Custom Cattle Care, LLC

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Custom Cattle Care, LLC Mobile beef cattle veterinary practice and consulting service - Melissa DePriest, DVM
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27/10/2023
20/07/2023
How much hay do you need for winter?While we're all waiting for some rain, it's a good time to start calculating hay inv...
05/10/2022

How much hay do you need for winter?

While we're all waiting for some rain, it's a good time to start calculating hay inventory needed to get cattle through the winter.

The first step to an accurate inventory is testing the nutrient content of the hay. Your local USDA office, university extension, or feed store may have a probe you can borrow or rent to collect a sample. This sample is then sent off for nutrient analysis. Once you have this information, you can better calculate the volume of hay needed to get you through the season. There are several calculators out there, including this one from Mississippi State University:

http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/hay-calculator-for-livestock-producers-excel-program-v2019-instruction-sheet

Pastures are pretty parched right now, so you may need to start feeding hay sooner than most years. I'm happy to assist with any hay analysis and inventory calculating to keep your herd on track.

When is the best time to schedule pregnancy exams?For spring-calving herds, the most value-catching time is 30 days afte...
28/09/2022

When is the best time to schedule pregnancy exams?

For spring-calving herds, the most value-catching time is 30 days after the bulls are removed for the breeding season. This ends up being early fall (now!) for most herds. Why? The earlier you detect open cows to cull, the more feed costs you save. When you remove non-productive animals from the herd, the savings on hay and grain costs add up quickly.

This timing also allows for pre-weaning vaccinations on the spring-born calves the same day (while you have the cows up)- setting them up for success at weaning.

Schedule pregnancy exams and pre-weaning vaccinations for your spring-calving herds today!

BABIES! 🥰 Now that fall-calving is wrapping up, it's time to start thinking about the next breeding season. A good pre-b...
03/11/2021

BABIES! 🥰

Now that fall-calving is wrapping up, it's time to start thinking about the next breeding season.

A good pre-breeding fall health program includes the following:

1) Vaccinations for all cows and heifers BEFORE breeding/exposure to bulls. NOW is the best time to vaccinate for optimum protection in fall-calving herds.

2) Pelvic measure and reproductive tract score yearling heifers to ensure they are mature enough for breeding and safely calving.

3) Castrate bull calves. It is easier on calves to castrate at this age than at weaning time. Waiting to castrate reduces gains and calf welfare.

4) Breeding Soundness Exam bulls. Insure that bulls are ready to perform this season.

Call today to get your pre-breeding work scheduled!

30/08/2021

Ew, worms! 🤢 I captured this strongyle egg with my microscope while performing a f***l floatation exam on an alpaca. I suspect this is a Haemonchus contortus egg getting ready to hatch into larval form - first time I've ever seen movement quite like this under my microscope! I find it equal parts fascinating and repulsive.

There at lots of different ideas about cattle deworming practices, but overall the industry is finding that maintaining parasite refugia will likely help prevent the anthelmintic (dewormer) resistance that has plagued the small ruminant (sheep, goat, llama, alpaca) populations in the last decade. Parasite refugia is simply a term for maintaining a population of animals that are not given a dewormer.

What can you do to combat anthelmintic resistance?

-Leave 10-20% or more of cattle (generally older cows in good condition) NOT treated with dewormers. This can help maintain the efficacy of the products we currently have available.

-Avoid underdosing dewormers. Pour-on products also have variable absorption rates and can result in partial dosing.

-Pasture management. Larvae like to hang out in the shaded bottom portion of grass. Move cattle to fresh pastures before grass is grazed less than 4" in height.

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C⁴E3: Processing calves. Ideal timing for vaccinations in calves is a few weeks before weaning. This offers the best chance for vaccine efficacy. When calves are processed and can go back to their dam (mother), this limits the spike of cortisol from the stress of separation. Cortisol impairs the immune system and its ability to react to vaccine and create antibodies appropriately. Administering vaccine before weaning also gives time for those antibodies to form and become effective before calves are at the highest risk for respiratory disease after weaning. I typically administer a dewormer for GI parasites and topical pesticide for flies, lice, and ticks at this time. Ideally, bull calves are castrated around 1 month of age or sooner, but these were done at this time, too. The younger calves are castrated, the easier it is on them for recovery and the less risk there is for blood loss and other complications. The last calf shown is getting its horns tipped. I use a lidocaine nerve block and typically administer an anti-inflammatory when dehorning or tipping horns for pain management.

C⁴E2: Reproductive Tract Scoring (RTS) and measuring pelvic areas of yearling heifers. This is done pre-breeding along with vaccinations +/- internal and external parasite control. These measurements help cull animals that are not suited for breeding at a time when they are most valuable to sell or divert into finishing for beef. Removing heifers that do not meet the minimum pelvic area from the breeding herd greatly reduces the chances of dystocia (difficulty calving) and emergency veterinary visits to pull calves. Preventative care is incredibly valuable! Note: This footage was taken in the fall (pre-breeding) for a fall-calving herd, but is still relevant in the spring as this is the time for measuring heifers in spring-calving herds.

C⁴E1: Trying something new with this. Feeling a little cringy and vulnerable putting this together, but I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed bringing my creativity to work. It forced me into seeing the beauty of simple moments throughout the day, which was unexpected but really inspiring. A few things for clarification: *The first animal in the chute was a heifer that I pelvic examined for a Reproductive Tract Score and measured pelvic area (blue tool in my hand). These values help determine if a heifer is mature enough to breed and reduces the risk of dystocia (calving difficulty). *The second animal in the chute was examined by transrectal ultrasound for pregnancy (white wand). *I normally move through animals at a pretty quick pace for both of these types of exams - especially with large groups of cattle. We were taking our time this day because it was a small group and it's challenging and time consuming just getting horned cattle through an alleyway and chute.

Karen back here asking to speak to the manager because she had to wait in line >30 seconds for her ultrasound appointment.

#cowwash

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Custom Cattle Care, LLC

I am Dr. Melissa DePriest and excited to announce the start of my new mobile veterinary practice, Custom Cattle Care, LLC. I am based in Eldon, Missouri and work exclusively with beef cattle. Looking to expand my practice area throughout the state by focusing on preventative medicine to help producers reach their herd goals.