BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES - PART 4 by TSCRA - The Cattleman Magazine

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PART 4

Breeding Season Management: Protect Pregnancies, Keep Cattle Condition Consistent

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CATTLE HEALTH

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4

Breeding Season Management: Protect Pregnancies, Keep Cattle Condition Consistent Table of Contents 4 Nutrition and Body Condition Count in a Healthy Beef Herd 5 When It Comes to Cow Reproduction, They Can Be Too Thin 8 Protect Pregnancies and Calves Via Immunizations and Boosters 9 End of Breeding Season Brings More Cattle Management Decisions 11 Older Cows Earn Their Keep

The Cattleman, the monthly journal of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, is pleased to partner with Merck Animal Health on a series of seasonal beef cattle health management manuals. Thanks to the generous support of the Merck Animal Health technical services veterinarians, Dr. David Bechtol and several of his colleagues, we are able to provide a blend of easy-to-read articles that educate and inform ranchers about various aspects of beef cattle health management. thecattlemanmagazine.com

Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4 Breeding Season Management 3

Nutrition and Body Condition Count in a Healthy Beef Herd By David Bechtol, D.V.M., Palo Duro Consultation, Research & Feedlot, Canyon, Texas, and Dr. Jim Furman, The Animal Center, Alliance, Neb.

Success in 4 areas of the cow-calf production cycle can be directly linked to the herd health or nutrition program. First, the best reproductive performance from the cow herd (best percentage of females that get pregnant compared to females that are exposed to bulls) is bolstered by a good vaccination and nutrition program and by having the cows in optimum body condition. Second, we need to know how many of those pregnant cows actually calved, or how many lost their fetus during gestation. Third, we need to know how many calves survived calving and the first 60 to 90 days of life. This depends on timing the vaccinations so they are properly given to the dams to build the colostrum that will protect the newborn calf. The diet has to be good enough to support both the cow and calf in order to allow the maximum number of calves to survive. Fourth, the cow or first-calf heifer has to rebreed while she is milking and still wean a healthy, heavy calf while she’s gestating. Nutrition basic to success Nutrition is a natural mate to a successful health program on any cow-calf operation. Nutrition programs must start with the available nutrients of the operation and expand or be developed from there. Most operations start with grass or hay. Then other residue feed, such as corn stalks, wheat pastures or something comparable that is available to the rancher, are considered. 4 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4 Breeding Season Management

The main ingredients to be analyzed for a completely balanced ration are: • Percentage of dry matter • Crude protein • Percentage of total digestible nutrients (TDN) • Net energy maintenance (NEM) • Net energy gain (NEG) • Percentage of calcium • Percentage of phosphorus • A micro-mineral package to supplement any ingredients that may be lacking in the feedstuffs It is a challenge to develop a complete, balanced ration for all the animals you are feeding, such as replacement heifers, second-calf heifers, and mature cows or bulls. Some of these groups, such as weaned calves that are in a backgrounding program, may need a separate diet. Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cows (NRC) pre-calculated tables and computer programs are available for accurately determining the nutrients required by beef cows. The objective of any feeding program is to ensure optimum fertility and production from every female as economically as possible. It is a good idea to consult with an independent nutritionist and your veterinarian. Body condition score Body condition scores (BCS), when used on a regular basis, are a great means of evaluating the success of your feed rations. Progressive ranchers recognize the important relationship between the physical appearance and the thecattlemanmagazine.com

reproductive performance of their cow herd. Body condition scoring merely formalizes this procedure by placing a quantitative score on the relative degree of fatness or energy reserves that can be observed or palpated. Body condition scores allow producers to group cattle according to their nutritional requirements. On a scale of 1 to 9 — 1 representing very thin body condition and 9 representing extreme fatness — a score of 4, 5, or 6 is considered acceptable for most stages of demand on a mature cow or growing animal. Expect each BCS to represent a difference of about 79 pounds of body weight on a mature cow. The critical periods in the beef cow’s reproductive cycle are from calving through rebreeding, and during the last 60 to 80 days prior to calving. During these periods, body condition has a tremendous effect on reproductive performance and overall productivity. There are many seasons and cycles throughout the year

that affect both health and nutrition. To disregard these special needs areas could be a costly mistake. If either disease or poor nutrition causes infertility for even just 1 season, the missed conceptions could be devastating to a ranch. For example, a venereal disease like trichomoniasis or low levels of nitrate in the feed could easily be responsible for a 40 to 60 percent calf crop loss. Here are some useful reference materials for your additional education. Most of these can be found at beef. tamu.edu. • Body Condition, Nutrition and Reproduction of Beef Cows B-1526-Texas A&M AgriLife Extension • Body Fat in Beef Cows Affects Pregnancy Rates L-2149 • Supplementation Strategies for Beef Cattle B-6067 • Beef Cattle Handbook-BCH 5405 – Kansas State University • Nutrition and Feeding of the Cow-Calf Herd – Virginia Cooperative Extension ❚

When It Comes to Cow Reproduction, They Can Be Too Thin By Gary DiGiuseppe

“Fat is where it’s at”, according to Dr. Kelly Sanders, beef cattle nutrition specialist with Purina Mills, LLC, who says the evaluation of additional fat supplementation has become very important in prescribing a diet for cows as they enter the winter months. Sanders says, “When we can get an additional 0.15 to 0.2 pound of fat per day into a cow, anywhere from 90 to 60 days before breeding, we actually can have that cow cycle just a little bit faster.” Having fat in the diet also pays great dividends for the performance of the cow, and it does not have to be managed too critically. Sanders also says he has read information showing that when cows were fed a half pound to a pound of fat for durations as short as 60 days, the cows’ reproductive performance was enhanced. However, “I usually don’t recommend [feeding] that level of fat. I would rather feed a lower level of fat for a longer period of time. I think it helps those cows nutritionally, from their energetic as well as reproductive standpoints.” Goal is to score 5 The goal is to get the cows to a body condition score (BCS) of at least 5 heading into the winter. Sanders says he would prefer they be closer to 5.5 with the top end of the herd in the 6s, but 5 to 5.5 is the target. He says that when calves are weaned from the cows, many thecattlemanmagazine.com

of those cows are going to be running 4.5 to 5 body condition scores, especially after a lingering dryness like this past summer. That means they will need to gain between 30 and 60 pounds. An additional 60 pounds in weight gain will be close to approximating a full point gain in the BCS system. According to a chart provided by Texas A&M University, the difference between body scores 4 and 5 is visible in the fore rib area. The fore ribs are usually visible if a cow is in BCS 4. If she is in BCS 5, just 1 or 2 ribs may be visible. The spine is slightly visible on cows that are BCS 4, but is not visible when a cow is BCS 5. In both BCS 4 and 5, there is no fat on the tailhead or brisket and the hooks and pins are visible, although the muscling should be full. Right condition is an efficient condition Sanders says maintaining the cow in good body condition will ultimately save on feed costs, because it is not cost-efficient to let the cow lose weight and then try to raise her score again. The cow should be expected to gain 30 to 60 pounds after weaning, especially if that timeframe is from September through the fall. “The big thing,” he says, “is not letting those cows slip in body condition score and actually lose weight, and then try to bring them back during the middle of winter.” ➤ Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4 Breeding Season Management 5

In addition to ensuring that there is an ample supply of forage available to the cow, the rancher should also test the quality of the forage to be sure it is adequate to meet her needs. If it is not, the next question is how best to meet the gap in nutritional deficiency, which could be protein, energy or both. Sanders says producers have traditionally used range cubes to fill the gap and while this has worked to a degree, it is important to stay on top of the situation. He says often by the time the producer realizes the cow is slipping, there has already been a loss of body condition score. The rancher starts feeding, “but by that time we’re behind the 8-ball. So from my perspective, I like to start feeding those cows just a little bit earlier than we normally would, in order to stay on top of it.” To prevent the gap between observation and actual condition, Sanders says he tries to gauge cow condition once a quarter, but believes it is critical point in his part of the world (he hails from near Lubbock) to start evaluating cows in October and November. That is when grass would normally start to enter dormancy and decline in quality, due to its seasonal nature. Weaning time, he says, “is a good time to get your first eyeballing of them because you have an opportunity to see most of the herd. It is a really good time to get a general idea of the overall condition of those cows, just from driving through the pasture. Have they come up on their condition or have they reached a plateau? But if you wait, thinking ‘I can get another month,’ you are really just waiting to see cow conditions drop. Those cows might have lost 30 to 40 pounds by the time you actually know it and see it.” Supplemental support There is no specific formula for supplementing lesser-quality late season forage. Cubes, blocks and liquids are all popular. For herds calving in February and March, it is hard to get a cow caught back up to proper weight in the winter if she has already lagged behind nutritionally. Sanders says the third trimester is the critical time frame to maintain the cow’s nutrition in a way that will help her breed back. If she is already behind, the producer will experience difficulties when he tries to get her to recycle. Purina has a Sustained Cattle Nutrition Feeding Program that is intended to meet the animal’s needs as she progresses through pregnancy, calving and weaning. The supplementation measurements are based on seasonal forage quality. Sanders explains, “We have found that there are times, even within August and September, when grass can be deficient in protein. A little bit of supplement in that timeframe can really prop up the cows, keeping them in a good body condition score even though there are calves on those cows, and adding to the weaning weight of calves. It is also seen in the conception rates of those cows during the breeding season.” 6 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4 Breeding Season Management

He also stresses the importance of having a complete mineral program year round, with both macro minerals and micro minerals present. Sanders says the absence of crucial minerals can have a dramatic effect not only on cow health and performance, but on her calf as well. If you’re meeting all of the cow’s nutritional requirements and she’s still failing to maintain body condition — especially when most of the other cows in the herd are in good condition — it is time to consult a veterinarian. The cow may have unseen health problems warranting attention. If these aspects of nutritional management were important before, they’ve grown in significance in the era of $300 per hundredweight (cwt) calves. “Producers are looking to maximize their weaning weights, and trying to spend a little bit more money to increase their conception rates, because there is more money in their pockets these days,” he says. “They are willing to step out and do some things that they normally would not have done in order to increase the performance, because they feel they can afford to do it. And it is a good time to do it, because feed is a lot cheaper than it was 2 years ago and calf prices are also good; it has worked out very well.” Of course, it is possible to overdo it, although Sanders says that to this point, he has not seen producers using the excuse of cheaper feed and record cattle prices to overfeed animals. When that does happen, he says, it tends to be with range cubes. If producers put out too many cubes, which have a high fat content, the cow gets so much energy that she stops grazing. Instead of being beneficial, it becomes deleterious to your efforts to maintain a nutritional balance and improve body condition score. In addition to reducing whole herd dietary intake, an imbalanced diet has an adverse effect on the animal’s rumen. And yes, it is possible to make the cow too fat, Sanders says. “If you look at all the research, if cows are in a body condition score higher than 6 — you get into 7s and cows are really fat — they are not nearly as productive and it can have some adverse effects on the performance as well.” Referring again to the Texas A&M guide, the telltale signs of a cow with a body condition score of 7 are fat on the brisket and some on the tailhead, with the hooks and pins barely visible. Sanders concludes, “There is a balance between taking good care of the animal, overdoing it and making her too fat, or under doing it and she becomes just too thin to perform.” It is hoped that under these market and feed conditions, the latter will not be a factor. He says, “We have had a great year this year; as you drive through the country, cows look exceptionally well with a great body condition score going into this winter. We should be in pretty good shape with cows this winter and through the spring, provided we can take care of them.” ❚ thecattlemanmagazine.com

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Protect Pregnancies and Calves Via Immunizations and Boosters By David Bechtol, D.V.M., Palo Duro Consultation, Research & Feedlot, Canyon, Texas

Understand the beef herd production cycle — breeding season, calving, weaning, introducing replacement heifers and more — to design a preventive beef herd health program. As we have discussed in previous articles beginning in January (Prepping Heifers and Cows for the Breeding Season), vaccination (immunization) is the answer to a successful cow-calf health program. The health of a calf starts with the health of the mother’s vaccination program. The replacement heifer pre-breeding vaccination program establishes the foundation for cow herd immunity and is the logical first step in improving cow herd programs. Customizing the vaccination program for your cow herd and the specific needs of your operation should be designed by you, with the help of your veterinarian, to have the healthiest and most problem-free herd possible. Vaccinations should include bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), Leptospirosis hardjo-bovis (Lepto), and campylobacter (vibrio). Other vaccinations can be added to fit your needs and requirements. The first vaccination cows should receive is given pre-breeding, the second at pregnancy check, and the third at pre-calving. First-calf heifers should also receive a scours bacterin containing both viral (rotavirus and coronavirus) and bacterial (E. coli) antigens at pre-calving. A clostridial bacterin containing Cl. perfringens is also incorporated into the program at this time. The cows will get a similar annual vaccination booster protocol as well. These should be given approximately 6 to 8 weeks prior to the start of calving to give the dam’s body a chance to build antibodies (protection against the diseases vaccinated for) that will be delivered to her newborn calf in the colostrum (first milk from the dam). These vaccinations protect the calf through passive immunity (immunity transferred from cow to calf in the colostrum) and will protect the calf from being infected or exposed to such diseases as IBR and BVD while still in the uterus.

Modified live virus (MLV) vaccines have advantages over killed vaccines because they stimulate a more balanced, rapid and long-lived response. However, MLV vaccines can result in abortion if administered inappropriately to non-immunized animals during pregnancy. Comply with the label recommendations and the advice of your veterinarian. These cow herd vaccinations promote healthy cows and calf crops. Other diseases such as lepto are normally boostered annually at pregnancy-check time to protect against abortions in the third trimester of the pregnancy. Vibriosis vaccine is given at the pre-breeding time to protect the cow herd from this disease, which normally causes abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy. Trichomoniasis vaccination at pre-breeding can also help prevent this disease from spreading through the cow and heifer herds, which can cause first-term abortions. A proper vaccination program for your cow herd is one of the most important things you can do for your cows. The other is a balanced diet for the different stages of production. Your local veterinarian can help you develop a sound and rewarding protocol. ❚

The first vaccination cows should receive is given pre-breeding, the second at pregnancy check, and the third at pre-calving. 8 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4 Breeding Season Management

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End of Breeding Season Brings More Cattle Management Decisions By Gary DiGiuseppe

The end of another breeding season, it is hoped, means the start of a new cycle of life on the cattle ranch. It also provides an opportunity for the rancher to take stock of the herd and make decisions that will keep it productive and profitable. “It gives us an ideal time to go in and evaluate the cow herd, particularly the ‘keep/cull’ decisions,” says Mark Spire, D.V.M., retired from a career as a technical services manager for Merck Animal Health. “The quickest and easiest decisions are obtained through visual examination. We can look at the physical conditions of the cows to check for bad eyes, lumps, lameness or bad udders. We also have a chance to look at the calf she’s about to wean off. Is that the type of calf we want; is it one that can make money for the operation? “If we’ve made a good decision on the genetics contributed by the bulls, then the calf is showing us the female contribution both genetically and from the milking ability and production standpoints. While just about any calf has value, is the value covering cow costs? If not, then decide to cull that cow.” Also important to the decision of which cows stay and which go to town is the pregnancy check. Spire says the sooner this takes place after the end of the breeding season the more accurate the palpator can be in determining exactly when the cows are in gestation. “Most manual palpators are comfortable with 35 days and later, so you can start planning on pregnancy checking at that point after the bulls are pulled,” he says. “If a rancher uses ulthecattlemanmagazine.com

trasound scanning to pregnancy check, that could start around 21 days after the end of the breeding season, realizing that the earlier you check before 50 days have elapsed, the greater the chance of naturally occurring embryonic death that can throw your final pregnancy rates off. “As the fetus grows, very specific structural changes take place in the uterus and in fetal size, allowing you to evaluate the age of the fetus quite accurately from about 35 days to about 135 days. “By taking the breeding group as a whole, the distribution in the next calving season pool can be calculated based over the entire length of the previous breeding season.” This will allow cows to be grouped for nutritional and health management over the winter, prior to the start of the next calving season, a practice that can allow fine tuning of the nutrition management program. Cull cows a separate revenue stream Combining the lists of cows with physical defects, opens or late-breds and those with poor-doing calves, provides a pool of cull cows that can be managed as a separate revenue stream. Spire says based on the size of the culled cow pool, a rancher has options — hold the cows from the peak cull time, normally in the fall, or feed the cows. “Culled cows are a fluid market commodity. Depending on how many you have, cost and adequacy of the feed supply, Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4 Breeding Season Management 9

and current or projected market-value provide many potential marketing options,” he says. Once the decision has been made for which cows to remove from the herd, the rancher can review the remaining pregnant cows, examine their body conditions and appropriately manage the nutrition program going into winter. He says, “It sets the stage for saying, ‘Now I know exactly what my herd inventory is going to be. I know what their conditions are, I know when they’re going to start calving — this is how much groceries I’m going to have to put in them.’ It really allows us to manage our dollars better.” When to deliver the health program With information in hand on which cows were bred, their likely calving pattern, the quality of their offspring and the success of the nutritional program, the producer can also weigh options on the timing of the delivery of the health program. “Knowing basic management information of the cow herd as to age and pregnancy status tells us how we can deliver vaccines to potentially prevent reproductive losses and calfhood diseases in a more timely fashion,” Spire says. “For instance, when vaccinating for scours control, timing vaccine delivery correlated to when the cow actually calves is far better than taking an average of a large number of cows over a 100-day calving season.” If the herd has a history of scours, the producer can look at the timing of scours vaccine application. The cows can either receive the vaccines immediately post breeding or, if the pregnancies are tightly grouped, 4 to 6 weeks before the cows calve out. Spire says this ensures there will be the ideal amount of antibodies in the colostrum. From a reproductive disease prevention standpoint the biggest concern with U.S. cows, year in and year out during mid to late gestation, is leptospirosis. Because there are several strains of lepto, using a multivalent lepto vaccine at pregnancy check is a good practice. However, “don’t neglect the viruses,” says Spire. “Most of the time, our best method for virus control in the herd is to administer viral vaccines when the cows are open, prior to the start of the breeding season, and to practice good biosecurity, particularly against fetal BVDV infection. In some herds, where there’s increased risk of viral exposure, cows will receive killed viral product rather than a modified live viral product due to that risk.” External control At the end of the breeding season, it’s also a good idea to take care of external parasites. Treat for lice early in the fall, but keep an eye out for recurrence. The cows may need to be treated again later in the winter. This is also a good time for residual fly control and deworming. 10 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4 Breeding Season Management

Spire says the coming frost will also kill worm eggs on pastures, leaving the producer with clean cows out on pasture. This practice has been shown to increase milk production post-calving and to result in very low fecal egg shed the following spring. Bull care after breeding Managing bulls post-breeding is also important. As Spire says, “They just came off their big time of the year. I really like to do a walk-around exam on the bulls at the end of the breeding season. I’m looking for any feet and leg issues they might have, any bumps — particularly lump jaw — and checking to make sure that they don’t have any swelling in the scrotum or any lumps or swelling along the sheath.” It’s a quick and easy examination. If any of these conditions are discovered, the bull can be pulled out of the herd for further diagnosis. If the condition isn’t treatable, the bull should go to market. Defect-free bulls can be treated for external parasites at this time and receive vaccines similar to those given to the cow herd. The basic approach is the same whether the herd calves in the spring or the fall, with the main difference hinging on the age of the calf. In spring calving herds, there is the opportunity for early weaning of the calves because pasture conditions decline in late summer and fall. If the calves are weaned early, management resources can be applied to the brood cows. “In a fall calving herd, we basically have a set nutrition program due to overwintering rations and poor forage conditions,” says Spire, “so the decision becomes when to wean the calves. Typically, it’s when the grass comes back in the spring. The calves coming off in the spring are generally a little older, so we have fewer health issues with spring-weaned versus fall-weaned calves.” Caring for replacement heifers What about heifers being introduced to the breeding herd? Spire says the way the heifers are bred is more critical and the group can be better fine-tuned through gestational dating. The heifer should have received vaccines for viral diseases at weaning time, and then boostered pre-breeding in the spring. Once her bred status has been determined, she can be brought into compliance with the herd’s general health program. This typically means boostering lepto vaccinations and the initiation of the calf scours prevention program vaccines in those herds where it is necessary. Spire adds, “The difference between the cow and the heifer is that cows will typically just need a single annual booster of a scours vaccine, which is best delivered 4 to 6 weeks pre-calving, while heifers tend to need 2 doses. The first one is the priming dose, which could be given at pregnancy check time, and the booster dose is given 4 to 6 weeks pre-calving.” ❚ thecattlemanmagazine.com

Older Cows Earn Their Keep The old cow has earned her keep, so keeping her around can increase overall ranch profitability. By Gary DiGiuseppe

Older cows are more of a challenge to maintain, but they’re worth it — they’ve already paid for themselves. “It just goes back to pure economics,” notes Mark Spire, D.V.M., retired from a career as a technical services manager for Merck Animal Health. “The expenses associated with cow development have to be paid up front. Once we get her to an older age, each one of those early calves has basically paid for her lifetime support, and now that those calves from an older cow are on the gravy side of this thing; we don’t have a lot of extra associated costs with the old cows. So the longer we can keep them in the herd, the better off we’re going to be.” The downside to managing older cows is a drop in performance. Spire says an “old cow” is older than 8 years of age. Her reproductive function will start to fall off until, at 10 to 11 years old, it’s similar to that of a first-calf heifer that’s trying to breed back. As a result, a much larger percentage of those animals will be open, due in part to the repeated strain from her many calves on her uterus and on the declining function of her ovaries. “But as cows get older, one key driver behind that reproductive ‘slacking,’ as we say, actually is teeth,” Spire says. “As they start wearing their teeth down and start missing teeth we’ll actually start having issues with intakes, and we’ll start not holding condition on those cows. That loss of condition seems to be the main driver behind why we don’t get them bred back as well.” Spire suggests that when putting the cows in the working thecattlemanmagazine.com

chute for pregnancy checking, the producer also check their teeth. If they’re getting worn or some are missing, or her gum line is receding badly, the producer may be better off pulling her out of the typically managed group and moving her into a special management group. “We start putting them in better quality pastures, much like what we do for management for a 2-year-old or 3-year-old that we’re trying to get bred back,” he explains. Health issues to watch for among older cows In the smaller group, the herd owner can watch more closely for developments that need attention. “Most likely, we’ll start seeing arthritis in the hips and stifles, and we’ll start seeing some wear and tear on the toes of the old cows,” Spire says. “We’ll also start seeing more chances for lump jaw and any type of swelling or abscesses around the head. If we have cows that are more prone to cancer eye, then we have a chance to look at them pretty closely and intervene early before eye lesions become extensive.” When such conditions are caught early, medical intervention can further preserve the cow’s value to the producer. “Cancer eye” is the common name for bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma. It tends to occur more frequently in white-faced cows because the lack of pigment allows more exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet light. Although it can occur at any age, it’s typically found in cows 3 years old and older. Cancer eye can move through stages — first as a circular, Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4 Breeding Season Management 11

white elevation on the eye, then as a harder growth on the eyelids — and can also develop into a full-blown carcinoma, or tumor, without going through the non-invasive stages. Spire says cancer eye is an animal welfare and an economic issue. It’s important to catch the development of the disease before the lesions become invasive because the cancer cells can attack the regional lymph nodes in the head and neck and potentially even enter the chest cavity. Cancerous tissue can also invade the bone or spread to affect the entire side of the head. When that happens, the animal needs to be humanely euthanized and disposed of, with no attempt to sell it into the food chain. “If we intervene early to treat the lesion or to remove an eye, we don’t tend to see total carcass condemnation,” he says. “We may see head condemnation, so it becomes a value proposition. The key is early intervention. There are several techniques that can be used, from total eye enucleation (removal) to freezing, which is probably the most popular method to control cancer eye.” There are 2 forms of lump jaw. It can take the form of a soft tissue abscess caused by infected wounds in the cow’s mouth, or it can infect the bone. Both forms are caused by soil-borne organisms. The soft tissue version is caused by the bacterium Actinobacillus and can be treated by lancing, draining and disinfecting the abscess. Bony lump jaw is called actinomycosis and is caused by Actinomyces bovis. It cannot be treated in this manner. If it spreads, it can affect the animal’s ability to eat. A veterinarian can best help in its treatment. Special senior management Spire says in addition to preserving the cow’s useful life on the ranch, forming a special management group to more

12 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4 Breeding Season Management

effectively deal with these health problems and others also addresses concerns about proper animal handling. “We know they’re more prone to lumps, bumps, lameness,” he says, “and eye and bag problems. When we identify these conditions early, we can make a decision — can she have medical intervention where we correct the problem while it’s still fresh, or do we need to market that animal? It comes back to animal welfare and becomes a pain and suffering issue.” And it becomes an economic issue. With cows often bringing $1,000 and more, it’s a lot cheaper to deal with bad eyes, udders and infections through timely medical intervention than to let the maladies develop and absorb a big discount later at the stockyard. Older cows, less calving trouble One less major headache managing older cows is at calving where calf delivery is less of a concern than it is for a first- or second-calf heifer. “Her pelvis is large enough, and she’s been through the process long enough, that the calf should come out really easy,” Spire says. “If you see an old cow really working at it for about 30 minutes of active labor, you’d better go and check her, because it’s very likely she’s going to have a problem. Typically, it’s either a head turned or a leg turned, or a backward calf. So I like to intervene more quickly than I would a heifer.” Senior rations Older cows need different rations. “Mature cows can tolerate a lot lower quality forages than young cows. Up to about 4 years of age, the youngest cows are the highest dietary energy demanders,” Spire says. “Our better milking cows in that middle-aged bracket also tend to need a higher nutritional quality.” ➤

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ANADA 200-134, Approved by FDA

(cloprostenol sodium) Prostaglandin Analogue for Cattle Equivalent to 250 mcg cloprostenol/mL

BRIEF SUMMARY (For full Prescribing Information, see package insert) INDICATIONS: For intramuscular use to induce luteolysis in beef and dairy cattle. The luteolytic action of Estrumate can be utilized to manipulate the estrous cycle to better fit certain management practices, to terminate pregnancies resulting from mismatings, and to treat certain conditions associated with prolonged luteal function. REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTROLLED BREEDING PROGRAMS: A variety of programs can be designed to best meet the needs of individual management systems. A controlled breeding program should be selected which is appropriate for the existing circumstances and management practices. Before a controlled breeding program is planned, the producer’s objectives must be examined and he must be made aware of the projected results and limitations. The producer and his consulting veterinarian should review the operation’s breeding history, herd health, and nutritional status and agree that a controlled breeding program is practical in the producer’s specific situation. For any successful controlled breeding program: • cows and heifers must be normal, nonpregnant, and cycling (rectal palpation should be performed); • cattle must be in a fit and thrifty breeding condition and on an adequate or increasing plane of nutrition; • proper program planning and record keeping are essential; • if artificial insemination is used, it must be performed by competent inseminators using high-quality semen. It is important to understand that Estrumate is effective only in animals with a mature corpus luteum (ovulation must have occurred at least 5 days prior to treatment). This must be considered when breeding is intended following a single Estrumate injection. SAFETY AND TOXICITY: At 50 and 100 times the recommended dose, mild side effects may be detected in some cattle. These include increased uneasiness, slight frothing, and milk let-down. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Estrumate should not be administered to a pregnant animal whose calf is not to be aborted. PRECAUTIONS: There is no effect on fertility following the single or double dosage regimen when breeding occurs at induced estrus or at 72 and 96 hours post treatment. Conception rates may be lower than expected in those fixed time breeding programs which omit the second insemination (ie, the insemination at or near 96 hours). This is especially true if a fixed time insemination is used following a single Estrumate injection. As with all parenteral products, careful aseptic techniques should be employed to decrease the possibility of post injection bacterial infection. Antibiotic therapy should be employed at the first sign of infection. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Two mL of Estrumate (500 mcg of cloprostenol) should be administered by INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION for all indications in both beef and dairy cattle. Do not puncture stopper more than 12 times. WARNINGS: For veterinary use only. Women of childbearing age, asthmatics, and persons with bronchial and other respiratory problems should exercise extreme caution when handling this product. In the early stages, women may be unaware of their pregnancies. Estrumate is readily absorbed through the skin and may cause abortion and/or bronchiospasms; direct contact with the skin should therefore be avoided. Accidental spillage on the skin should be washed off immediately with soap and water. STORAGE CONDITIONS: 1. Protect from light. 2. Store in container. 3. Store at controlled room temperature 59°-86° F. (15°-30° C). 4. USE WITHIN 28 DAYS OF FIRST USE. HOW SUPPLIED: 20mL and 100mL multidose vials CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

FERTAGYL® (GONADORELIN) 43 mcg/mL gonadorelin Sterile Solution FOR THE TREATMENT OF CYSTIC OVARIES IN DAIRY CATTLE FOR USE WITH ESTRUMATE (CLOPROSTENOL INJECTION) TO SYNCHRONIZE ESTROUS CYCLES TO ALLOW FOR FIXED TIME ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (FTAI) IN LACTATING DAIRY COWS

BRIEF SUMMARY (For full Prescribing Information, see package insert) CAUTION FEDERAL LAW RESTRICTS THIS DRUG TO USE BY OR ON THE ORDER OF A LICENSED VETERINARIAN. INDICATION AND DOSAGE Cystic Ovaries Fertagyl (gonadorelin) is indicated for the treatment of ovarian follicular cysts in dairy cattle. Ovarian cysts are non-ovulated follicles with incomplete luteinization which result in nymphomania or irregular estrus. Historically, cystic ovaries have responded to an exogenous source of luteinizing hormone (LH) such as human chorionic gonadotropin. Fertagyl initiates release of endogenous LH to cause ovulation and luteinization. The recommended intramuscular or intravenous dosage of Fertagyl is 86 mcg gonadorelin (2 mL) per cow. Reproductive Synchrony Fertagyl (gonadorelin) is indicated for use with Estrumate (cloprostenol injection) to synchronize estrous cycles to allow for ﬁxed time artiﬁcial insemination (FTAI) in lactating dairy cows. The recommended intramuscular dosage of Fertagyl is 86 mcg gonadorelin (2 mL) per cow, used in reproductive synchrony programs similar to the following: • Administer the first Fertagyl injection (2 mL) on Day 0. • Administer 2 mL of Estrumate (500 mcg cloprostenol, as cloprostenol sodium) by intramuscular injection 6 to 8 days after the first Fertagyl injection. • Administer the second Fertagyl injection (2 mL) 30 to 72 hours, after the Estrumate injection. • Perform FTAI 8 to 24 hours after the second Fertagyl injection, or inseminate cows on detected estrus using standard herd practices. STORAGE CONDITIONS: Keep refrigerated: 2° - 8°C (36° - 46°F). PRECAUTIONS FOR ANIMAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR HUMAN USE. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) contains more detailed occupational safety information. To report adverse effects in users to obtain a MSDS or for assistance call 1-800-211-3573. HOW SUPPLIED Fertagyl is a sterile solution containing 43 mcg gonadorelin (GnRH; as gonadorelin acetate) per milliliter suitable for intramuscular or intravenous administration according to the indication. Fertagyl is supplied in multidose vials containing 20 mL of sterile solution. Manufactured for: Intervet Inc (d/b/a Merck Animal Health) Madison, NJ 07940 By: INTERVET INTERNATIONAL GmbH Unterschleissheim - Germany

14 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 4 Breeding Season Management

For the older animal, the nutrition needed to maintain condition moves back to a maintenance level, which is another reason, he says, to keep them in a separate group. “We don’t have to pour the groceries into them even after they’ve calved and are milking. They don’t put out the volume of milk that we see in a 4- to 8-year-old cow. Because of that, there’s the opportunity for savings there on our winter feed costs and our spring calving feed costs.” If the old cow comes up open, economics dictate she’s headed to town, though not necessarily right away. Spire says some operations are large enough to establish an even more selective management program for the cow that has outlived her reproductive capacity. “There are some options that we can use for managing culled cows,” he says. “If we have forage or cheaper feedstuffs available, one of the most common is holding those cows over to a better market time of the year, which typically happens after the first of the calendar year.” If the culled cows are well-restricted and kept in confinement, they can put on condition very readily and cheaply and bring an even better price at the sale barn. Spire says the strong prices for calves have a lot of producers holding on to open young or middle-aged cows as well, provided there isn’t a disease component like trichomoniasis or campylobacter. “But when the old cow opens up, the chances of her rebreeding are going to be pretty low, so they tend to be a group that we’ll take right to town — or put into a separate management group,” he says. Managing old cows is a lot less challenging than managing young stock. With replacement costs out of the way, annual maintenance costs lower, and young animal disease issues put aside, management can focus on maintaining longevity and dealing with older cow age issues that are quite manageable. The old cow has earned her keep, so keeping her around can increase overall ranch profitability. ❚ thecattlemanmagazine.com

WHEN THE MARGIN FOR ERROR IS SMALL, PRECISION MATTERS. Stopping the spread of disease starts with directly targeting its causes. Bovilis® Coronavirus is specially formulated to help reduce enteric disease caused by Bovine Coronavirus, and delivers spot-on protection as part of a comprehensive vaccination protocol. Proven to aid in the reduction of enteric disease caused by Bovine Coronavirus Safe for use in colostrum-fed calves Approved for intranasal application in one or both nostrils Safe for use in calves as young as 1 day of age

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PART 4

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