Enhanced calving biosecurity pays off

Enhanced calving biosecurity pays off

Creating a plan to prevent the spread of disease is crucial when cows and calves are more vulnerable to infection

Biosecurity is always of the utmost importance on beef operations. That importance is amplified at calving time due to two groups of animals being more susceptible to infectious diseases: new calves and their dams.


Producers get hands-on experience managing unexpected calving problems, without the stakes of live animals at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Production Conference in Brandon in December 2023.

Pro tips for a calving crisis

When is it actually time to call in the vet?

Glacier FarmMedia – The calf was breech. Standing a few feet away, Brandon veterinarian Dr. Grayson Ross coached producer at the rear of the cow through the potential disaster. “Get […] Read more





Decreasing inflammation and stress could be a strategy to prevent disease in early lactation, improve the welfare and performance of dairy cows and lower disease-related costs for producers.

Aspirin may ease calving stress in dairy cows

Cows can experience inflammation and stress during calving, which can increase the risk of diseases such as mastitis

Glacier FarmMedia – Aspirin could become another inflammatory medication to provide pain relief for dairy cows. A year-long American research study found cows that received a short course of acetylsalicylic […] Read more




Corn and distillers grains can be used to help replace hay when it is in short supply.

Lowering winter beef cow feed costs

There are opportunities to decrease the highest expense on beef farms

Katie Wood, assistant professor in ruminant nutrition and physiology at the University of Guelph recently offered five tips to lower winter feeding costs in beef herds. Speaking at the Ontario […] Read more