News Update
April 28, 2016
Preventing BRD
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) prevention ranks among the beef industry’s most costly challenges.
It’s estimated that more than $1 billion is spent each year to combat BRD health issues. According to John Davidson, a veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim, early prevention is key. He explains steps producers can take to prevent BRD in their calves.
“We can do a better job of matching the animal’s health system and the herd health protocol to the threats that are coming, than through a step-wise process,” Davidson said. “We’re reducing the number of pulls and treats and pretreats down the line, having a positive effect on BRD morbidity-mortality at the finishing phase.”
Davidson adds something the entire industry can be proud of is the fact that, as a whole, we are working towards decreasing our dependence on antibiotics.
For more of Davidson’s tips for reducing BRD, watch this week’s The Angus Report. You can also catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday or 7:30 a.m. CST each Monday morning on RFD-TV.
BioZyme Hires Area Sales Manager
BioZyme® Inc., manufacturers of Amaferm®, VitaFerm®, Sure Champ® and other proprietary, natural supplement brands for cattle, swine, poultry and show livestock, recently hired Trent Gabler of Madison, Wis., as a BioZyme area sales manager for the supplement division.
In this position, Gabler is responsible for promoting sales of BioZyme products to livestock producers in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.
“What excites me about working for BioZyme is the opportunity to work with the very talented and passionate team of professionals who have made this company the success it is today,” said Gabler. “I believe in the products, the people and what BioZyme can bring to the modern livestock producer.”
Prior to BioZyme, Gabler worked as a livestock nutritionist and marketing manager for Complete Feed Service in Sharon, Wis., and as a cattle east team sales representative for Sedona Ag representing Elanco Animal Health in Dubuque, Iowa.
For more information, view the Biozyme news release online.
Expanded Animal Health Opportunities
AgriLabs®, the largest U.S. animal health marketing and distribution business, announced that it has entered into the vaccine manufacturing business with a new USDA-licensed facility in Lincoln, Neb.
AgriLabs has also acquired Lincoln-based Antelope Valley Bios and Benchmark Biolabs and Benchmark’s ownership interest of VaxLiant®. With these moves, AgriLabs, along with its new business subsidiaries, now offers complete concept-to-commercialization services for vaccines used in swine, cattle, poultry and other species.
“By adding state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities to our U.S. marketing and sales operations, we can deliver more value to veterinarians and producers both domestically and worldwide,” said Steve Schram, AgriLabs CEO, at a ribbon-cutting event that included several state and city officials. “With the need for alternatives to antibiotics, vaccines are critical to the long term health and efficiency of food animal production,” Schram said.
For more information, view the complete AgriLabs news release online.
Cow-Calf Clinic in Fayette County, Texas
Beef cattle producers on the rebound from the Texas drought are urged to attend the Fayette County Cow-Calf Clinic and Trade Show May 6 at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in La Grange, Texas.
Scott Willey, the AgriLife Extension county agent for agriculture and natural resources in La Grange, said drought during the past few years has had a profound impact on beef cattle producers across the state.
“This event is of special interest to those producers who have realized an impact from the drought and are interested in getting their operation back on track,” he said. “Rebuilding is not an easy task, but we’ve gathered an excellent group of veteran experts to help guide our ranchers through the process.”
RSVP by May 2 to ensure an accurate meal count by calling the AgriLife Extension office in Fayette County at 979-968-5831.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
Beef, Forage Symposium and Cattleman’s Meeting
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Atascosa, Bexar, Frio and Wilson counties and the Atascosa Cattleman’s Association will present a Beef and Forage Educational Symposium and the association’s annual meeting May 10 in Leming.
The symposium will be from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Atascosa County at 25 E. 5th St. It will be followed by the Atascosa Cattleman’s Association annual meeting and dinner to begin at 5:45 p.m.
Cost is $40 for the entire day, including lunch; $30 for after-lunch arrivals; and $20 for meeting-only attendees. An RSVP is requested by 5 p.m. May 6 to the AgriLife Extension office in Atascosa County, 830-224-0366. Also call that number for additional program information.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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