Herd Mentality Newsletter

Making it happen...Start now!

Dr. Bruce W. Hoffman, President, Animal Profiling International

Recently, I attended the Montana nutrition conference where Larry Corah from Certified Angus Beef presented data about decreasing quality grades in cattle. Key to Corah's discussion was facts representing the increase in morbidity and mortality for the feeding industry. An important note included his finding that increased antibiotic treatments have led to decreased marbling in turn causing lower quality grades and a growing shortage of choice product.

This result is surprising to many people in our industry - especially when we are spending records amounts of money on treatment and processing programs at the feedlot. Corah's speech helps reinforce why Animal Profiling International started over two years ago to provide new technologies to the cattle industry in order to promote management over medicine.

I know very well that treatments are vital to maintain cattle health and reduce suffering. To improve health at the feedlot we need to start at the ranch. We are working aggressively with the cow calf producer to enlighten them to just how critical it is to prepare a calf before it leaves the ranch to meet the challenges ahead. A simple case in point is Bovine Viral Diarrhea.

We know BVD is a problem that starts at the cow calf level where PIs (persistently infected animals) are created. But it is important to remember that it does not stop there! PIs continue to be associated with increased sickness at the feedyard. Feedlot managers tell us they don't want them on the yard and are willing to pay more to make sure. The technology is available to find these animals and provide operations with the knowledge to remove them in order to prevent those PIs from exposing more cattle. By listening to cattlemen who wanted a quality cost-effective service to help them find PIs and solve a problem, API has created a solution allowing cattlemen across the US to see how easy it is to screen their herds and know if BVD is causing any problems.

Cattlemen are beginning to truly understand that control requires a program involving screening for PIs, vaccination, and biosecurity. API's low-cost solutions help cattlemen achieve this through a combination of working with them as well as their veterinarian as part of our service.

Is controlling BVD part of a solution to reduce sickness in cattle and increase quality grade? We at API obviously believe this and are willing to help cattlemen make it happen!

Make it happen. Start now.

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