With summer arriving, treating pinkeye is an issue many cattle producers will face. As conditions get drier, dust levels rise, increasing eye irritants that can lead to this painful infection. Pinkeye doesn’t just affect the health of your cattle; it has a significant economic impact as well. Each year, pinkeye costs the cattle industry approximately $150 million due to decreased weight gain, reduced milk production, and the expenses associated with treatment.
However, there are proactive steps you can take when this bacteria makes its appearance on your ranch. Treating pinkeye infections early in your cattle is not just a matter of their health but also a crucial step to protect your investment. Delaying treatment increases the risk of permanent eye damage, leading to severe discounts at sale time and significantly impacting your revenue. The visible signs of pinkeye can diminish the perceived value of your cattle, emphasizing the importance of swift action.
Given that early treatment is vital, prevention is the optimal strategy. Pinkeye is highly contagious, and once it infiltrates your herd, it can rapidly spread. In the following post, we will delve into the causes of pinkeye, effective treatment options, and the best prevention strategies to keep your herd healthy and your operation profitable. Stay tuned to ensure you are equipped with the knowledge to combat this costly disease.
It is never good when your cattle suffer from diseases. They can reduce your performance and increase your expenses.
Pinkeye is a very common as well as a highly contagious disease in cattle. Once it shows up, if you do not take proper steps immediately, it can quickly affect all of your cattle.
Bovine Leukemia Virus is a hidden but damaging infection. In fact, it could be in your herd right now, and you would likely not even know it is there. It already has a significant impact on the cattle industry at large.
Dehydration among calves is a severe problem that is often overlooked among producers. It can be caused for many reasons, typically from the summer heat and scours. The time from recognizing the symptoms to providing treatment is crucial.
It may not seem like it now, but spring weather will be here before you know it. All of the ice and snow (
Calf scours is something that is concerning for all cow/calf producers. It causes more financial loss to producers than any other health problem in their herd. It can come out of nowhere and spread throughout your herd much like wildfire. The main issue with this disease is that it can be confusing for some people.
When people think about tetany, they think of something that happens only during the spring. It’s something that usually occurs when cattle are eating lush spring grass or annual cereal forages. However, it can also happen when cattle are fed harvested forages like silage or hay.
It may not seem like it now, but winter is on its way. The change in seasons also brings new problems to deal with to keep your cattle performing at their best. Keeping your cattle healthy during the stress of colder winter temperatures can be a pain in the neck. It is also doable.
The fall season can be problematic for a beef producer. As you go into it after a dry, hot summer, the entire herd may be stressed. The combination of high heat, short grass, and low water tanks can stress cattle and make them more prone to disease.
