National Animal Poison Prevention Week is in March
COLUMBIA, Mo. – National Animal Poison Prevention Week, March 17-23, 2024, is a time for pet owners to assess what plants and products can potentially poison their animals, identify signs they’ve been poisoned and learn how to prevent pet poisoning. It is also a good time to remind livestock owners of springtime dangers of potential poisons, such as toxic plants, fertilizers, herbicides and other pesticides, as well as old batteries,…
Time to scout for ergot
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts says now is the time to check for ergot in the seed heads of grasses. Ergot can cause severe illness in livestock, especially cattle and horses. One early sign is yellow syrup drops called honeydew in flowering seed heads. Honeydew hardens and turns into dark ergot bodies, which look like mouse droppings and are up to 10 times the size of the grain.
Avoid applying nitrogen to tall fescue pastures in spring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Livestock producers can learn how to reduce toxins that damage performance and profits during the March 23 Alliance for Grassland Renewal workshop in Mount Vernon, Missouri.University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts says ergot alkaloids in Kentucky 31 tall fescue begin to increase about mid-April in Missouri. Tall fescue is the state’s main cool-season grass.
Veterinary prescriptions required for antibiotics in the coming months
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Several antibiotics used in cattle and other livestock will require a veterinary prescription in the coming months. This change represents the final phase of the Food and Drug Administration’s efforts to bring all medically important antibiotics approved for use in animals under veterinary oversight by June 11, 2023.
Avian flu numbers drop as summer nears
COLUMBIA, Mo. – With avian influenza numbers dropping, bird lovers can continue to enjoy feeding their feathered friends with little risk, says Robert Pierce, University of Missouri Extension wildlife and fisheries specialist.Fewer reports of dead and sick birds point to an end to the current outbreak of avian influenza, Pierce says. Rising summer temperatures also will likely lead to a decrease in avian influenza.
How to properly care for the newborn calf
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Many beef and dairy calves will be born in the next three months. As spring calving season approaches, University of Missouri Extension experts stress the importance of properly caring for newborn calves.
Plan now for antibiotic changes on the horizon
COLUMBIA, Mo. – While 2023 might seem a long way off, it’s not too early for livestock producers think about how recent Food and Drug Administration guidance might affect their operations, says University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Craig Payne.
Evaluate your calving distribution this spring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Record calf birthdates this calving season to track calving distribution.“Evaluating a calving distribution takes very little time but can provide valuable insight into reproductive performance and productivity of the herd,” says University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Craig Payne.Calving distribution is often expressed as the percentage of calves born at 21-day intervals, since 21 days is the average length of…
Pasture flies thriving in hot, humid weather
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension dairy veterinarian Scott Poock says three types of flies cause economic damage and discomfort in cattle.Typically appearing in spring, horn flies, face flies and stable flies carried over to summer this year due to hot, humid weather.“The warmer it is, the faster the fly goes through its life cycle,” Poock says. “In a given summer, several generations can turn over as they multiply.”
Emerging swine disease calls for biosecurity measures, says MU Extension veterinarian
COLUMBIA, Mo. – U.S. pork producers should be aware of an emerging swine disease, says University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Corinne Bromfield. Chinese pork producers reported the 13th outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) Sept. 6. It has appeared since August in several locations in China hundreds of miles apart. This leaves researchers scratching their heads over how it spreads from one area to another, says Bromfield.
MU vet students take research to dairy parlors and pastures
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri veterinary students take campus research to parlors and pastures to help dairy farms improve.The MU School of Veterinary Medicine’s production medicine class is a popular elective, offering students two-way learning opportunities. Students share university research with farmers, and farmers share their day-to-day practices with students.
Missouri Dairy Profit Seminars set at 5 locations
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension, Missouri Dairy Association and Multimin USA will hold the 2018 Missouri Dairy Profit Seminar at five locations throughout the state Feb. 19-23, said MU Extension veterinarian Scott Poock.The event is free for dairy producers, but lunch reservations are required. A fee of $20 is required for non-dairy producers. This will be a good opportunity for producers to learn of several ways to…