Safeguarding Show Cattle Health - by Macey Mueller

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

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.

“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

“We have some really great vaccines available to us as livestock producers, but they need to be administered correctly to be effective,” Biggs said. “Do not be afraid to ask for records so you know exactly what was given and when.”

CREATE A HERD HEALTH PLAN

• Work with your local veterinarian to prevent the introduction of disease and have protocols developed in advance to treat animals that do get sick at home or at a show

• Common protocols might include protection against bovine respiratory disease, black leg, tetanus, internal and external parasites and even rabies

“Our show cattle are often raised in areas easily accessible and attractive to wildlife that carry rabies,” Biggs said. “It’s a fairly minimal investment to protect them from the skunk or racoon getting into the show barn to eat cat food.”

BE AWARE OF COMMON SPACES AND SHARING EQUIPMENT AT SHOWS

• Stay away from the communal watering tub at the end of the aisle to prevent exposure to disease pathogens passed through the water

• Limit your time in the wash rack and cleanup after yourself when you’re done

• Be aware of who is using your chutes, halters and other equipment and attempt to keep things separated as much as possible

“It’s important to recognize we are likely to expose our cattle to a variety of potential diseases at a show,” Biggs said. “Keeping as much separation between animals, people and equipment can minimize the risk.”

CLEAN AND DISINFECT EQUIPMENT AFTER A SHOW

• Feed pans, water buckets and even trailers are common ways for pathogens to travel distances

“When we’re loading up to head home, we often stack multiple feed pans and water buckets inside of each other and pretty soon we’ve taken all of the manure that has been tracked through the alleys and put it right where our cattle eat,” Biggs said. “Washing down and disinfecting equipment after a show can go a long way in preventing those pathogens from coming home with us.”

ISOLATE AND MONITOR CATTLE BACK AT HOME

• Watch cattle for signs of disease infection – fever, heavy breathing, snotty nose, lethargy or not eating are all common symptoms

• Contact your veterinarian immediately if an animal is showing symptoms

“We make significant investments in show animals, both financially and emotionally, so for a minimal cost and some basic awareness, we can work with our veterinarian to develop beneficial health protocols and follow a few guidelines to ensure they stay healthy,” Biggs said.

Because many shows require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection to participate and health papers are also required to cross state lines with cattle, Biggs said exhibitors sometimes have to make the hard decision to keep a sick animal home.

Stacking used water buckets and feed pans is a common way for pathogens to travel. Be sure to disinfect all equipment after each show.

“It can be tough, but knowing what we’ve all recently learned during the pandemic about disease transmission from a herd health standpoint, we know it’s best to keep that animal home to avoid causing a large outbreak,” she said.

In addition to protecting cattle health, Biggs said exhibitors should also be aware of the issues caused by misusing vaccinations and medications, including antibiotic resistance and residues associated with improper withdrawal times.

“Those of us in the show industry have to maintain a higher standard of using products appropriately and setting a good example for youth exhibitors and future cattle producers,” she said. “It may be a show calf, but there’s still a consumer focus at the end of the day and that’s really what BQA is all about.”

Biggs and her colleagues at OSU have put together a series of “Show Cattle Fundamentals” training videos designed specifically for those involved in showing. Visit beef. okstate.edu and click on “Rancher’s Thursday Lunchtime Series” to find the archived webinars. B&B

For more animal health resources, visit:

• bqa.org

• beef.okstate.edu, Rancher’s Thursday, Lunchtime Series, archived webinars