Calfhood health is vital to any operation and it starts long before the calves hit the ground. Plus we have the latest cattle and livestock news, bull sale updates, markets, hay auctions and lots more on this all new episode of The Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel.

WEBSITE Ranch It Up S4 E174 Calfhood Health Cattle Market News Jeff Erhardt Tigger Rebecca Wanner BEC Merck Animal Health Dr. Tim Parks

EPISODE 174 DETAILS

Calfhood health is vital for a calves’ success later in life. But it starts long before they are born and hits the ground! We visited with Dr. Tim Park, D.V.M., A Senior Beef Technical Service Manager with Merck Animal Health about what we need to do to set up our cows and ultimately our calves for the best chances of success.

Farmers are getting older and older. We have the latest numbers from USDA’s NASS. Senators from Montana and South Dakota are saying NO to Paraguayan Beef Imports. We have the latest updates. Be sure to read more about it in our latest news feature

Bull Sales are in full swing! View the latest details and hear our list on Ranch Channel. Plus we have information on upcoming hay auctions, market recaps and lots more!

VACCINATION PROGRAMS IN BEEF CATTLE

Vaccines are pharmaceutical products that are intended to be administered to healthy animals to better prepare the animal’s immune system to combat bacterial, viral, or protozoal health challenges. More simply stated, vaccines are intended to be used to prevent disease and generally do so through establishing and maintaining relatively high levels of circulating antibody titers. Because antibody titers wane over time, it is important that vaccines be administered and readministered (often referred to as “boostered”) at the times necessary to result in antibody coverage throughout expected or potential exposure to disease-causing pathogens.

It is critically important to recognize that vaccines are intended to be preventive tools, and the efficacy of any tool can be impacted by how it is used. Because vaccines are biological products, they are often susceptible to environmental abuse and exposure to conditions outside of certain optimal ranges. As such, vaccines should be stored, handled, and administered in ways that are described on the label using techniques that protect product efficacy.

The product label contains the information necessary to ensure that product storage, handling, and administration practices do not limit or negate product efficacy. Deviations from such instructions may result in decreased product efficacy. In general, most vaccines should be refrigerated, but not frozen, and should remain within the desired refrigerated temperature range throughout storage, transportation, and up to the time of administration.

The most common causes of decreased efficacy are storage, transportation, and handling abuse. Examples include not transporting vaccines in coolers, not storing vaccines in coolers on working days, and storing vaccines in refrigerators that do not maintain temperature within the necessary range. Vaccines that will be stored for extended periods of time should be stored only in refrigerators that have been verified to maintain the correct temperature range. Data-logging thermometers are an inexpensive but valuable investment.

Vaccines, including vaccine vials and loaded syringes, should also be protected from direct exposure to sunlight. In addition, vaccines that have been exposed to the environment by puncturing the seal with a needle should not be stored and reused. If a needle has been inserted into the vial, the vaccine should be used during that working event, and any unused contents discarded per label directions. Storing previously opened vaccines allows for the potential growth of harmful microorganisms, and thus should be avoided in order to minimize the risk of unintentionally causing an adverse reaction or health event.

Some vaccines require reconstitution by adding diluent to a dehydrated powder. All vaccines require mixing or agitating before administration. Mix vaccines gently by slowly swirling and inverting unless the label specifies otherwise.

If reconstitution is required, reconstitute and mix only the amount of vaccine that will be used within an hour or less. Do not mix the entire day’s allotment of vaccine at the beginning of a working event. It is good practice to reconstitute and mix only a single bottle of vaccine at a time.

Disposable syringes and needles should be discarded after each use. Repeatable, repeater, or “pistol-grip” style syringes should be cleaned after each use. Do not use soap, cleaning agents, or chemical disinfectants to clean reusable syringes. Rather, flush them repeatedly with hot water. Water should be boiled and allowed to cool slightly before repeatedly filling and emptying the syringe.

Transfer needles should be boiled in water, then allowed to dry before storage and eventual reuse. Syringe lubricants are not recommended because they represent a potential risk to product efficacy through interaction with the active components of the vaccine. Syringe lubricants are also unnecessary because the initial draw of a vaccine into the syringe provides adequate lubrication.

Syringe O-rings should be replaced as necessary, and extras should be kept on hand so that they are available when needed. This will help to minimize the risk of a syringe failure.

Similarly, vaccine efficacy may be limited by the ability of the animal’s immune system to adequately respond to the vaccine. There are a number of animal-related factors that may influence vaccine efficacy. Of these, nutrition and environmental stressors are the most common.

Both nutrient deficiencies and toxicities can impair immune function and, as a result, influence an individual animal’s response to a vaccine. Trace mineral, protein, and energy deficiencies are the most common nutrition-related issues that limit vaccine efficacy.

Energy deficiencies are generally easy to identify through low levels of animal performance, low body condition, and general unthriftiness. Trace mineral and protein deficiencies are often more difficult to visually identify. Trace mineral deficiencies, however, are easy to correct through supplementing with minerals or including trace mineral sources at adequate (but not excessive) levels in a complete ration.

Consumption of mycotoxins, other toxins, or other antinutritional factors may also impact vaccine efficacy. In addition, pre existing disease, heavy parasite loads, heat stress, and cold stress are all conditions that may also influence the animal’s immune system and as a result, its ability to fully respond to a vaccine.

Although certain vaccinations are highlighted in this chapter, their mention should be considered a general rule of thumb. Their necessity for a given herd health program, or the lack thereof, may be subject to interpretation or opinion. The herd veterinarian is best positioned to provide direct recommendations on vaccination programs, including which components should be considered essential, and their optimum timing of administration.

Generally speaking, modified live virus (MLV) vaccines typically do not require revaccination to result in an effective antibody response. Killed virus (KV) vaccines, or combined KV and MLV vaccines, generally do require a revaccination (or booster) to result in an effective vaccination as defined by antibody response.

Vaccines that require revaccination should be readministered within the period of time described on the product label. Vaccines that do not require revaccination should be administered at or near the time of weaning. Nonetheless, the product label and herd veterinarian should determine if and when revaccination is necessary to result in an effective antibody response.

A strong, comprehensive beef cattle vaccination program begins with implementation at the cow-calf level. From a life cycle standpoint, preweaning calfhood vaccinations are the greatest opportunity to initiate a comprehensive and effective vaccination program.

Timing of preweaning vaccinations generally coincides with other working events, such as branding, pre breeding vaccinations of the cow herd, or bull turnout. Vaccinating calves at this time will help to minimize the risk of preweaning disease and will better prepare them to withstand the stress of weaning.

Calfhood vaccination programs should at minimum include vaccination against various clostridial and viral respiratory diseases. Common essential components of calfhood viral respiratory disease vaccines include:

bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV)
bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) types I and II
infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR)
parainfluenza type-3 (PI-3)

In addition, clostridial disease vaccinations commonly include coverage against the following:

Clostridium chauvoei
C haemolyticum
C novyi
C perfringens types C & D
C septicum

and may also include C sordelli and/or C tetani.

Some calfhood vaccination programs may also include vaccination against bacteria such as Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida, which cause bovine respiratory disease (BRD). It is important to recognize that this is not a comprehensive list, and specific vaccine decisions should be made in consultation with the herd veterinarian.

The vaccination programs of calves that will be developed to become replacement heifers also commonly include vaccination against reproductive diseases and should be similar to the vaccine program used for the mature cow herd. In addition to IBR and BVD, and depending upon local disease risk, vaccination against Brucella, Leptospira, Vibrio, Trichomonas, Campylobacter , or anthrax may also be warranted or recommended. Brucellosis vaccination must be performed according to state regulations.

Modified live vaccines for IBR and BVD give the broadest immunity to strain differences and should be administered twice to ensure a high level of immunity. Some evidence suggests that MLV BVD and IBR vaccines may affect the ovary for a short period of time after vaccination and potentially result in a minor decrease in fertility when administered immediately before or during the breeding season. For this reason, MLV IBR and/or BVD vaccines should be administered at least 1 month before the beginning of the breeding season.

While vaccination of heifers with Trichomonas vaccine may increase calving rate and decrease the duration of infection in infected herds, it is important to recognize that it may not prevent infection. Vaccination against trichomoniasis may be useful in infected herds or in herds at high risk of infection, but may not yield a positive return on investment in low-risk herds. These decisions should be made in consultation with the herd veterinarian and should be based upon risk of exposure and potential economic impact.

Pre Breeding vaccinations should be completed at least 4 weeks before the onset of the breeding season. Pre Calving vaccinations are intended to protect the newborn calf through colostral transfer. It may be possible for pre calving vaccinations to serve as effective pre breeding vaccinations; however, it is important to ensure that the vaccination program will provide sufficient duration of immunity to cover cattle throughout the time of greatest risk.

In addition, vaccination against bacterial scours (calf diarrhea) can be a beneficial component of a herd health program. Bulls should receive the same vaccines as the cow herd, with some exceptions. Bulls should not be vaccinated for brucellosis. Similar precautions with MLV IBR vaccines should be taken for bulls as for cows.

COW COUNTRY NEWS

U.S Lawmakers, Cattlemen Seek Ban On Paraguayan Beef Imports

U.S. Senators Jon Tester from Montana and Mike Rounds from South Dakota on Monday filed a Congressional Review Act that would overturn USDA’s removal of a long-standing ban on beef imports from Paraguay.

Congress may use a Congressional Review Act to overturn final rules issued by federal agencies by a simple majority vote.

The move is supported by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, United States Cattlemen’s Association, R-CALF USA, Livestock Marketing Association, National Farmers Union, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Stockgrowers Association, and the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.

Opponents to the Biden administration’s decision to allow beef imports from Paraguay argue it is based on outdated inspections, without recent visits to confirm no risk of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Tester and Rounds also introduced bipartisan legislation late last year to suspend beef imports from Paraguay in response to such animal health concerns. That bill would also require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the threat to food safety and animal health posed by Paraguayan beef.

The two senators have called on the USDA to collect more up-to-date data before resuming beef imports from Paraguay, whose last case of Foot and Mouth Disease occurred in 2012.

Also last year, Tester and Rounds introduced bipartisan legislation to suspend Brazilian beef imports to the U.S. until experts can conduct a systemic review of the commodity’s impact on food safety and animal health.

The American Farmer Continues To Grow Older

The American Farmer continues to grow older. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches.

The average American farmer is now 58.1 years old, which is an increase of about half a year compared to the last census conducted in 2017. Farmers who are 65 and older increased by 12% in this census, while farmers aged 35-64 decreased by 9%.

There were 1.9 million farms and ranches, down 7% from 2017, with an average size of 463 acres. That is up 5% on 880 million acres of farmland, which is 39% of all U.S. land.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asks “This survey is essentially asking the critical question of whether as a country are we okay with losing that many farms? Are we okay with losing that much farmland or is there a better way? That’s the importance of this survey. It allows us to take a snapshot in time, allows us to compare what has occurred over the five-year period, and begins to ask ourselves questions about the policy formation and the direction that we need to take in order to correct or deal with some of the challenges that the data presents.”

Ag census data provides a valuable insight into demographics, economics, land use and activities on United States farms and ranches.

UPCOMING BULL SALES ANGUS CHAROLAIS HEREFORD GELBVIEH BALANCER RED ANGUS SIMMENTAL SIMANGUS

Windy Creek Cattle Company: March 3, 2024, Spencer, South Dakota

Pederson Broken Heart Ranch: March 6, 2024, Firesteel, South Dakota

Mar Mac Farms: March 6, 2024, Brandon, Manitoba

Warner Beef Genetics: March 6, 2024, Arapahoe, Nebraska

Arda Farms & Freeway Angus: March 8, 2024, Acme, Alberta, Canada

Leland Red Angus & Koester Red Angus: March 8, 2024, Beach, North Dakota

Fast – Dohrmann – Strommen: March 9, 2024, Mandan, North Dakota

RBM Livestock: March 10, 2024, Florence, South Dakota

Weber Land & Cattle: March 12, 2024, Lake Benton, Minnesota

Sundsbak Farms: March 16, 2024, Des Lacs, North Dakota

Hidden Angus: March 17, 2024, Sebeka, Minnesota

Vollmer Angus Ranch: April 2, 2024, Wing, North Dakota

BULL SALE REPORT & RESULTS

Churchill Cattle Company

Van Newkirk Herefords

Gardiner Angus Ranch

Cow Camp Ranch

Jungels Shorthorn Farms

Ellingson Angus

Edgar Brothers Angus

Schaff Angus Valley

Prairie Hills Gelbvieh

Clear Springs Cattle Company

Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh

FEATURING

Dr. Tim Parks, D.V.M.

Merck Animal Health

https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/

@merckanimalhealth

Kirk Donsbach: Stone X Financial

https://www.stonex.com/

@StoneXGroupInc

Mark Van Zee

Livestock Market, Equine Market, Auction Time

https://www.auctiontime.com/

https://www.livestockmarket.com/

https://www.equinemarket.com/

@LivestockMkt

@EquineMkt

@AuctionTime

Shaye Koester

Casual Cattle Conversation

https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/

@cattleconvos

Questions & Concerns From The Field?

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References

https://www.stonex.com/

https://www.livestockmarket.com/

https://www.equinemarket.com/

https://www.auctiontime.com/

https://gelbvieh.org/

https://www.imogeneingredients.com/

https://alliedgeneticresources.com/

https://westwayfeed.com/