The Beef Cattle Health and Nutrition Podcast Dr. John Campbell

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

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

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
 

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

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

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 Coordinatorc3h.pen@usask.ca306-966-7870