeh, S., Moosakhani, F., & Gharabaghi, A. (2018). Correlation between neonatal calf diarrhea and the level of maternally derived antibodies. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research, 19(1), 3-8.

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Conneely, M., Berry, D. P., Murphy, J. P., Lorenz, I., Doherty, M. L., & Kennedy, E. (2014). Effect of feeding colostrum at different volumes and subsequent number of transition milk feeds on the serum immunoglobulin G concentration and health status of dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(11), 6991-7000. https://doi.org/10.3168/ jds.2013-7494.

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Larson, R. L., & Tyler, J. W. (2005). Reducing calf losses in beef herds. Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice, 21(2), 569-584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2005.02.009.

Dr. Gerald L. Stokka is a member of the NDSU Animal Science faculty. His position is Extension Veterinarian/Livestock Stewardship Specialist. He has responsibilities in providing state-wide leadership to the extension system, producers, and veterinarians to be a resource for information and applied research regarding all aspects of livestock health, best practices, behavior, well-being, handling, and animal-environmental interactions, although primarily focused on the beef cattle industry. In addition, his mission is to articulate livestock husbandry and production/sustainability practices to agriculture and non-agricultural audiences. Stokka has led hundreds of continuingeducation meetings for producers, consumers, and veterinarians across the country. He is a twoplus term director and a past president for the Academy of Veterinary Consultants and a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association, North Dakota Veterinary Medical Association, American Society of Animal Science, North Dakota Stockman Association, and National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Dr. Dale Grotelueschen enjoys working with the beef industry, including producers and veterinarians, in areas including beef health systems management, preventive health and production management, and diagnostic investigations. He has enjoyed private practice ownership, university positions focused on extension, diagnostics and administration, and industry technical services.

He is active in organized veterinary medicine, currently serving as President of the Academy of Veterinary Consultants Foundation. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for over 50 years, are parents of 2 adult daughters, and reside in Harvard, Nebraska.

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PAC MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS••••••••

CLAYTON THORSON, DVM Towner Animal Health Clinic Towner, North Dakota Dr. Clayton Thorson graduated from Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. He and his wife, who is also a veterinarian, have owned and operated Towner Animal Health Clinic, a mixed animal practice in his hometown of Towner, North Dakota, since 2014. With a focus on core values of client education and dependability, they practice within an approximately 60-mile radius in the Northern Plains region in north-central North Dakota. The region consists of sandhills, prairie potholes, and flood plains.

Growing up on a beef cow-calf ranch, Dr. Thorson decided to become a veterinarian to follow his passion for the agriculture industry and the people. He appreciates working with clients and the challenges that they put before him, as well as working with livestock and horses and learning their behavior, both normal and abnormal.

Dr. Thorson credits grit for helping him to achieve his goal of becoming a veterinarian. He shared, “Several years ago, I watched a TED Talk by psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth in which she spoke about her research on the strongest predictor for success. Her research clearly showed that grit was the number one deciding factor in predicting success within any field, business, or sport. I couldn’t agree more. Since watching that video, I have always tried to share it with young people.”

MIKE GAMBLE, DVM Uinta Veterinary Services Roosevelt, Utah Dr. Mike Gamble’s practice, Uinta Veterinary Services, is nestled in the southern foothills of the largest mountains in Utah, the Uinta Mountains, and situated on the border of the Uintah-Ouray Indian Reservation. The practice is based in Roosevelt, Utah, and serves clients over about 3,100 square miles, focused primarily on about 900 square miles.

Dr. Gamble loves to brainstorm and dream and then break those dreams down into actionable steps and watch things grow from the ground up. He has applied this many times while building his practice, and adding expertise and services to help their clients. He and his team strive to embody the core values of faith, heart, humility, service, fun, family, education, and communication.

Like many veterinarians, Dr. Gamble has more than one story involving a rowdy bull. In addition to the excitement and variability of veterinary practice, he really enjoys having fun and helping people reach their production goals. He shared, “I love the ‘salt-of-the-earth’ people that I get to work with. I love being out in the truck traveling from ranch to ranch and taking in God’s creation. I love the lifelong friendships that come when I am able to make little adjustments to people’s management plans and see big results. For instance, instituting the Sandhills Calving Rotation mentality has saved a lot of calves and elevated me to ‘hero’ status. (Just a little humor there!) All kidding aside, it really has created lifelong friendships with amazing people that I would invite to Sunday dinner anytime.” spring 2023 | pacdvms.com

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O

ver three years ago, I wrote a book on hiring. At the time of writing, I had spent 10 years acquiring the knowledge and expertise necessary to write it. I wrote the book in an effort to fill a void I experienced as a leader, which was a lack of resources about how to successfully hire people. But as I was writing the book, the environment in the workforce reached a

By Nels Lindberg, DVM, Production Animal Consultation

ARE WE ACCEPTING MEDIOCRITY? new level of scarcity with fewer and fewer people coming in the door to apply for a job. My mind had already shifted past hiring to thinking about how to retain the team members we do have. As leaders, we can think of people over the course of our careers that we wish we never would have lost.

Fifteen to twenty years ago, it may not have been a big deal because it was simpler to find new team members to replace them. Today, not so much.

My mind had already shifted past hiring to thinking about how to retain the team members we do have.

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I have had more conversations than ever with leaders about what we are willing to put with in order to keep people on our teams.

Over the past several years and particularly in the last two years, I have had more conversations than ever with leaders about what we are willing to put up with in order to keep people on our teams. A few months ago, I was at a feedyard talking to a cowboy bunk-side when he shared his concerns about one of his teammates being late every day. He was unhappy about it, and it seemed like leadership wasn’t doing anything about it. As we were talking, the cowboy in question showed up at 8:00 am, driving past us en route to the horse barn. As you can imagine, the manager knew this was taking place but wasn’t sure how to handle it. They were significantly short on help. The non-compliant cowboy was a good hand and did good work. He was just routinely late.

Can you think of a team member like this? A team

member that performs the expectations of the job very well for the most part but has one significant behavioral trait that does not meet the team’s needs or really annoys you? Maybe they show up late periodically, or they aren’t the best team player and ride off by themselves with their own plan. Perhaps they create drama by talking badly about others when they are oneon-one horseback, riding down the alley. Or maybe they are always sick on the really cold days. Do any of those scenarios sound familiar? Have you also found yourself negotiating with yourself, “Just what am I willing to accept out of this person because I need the help!?”

Each of you reading this article knows this is a common problem and a challenge for yourself and for your leaders. The following is an attempt to give you some key items to consider, discuss, and put into action. This list will help set some boundaries and a bare minimum set of standards that all team members must meet to stay on your incredible team! Remember, we have to address the issue; otherwise, those team members that “catch you bunk-side” and make their concerns known will leave us. We must do something, or at least let them know we are working on a path forward to address their concerns.

1. Install two of John Wooden’s three rules: Never be late. Never criticize a teammate. If you want two bare minimum rules to apply to any team, these are two that won’t fail you. The start of the day sets the tone for the yard. If we have people arriving late and not holding up their end of the bargain, they can’t be on the team. In the situation I shared above, we took action that day to address the team member’s

30 leadership

lateness. We applied focus and had frank and candid conversations with him. This same cowboy is now on time! If we want any level of quality teamwork, we must ask our people to respect each other, no matter their opinions or likeability. No one should ever criticize a teammate. Criticizing one teammate to another teammate is simply gossip and only further destroys them and the team. We can’t have that, and we need to install this very basic fundamental rule with our teams.

2. Write down the non-negotiable, unacceptable behaviors that drive you nuts and focus on eliminating them with your team. Personally, I absolutely cannot tolerate moody people, especially on Monday mornings. Therefore, we make that known to those we hire. We tell them, “If you are moody and aren’t a morning person, you won’t want to work here.” Mood is a choice! This is just a personal example of one of my non-negotiable, unacceptable behaviors. For my mental health, I don’t need them around.

What are your non-negotiable, unacceptable behaviors and those of the other leaders in your organization? Identify them as a team and focus on eliminating them.

3. Establish the boundaries for success. Once you have identified the bare minimum boundaries, meet with the team, review them, and make them known. Set the tone to make sure they know that we are looking to get better and grow as individuals and as a team. We work on animal health every day, and we must also work on the health of our teams. Inform them of the consequences of not staying within the boundaries. If we want everyone on our team to be successful and to be great at what they do, we all must stay within the boundaries.

4. Communicate routinely with daily or weekly check-ins. Once this process has been initiated, the real work has just begun. I recommend you check in daily, or weekly at a minimum, and continue to instill the boundaries. I also recommend

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you hang up some signage as reminders. Point out and talk through the signage with each daily and weekly check-in. It doesn’t stop. And one year later, when you think it is fully instilled, you still can’t stop. It is routine, and it never ends. It should always be talked about. You can’t expect what you don’t inspect, but you can’t expect what you don’t routinely communicate.

5. Incentivize or reward good behavior. I am the worst person to ask about reward or incentive programs. I would recommend making it simple.

If a team member meets the standard on a challenging day, go give her a one-hundred-dollar bill. If a team member gets off his horse and washes a water tank in a new pen of cattle, give him a one-hundred-dollar bill. If the whole team culture seems to be improving, give them each a one-hundred-dollar bill. Make culture a goal for 2023 and revisit the goal weekly with the team. In one year, if the goal of being a team with great culture is met, give them all an extra $1,000.

6. Set the standard, execute the standard, and be the standard. One feedyard I have known for quite some time set the standard years ago through great leadership. And years later, they still execute the standard. The standard of excellence is well known and has been carried on for years. This is the type of excellence you all can do. This is the journey you can set upon if you so desire. Set it, execute it, be it!

If you are reading this article, I know you don’t really accept mediocrity today. I believe you have destroyed mediocrity yourself, likely in many areas of your life.

Maybe you started as a kid or when you first started in the feedyard industry. Or maybe you were a little bit of a 32 leadership

late bloomer and had some troubles early on in your life or career but are now charging forward. The fact is, we may have to make some concessions as a leader, but I do believe with intense focus, we can set some bareminimum, non-negotiable boundaries, install them, communicate them routinely, use them as we hire and coach our people, and reward our incredible team members for carrying them out. Set the standard. Execute the standard. Be the standard! And remember, the best way to improve your team is to improve yourself!

Dr. Nels Lindberg is a people coach, team coach, business coach, and keynote speaker, available 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.

FIVE POINTS OF ANIMAL HEALTH EVALUATION: NEUROLOGICAL HEALTH

By Jose Valles, MS, Production Animal Consultation

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n previous issues of Protein Producers, we talked 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 prior issues, we discussed lameness, digestive, and respiratory health; in this article, we will address the most common neurological issues.

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When we enter a pen of cattle, it is important to take a few seconds to look over the entire group of cattle to observe their behavior and identify any obvious cases that may need immediate attention. As we move through the pen, it is crucial that we get all cattle up and ask them to move a reasonable distance or time that will allow us to make a careful evaluation to identify any possible neurological disorders. The distance or time the animal is asked to be in motion should be sufficient to identify symptoms such as improper head tilting, improper balance when in movement, circling, seizures, and in some cases, aggressive behavior.

Some of the most common neurological diseases found in feedlot cattle include listeriosis, thromboembolic meningoencephalitis (TEME), polioencephalomalacia (PEM), and nervous coccidiosis.

Listeriosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive bacterium that can survive with or without oxygen in a wide range of temperatures. Both soil and the gastrointestinal tracts of mammals serve as reservoirs for the bacterium, and transmission occurs when cattle ingest vegetation or feedstuffs that have been contaminated via soil or feces.

Listeriosis in feedlots most commonly occurs during the winter and spring months. Spoiled silage has a higher pH level, creating an environment conducive to replication of L. monocytogenes. Listeriosis outbreaks can occur 10 days or more after such silage is fed to cattle. Encephalitis or meningoencephalitis is the most common form of listeriosis seen in cattle and can affect cattle of any age. Lesions on the brain stem cause dysfunction of 36 feedlot

nerve nuclei, leading to clinical signs including anorexia, depression, disorientation, salivation, and facial paralysis often on one side affecting the ear, eyelid, lip, and muzzle. An affected animal may drive itself to a corner of the pen, lean against the fence or another stationary object, or move in a circular pattern, turning toward the affected side.

When the animal eats, it may accumulate feed inside the cheek of the affected side since the muscles used for chewing are paralyzed. Severely affected cattle will fall and become nonambulatory. Listeria can also cause abortion and septicemia in cattle.

Another neurological disease seen in feedlot operations is thromboembolic meningoencephalitis (TEME). TEME affects cattle ages 6 months to 2 years and is caused by Histophilus somni, a gram-negative bacterium that can also cause respiratory disease, arthritis, and abortion in cattle. H. somni enters the body via the respiratory system, then migrates to affect the nervous system. The onset of TEME is often rapid, resulting in acute death. In cases with slower progression, affected animals can present stiffness, abnormal posture, lameness, and posterior incoordination or weakness. Affected animals may become non-ambulatory and depressed or comatose. Other clinical signs of TEME include fever, ataxia, opisthotonos, strabismus, nystagmus, blindness, hyperesthesia, and periodic convulsions.

Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) is another common neurological disease in feedlot cattle. Adult cattle are less likely to be affected than younger cattle. Thiamine deficiency and sulfur toxicity are the two most probable causes of PEM in feedlot operations. PEM can also be caused by lead poisoning, sodium toxicity, and water deficiency. Feedlot cattle are at higher risk for PEM caused by sulfur toxicity due to their exposure to higher levels of sulfur in the high concentration diets that they are generally fed. They are also at risk for PEM caused by thiamine deficiency because thiamine produced by rumen microbes can be reduced as a result of highconcentrate feed consumption. PEM can produce acute or subacute effects. In acute cases of PEM, affected

animals can present blindness, tonic-clonic seizures, recumbency, and coma. In subacute cases, clinical signs can include separation from other animals, anorexia, ear and face spasms, elevated head position, cortical blindness, dorsomedial strabismus, ataxia, hypermetria, opisthotonos, head pressing, and grinding of teeth.

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease affecting cattle. In cattle, it is caused by coccidia, which are protozoan parasites, of the genus Eimeria. Species E. alabamensis, E. auburnensis, E. bovis, and E. zuernii are most commonly associated with clinical disease. While coccidiosis often presents as a digestive disease affecting the intestinal tract of cattle, some cattle present with neurological symptoms (nervous coccidiosis), most commonly in winter. Clinical signs of nervous coccidiosis include incoordination, loss of balance, muscle twitches, hyperesthesia, tonic-clonic seizures, and nystagmus.

Handling or other stressors may induce seizures, and the animal may recover and act normally after a seizure.

When evaluating cattle for neurological diseases, it is important to know recent history. It is very important to properly move all cattle within the pen as cattle with early stages of neurological disease can be difficult to identify. Note-taking is essential when pulling a sick animal from a pen as this will help guide the doctoring crew to a better case definition to provide proper treatment and follow up. It is very important to wear gloves when making contact with or evaluating chute-side cattle that present clinical signs of neurological disease because some neurological diseases are zoonotic and can be a risk to human safety.

Resources __________________

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Constable PD. Listeriosis in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. October 2022. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/generalizedconditions/listeriosis/listeriosis-in-animals

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Sheppard G, de la Concha-Bermejilla A. Bovine Thrombotic Meningocephalitis. September 2020.

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/2020/09/14/bovinethrombotic-meningoncephalitis/

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Lincoln SD. TEME in Feeder Cattle. Extension Beef Cattle Resource Committee, Beef Cattle Handbook BCH-3515. https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/bch/TEME.pdf

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•

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•

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Lévy, M. Polioencephalomalacia in Ruminants.

October 2022. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/ nervous-system/polioencephalomalacia/polioencephalomalacia-in-ruminants Sulfur Toxicity. Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Veterinary Diagnostic & Production Animal Medicine. https://vetmed.iastate.edu/vdpam/research/disease-topics/toxicology/sulfur-toxicity Richards C, Step DL, Giedt EJ. Coccidiosis Treatment and Prevention in Cattle. October 2016.

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service VTMD9129. https://extension.okstate.edu/factsheets/coccidiosis-treatment-and-prevention-incattle.html Andrews, A. Coccidiosis of Cattle. October 2022. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestivesystem/coccidiosis/coccidiosis-of-cattle Hauptmeier LD. Nervous Coccidiosis in Calves.

April 1997. Iowa Beef Center. https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/Health/nervousc occidiosis.pdf

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 50. spring 2023 | pacdvms.com

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CYBERCRIMES ARE ON THE RISE: WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE IN 2023

By Richard Fleeman, Fortreum, LLC

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re you worried about the cybersecurity of your livestock or agricultural business? If you aren’t or haven’t thought about it, you should! Cyberattacks are continuing to trend upward, and small- to medium-sized businesses are an increasingly tempting target for cybercriminals. Small businesses often dismiss the need for cybersecurity protections, or they lack the budget, or they simply haven’t thought about it.

The vulnerable nature of these small businesses is why they are the next big target for cybercriminals.

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This means everyone, whether they recognize it or not, is in a constant state of risk of suffering damages inflicted by these cybercriminals.

On an annual basis, Verizon publishes a Data Breach Investigations Report, which outlines that there was a 13% increase in the number of breaches or system compromises in 2022. Of all the breaches investigated, 82% of these are contributed to some sort of human element such as a phishing attack. Phishing is a technique that attackers will use to steal your username and passwords (credentials) to financial or other systems by sending cleverly crafted emails or text messages (SMS). The report goes on to highlight that 96% of all breaches are financially motivated. To put this in common terms, we live in an age where organized crime has moved from the city streets to the digital back alleys of our daily lives. This means everyone, whether they recognize it or not, is in a constant state of risk of suffering damages inflicted by these cybercriminals.

Over the last year, the FBI has released a series of statements warning agricultural co-ops that they could be the next target for ransomware attacks. Highly motivated attackers will target critical supply chains 40 industry

because they know this will elicit a response, typically monetary in nature. We know that protein producers and farmers are at ‘the root’ of the food chain, and production now more than ever is being driven by technology, which is constantly changing and controls everything from plotting and planting crops to watering and feeding livestock. When the systems that control these functions are compromised, the interruptions can be potentially crippling.

At this point, you might be thinking, “I run a feedyard,” or “I am a small ag producer. What can I do?” Understandably so. Most small businesses are very tightly run; however, one wrong click or submission of data could put your entire business at risk. With this in mind, I want to outline some simple measures which can be put into practice to help safeguard your business and keep production moving: • Security Awareness Training – Educate your employees on the basics of security awareness and things to be cautious about such as phishing

attacks over email and text, and practice good internet usage by avoiding clicking on links or opening files that you aren’t sure about where they originated even if they look legitimate. Often these files contain ransomware or malware.

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Antivirus and Malware Software – Make use of the native protective measures for your computer, such as Windows Defender. Additionally, there are several programs on the market that will detect and quarantine malware and protect you from common website attacks. These programs can be purchased and installed on your computers and mobile devices.

Data Backups – Be sure you have all important data backed up to a location that is independent of your office or house. This will ensure you have a clean copy in the event you fall victim to ransomware or malware. Perform periodic full backups of this data (two to three revisions) on a regular cadence.

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Password Management – Use a password vault to generate and store unique passwords for all websites and systems (such as 1Password or Bitwarden). Do not reuse the same password on different systems or websites because, in the event a password becomes compromised, it will be limited to only that website or system since you are using unique passwords.

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Protect Your Personal Data – Do not unintentionally disclose information that attackers can use to reset your passwords or use to gain access to systems. This is quite common on social media channels where people participate and post facts

about themselves – i.e., birthday, favorite seasons or foods, first vehicle, where you were born, etc.

This information is often used as part of a password recovery process and attackers generate these seemingly harmless games on social media to build a profile on your personal data.

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Multifactor Authentication (MFA) – Use MFA on all mission-critical or financial systems where possible. This will help prevent unauthorized access if someone were to have your username and password. For example, multifactor authentication can consist of a username and password combination (something you know) with either an SMS or email code (something you have).

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Software Updates – Install any available updates to your operating systems and software. These updates usually include fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can leverage to gain access to your system.

Following these best practices will strengthen your defensive position and you will be less susceptible to common cyberattacks. For additional information, the Small Business Administration has resources for small businesses at https://www.sba.gov/ business-guide/ manage-your-business/strengthen-yourcybersecurity.

Sources __________________

https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/ https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2021/09/fbi-tlpwhite-pin-cyber-criminal-actors-targeting-food-agriculturesector-ansomware-attacks-9-1-21.pdf

Richard Fleeman is a Director at Fortreum, LLC and is responsible for supporting a wide variety of customers in both the public and private sectors. Richard’s team provides offensive security services including network penetration testing, application penetration testing, and social engineering services. Richard has over 25 years of Information Technology and Information Security experience including application and network security assessments, security architecture design and implementation, incident response, vulnerability management, configuration management, as well as business continuity and disaster recovery planning. Before joining Fortreum, Richard was responsible for running a variety of teams focused on both compliance and offensive-based vulnerability management services. Richard maintains the following certifications: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN), and Offensive Security Wireless Professional (OSWP). spring 2023 | pacdvms.com

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FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

By Shaun Morris, BVSc (Hons), MSc Agric, Octavoscene Pty Ltd

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oot and mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that can have significant economic impacts on farming operations affected by this disease. The disease affects cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and other clovenhoofed ruminants. The virus is an aphthovirus belonging to the Picornoviridae family. There are seven strains (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia1) which are endemic in different countries worldwide. Type C has been eradicated. The South African strains are SAT1, SAT2 and SAT3, with type O ever encroaching on our borders as our neighboring countries face the challenge of the O type.

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signs developed. The development of serum neutralizing antibodies is very rapid following clinical disease and vaccination.

Transmission and spread

In a South African setting, the main reservoir for footand-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). Buffalo are persistently infected with FMDV, which sits latently in the nasopharynx and oropharynx. There are specific predilection sites which harbor the virus. In a South African setting, transmission of FMD occurs at the wildlife-cattle interface around the Kruger National Park and other national parks, where cattle frequently graze next to buffalo inside the wildlife reserve. The cattle belonging to the rural communities are often led to graze in the national park due to the lack of grazing in the surrounding rural communities. It is this close contact between buffalo and domestic cattle that leads to the frequent outbreaks of FMD in South Africa’s cattle population.

Foot and mouth disease is characterized by pyrexia in the acute phase of the disease process. Blister-like vesicles on the tongue, in the mouth, and between the claws develop shortly after the primary viremia, which eventually progress to erosions and ulcers at the forementioned anatomical sites. The disease has a high morbidity and low mortality with the SAT strains of the disease. With the A, O, C, and Asia1 strains, the mortality rate is significantly higher. The disease causes severe production losses, albeit for a brief period. Feedlot animals’ performance parameters such as dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) will be negatively affected; however, animals recover uneventfully 7 to 14 days after clinical 44 industry

FMD is found in all excretions and secretions from infected animals. This disease is highly contagious and can be spread via the following: • Animals infected with FMDV being introduced into a herd • Contaminated vehicles (cattle and feed trucks) • Contaminated clothing • Persons who have been on an FMD positive farm (The virus can remain viable in a human’s tonsillar crypts for up to two days and infect naïve animals.)

• Swill If you believe that you have been in contact with a clinical case or suspected clinical case, please isolate yourself for five days as the nucleic acid can remain viable on your clothing for an extended period.

Animals that have recovered from infection may sometimes carry the virus (in other words, become persistently infected) and initiate new outbreaks of the disease.

Clinical signs The severity of clinical signs will depend on the strain of virus, the viral load, and the host’s immunity.

Morbidity can reach 100% in naïve populations. In the case of recent outbreaks in South Africa, the disease was so mild that not all animals developed clinical signs, despite being positive on serological tests. Mortality is low in adult animals but higher in young calves, lambs, kids, and piglets. The incubation period can vary between 2 to 14 days.

Clinical signs can range from mild or inapparent to severe. They are more severe in cattle and intensively reared pigs than in sheep and goats.

The typical clinical sign is the occurrence of vesicles, erosions, and ulcers on the nose, tongue, lips, inside the

oral cavity, and in between the claws. Ruptured blisters can result in extreme lameness and reluctance to move or eat. Usually, the ulcers and erosions heal within 7 to 14 days after they develop.

Diagnostic aids and differential diagnosis There are several diagnostic aids to diagnose FMDV: 1. PCR of vesicular fluid (the gold standard) 2. PCR of tissue around oral erosions 3. Serology (It is imperative to wait 7 to 10 days for animal to seroconvert.)

Differential diagnosis should include: 1. Lumpy skin disease 2. Vesicular stomatitis 3. Bovine popular stomatitis 4. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease

Control Biosecurity is of the utmost importance. Those people that do not need to be in contact with the cattle must not be in contact with the cattle. There are several products commercially available to disinfect vehicles coming on the facility, and showering has now been implemented on many of the feedlots we consult. We have also established a questionnaire that requires completion prior to feedlot entry.

Movement control is critical! The movement of all cloven-hooved animals must be curtailed and enforced with immediate effect. If you have not stopped the spread within 48 hours, you have lost the battle.

Dr. Shaun Morris is a young, enthusiastic, highly motivated, strictly disciplined individual with a strong work ethic and a passion for his career path in veterinary science. His family are all veterinarians with soon to be a total of five. Honesty, integrity, and most of all humility are driving forces in his life.

South Africa poses a unique challenge with respect to veterinary medicine, with the region having a plethora of what would be considered foreign animal diseases in the United States. He works in an industry that contributes greatly to the economy of South Africa and is proud to say that they have a world class feedlot industry being pioneers in many respects. spring 2023 | pacdvms.com

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BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE: WHY IT MATTERS TO ALL PRODUCERS

By A.J. Tarpoff, DVM, MS, Associate Professor, Beef Extension Veterinarian, Kansas State University

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he Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program has evolved over the years.

What began as an educational program to increase consistent beef quality and safety has transformed into the industry guided and implemented cattle producer’s continuing education. Guidance for the BQA program has been driven by periodic National Beef Quality Audits and industry input. In the earlier years, the focus was on injection site lesions and volatile residue issues. Today, the BQA program functions as a nationally coordinated, state implemented, voluntary program that provides up to date Best Management Practices for all aspects of beef cattle production. Eighty-five percent of all U.S. beef comes from BQAcertified farmers and ranchers.

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Consumers’ confidence rises when they learn that the people who raise their food share a similar degree of dedication towards their profession.

Every cattle producer, regardless of where they are in the production chain, serves our beef purchasing and consuming customers. The US beef industry produces a high-quality wholesome product that is sold to every economic demographic in the United States and is often toted as the “King of Meats”. However, our consuming public in today’s age are most likely multiple generations removed from the family farm. This means that our average consumer may not have any understanding of how we raise cattle. The continuous Consumer Beef Tracker (funded by the Beef Checkoff) helps provide insight on what consumer perceptions are toward the beef we produce and how we do it. From that data, only 27% of consumers claim to be familiar with how cattle are raised for food. While consumers generally have a positive perception of beef (69%), perceptions on how we raise cattle for food are much lower with only a 46% positive perception. Of those that have concerns about cattle production, the main reason is overwhelmingly animal welfare (42%). In comparison, other key areas of concern we often hear about such as hormones, environment, and antibiotics were much lower on the list at 7%, 5%, and 5%, respectively. A recent research project (2019) was conducted to gauge those same consumer perceptions after learning about the BQA program. Positive consumer perception of how cattle are raised increased from 44% to 70% after learning about BQA. Continuing education is highly regarded in today's society and is typically reserved for certain professional fields such as medicine. Consumers’ confidence rises when they learn that the people who raise their food share a similar degree of dedication towards their profession.

While BQA does have very positive benefits in our consumers’ eyes, there are more direct reasons cattle producers should embrace the program. A 2019 study that Colorado State University conducted sought to quantify calf premiums from cattle sold by BQA certified producers. From 8,815 video auction lots sold on Western Video Market between 2010 and 2017, a premium was detected of $16.80/head that had BQA listed in the lot description.

Cattle producers’ commitment to the care and wellbeing of their animals 7 days a week, 365 days a year, through blizzards and droughts, showcases the pride they take in their work. BQA certification takes that 48 industry

commitment a step further in earning a certification that is recognized by buyers, fellow producers, and even our consumers. Certifications are valid for three years and can be obtained either through in-person trainings that are conducted by state BQA coordinators, or at any time through online modules. BQA certification trainings are an opportunity to learn practical tips and tidbits to improve from where you are today for a better tomorrow.

Training provides the framework to improve upon stockmanship and handling, simple facility upgrades, animal health and wellbeing, record keeping, nutrition, biosecurity, environmental stewardship, emergency action planning, and even transportation. If there are areas of your operation you would like to improve, chances are the BQA program, educators, or the BQA Manual can help facilitate those improvements. Don’t know where to start? There are even self-assessment tools that any producer can utilize to take a close look at their own operation and find areas to focus upon.

Contact information for state coordinators, online manuals, self-assessments, and online training certification modules can all be found at bqa.org. When it comes to raising cattle, the right way is the only way.

A.J. Tarpoff was born and raised in Edwardsville, Illinois. A.J.'s family owned and operated a beef processing plant and a steakhouse. He received his B.S. in Animal Science at Kansas State University in 2010. In 2012, he received his D.V.M. and M.S. in Biomedical Science at Kansas State University.

He spent four years in feedlot production practice before returning to his alma mater to serve as the Beef Extension Veterinarian in Kansas. A.J. has a 70% extension, 20% research, and 10% teaching appointment. He works closely with producers, practicing veterinarians, and members of industry to bring relevant extension and education that improves cattle health and the productivity of the beef industry.

This article has been translated to Spanish on page 58.

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

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n ediciones anteriores de Protein Producers, hemos hablado 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 médica, sino que también ayuda a promover la salud animal en las categorías de cojera, salud digestiva, salud respiratoria, salud neurológica y salud mental. En ediciones previas, hemos hablado sobre las categorías de cojera, salud respiratoria y salud digestiva; en este artículo, abordaremos los problemas neurológicos más comunes.

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Cuando ingresamos a un corral de ganado, es importante tomar unos segundos para mirar a todo el grupo de ganado para observar el comportamiento e identificar cualquier caso obvio que pueda necesitar atención inmediata. A medida que avanzamos a través el corral, es importante que levantemos todo el ganado y le pidamos que se mueva una distancia o tiempo razonable que nos permita realizar una evaluación cuidadosa para identificar posibles trastornos neurológicos. La distancia o el tiempo que se le pide al animal que esté en movimiento debe ser suficiente para identificar síntomas como la inclinación incorrecta de la cabeza, el equilibrio inadecuado cuando está en movimiento, girar o moverse en círculo, convulsiones y en algunos casos, comportamiento agresivo.

Algunas de las enfermedades neurológicas más comunes que se encuentran en el ganado de engorda incluyen listeriosis, meningoencefalitis tromboembólica (TEME, por sus siglas en inglés), polioencefalomalacia (PEM, por sus siglas en inglés) y coccidiosis nerviosa.

La listeriosis es una enfermedad infecciosa zoonótica causada por Listeria monocytogenes, una bacteria grampositiva que puede sobrevivir con o sin oxígeno en un amplio rango de temperaturas. Tanto el suelo como el tracto gastrointestinal de los mamíferos sirven como reservorios para la bacteria, y la transmisión ocurre cuando el ganado ingiere vegetación o alimentos que 52 corrales de engorda

han sido contaminados a través del suelo o heces. La listeriosis en las operaciones de corrales de engorda ocurre con mayor frecuencia durante los meses de invierno y primavera. El ensilaje podrido tiene un nivel de pH más alto, lo que crea un entorno propicio para la replicación de L. monocytogenes. Los brotes de listeriosis pueden ocurrir 10 días o más después de haber alimentado dicho ensilaje al ganado. La encefalitis o meningoencefalitis es la forma más común de listeriosis que se observa en el ganado y puede afectar al ganado de cualquier edad. Las lesiones en el tronco encefálico causan disfunción de los núcleos nerviosos, lo que produce signos clínicos que incluyen anorexia, depresión, desorientación, salivación, y parálisis facial a menudo en un lado afectando hasta la oreja, el párpado, el labio y el hocico. Un animal afectado puede dirigirse por si mismo hacia una esquina del corral, apoyarse contra la cerca u otro objeto estacionario o moverse en un patrón circular, girándose hacia el lado afectado. Cuando el animal come, puede acumular alimento dentro de la mejilla del lado afectado ya que los músculos que se utilizan para masticar están paralizados. El ganado severamente afectado se caerá y se volverá no ambulatorio.

La listeria también puede causar aborto y septicemia en el ganado.

Otra enfermedad neurológica que se observa en las operaciones de corrales de engorda es la meningo-

Cuando ingresamos a un corral de ganado, es importante tomar unos segundos para mirar a todo el grupo de ganado para observar el comportamiento e identificar cualquier caso obvio que pueda necesitar atención inmediata. encefalitis tromboembólica (TEME, por sus silgas en inglés). La meningoencefalitis tromboembólica afecta al ganado de 6 meses a 2 años de edad y es causada por Histophilus somni, una bacteria gramnegativa que también puede causar enfermedades respiratorias, artritis y aborto en el ganado. H. somni ingresa al cuerpo a través del sistema respiratorio, luego migra para afectar el sistema nervioso. El inicio de la meningoencefalitis tromboembólica con frecuencia es rápido, resultando en una muerte aguda. En casos de progresión más lenta, los animales afectados pueden presentar rigidez, postura anormal, cojera e incoordinación o debilidad posterior. Los animales afectados pueden volverse no ambulatorios y deprimidos o comatosos. Otros signos clínicos de la meningoencefalitis tromboembólica incluyen fiebre, ataxia, opistótonos, estrabismo, nistagmo, ceguera, hiperestesia y convulsiones periódicas.

La polioencefalomalacia (PEM, por sus siglas en inglés) es otra enfermedad neurológica común en el ganado de engorda. El ganado adulto tiene menos probabilidades de verse afectado que el ganado más joven.

La deficiencia de tiamina y la toxicidad de azufre son las dos causas más probables de polioencefalomalacia en las operaciones de corrales de engorda. La polioencefalomalacia también puede ser causada por envenenamiento de plomo, toxicidad de sodio y deficiencia de agua. El ganado de engorda tiene un mayor riesgo de polioencefalomalacia causada por la toxicidad de azufre debido a su exposición a niveles más altos de azufre en las dietas de alta concentración con las que generalmente se alimenta. También corren el riesgo de polioencefalomalacia causada por la deficiencia de tiamina porque la tiamina producida por los microbios del rumen puede reducirse como resultado del consumo de alimentos con alto contenido de concentrado. La polioencefalomalacia puede producir efectos agudos o subagudos. En casos agudos de polioencefalomalacia, los animales afectados pueden presentar ceguera, convulsiones tónico-clónicas, decúbito y coma. En casos subagudos, los signos clínicos pueden incluir separación de otros animales, anorexia,

espasmos en las orejas y la cara, posición elevada de la cabeza, ceguera cortical, estrabismo dorsomedial, ataxia, hipermetría, opistótonos, presión en la cabeza y rechinar de dientes.

La coccidiosis es una enfermedad parasitaria que afecta al ganado. En el ganado, es causada por coccidia, que son parásitos protozoarios del género Eimeria. Las especies E. alabamensis, E. auburnensis, E. bovis, y E. zuernii son las más comúnmente asociadas con enfermedad clínica. Aunque la coccidiosis a menudo se presenta como una enfermedad digestiva que afecta el tracto intestinal del ganado, algunos animales presentan síntomas neurológicos (coccidiosis nerviosa), más comúnmente en el invierno. Los signos clínicos de la coccidiosis nerviosa incluyen falta de coordinación, pérdida de equilibrio, espasmos musculares, hiperestesia, convulsiones tónico-clónicas y nistagmo.

El manejo u otros factores estresantes pueden inducir convulsiones y el animal puede recuperarse y actuar normalmente después de una convulsión.

Al evaluar ganado para detectar enfermedades neurológicas, es importante conocer un historial reciente del ganado. Es muy importante mover adecuadamente a todo el ganado dentro del corral, ya que el ganado con etapas iniciales de enfermedad neurológica puede ser difícil de identificar. Tomar notas es esencial cuando se saca un animal enfermo de un corral, ya que esto ayudará a guiar al equipo de doctores a una mejor definición de caso para proveer el tratamiento y el seguimiento adecuado. Es muy importante usar guantes al hacer contacto o al evaluar en prensa al ganado que presenta signos clínicos de enfermedad neurológica, debido a que algunas enfermedades neurológicas son zoonóticas y pueden presentar un riesgo para la seguridad humana.

Recursos: __________________

• Constable PD. Listeriosis in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. October 2022. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/generalizedconditions/listeriosis/listeriosis-in-animals spring 2023 | pacdvms.com

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• Sheppard G, de la Concha-Bermejilla A. Bovine Thrombotic Meningocephalitis. September 2020. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/2020/09/14/bovine-thromboticmeningoncephalitis/ • Lincoln SD. TEME in Feeder Cattle. Extension Beef Cattle Resource Committee, Beef Cattle Handbook BCH3515. https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/bch/TEME.pdf • Lévy, M. Polioencephalomalacia in Ruminants. October 2022. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/nervoussystem/polioencephalomalacia/polioencephalomalaciain-ruminants • Sulfur Toxicity. Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Veterinary Diagnostic & Production Animal Medicine. https://vetmed.iastate.edu/vdpam/research/diseasetopics/toxicology/sulfur-toxicity • Richards C, Step DL, Giedt EJ. Coccidiosis Treatment and Prevention in Cattle. October 2016. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service VTMD-9129. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/coccidiosistreatment-and-prevention-in-cattle.html • Andrews, A. Coccidiosis of Cattle. October 2022. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestivesystem/coccidiosis/coccidiosis-of-cattle • Hauptmeier LD. Nervous Coccidiosis in Calves. April 1997. Iowa Beef Center. https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/ Health/nervouscoccidiosis.pdf

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 Antonio y Matteo.

También disfruta montar un buen caballo, las carreras de caballos y cocinar bisteces a la parrilla.

Este artículo está disponible en inglés en la página 34.

RISA ENTRE DIENTES DESDE OZ LO PRIMERO ES LO PRIMERO “Si vendiera mi casa y mi auto, tuviera una gran venta de garaje y diera todo mi dinero a la iglesia, ¿entraría al cielo?” le pregunté a mi clase de escuela dominical. “¡No!” respondieron todos los niños.

“Si limpiara la iglesia todos los días, cortara el césped y mantuviera todo limpio y ordenado, ¿entraría al cielo?”

Una vez más, la respuesta fue “¡No!” “Bueno,” continúe, “entonces, ¿cómo puedo entrar al cielo?”

Un niño de cinco años gritó, “¡Tienes que estar muerto!” ¡Sigan sonriendo!

Un cordial saludo, Jane Sullivan Traducido por Jose Valles, MS, Production Animal Consultation 54 corrales de engorda

PAC MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS••••••••

DAVID RETHORST, DVM Beef Health Solutions Wamego, Kansas Dr. Dave Rethorst has been in veterinary practice for more than 44 years and has owned and operated Beef Health Solutions for the past 5 years. Based in the northern end of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Dr. Rethorst travels the northern half of Kansas plus small portions of eastern Colorado and south-central Nebraska. His practice is centered on four core values: caring, serving, leading, and empowering.

Dr. Rethorst shared, “My practice is unique in that I spend time in four practices, in addition to having a cow-calf clientele that I call my own. The time spent in the four practices is centered around mentoring young veterinarians in beef cattle production and population medicine. This takes on several forms including face-to-face mentoring, mentoring via numerous phone calls, helping with herd work, or in some cases, relief work so they can get some time away from the practice. At the end of the day, it is about helping young veterinarians with knowledge and skill sets that they were not comfortable with coming out of veterinary school.”

In many ways, Dr. Rethorst is following in the footsteps of his mentors in veterinary school: Dr. Dan Upson, Dr. Horst Leipold, and Dr. Al Edwards. He reflected, “All three were very willing to share their knowledge, told you what they really thought, and exhibited common sense and practicality.”

SPENCER THOMPSON, DVM Midwest Veterinary Services Marthasville, Missouri

After practicing veterinary medicine for six years, Dr. Spencer Thompson started his own ambulatory cattle practice, Midwest Veterinary Services, two years ago in Marthasville, Missouri. His practice covers the state of Missouri and parts of eastern Kansas.

Record keeping and client education are two passions of Dr. Thompson. He shared, “My goal is to have my clients be confident enough to make the correct medical evaluations and decisions when problems arise in their herds. We use accurate treatments in combination with records and analysis to increase profitability and sustainability.”

Dr. Thompson appreciates the people of the beef industry and enjoys spending each day with honest, hard-working men and women who have a passion for their land and livestock. He also likes the variety that comes with practicing veterinary medicine. “The variety is a blessing and a curse. Although never knowing what the next phone call will be keeps me from being on time, it does keep me from getting bored.”

He encourages other young veterinarians to be available to their clients. “Most of the time when the phone rings, it's a simple question that can be handled relatively quickly. Your clients are making their livelihood off those livestock. Take pride in the fact that they value your opinion and advice.”

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ASEGURAMIENTO DE LA CALIDAD DE LA CARNE: POR QUÉ ES IMPORTANTE PARA TODOS LOS PRODUCTORES Escrito por A.J. Tarpoff, DVM, MS, Associate Professor, Beef Extension Veterinarian, Kansas State University Traducido por Jose Valles, MS, Production Animal Consultation

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l programa Aseguramiento de la Calidad de la Carne (Beef Quality Assurance, BQA por sus siglas en inglés) ha ido evolucionando a lo largo de los años. Lo que comenzó como un programa educativo para aumentar la consistencia de la calidad y la seguridad de la carne de res se ha transformado en la educación continua de los productores de ganado guiada e implementada por la industria. La orientación del programa BQA ha sido impulsada por Auditorias Nacionales de la Calidad de la Carne realizadas de manera periódica y

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aportación de la industria. En los primeros años, el enfoque se centro en las lesiones de sitio de inyección y los problemas volátiles de residuos. Hoy en día, el programa BQA funciona como un programa voluntario coordinado a nivel nacional e implementado a nivel estatal que proporciona las Mejores Practicas de Manejo actualizadas para todos los aspectos de la producción de ganado de carne. Ochenta y cinco por ciento de toda la carne de res de los EE. UU. proviene de agricultores o ganaderos certificados por el programa BQA. Cada productor de ganado, independientemente de dónde se encuentren en la cadena de producción, sirven a nuestros clientes que compran y consumen carne de res. La industria de la carne de res de los EE. UU. produce un producto saludable de alta calidad que se vende a todos los grupos demográficos económicos de los Estados Unidos y a menudo se le considera como el “Rey de las Carnes”. Sin embargo, nuestro público consumidor en la época de hoy es más probable que esté alejado varias generaciones de la granja familiar. Esto significa que nuestro consumidor promedio puede no tener ningún conocimiento de cómo criamos ganado. El Consumer Beef Tracker continuo (financiado por Beef Checkoff) ayuda a proporcionar información sobre cuales son las percepciones de los consumidores sobre la carne de res que producimos y como lo hacemos. En base a esos datos, solo el 27% de los consumidores afirman estar familiarizados con la forma en como se cría el ganado para la producción de alimentos. Aunque los consumidores generalmente tienen una percepción positiva de la carne de res (69%), las percepciones sobre cómo criamos ganado para la producción de alimentos son mucho más bajas con tan solo un 46% de percepción positiva. De aquellos que tienen preocupaciones sobre la producción de ganado, la razón principal es abrumadoramente el bienestar animal (42%). En comparación, otras áreas claves de preocupación de las que a menudo escuchamos, como las hormonas, el medio ambiente y los antibióticos, estaban mucho más abajo en la lista

con un 7%, 5%, y 5%, respectivamente. Se llevó a cabo un proyecto de investigación recientemente (2019) para medir esas mismas percepciones de los consumidores después de aprender sobre el programa BQA. La percepción positiva del consumidor sobre cómo se cría el ganado aumentó del 44% al 70% después de aprender sobre el programa BQA. La educación continua es muy apreciada en la sociedad actual y por lo general se reserva para ciertos campos profesionales como la medicina. La confianza de los consumidores aumenta cuando se enteran que las personas que crían a los animales designados para la producción de sus alimentos comparten un grado similar de dedicación hacia su profesión.

Mientras el programa BQA tiene beneficios muy positivos en los ojos de nuestros consumidores, hay razones más directas por las que los productores de ganado deberían adoptar el programa. En el 2019 un estudio realizado por la Universidad Estatal de Colorado buscó cuantificar las primas generadas de becerros de ganado vendido por productores certificados por el programa BQA. De 8,815 lotes de subastas de video vendidos en Western Video Market entre los años 2010 y 2017, se detecto una prima de $16.80/cabeza que tenía BQA listado en la descripción del lote.

El compromiso de los productores de ganado con el cuidado y el bienestar de sus animales los 7 días de la semana, los 365 días del año, en tormentas de nieve y sequías, demuestra el orgullo que sienten por su trabajo.

La certificación del programa BQA lleva ese compromiso un paso más allá al obtener una certificación que es reconocida por compradores, compañeros productores e incluso nuestros consumidores. Las certificaciones son válidas por tres años y se pueden obtener a través de capacitaciones en persona realzadas por coordinadores estatales del programa BQA o en cualquier momento a través de módulos en línea. Las capacitaciones de la certificación del programa BQA son una oportunidad para aprender consejos prácticos y cosas pequeñas para mejorar de donde se encuentre hoy para un mañana

La confianza de los consumidores aumenta cuando se enteran que las personas que crían a los animales designados para la producción de sus alimentos comparten un grado similar de dedicación hacia su profesión.

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mejor. La capacitación proporciona el marco para mejorar la crianza y el manejo, actualizaciones simples de instalaciones, salud y bienestar animal, mantenimiento de registros, nutrición, bioseguridad, administración ambiental, planificación de acciones de emergencia e incluso el transporte. Si hay áreas de su operación que le gustaría mejorar, es probable que el programa BQA, los educadores o el Manual de BQA puedan ayudar a facilitar esas mejorías. ¿No sabe por dónde empezar? Incluso hay herramientas de autoevaluación que cualquier productor puede utilizar para observar de cerca su propia operación y encontrar áreas en las que puede enfocarse.

La información de contacto de los coordinadores estatales, los manuales en línea, las autoevaluaciones y los módulos de certificación de capacitación en línea se pueden encontrar en bqa.org. Cuando se trata de criar ganado, la forma correcta es la única.

Este artículo está disponible en inglés en la página 46.

A.J. Tarpoff nació y creció en Edwardsville, Illinois. La familia de A.J. era propietaria y operaba una planta procesadora de carne y un restaurante de cortes de carne. Recibió su licenciatura en zootecnia en la Universidad Estatal de Kansas en el 2010. En el 2012, recibió su doctorado en medicina veterinaria (D.V.M., por sus siglas en ingles) y una maestría en ciencia biomédica en la Universidad Estatal de Kansas. Paso cuatro años en la practica de producción de corrales de engorda antes de regresar a su alma máter para servir como veterinario de extensión de ganado de carne en Kansas. A.J. tiene un puesto de 70% de extensión, 20% de investigación, y 10% de docencia. Trabaja estrechamente con productores, veterinarios practicantes y miembros de la industria para brindar extensión y educación relevante para mejorar la salud del ganado y la productividad de la industria de la carne.

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THE BORDER COLLIE AND THE TRUNK

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

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hen most people take inventory, they can count on one hand the number of true friends they had at the end of their journey here on earth. Dedicated friends, the kind that call you for no reason sensing the need to just check in, friends who lend a listening ear of support in times of trouble, or friends who call just because you were on their mind are a special gift. True friendships transcend decades of time. Often you may not have spoken for months or even years and that special bond of a true friend reignites magically at hello, restoring lost time in an instant.

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Like most large animal practitioners, I can honestly say my quiver is filled with an abundance of dedicated friends. Friends I can call at 2:00 am with any need and they will be there unconditionally. When the seed of devotion and loyalty is planted in a fertile relationship, it will abound much like our relationship with the Lord.

One such lifelong friendship that comes to mind is my good friend Kent Jolly. Kent was one of the first ranchers I had the privilege to work with straight out of vet school. Rightfully so, he was a little skeptical of his young, green, rookie veterinarian. Today we laugh about the “good old days.” I remember how he used to tell his neighbors, “The kid kills everything he touches, but I just like the way he goes about it.” All kidding aside, we have had a great run developing his herd of traditional mother cows, his herd of Corriente roping calves, and restoring to soundness many in his large remuda of ranch horses.

Today Kent is pushing 80 years old. His weathered face and hands are a testimony to his rancher heritage in the short grass country of Agate, Colorado. The past few years I notice he has started wearing suspenders, the result of 75 years in the saddle grinding his posterior anatomy to a relatively flat surface. Nowadays we see each other once or twice a year at fall preg check or testing bulls and look forward to exchanging those “remember when” stories that become more magnificent 64 parable

each time they are told. Sometimes while reflecting on the specific details of a wild cow tale, he will interject a “Yeah, yeah, I ‘member now, Doc. That’s the way it was and that’s no bull.”

One of my favorite quirky traits about Kent is he will seldom say hello but will always open the day with a politically incorrect redneck story or joke.

This fall he remained true to form. With a sober straight face, his one-liner for the day was, “Doc, you know how to tell who loves you more, your wife or your Border Collie?” For a moment I stood speechless, desperately grasping for an answer to his pondering question of cowboy philosophy and logic. The punch line was poised on the tip of his tongue but took a tiny bit of coaxing. Then it came, as the corner of his mouth pulled to one side in a half-hearted grin that was about to become a boisterous laugh. “Lock ‘em both in the trunk of your car for an hour and see who is happiest to see you when you pop the lid.” Sorry, I had to laugh!

For a moment, I could only imagine my wife Jan emerging from a tomb-like trunk, displaying less than her usual kind, cordial, loving manner. All this while simultaneously searching for blood pressure meds to relieve the pressure on her capillary-filled bright red face.

Realistically, if the roles were reversed, my response would be identical. Additionally, I would come out swinging. Few people would do well in that situation.

Maybe this medieval cowboy tactic could become a revolutionary groundbreaking therapy for self-control and anger management. On the other hand, Border Collies are a different story. Anyone who has Border Collies knows that man’s best friend would emerge from the temporary tomb elated to see its master and the sunlight above. The dog would make a beeline for its redeemer, darting, ducking, rolling, jumping, while licking his savior’s face uncontrollably.

As it turns out the Apostle Paul had a trunk experience as he wrote much of the New Testament from prison while chained between two guards. When not in prison, his ministry travels frequently resulted in beatings, abuse, torture, and rejection. Rejection is often

worse than all the physical components thrown together.

Ask Jesus!

In the following writings from Paul in prison, note his demeanor and attitude in a sampling of his letters (emphasis added).

Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB 1995) 6“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 2:7 (NASB 1995) “having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”

Colossians 3:17 (NASB 1995) “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

The Apostle Paul always used his time in prison to draw close to the Lord, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. He was unshakeable. He was never bitter, angered, or in doubt, but he chose to love, trust, forgive, and grow in Christ.

Question: Does your mind dwell on truth, what is right, what is honorable, what is pure, what is lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy? Do you dwell in peace, extending grace? The Bible commands us to dwell on these things, confidently trusting in the Master. So, when faced with an hour in the trunk of life, are you at peace with a positive outlook and ready to face any challenge? Are you taking everything to the Father in prayer? Trusting that you are exactly where you are supposed to be like the Border Collie? Or are you a victim?

Kent, thank you for 43 years of unconditional friendship!

Digging Deeper Would you be surprised to know that relationships and friendships are a key theme and continuous cord throughout the Bible? Going back to the beginning in Genesis, God was actively and sequentially creating the world and the life that was to inhabit His creation.

Throughout the successive days of creation, He constantly and consistently declared that His work of creation was good. That continued until Genesis 2:18 when God took note that Adam was alone. At this point

God stated that “It is not good for the man to be alone” (emphasis added) and God committed to make for Adam a helper and companion.

Have you ever stopped to consider what life would be like without the presence of others? No companions, no friends, no family, no interactions. Just you and you alone. After reflecting a bit on this, it becomes easy to see God’s point that it is “not good” to be alone. In fact, it is truly devastating.

God created us “hard wired” for companionship and relationship. It is the fulfillment of this need that makes life worth living. Wholesome (Biblical) relationships are what makes life rewarding, joyful, fulfilling, and more. We were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and designed to love Him and have a relationship with Him. This sets us apart from the rest of creation. The ability to love God and others is the “secret sauce” of life and a component enjoyed by no other created living thing.

Given the impact and influence that friends and companions have on one another, the Bible provides extensive direction and instruction regarding true friendship. What has to be the most defining and impactful Bible verse on friendship is found in John 15:13 (ESV): “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” This quote is so staggering that there is no adequate response. What more could be done to define or demonstrate love for another and the ultimate sacrifice of a true friend?

Is John 15:13 a quote from John the apostle? No. It is a quote from Jesus Himself. It gets better. Jesus speaking in John 15:14 (ESV) says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” How is it even conceivable that Jesus calls us “friends”? It is possible because this is why we were created in the first place. Sin and evil have sought to destroy this relationship since the beginning of time, but now we see that friendship with Jesus/God is at the core of the Gospel message. John 3:16 (NASB): “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

One other thought...

Dr. Doug’s story on friendship not only put a smile on our faces but it served to set the stage to probe the critical role true friendship plays in our lives. As we dig deeper into the spiritual aspects of friendship, we can now better understand that it is a core component to a life well lived now and into eternity.

The “trunk” was part of the punchline of a joke.

What we all instinctively know is that a real-life trunk spring 2023 | pacdvms.com

65

encounter will be experienced by all of us at some point in time.

Isolation, pain, aloneness, hopelessness, fear, darkness, rejection, and the list can go on. Illness, divorce, prison, cancer, disasters, disabilities, financial loss, loss of loved ones, loss of work, and so forth bring the pain and dread of the “trunk” experience to bold reality.

What determines your response to the trunk-trials of life? Maybe there is something to be learned from the Border Collie and his response upon release. What would give the Border Collie an edge over his typical human counterpart? He was excited upon being set free, and if you are reading this and know Border Collies, you can easily visualize his ecstatic response.

James 1:2-5 (NASB) speaks to success in the endurance of trials: 2“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, 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. 5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Hard to imagine that one is to consider trials with “all joy”. That seems super-human. Maybe that is why the Border Collie passed the test. It is not too big of a stretch to understand the dog knows and trusts his Master. The dog was not alone in the trunk. He lived in anticipation of being set free and reunited with his owner. We should do at least equally well in continually trusting and living in anticipation for a future reunion with our Lord and the One who calls Christ followers “friends”.

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 would be 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.

66 parable

James 1:12 (ESV) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

*** John 16:33 (ESV) “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

*** Romans 12:12 (ESV) Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

*** Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

***

CHUCKLES FROM DOWN UNDER....

FIRST THINGS FIRST “If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale, and gave all my money to the church, would I get into Heaven?” I asked my Sunday School class.

“No!” the children all answered.

“If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the lawn, and kept everything neat and tidy, would I get into Heaven?”

Again, the answer was “No!” “Well,” I continued, “then how can I get into Heaven?”

A five-year-old boy shouted, “You’ve got to be dead!”

The top jockey had drawn the favorite as his mount for the big race, and all were convinced they would be the winning combination.

They began the race well; however, at the 200m mark, a tablecloth hit horse and rider in the face. At the 400m mark, a bowl of salad came hurtling toward them. Then at the 800m, 1000m, and 1200m marks respectively, they were hit with bread rolls, chicken drumsticks, and a leg of ham. At the 1500m mark, there came a champagne bottle while at the 1800m mark, they were hit by a picnic basket.

Needless to say, rather than coming first, they came a dismal last.

When asked by the perplexed commentators what had happened, the jockey simply replied, “We were seriously hampered!”

Keep on smiling!

Warm Regards, Jane Sullivan spring 2023 | pacdvms.com

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Dressing I usually eyeball these ingredients, but here is a recipe from Taste of Home for reference.1

• 1/2 c. olive oil

• 1 tsp. grainy Dijon mustard

• 1/4 c. red wine vinegar

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 2 tbsp. lemon juice

• 1/4 tsp. pepper

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano (or fresh if you have it on hand)

In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine all ingredients. Shake well.

FLAT IRON

Arturo and Wrenn Pacheco are custom grazers located in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Their grazing operation consists of grazing double stock steers and custom heifer development for their clients. Arturo has his Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition and owns and operates his own nutrition consulting business, Pacheco Cattle Services.

The couple also has a ranch-to-table beef business, Pacheco Beef. Wrenn manages all of the day-to-day operations of the eCommerce website as well as the storefront located in Alma, Kansas. Together they have two little cowboys, Leo and Ross. You can find more of their recipes at cookingwiththecowboy.com.

GREEK SALAD Salad •

Mixed greens

•

Red onion

•

Feta cheese

•

Olives

Place mixed greens in bowl and toss with dressing. Then add the red onion, feta cheese, and olives.

Steak •

Your Favorite Grill Seasoning2

•

Beef Flat Iron3

Season steak with grill seasoning. Add to a pre-heated cast iron skillet. Cook for 3-5 minutes and then flip and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes. Then once the steak has rested, slice.

Add the dressed salad to a plate and top with the sliced steak. Naan bread makes a great side with this salad.

1Taste of Home, Greek Salad Dressing, https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/greek-salad-dressing/.

2Pacheco Beef Grill Seasoning, available to order at

https://www.pachecobeef.com/collections/grill-seasoning-and-other-rubs/products/grill-seasoning.

3Pacheco Beef Flat Iron, available to order at

https://www.pachecobeef.com/collections/steaks/products/flat-iron.

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.

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

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