
The Beef Cattle Health and Nutrition Podcast
Interviews with veterinarians, nutritionists and researchers about topics related to beef cattle production in Canada
Latest episodes

Jan 12, 2023 • 30min
Identifying the ”efficient” beef cow with Dr. Greg Penner
00:00 – 2:18 Welcome and Introductions
2:19 – 4:09 The importance of feed efficiency
4:10 – 6:17 Explaining Residual Feed intake
6:18 – 8:04 Measuring feed efficiency in research trials
8:05 – 9:28 Limitations of feed efficiency measurements in beef cow systems
9:29 – 12:27 Describing an alternative system for ranking beef cow efficiency
12:28 – 15:18 Variability in the indicators of efficiency and why they were chosen
15:19 – 7:30 Evaluating the digestive physiology in high efficiency and low efficiency cows
17:31 - 19:45 Main differences between HE and LE cows
19:46 – 23:37 Describing ruminal differences between HE and LE cows
23:38 – 25:00 Limitations and advantages of this research approach
25:01 – 27:25 How to use this concept to select efficient cows on your own ranch
27:26 – 29: 51 Wrap up and conclusions

Dec 22, 2022 • 31min
Preventing Calf Diarrhea with Dr. Elizabeth Homerosky
00:00 – 2:51 Welcome and Introductions
2:52 – 4:02 Importance of neonatal calf diarrhea in cow-calf herds
4:03 – 6:48 What are the pathogens that are associated with calf diarrhea?
6:49 – 7:29 When are diagnostics important?
7:30 – 8:42 Strategies to employ to minimize risk of diarrhea
8:43 - 11:00 Sandhills calving system effectiveness
11:01 - 13:15 How do you implement the Sandhill’s calving system?
13:16 – 17:03 The Foothills Calving System
17:04 - 19:10 How to implement a new calving system on your ranch
19:11 – 20:31 Using these calving systems on more intensive operations
20:32 – 22:10 Other challenges with implementing new calving systems
22:11 – 25:43 The importance of colostrum and an easy method for deciding if a calf needs supplemental colostrum

Dec 15, 2022 • 31min
Animal Health Emergency Management with Shauna Mellish
00:00 – 1:37 Welcome and Introductions
1:38 – 3:32 Who is Animal Health Canada
3:33 – 6:14 What is emergency health management mean?
6: 15 – 10:21 Why is it important to be prepared for emergencies in livestock operations?
10:22 – 12:37 The consequences of a serious disease outbreak
12:38 - 14:38 What to do if you suspect an unusual disease outbreak
14:39 - 16:31 What are the clinical signs of foot and mouth disease
16:32 – 19:12 What happens once an exotic disease is reported?
19:13 -20:10 The importance of premises identification
20:11 - 24:28 What would happen once FMD was confirmed?
24:29- 26:29 Where can producers go for help?
26:30 - 29:04 AHEM resources for producers
29:05 – 31:00 Wrap up and summary
Link to Animal Health Emergency Management Website and Resources
https://animalhealth.ca/ahem/

Dec 8, 2022 • 39min
Utilizing Low Quality Forages with Dr. Gabriel Ribeiro
00:00 – 1:57 Welcome and Introductions
1:58 – 3:24 Defining a low quality forage
3:25 – 4:57 Common characteristics of low quality forages
4:58- 7:05 How do they impact animal health and performance?
7:06 - 9:57 Management issues to consider when utilizing lower quality forages
9:58 - 14:04 The importance of identifying animal classes that can utilize these feeds
14:05 - 16:03 Fiber levels impact on feed intake
16:04 – 25:45 Supplementation when feeding low quality forages
25:46-29:18 Post harvest physical treatments
29:19-34:00 Post harvest chemical treatments
34:01-38:51 Summary and Wrap up
Link to a BCRC webinar where Dr. Ribeiro presents on this topic
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/nutrition-webinar-3-make-most-of-low-quality-forage/

Dec 2, 2022 • 35min
Copper deficiency in cattle with Dr. Barry Blakley
00:00 – 02:08 Welcome and Introductions
1:50 - 3:30 What role does copper play in the body
3:31 - 4:56 How commonly Is copper deficiency diagnosed?
4:57 - 6:29 How does copper deficiency occur?
6:30 – 9:37 Primary vs secondary copper deficiency (effects of molybdenum and sulphates)
9:38 - 13:32 Clinical signs of mild to moderate copper deficiency
13:33 – 16:40 How is severe copper deficiency manifested?
16:41 – 22:53 How do we assess copper levels in animals?
22:54 - 28:57 Dangers of Copper toxicity
28:58 – 31:55 Approaches to dealing with copper deficiency issues
31:56 – 34:50 Closing thoughts and wrap up

Nov 23, 2022 • 29min
Calfhood Vaccinations with Dr. Nathan Erickson
00:00 – 01:50 Welcome and Introductions
1:50 - 2:53 Age categories for young calf vaccinations
2:53 – 5:07 What diseases can we vaccinate young calves for?
5:07 – 9:03 Immune system development in the calf
9:03 - 11:33 The effect of maternal immunity on vaccine response
11:33 - 17:45 Intranasal vs Injectable Vaccines: What’s the difference?
17:45 – 19:30 Evidence of vaccine protection against summer pneumonia of calves
19:30 – 21:00 Intranasal vaccines currently available in Canada
21:00 – 25:08 Best practices for administering modified live intranasal vaccines
25:08 – 28:10 The importance of working with your veterinarian to design a vaccination protocol
Links to Related Information
Vaccination of the Beef Herd https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/vaccination-of-the-beef-herd/
BCRC Webinar on Using Nasal Vaccines Effectively https://www.beefresearch.ca/webinars/using-nasal-vaccines-effectively/
Blog article featuring intranasal vaccines https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/intranasal-vaccines-are-timely-and-effective/

Nov 16, 2022 • 33min
Extended grazing systems with Dr. Bart Lardner
Link to BCRC website where Dr. Bart Lardner describes 7 tips for grazing corn
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/seven-tips-for-grazing-corn/?utm_source=BCRC+Blog+Subscribers&utm_campaign=2b9ff72122-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_11_15_10_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8c6acbd1df-2b9ff72122-88320359
Link to BCRC website page with extended grazing resources
https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/extended-grazing/

Nov 8, 2022 • 21min
Preconditioning with Dr. Karin Orsel
00:00 - 01:45 Welcome and introductions
01:46 - 02:54 Stressors in weaned calves
2:55 - 04:29 Definition of Preconditioning
04:30 - 05:50 Components of a preconditioning program
05:51 - 09:43 Evidence associated with improved health in preconditioned calves
09:44 -12:29 Average daily gain in preconditioned calves
12:30 - 14:49 Ranch staff thoughts on low stress weaning
14:50 - 16:53 How common is preconditioning or low stress weaning strategies?
16:54 - 19:20 Is there an economic advantage to preconditioning?
19:20 - 21:23 Concluding thoughts

Oct 31, 2022 • 34min
Feed testing with Dr. John McKinnon
00:00 - 01:07 Welcome and introductions
01:08 - 4:47 Importance of feed testing - 3 main reasons
4:48 - 06:28 How to collect samples from bales
0:6:29 - 11:04 How to collect sileage samples
11:05 - 12:43 Collecting grain samples
12:44 - 14:26 Collecting samples from extended grazing forages
14:27 - 17:03 Pooling feed samples - Disadvantages
17:04 - 21:30 Wet Chemistry vs NIR analysis
21:31 - 25:55 Key lab tests that need to be evaluated on feeds
25:56 - 28:59 Specialty analysis such as nitrates, ergot, mycotoxin, sulphur analysis
29:00 - 33:34 Where to go for help with feed analysis
Link to BCRC feed testing analysis tool
https://www.beefresearch.ca/tools/feed-testing-analysis-for-beef-cattle/#singleFeedContainer