Concepts of causation Investigating associations between risk factors (i.e. animal factors, environmental factors, or pathogen factors) and a particular outcome of interest (i.e. the occurrence of respiratory disease in weaned calves) are the core of epidemiologic studies. Although it may … Continue reading
Measuring risk When investigating problems of illness, death, or decreased production in cow-calf herds, a systematic approach to defining the problem, identifying risk factors, developing a plan, measuring impacts, and communicating results can aid the veterinarian and their client in … Continue reading
Defining the problem We’ve all experienced it at one point in time or another. If you own cattle, you’ve undoubtedly had cattle develop illness or die for some unknown reason. If you are a veterinarian, you’ve undoubtedly investigated such cases, … Continue reading
The “Tragedy of the Commons” is a familiar problem to economists. The concept was originally penned in 1833 by economist William Forster Lloyd who felt it was imperative for landowners to understand that the decisions of individuals can harm the … Continue reading
Preparing your community The successful mitigation of any disaster requires action by many, including volunteer and full-time first responders; local, state, and federal government officials; academia; the medical community; and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Unfortunately, many people in non-animal/non-agricultural occupations or … Continue reading
Disaster Preparedness for Livestock It is important to have a disaster plan for livestock since they may not easily be transported or confined. Loose or stranded animals can cause physical harm to people, delay or inhibit the rescue of people, … Continue reading
Pet Identification: Microchipping One of the biggest problems following a natural disaster is reunification. Pets can become startled by the noise and chaos of a storm and run off or be displaced when their home is damaged and no longer … Continue reading
Pet Emergency Kit Resources for both people and animals may be limited following a disaster. Now is the time to prepare and check your pet’s emergency and evacuation kit! Here are a few essential items to include: Copies of vaccinations … Continue reading
Pet evacuation tips With springtime and warm weather comes an increase in the risk of hazardous weather events. Most disasters that affect humans have the potential to also affect animals. Under most disaster conditions, it is advised to take your … Continue reading
The second Sunday of May is designated as National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. To help promote this special event which will be on May 14, 2022, we have prepared a series of blogs for the community on preparedness that will … Continue reading
No stable or arena manager wants to hear the dreaded word ‘strangles’ in relation to their operation, however this highly contagious disease can show up uninvited on even the most well managed facilities. Strangles, also sometimes referred to as distemper, … Continue reading
Have you read Puppy Socialization 101 Series | Part 1? If not, follow the link below to read … Continue reading
What is Socialization and why is it so important? Of course, we want the best for our animals, but often as pet owners we often overlook a crucial part of healthy development from pup-hood to adulthood; socialization. It seems … Continue reading
Make a recommendation After defining and observing the problem, a working diagnosis can be established. Based on the diagnosis, recommendations should be given to the producer to mediate or mitigate potential causes of the disease. If an infectious process is … Continue reading
What is a diagnostic investigation? A diagnostic investigation is the systematic application of epidemiology and clinical testing to determine the cause(s) of a disease or symptom. Diagnostic investigations are performed when there is a problem resulting in morbidity, mortality, or … Continue reading
Management practices that reduce the opportunities for infectious agents to gain access to a production unit is commonly referred to as biosecurity. Biosecurity is an aspect of disease prevention with the goal of preventing the introduction of disease agents which … Continue reading
Importance A grouchy cat is not just something to accept. There may be an underlying problem. Stress is an abnormal or extreme adjustment in physiology and/or behavior in response to prolonged or intense negative stimulation Chronic stress can be harmful, … Continue reading
Common myths and misconceptions around spay and neuter procedures-DEBUNKED Spaying/neutering causes pets to become overweight: Generally, lack of exercise and overfeeding leads to pets gaining excess weight- not neutering. To keep pets fit and trim, consult with your veterinarian to … Continue reading
As we continue in this series of how to use cow-calf health and production data to measure reproductive performance and efficiency, we will explore the importance of calf crop (weaning) percentage as an indicator of overall reproductive performance in a … Continue reading
Previous articles entitled “Using cow-calf health and production data: Pregnancy percentage” and “Using cow-calf health and production data: When are cows getting bred?” discuss methods of measuring reproductive efficiency such as pregnancy percentage and distribution of breeding dates. Calving percent … Continue reading
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