• Subfertility in Bulls with Dr. Colin Palmer - Part 2
    Jun 11 2024

    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 introductions

    01:05 – Importance of body condition score in bulls

    03:16 – Scrotal circumference and it’s impact on fertility

    10:02 – Identifying testicular and scrotal problems

    16:05 – Accessory sex glands and seminal vesiculitis

    18:45 – Evaluating the semen sample

    21:55 – Abnormal sperm morphology – why does it occur?

    24:12 – Common sperm morphology abnormalities – Distal midpiece reflexes and proximal droplets

    32:00 – What does the term “Rusty load” mean in terms of sperm defects?

    35:05 – Genetic sperm abnormalities

    37:12 – Why is 70% normal sperm considered acceptable?

    40:21 – Summary and wrap up

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    43 mins
  • Subfertility in Bulls (Part 1) with Dr. Colin Palmer
    May 28 2024

    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 to discuss the important topic of subfertility in beef bulls. Why do we need to perform bull breeding soundness exams? What are the implications of various factors such as lameness and other physical problems on bull fertility? These are just some of the topics we discuss in this first part of a two part episode.

    00:00 –Welcome and introductions

    03:54 – Importance of herd fertility in cow-calf operations and factors that affect it

    10:45 – Value of a limited breeding season

    14:22 – Subfertility vs Infertility

    16:08 – Importance of the breeding soundness examination of the bull

    19:21 – Meaning of the various classification categories

    27:22 – Impact of lameness on bull fertility

    31:06 – Other factors that may affect fertility that can be identified in physical examination

    34:23 – Summary and Wrap-up

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    36 mins
  • Bovine Influenza A virus
    Apr 17 2024

    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 introductions

    04:10 – Clinical signs seen in dairy cow outbreaks in US

    08:06 - A primer on Influenza viruses

    10:28 – Influenza D virus role in respiratory disease in cattle

    12:15 – Hosts for Influenza A virus

    16:09 – High pathogenic vs low pathogenic influenza viruses

    18:21 – How influenza viruses change and jump to other species

    20:00 – Possible ways of spread of Bovine influenza A virus

    25:00 – Possibility of Bovine Influenza A virus in beef cattle

    27:14 – Human health implications

    28:29 – Herd to herd spread and biosecurity precautions

    31:59 – Summary and Wrap-up

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    35 mins
  • Treating calf scours with Dr. Chris Clark
    Apr 5 2024

    Dr. Chris Clark, an internal medicine specialist from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine joins the podcast to discuss how best to treat neonatal diarrhea in calves. We discuss how to detect dehydration and acidosis in an affected calf and the best ways to utilize oral electrolytes. We also discuss when a calf will need intravenous therapy and the limited value of antibiotic therapy. Check out the great resources on the Calf 911 section of the BCRC website for more information.

    https://www.beefresearch.ca/producers/calf-911-resources/

    00:00 – Welcome and introductions

    02:33 – Preventing calf scours is the best option

    06:02 - Causes of calf scours

    08:58 – Assessing hydration in a calf

    14:36 – Acidosis

    20:43 – How to utilize oral electrolytes

    25:31 – What to look for in an electrolyte solution

    29:18 – Antibiotics are of limited value for scours therapy

    31:39 – Summary and wrap up

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    37 mins
  • The Colicky Calf with Dr. Blake Balog
    Mar 8 2024

    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 introductions

    04:08 – 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 ani

    13:16 – Intestinal accidents

    18:46 – Abomasal ulcers and other abomasal issues

    26:25 – Navel problems that may cause colic

    33:36 – Final advice for dealing with calves with colic

    34:39 – Wrap up

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    36 mins
  • Health protocols for calves across industry sectors
    Feb 12 2024

    This week my guest is Dr. Mariana Guerra-Maupome. Mariana is a veterinarian with PhD training in bovine respiratory disease. She works as a feedlot consultant for Telus Agriculture and Consumer Goods and as part of her job, helps to provide feedlot consultation services to feedlots across North America and farther abroad. She joins me this week to discuss the challenges of designing health protocols that help to protect calves as they transition from one sector of the industry to another.

    00:00 – Welcome and introductions

    04:40 – Segmentation of the beef industry

    07:11 – Factors affecting the value of the calf at the feedlot

    12:16 – Importance and impacts of BRD

    14:15 – Strategies that lower the risk for BRD

    18:21 – How often do we currently utilize those strategies at the cow-calf level?

    20:55 – How can the cow-calf producer capture value?

    23:59 – The importance and value of data

    26:31 – How will things change in the future?

    28:21 – Summary and Wrap up

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    31 mins
  • Remote Drug Delivery Devices with Dr. Roy Lewis
    Jan 5 2024

    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 - Introduction

    01:55 - Defining Remote Drug Delivery Device (RDDD)

    02:55 – Basic guidelines for injecting animals with any antimicrobial

    03:48 – 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 tissues

    11:30 – Proper use of RDDD’s when warranted

    14:38 – 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

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    22 mins
  • Nitrate toxicity with Jenifer Heyden
    Dec 22 2023

    Jenifer Heyden, a livestock extension specialist from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture joins me again on the podcast to discuss high nitrate levels in feeds and how to prevent nitrate toxicity in your cow herd. We discuss the details on the clinical signs of nitrate toxicity and how to interpret a feed test for nitrate levels as well.

    00:00 – Opportunity to participate in Cow-calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network

    02:07 – Welcome and introductions

    04:00 – Feed sources that might have issues with nitrates

    05:53 - Drought and plant stress affecting nitrate levels

    06:53 – How does nitrate toxicity occur and what are clinical signs?

    11:40 – Difficulties in the treatment of acute nitrate toxicity

    10:23 – Confirmation of diagnosis and possibility of treating cases of lead toxicity

    12:26 – Prevention of nitrate toxicity

    14:03 – Understanding a feed test for nitrates

    17:10 – Utilizing feeds with higher nitrate levels

    20:35 – Advice for producers that might have high nitrate feeds

    23:00 – Wrap up

    Saskatchewan Agriculture Website on Nitrate Toxicity https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/agriculture-natural-resources-and-industry/agribusiness-farmers-and-ranchers/livestock/animal-health-and-welfare/nitrate-toxicity

    Canadian Cow-Calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network (C3H-PEN)
    Contact: Jayce Fossen, Project Coordinator
    c3h.pen@usask.ca
    306-966-7870

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    24 mins