

The Beef Cattle Health and Nutrition Podcast
Dr. John Campbell
Interviews with veterinarians, nutritionists and researchers about topics related to beef cattle production in Canada
Episodes
Mentioned books

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