The Beef Cattle Health and Nutrition Podcast

 Dr. Colin Palmer, one of our reproductive specialist veterinarians from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine here at the University of Saskatchewan  joins the podcast again this week to discuss the important topic of subfertility in beef bulls.  Today we focus on the parts of the breeding soundness exam that greatly impact fertility - scrotal circumference and semen morphology.  Dr. Palmer describes some of the most common sperm defects and why they occur.

00:00 –Welcome and introductions

01:05 – Importance of body condition score in bulls

03:16 – Scrotal circumference and it’s impact on fertility

10:02 – Identifying testicular and scrotal problems

16:05 –  Accessory sex glands and seminal vesiculitis

18:45  – Evaluating the semen sample

21:55 – Abnormal sperm morphology – why does it occur?

24:12 – Common sperm morphology abnormalities – Distal midpiece reflexes and proximal droplets

32:00 – What does the term “Rusty load” mean in terms of sperm defects?

35:05 – Genetic sperm abnormalities

37:12 – Why is 70% normal sperm considered acceptable?

40:21 – Summary and wrap up

Dr. Colin Palmer, one of our reproductive specialist veterinarians from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine here at the University of Saskatchewan  joins the podcast to discuss the important topic of subfertility in beef bulls.  Why do we need to perform bull breeding soundness exams? What are the implications of various factors such as lameness and other physical problems on bull fertility?  These are just some of the topics we discuss in this first part of a two part episode.

00:00 –Welcome and introductions

03:54 – Importance of herd fertility in cow-calf operations and factors that affect it

10:45 – Value of a limited breeding season

14:22 – Subfertility vs Infertility

16:08 – Importance of the breeding soundness examination of the bull

19:21 – Meaning of the various classification categories

27:22 – Impact of lameness on bull fertility

31:06 – Other factors that may affect fertility that can be identified in physical examination

34:23 – Summary and Wrap-up

This week, Dr. Nathan Erickson and Dr. John Ellis join me to discuss the emergence of Bovine influenza A virus in cattle.  We discuss what is currently known about this emerging disease issue at this point in time.  New information is being acquired about the impacts and spread of Bovine Influenza A virus and this podcast gives information on the disease as known around April 12, 2024.   Please rely on your local veterinarians or government veterinary offices for the most up to date information on this issue.  Emerging diseases remind us of the importance of preventive practices.  Using raw colostrum only from your own herd, not introducing orphan calves or nurse cows from dairy herds and quarantining new animals for 21 days will help prevent the introduction of diseases like Bovine Influenza A virus, Foot and Mouth Disease, and many other diseases.  Find tips at https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/biosecurity/

00:00 –Welcome and introductions

04:10 – Clinical signs seen in dairy cow outbreaks in US

08:06 -  A primer on Influenza viruses

10:28 – Influenza D virus role in respiratory disease in cattle

12:15 – Hosts for Influenza A virus

16:09 – High pathogenic vs low pathogenic influenza viruses

18:21 – How influenza viruses change and jump to other species

20:00 – Possible ways of spread of Bovine influenza A virus

25:00 – Possibility of Bovine Influenza A virus in beef cattle

27:14 – Human health implications

28:29 – Herd to herd spread and biosecurity precautions

31:59 – Summary and Wrap-up

Dr. Chris Clark, an internal medicine specialist from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine joins the podcast to discuss how best to treat neonatal diarrhea in calves.  We discuss how to detect dehydration and acidosis in an affected calf and the best ways to utilize oral electrolytes.  We also discuss when a calf will need intravenous therapy and the limited value of antibiotic therapy.  Check out the great resources on the Calf 911 section of the BCRC website for more information.

https://www.beefresearch.ca/producers/calf-911-resources/

00:00 – Welcome and introductions

02:33 – Preventing calf scours is the best option

06:02 - Causes of calf scours

08:58 – Assessing hydration in a calf 

14:36 – Acidosis

20:43 – How to utilize oral electrolytes

25:31 – What to look for in an electrolyte solution

29:18 – Antibiotics are of limited value for scours therapy

31:39 – Summary and wrap up

The calf that presents with acute abdominal issues or colicky symptoms is not uncommon on cow-calf herds around calving time. In this episode,  Dr. Blake Balog from Cattle Health Management in Brooks, Alberta joins the podcast to discuss the causes of colic in young calves and how the producer should approach these cases when faced with them.

00:00 –Welcome and introductions

04:08 – How do calves present with colic or acute abdominal problems?

05:06-  What should you do if you identify a calf with colic?

08:11– Atresia coli and atresia ani

13:16 – Intestinal accidents 

18:46 – Abomasal ulcers and other abomasal issues

26:25 – Navel problems that may cause colic

33:36 – Final advice for dealing with calves with colic

34:39 – Wrap up

This week my guest is Dr. Mariana Guerra-Maupome.  Mariana is a veterinarian with PhD training in bovine respiratory disease.  She works as a feedlot consultant for Telus Agriculture and Consumer Goods and as part of her job, helps to provide feedlot consultation services to feedlots across North America and farther abroad.  She joins me this week to discuss the challenges of designing health protocols that help to protect calves as they transition from one sector of the industry to another.

00:00 –  Welcome and introductions

04:40 –  Segmentation of the beef industry 

07:11 – Factors affecting the value of the calf at the feedlot

12:16 – Importance and impacts of BRD

14:15 – Strategies that lower the risk for BRD

18:21 – How often do we currently utilize those strategies at the cow-calf level?

20:55 – How can the cow-calf producer capture value?

23:59 – The importance and value of data

26:31 – How will things change in the future?

28:21 – Summary and Wrap up

Dr. Roy Lewis joins the podcast again to discuss Remote Drug Delivery Devices (RDDD).  These are the dart guns, cross bows, and pole syringes that are sometimes used by producers to administer antimicrobials to cattle on pasture.   Dr. Lewis discusses their proper use and why they should be only used as the last resort if no other option is possible.  Here is a link to more information on the Beef Cattle Research Council website.

00:00 - Introduction

01:55 - Defining Remote Drug Delivery Device (RDDD)

02:55 – Basic guidelines for injecting animals with any antimicrobial

03:48 – How commonly are these devices used and what are the advantages of these devices?

07:05 – What are the downsides of using a RDDD?

08:32 – Withdrawal times and damage to tissues

11:30 – Proper use of RDDD’s when warranted

14:38 – Do pharmaceutical companies support the use of RDDD’s?

16:13 – Getting a correct diagnosis when treating foot rot on pasture.

19:07 - Closing comments and Wrap up

Jenifer Heyden, a livestock extension specialist from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture joins me again on the podcast to discuss high nitrate levels in feeds and how to prevent nitrate toxicity in your cow herd.  We discuss the details on the clinical signs of nitrate toxicity and how to interpret a feed test for nitrate levels as well.

00:00 – Opportunity to participate in Cow-calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network

02:07 – Welcome and introductions

04:00 – Feed sources that might have issues with nitrates

05:53 -  Drought and plant stress affecting nitrate levels

06:53 – How does nitrate toxicity occur and what are clinical signs?

11:40 – Difficulties in the treatment of acute nitrate toxicity

10:23 – Confirmation of diagnosis and possibility of treating cases of lead toxicity

12:26 – Prevention of nitrate toxicity

14:03 – Understanding a feed test for nitrates

17:10 – Utilizing feeds with higher nitrate levels

20:35 – Advice for producers that might have high nitrate feeds

23:00 – Wrap up

Saskatchewan Agriculture Website on Nitrate Toxicity  https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/agriculture-natural-resources-and-industry/agribusiness-farmers-and-ranchers/livestock/animal-health-and-welfare/nitrate-toxicity

Canadian Cow-Calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network (C3H-PEN)

Dr. Greg Penner discusses some of his latest research findings on determining the optimum time to harvest cereal forages when feeding in bales or swath grazing.

00:00 - Intro

The Canadian Cow-Calf Survey: https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/discovering-the-realities-of-the-2023-canadian-calf-crop/

The 2023 Canadian Cow-Calf Survey is an online questionnaire set up to collect data to help understand longer-term trends in production methods and efficiencies. Collecting credible information directly from beef cattle producers helps the BCRC identify research priorities and information gaps, develop provincial benchmarks and examine changes over time that impact farms and ranches.

Canadian Cow-Calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network (C3H-PEN)

This week I'm pleased to welcome Dr. Vanessa Cowan to the podcast.  Vanessa is a veterinarian and a specialist in veterinary toxicology who has recently joined our faculty at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.  She joins me this week to talk about lead toxicity, one of the most common toxicities of beef cattle that also has important public health implications.

The Canadian Cow-Calf Survey: https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/discovering-the-realities-of-the-2023-canadian-calf-crop/

The 2023 Canadian Cow-Calf Survey is an online questionnaire set up to collect data to help understand longer-term trends in production methods and efficiencies. Collecting credible information directly from beef cattle producers helps the BCRC identify research priorities and information gaps, develop provincial benchmarks and examine changes over time that impact farms and ranches.

Canadian Cow-Calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network (C3H-PEN)

00:00 – Opportunities to participate in Canadian beef surveys and projects

02:55 – Welcome and introductions

04:58 – Sources of lead in the environment of cattle

06:37 -  How much lead is necessary to cause toxicity?

07:37 – Rapidity of onset and clinical signs

10:23 – Confirmation of diagnosis and possibility of treating cases of lead toxicity

13:04 – How commonly do we see lead toxicity in Western Canada – seasonality and age groups

17:05 -  Public health significance of lead toxicity in cattle

20:42 – How long does lead last in the tissues?

22:37 – Prevention of lead toxicity

24:56 – Wrap up