The Beef Cattle Health and Nutrition Podcast

Dr. Colin Palmer, one of our reproductive specialist veterinarians from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine here at the University of Saskatchewan joins the podcast again this week to discuss the important topic of subfertility in beef bulls. Today we focus on the parts of the breeding soundness exam that greatly impact fertility - scrotal circumference and semen morphology. Dr. Palmer describes some of the most common sperm defects and why they occur.00:00 –Welcome and introductions01:05 – Importance of body condition score in bulls03:16 – Scrotal circumference and it’s impact on fertility10:02 – Identifying testicular and scrotal problems16:05 – Accessory sex glands and seminal vesiculitis18:45 – Evaluating the semen sample21:55 – Abnormal sperm morphology – why does it occur?24:12 – Common sperm morphology abnormalities – Distal midpiece reflexes and proximal droplets32:00 – What does the term “Rusty load” mean in terms of sperm defects?35:05 – Genetic sperm abnormalities37:12 – Why is 70% normal sperm considered acceptable?40:21 – Summary and wrap up

This week, Dr. Nathan Erickson and Dr. John Ellis join me to discuss the emergence of Bovine influenza A virus in cattle. We discuss what is currently known about this emerging disease issue at this point in time. New information is being acquired about the impacts and spread of Bovine Influenza A virus and this podcast gives information on the disease as known around April 12, 2024. Please rely on your local veterinarians or government veterinary offices for the most up to date information on this issue. Emerging diseases remind us of the importance of preventive practices. Using raw colostrum only from your own herd, not introducing orphan calves or nurse cows from dairy herds and quarantining new animals for 21 days will help prevent the introduction of diseases like Bovine Influenza A virus, Foot and Mouth Disease, and many other diseases. Find tips at https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/biosecurity/00:00 –Welcome and introductions04:10 – Clinical signs seen in dairy cow outbreaks in US08:06 - A primer on Influenza viruses10:28 – Influenza D virus role in respiratory disease in cattle12:15 – Hosts for Influenza A virus16:09 – High pathogenic vs low pathogenic influenza viruses18:21 – How influenza viruses change and jump to other species20:00 – Possible ways of spread of Bovine influenza A virus25:00 – Possibility of Bovine Influenza A virus in beef cattle27:14 – Human health implications28:29 – Herd to herd spread and biosecurity precautions31:59 – Summary and Wrap-up

The calf that presents with acute abdominal issues or colicky symptoms is not uncommon on cow-calf herds around calving time. In this episode, Dr. Blake Balog from Cattle Health Management in Brooks, Alberta joins the podcast to discuss the causes of colic in young calves and how the producer should approach these cases when faced with them.00:00 –Welcome and introductions04:08 – How do calves present with colic or acute abdominal problems?05:06- What should you do if you identify a calf with colic?08:11– Atresia coli and atresia ani13:16 – Intestinal accidents 18:46 – Abomasal ulcers and other abomasal issues26:25 – Navel problems that may cause colic33:36 – Final advice for dealing with calves with colic34:39 – Wrap up

Dr. Roy Lewis joins the podcast again to discuss Remote Drug Delivery Devices (RDDD). These are the dart guns, cross bows, and pole syringes that are sometimes used by producers to administer antimicrobials to cattle on pasture. Dr. Lewis discusses their proper use and why they should be only used as the last resort if no other option is possible. Here is a link to more information on the Beef Cattle Research Council website.https://www.beefresearch.ca/producers/remote-drug-delivery/00:00 - Introduction01:55 - Defining Remote Drug Delivery Device (RDDD)02:55 – Basic guidelines for injecting animals with any antimicrobial03:48 – How commonly are these devices used and what are the advantages of these devices?07:05 – What are the downsides of using a RDDD?08:32 – Withdrawal times and damage to tissues11:30 – Proper use of RDDD’s when warranted14:38 – Do pharmaceutical companies support the use of RDDD’s?16:13 – Getting a correct diagnosis when treating foot rot on pasture.19:07 - Closing comments and Wrap up

Dr. Greg Penner discusses some of his latest research findings on determining the optimum time to harvest cereal forages when feeding in bales or swath grazing.00:00 - Intro04:10 - Defining "Green-feed"05:50 - Stages of cereal maturity08:27 - Why do we need updated recommendations on harvesting cereal forages?10:47 - Changes in barley forage nutrient compensation at different stages of maturity12:45 - Changes in oat forage nutrient compensation at different stages of maturity14:18 - Impacts at the animal level in terms of digestibility17:05 - Impacts on body condition score and performance19:15 - Economic benefits22:00 - Recommendations for producers using cereal forages23:26 - Wrap upThe Canadian Cow-Calf Survey: https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/discovering-the-realities-of-the-2023-canadian-calf-crop/The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is asking all Canadian cow-calf producers to share insight into their on-farm management and production practices, which will help inform future beef research and extension strategies. The 2023 Canadian Cow-Calf Survey is an online questionnaire set up to collect data to help understand longer-term trends in production methods and efficiencies. Collecting credible information directly from beef cattle producers helps the BCRC identify research priorities and information gaps, develop provincial benchmarks and examine changes over time that impact farms and ranches. Canadian Cow-Calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network (C3H-PEN)Contact: Jayce Fossen, Project Coordinatorc3h.pen@usask.ca306-966-7870

This week I'm presenting another case from the files of our Disease Investigation Unit. This case has particular relevance to those producers that have been dealing with drought conditions over the last year. The case focuses on a cow-calf herd that has calves affected with neurological signs and blindness at birth.00 - Introduction1:36 - Herd background and presenting complaint3:43 - Post mortem findings and lab results4:40 - Details of on farm visit and continued cases10:24 - Presumptive Diagnosis of Vitamin A Deficiency12:54 - Other research results on impacts of low Vitamin A in calves and cows13:52 - Concluding remarks on Vitamin A testing and supplementationLinks to BCRC Webinar Series: https://www.beefresearch.ca/webinars/

Dr. Zach Johnson joins me to discuss an infertility case that he investigated a few years ago. Dr. Johnson is the current president of the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association and he is a veterinarian who owns a rural practice in Melville, Saskatchewan. Zach has led a number of these types of infertility investigations and we discuss the challenges with sorting out the cause of an infertility problem and the various diagnostics that might be used.00:00 – 2:20 Welcome and Introductions 02:21 – 04:17 Infertility case history04:18 – 5:58 The challenges associated with investigating infertility problems05:59 – 07:40 What diagnostics did we do?07:41 – 09:32 Neospora caninum as a cause of abortion or infertility09:33 – 11:45 IBR and BVD, Leptospira, Trich and Campylobacter11:46 - 18:27 Discussing the diagnosis – Copper deficiency18:28 – 19:43 What was recommended for the herd19:44 - 21:33 The value of pregnancy checking the herd21:34 – 22:35 Wrap up

Dr. Chris Clark is my guest this week. Dr. Clark is an internal medicine clinician in large animals who also serves as the Associate Dean at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. We have a short conversation on the agriculturally focused seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and then take a deep dive into some of the causes of sudden death in cattle. We also discuss the importance of getting a post-mortem diagnosis when deaths do occur in your herd.00:00 – 1:25 Welcome and Introductions 01:26 – 06:04 Agriculturally focused seats at WCVM06:05- 08:23 Definition of Sudden death08:24 - 13:42 Infectious causes of Sudden death in cattle – Clostridial Diseases(Blackleg)13:43 - 23:33 Infectious causes of Sudden death in cattle – Anthrax23:34 – 28:04 Traumatic causes of sudden death (Lightning)28:05 – 34:27 Nutritional causes of sudden death (Bloat)34:28 – 36:25 Other nutritional causes of sudden death (Lead toxicity, Blue green algae, white muscle disease, monensin toxicity, water deprivation, magnesium deficiency)36:26 - 38:25 White muscle disease38:26 – 41:45 The importance of a post-mortem diagnosis41:46 - 42:30 Wrap up

Jayce Fossen recently completed his Masters degree at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine focused on antimicrobial usage in Canadian cow-calf herds. Jayce joins me to discuss his results as well as a pitch for recruiting new herds for the Canadian Cow-Calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network.If you have a cow-calf herd that meets the criteria mentioned in the podcast, and are interested in participating in this new study, contact Jayce at 306-966-7870 or via email at C3H.PEN@usask.caLink to BCRC website on antimicrobial use and resistance: https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/antibiotic-resistance/00:00 – 1:22 Welcome and Introductions 1:23 – 3:37 Why do we need to study antimicrobial use in cow-calf herds?3:38 – 5:10 Description of herds that were followed in the study5:11 – 7:01 Most common reasons for antimicrobial use7:02 – 8:17 Proportions of animals being treated8:18 – 12:22 Classification of antimicrobials based on importance for human health12:23 – 14:53 Reasons for higher treatment numbers and mass medication14:54 – 20:52 Antimicrobials and remote drug delivery20:53 – 23:26 Differences between Eastern and Western Canadian herds23:27- 26:00 General principles of wise antimicrobial stewardship26:01 - 30:54 The Canadian Cow-Calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network30:55 – 31:54 Wrap up

Dr. Greg Penner from the Dept. of Animal and Poultry Science returns as my podcast guest this week. Greg is discussing some of his latest research efforts on the effects of high sulphate water on cattle performance and how we can mitigate some of the subclinical effects such as copper deficiency in high sulphate water situations.00:00 – 2:00 Welcome and Introductions 2:01 – 5:21 Where and when do we see high sulphates?5:23 – 7:01 Polioencephalomalacia – nervous disease caused by high sulphates7:02 – 9:25 Subclinical effects of high sulphates9:26 – 11:32 Current guidelines for high sulphate levels11:33 - 17:18 Describing results of a trial where high sulphate water was given to cattle17:19 – 24:25 An attempt to mitigate high sulphates with Bismuth subsalicylate24:26 - 27:38 Evaluating mineral strategies to mitigate the low copper caused by high sulphates27:39 – 30:07 Next steps in future research30:08 – 32:42 Recommendations for producers with high sulphate water or feed32:43- 33:52 Wrap up

This week Dr. Murray Jelinski returns to the podcast for a 2nd week in a row, to discuss a completely different topic. He will summarize some of his recent research on the value of deworming yearling cattle in Western Canadian pastures. We discuss the basics of the life cycle of the internal roundworms of cattle and the impact they can have on productivity.00:00 - 00:45 Intro00:45 - 02:51 Why the interest in internal parasites?02:51 - 06:00 Types of internal parasites of cattle06:01 - 10:27 Life cycle of roundworms10:28 - 15:54 Difference in species of roundworms and changes in distribution of species15:55 - 17:50 How do the roundworms impact performance?17:51 - 22:05 Limitations of the fecal egg count test22:06 - 27:11 Factors that affect the level of parasite load27:12 - 34:15 Summary of clinical trial on yearling cattle in Saskatchewan34:16 - 35:50 Emergence of Haemonchus roundworms in Western Canada35:51 - 38:31 Risk factors for higher parasite loads38:32 - 44:23 Recommendations for when to decide if deworming is necessary44:24 - 45:00 Wrap up

Dr. Gabriel Ribeiro from the Dept. of Animal and Poultry Science at the University of Saskatchewan is my guest this week. He has been researching the impacts of ergot in feed sources on cattle performance and he will discuss the levels of ergot that are safe for cattle, their impacts on cattle health, welfare and performance as well as how to test for and deal with feeds that might be high in ergot.00:00 - 01:50 Introduction01:51 - 02:54 What is ergot?02:55 - 04:55 How to identify ergot in feed sources04:56 - 07:30 Ergot and climatic conditions07:31 - 08:39 Clinical effects of ergot alkaloids08:40 - 09:36 Fescue toxicity vs Ergot toxicity09:37 - 11:04 Effects of ergot on rumen function?11:05 - 15:20 A clinical trial on the effects of ergot on cattle15:21 - 17:51 Effects on the animals in the trial17:52 - 21:06 The heat stress effect21:07 - 22:44 Effects on performance22:45 - 23:56 What levels of ergot are safe?23:57 - 29:22 Recommendations for dealing with ergot contaminated feeds29:33 - 30:52 Wrap up and conclusions

This week I'm presenting a quick mini episode with a case from our disease investigation files. This particular cow-calf herd had a disappointing pregnancy rate and we suspected a bacteria called Ureaplasma may have been responsible for the infertility. Ureaplasma is a bit of a tricky organism as we can find this bacteria in completely normal animals and so it is difficult to determine when it is truly responsible for infertility issues. Have a listen to learn what we do know about Ureaplasma diversum as a cause of reproductive failure.