Cattle

Bill in IL · Jun 30, 2009

I have a few head of beef cows maily just to keep the pastures mowed down. Is it worth my while to take them in get their shots and dewormer? Its a small heard 6 cows so disease has really not been a problem.

I usually band castrate at 250 lbs or so but lots of others cut at 4-500 is there benefit to cutting vs banding?

Anonymous-0 · Jun 30, 2009

I raise a few steers also. I always at least give em a tetanus if I band them. As far as worms I give them pelletized wormer from intervet.$5.00 for a 1 pound bag treats 2 500# steers

petetx · Jun 30, 2009

since you don't have the problems in your climate we do on the gulf coast I would set out a safe-guard worm block it's the easiest way

LAA · Jun 30, 2009

Main benefit to yearly vaccinationing mature cows to gaurd against diseases such as lepto/blackleg and various pnuemonias is the immunity they pass on to their calves. I use killed virus strains because as a rule they are safe for pregnant cows. Most 8 way vaccines also gaurd against spontaneous abortion. As far as deworming, I think it is cruel not to, most commercial wormers today kill internal and external parasites, horn flies, grubs etc. The cattle are a lot more comfortable and do better in general. I have been told that some calf buyers did not like banded calves because of the possibility of missing one testical and having a stag, where with a knife there is no doubt. I do both and after a month or so I can"t tell the difference by looking at them.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 30, 2009

You said in your post "take them in".If that means hauling the livestock to vet clinic,it might be a push.In Texas,it is leagal and common practice to hire or barter with another producer to work livestock at owners place if owner is disabled or inexperenced.It is also frowned on if anyone fails to perticipate in desease and parasite control regardless of herd size.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 1, 2009

Wouldn't waste time with the knife, surely it's not difficult to feel two before removing the applicator.

Bill in IL · Jul 1, 2009

What products do you use to vaccinate and deworm?

I know there are lots avaliable... just quicker to ask what works for you.

LAA · Jul 1, 2009

I use Ivomec plus wormer -- pour on in spring and injectable in the fall -- we worm twice yearly because we are in the deep south and don't get the hard freezes that kill pasture parasites. Annually vaccinate cow herd with Vira Shield - 6 + VL5, Pulmogaurd PH-M and Ultrabac 8 clostrodial. Vaccinate replacement heifers the same way and follow up with booster after 30 days on the heifers, then yearly. Vaccinate the steer calves with Pulmo Gaurd and Vira shield - 6 + VL 5. I order everything off the internet, American Livestock Supply or PBS animal health, there are several other options but I have had good luck with both of these suppliers.

LAA · Jul 1, 2009

I remembered a few years a go a friend bought a small herd from an old man who could no longer care for them. These were middle aged cows that wer as fat and slick as you ever saw, had good calves on them. The old feller had not been able to do much and he told my friend that the cattle had never been wormed, we wormed them straight off the trailer and 3 or 4 of them fell dead in the next few days, had the vet post them and it was lung worms. The dead lung worms suffocated those cows because they could not cough them up.I guess it was like heart worming a dog who alredy has the heart worms. I am not suggesting you have any thing of the kind to worry about -- just passing on something I saw happen that I would never have expected.

LAA · Jul 1, 2009

I don't see how banding is faster, you are supposed to vaccinate for blackleg and tetanus 1 week before banding. Then band the calf, sound banding procedure calls for cutting the scrotum off after 3-4 days so the calf is not walking around with a rotting piece of flesh hanging, all of this means you handle the calf 3 times. Knife cutting is faster, less stress on the animal and less chance of blood bourne infection.

Bill in IL · Jul 1, 2009

See I never knew about the tetanus shot before banding. Have done quite a few and never had a problem. Maybe something to look at in the future.

Cattle

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