Apogee Animal Health, Inc.

Value of Pregnancy Checking Pregnancy checking cattle in the fall can add some big value to your operation. An obvious incentive is to identify open cows for sale, but the dividends go even further than that. For example, let’s say you take cows off of pasture on October 15st, wean calves, and start feeding hay. If you are done calving by April 15 and sell open cows when they didn’t calve in the spring instead of at fall preg checking, you had fed an open cow for 183 days whe

New World Screwworm: New World Screwworm (NWS) is a fly that can impact livestock, pets, wildlife, and rarely, people. This fly causes significant damage because its larvae feed on the living flesh, as opposed to other blow flies, that feed on the dead tissue in wounds or carcasses. If left untreated, these larvae will continue to consume flesh and eventually kill the host. Maggots in wounds are not uncommon this time of year and are commonly blowfly larvae that only feed on

Fall Herd Health Check List Category Status Cow BCS ☐ Good ☐ Needs attention Preg Check ☐ Complete ☐ Needs scheduled Cow Vaccination ☐ Current ☐ Review Calf Vaccination ☐ Current ☐ Review Calf Growth ☐ On target ☐ Review Bull BSE ☐ Complete ☐ Needs scheduled Mineral Program ☐ Appropriate ☐ Review If you would like input from Apogee on any of these items (or others) before you jump into fall, please feel free to reach out to us.

Flexible Herd Work with Our Haul-In or Portable Facilities At Apogee Animal Health, we know that managing your herd requires flexibility and convenience. That’s why we offer access to our leased haul-in facilities at the old salebarn west of Sabetha. Whether it’s routine herd work, individual animal exams, or hoof care, our facility provides a safe, accessible space to get the job done efficiently. For added convenience, we can also bring our portable hydraulic chute and/or d

Bull Breeding Soundness Exams There are many bull-related factors that can reduce fertility and ultimately result in fewer calves to sell at weaning. Performing a breeding soundness exam (BSE) on your bull before turnout can prevent major headaches and save money in the long run. A good BSE helps avoid the unpleasant surprise at pregnancy check that your bull didn’t get cows bred. A BSE evaluates several factors to ensure a bull is capable of successfully breeding females. 1)

Dystocia, or difficult birth, is a concern for every livestock producer. A little preparation can help you feel prepared to handle even the most difficult of births on your farm. Once kidding or lambing has started, it is important to monitor for progress. Once a water bag is visible, feet should appear within 30 minutes. Once feet are visible, progress should continue with the first lamb or kid being delivered within an additional 15 to 30 minutes. If a ewe or doe has been p

Calving season can be one of the most labor intensive, but also most rewarding parts of a cattleman’s year. Once the calf is born, proper environment, nutrition, and health are important considerations. Early observation, and intervention, if needed, can help set up calves for a lifetime of good health. Environment: Ensuring the calf is born into a warm, clean environment significantly reduces health complications such as scours in the first weeks of life. Reducing mud an

Mud may not be on your radar during single-digit temperatures, but it should be. When the temperatures warm up, the frozen ground is going to get soft. If we add in some spring rains, things will change and just 4–8 inches of mud (pastern deep) can reduce feed efficiency by up to 13%. Why? Cattle eat less because they visit the bunk less More energy is burned walking through mud Wet hair coats increase maintenance needs by 2% for every degree below 30°F This “mud tax” applies

For beef producers, maximizing reproductive efficiency is a cornerstone of profitable cattle operations. One of the most influential factors in achieving high pregnancy rates is adequate nutrition. Body condition scoring is a practical management tool that assesses the amount of fat reserves on a cow and allow us to gauge whether they are receiving the appropriate amount of nutrition. Understanding and managing BCS can make a significant difference in reproductive performance

As weather cools and cattle are more confined, lice can become an issue. We don’t see this external parasite during the summer months because cattle are often spread out and have shorter hair coats, deterring these animal specific insects. However, with declining temperatures comes longer haircoats and cattle congregating in dry lots and other areas to help stay warm. Signs of lice in cattle include scratching and hair loss, which can become significant. Balding areas such as