Many useful pharmaceutical products have been developed to treat BRD; however, effective implementation of a preventive strategy has been elusive. A further complication is the absence of an experimental model that replicates the most common clinical symptoms.

Hypothermia – lower than normal body temperature – is one of the major causes of death in newborn calves. Warmth and colostrum are the two most important factors in calf survival.

It’s commonly known in the cattle industry that BRD is the most costly illness affecting cattle in North America. Despite extensive research and treatment efforts over the years, it continues to lead to high rates of sickness and death among cattle.

As calving season progresses, we hear of miracle remedies that will get an unthrifty calf up to snuff in no time. Whether oral or injectable, it’s good to understand what the active ingredient in the “cocktail” is that may – or may not – give the calf a boost.

Now that you’ve filled up on all the holiday sweets, it’s time to ring in the new year. There’s that saying, “new year, new me,” right? It’s the time of year to set new goals.

There’s no bigger reward in this industry than capitalizing on the decisions of last year, but like the tax collector, don’t pay attention to your herd in arrears. Now is the time to begin thinking of next year’s calf crop.