You’ve put in the time, the effort and the expense to prepare your animal for a show, but are you doing everything you can to protect it once it leaves your place? Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine assistant clinical professor and beef cattle extension specialist, educates youth exhibitors about the importance of animal health and even has two children of her own who are just getting started in the showring. “Many young exhibitors and families new to the show industry simply do not know the proper protocols to keep their animals healthy, but it is such an important step in protecting the financial and emotional investment that comes with showing cattle,” she said. “A calf can be doing perfect at home, but then it’s hauled several hours to a show, placed in an unfamiliar environment, asked to be a show calf and we tip it over the edge because of questionable protective coverage.” Biggs said many of the principles related to keeping intermingled cattle healthy go back to the beef industry’s hallmark Beef Quality Assurance program. For nearly 30 years, BQA has provided tools to empower every segment of the beef industry to use best practices in animal health, management techniques and record keeping in their operations. Trainings include information about cattle health, stockmanship, marketing, emergency planning and meat quality, with the goal of 6
demonstrating a commitment to food safety and quality, improving sale value of marketed beef cattle and reflecting a positive public image for the beef industry. Certification is available in-person and online through bqa.org. “BQA is the beef industry’s commitment to consumer confidence,” Biggs said. “Regardless of where we sit in the industry – from showing a steer that just won a national show or a bucket calf at the county fair to working fulltime as a producer running mama cows or managing a feedlot – we should ultimately all be committed to producing a consistent product the consumer wants to buy and has confidence in.” BQA, as it relates to the showring, is especially centered around animal health practices to protect livestock before, during and after a show. “By definition, show cattle really are high-risk cattle,” Biggs said.
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“They’re coming from multiple locations to a central point – maybe for a weekend or maybe an entire week or two for larger shows. They’re going to be hauled and stressed, and we want to have them prepared before they arrive to fight off any pathogens they might encounter.” Here are Biggs’ top five tips for keeping your cattle healthy so they can perform to their highest potential: KNOW YOUR ANIMAL’S PREVIOUS HEALTH RECORD • Ask the animal’s seller for written records, particularly the vaccinations already administered and the specific products that were used • Know if a booster was given or if it is necessary at a later date • Temporarily isolate new animals to prevent the spread of disease to those already in your pens
“By definition, show cattle really are high-risk cattle. “They’re coming from multiple locations to a central point – maybe for a weekend or maybe an entire week or two for larger shows. They’re going to be hauled and stressed, and we want to have them prepared before they arrive to fight off any pathogens they might encounter.” – Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine assistant clinical professor and beef cattle extension specialist Photo courtesy of Oklahoma State University
