Aside from dehydration and death, performance growth and increased disease incidence can also result from water shortage.

Water a critical issue for livestock

Ensuring enough good quality water is one of the most important building blocks of any herd

Beef 911: Ensuring enough good quality water is one of the most important building blocks of any beef herd



A veterinarian works with a cow.

Managing medicine shortages

Cattle producers often find bare shelves when they need animal health products

Cattle producers often find bare shelves when they need animal health products; here's how to deal with that problem.

It is crucial to plan ahead to make sure your cattle are ready for breeding season.

Beef 911 : Breeding season prep checklist

The time to set your 2025 calving season up for success is right now

Preparing for breeding season, from cow condition to bull breeding soundness, gives beef producers a headstart on a good 2025 calving season. Here are some expert tips to consider.


The worst breeding wrecks occur in single sire mating or when the dominant bull is infertile.

Take bull health by the horns

Beef 911: A proactive approach can ensure a successful breeding season for your herd

Herd bulls can be forgotten at times but attention turns to them now, just before the breeding season. Bulls can be hard to handle, but there are good facilities for examining and treating them. Bulls should be vaccinated for most things you give to cows, with the exception of scours vaccines. Deworming and lice control should always be

There is no question in my mind that cow-calf pairs should be removed to their own separate, quiet area as soon as calving has occurred. – Roy Lewis.

Calving tips: Pair up that mother and calf

Beef 911: A little extra effort to foster mothering can pay big dividends

Calving season always comes with anticipation about the incoming calf crop, and great cow-calf managers have tips that help them save more calves and improve productivity . For the spring calver, great observation skills combined with the ability to go the extra mile will generally be rewarded. It pays to check for bad feet, eye


Coyotes and other canine wildlife can be important vectors in the lifecycle of neospora.

Will neospora become more common?

Beef 911 | This protozoal infection has been around in Canada for years but our cold winters mostly keep it at bay

We hear about neospora from time to time. It’s a protozoal parasite similar to coccidiosis, cryptosporidiosis or toxoplasmosis. Many years ago it was diagnosed in dairy cows that were aborting, and it should always be considered if a producer sees abortions. It is spread through canine species — dogs, coyotes, foxes and wolves — but

Alberta has an emergency network, given the number of cows moving to feedlots or slaughter, but even there, nearby producers and vets have a key role in managing the fallout of an accident during transportation.

Be ready to help if livestock involved in accidents

Beef 911: First responders can benefit from local livestock knowledge when disaster strikes

Glacier FarmMedia – Every day hundreds of thousands of animals are transported across Canadian highways without mishap, but every so often, there is an unfortunate accident with animal deaths and injuries. If the accident happens in Alberta, there is an emergency network to draw on—established because of the huge numbers of cattle transported to feedlots and packing plants. Elsewhere in Canada and even