By Dr. Aimee Hafla, Ph.D., PAS Increasing consumer pressure to reduce or eliminate the use of antibiotics continues to motivate livestock producers to evaluate novel feed additives that offer health and production benefits, but do not require veterinary oversight. However, sorting through the growing selection of products and ingredients in these additives can leave even […]
By Dr. Aimee N. Hafla, Ph.D., P.A.S. As we get closer to spring and begin to think about green grass and grazing cattle, it is a good time to evaluate your mineral program. It takes more than just energy and protein to ensure optimal health and performance of beef cattle. Vitamins and minerals are required […]
What You Don’t See Can Hurt Cattle Performance By Dr. Aimee Hafla, Ph.D., PAS Abscesses occurring on the livers of cattle are the primary cause of liver condemnation at the packing plant and result in an estimated loss of up to $64 million annually for the beef industry in the United States (Herrick et al., 2017). […]
By Dr. Aimee Hafla, Ph.D., P.A.S. January 1, 2017, marks a turning point for the U.S. livestock industry regarding the acquisition and handling of antibiotics used in feed and water. Amendments to the existing Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) will require veterinarian oversight of many commonly used antibiotics that have previously been available over-the-counter and the […]
By Dr. Aimee Hafla, Ph.D., P.A.S. Selenium is a necessary mineral for both humans and animals and naturally occurs in varying concentrations within the soil in all parts of the world. Available selenium in the soil is taken up by many plants, including some cereal grains and forages used for livestock feed. Selenium is an […]