New World Screwworm Update Cattlemen & Veterinarians

New World Screwworm Update Cattlemen & Veterinarians

Welcome to this emergency episode of Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health. Just ahead, hosts Kaid Panek and Dr. Shynia Peterman provide a timely update on the New World Screwworm following its confirmed re-emergence in the United States. Dr. Peterman reports four confirmed cases as of Monday, June 8: three in calves in Texas and one in a dog in New Mexico, noting that all warm-blooded animals, including livestock, wildlife, and pets are susceptible.  Dr. Peterman explains that the New World Screwworm is actually a fly whose adult females lay 200–300 eggs in wounds or mucous membranes. The eggs hatch within 12–24 hours, and the larvae burrow into living tissue in a screw-like fashion, causing severe tissue damage, pain, and potentially death if untreated. After about a week on the host, larvae drop to the ground to pupate in soil for one to 54 days, depending on temperature and humidity, before emerging as adult flies and continuing the cycle. Producers are urged to observe livestock, horses, pets, and local wildlife daily. Warning signs include irritation, excessive head shaking, foul odor of decaying flesh, bloody or abnormal discharges, non-healing or enlarging wounds, visible eggs, or larvae in tissue. Any suspicious case should trigger immediate contact with a veterinarian, followed by rapid notification of state and federal animal health officials, as this is a reportable condition. Dr. Peterman emphasizes thoughtful management around procedures that create wounds, such as branding, castration, dehorning, ear tagging, and calving assistance, especially in at-risk regions. She notes conditional approvals for products such as Dectomax CA-1 and Exalt Cattle CA-1, along with other emergency-use therapeutics listed on the FDA website, and stresses strategic use to prevent resistance. On the regulatory front, USDA and the Texas Animal Health Commission have established 20-kilometer infested and buffer zones, imposed movement controls, and deployed millions of sterile male flies via air and ground release. Monitoring of wildlife and fly populations is ongoing, aided by fluorescent dye markers on sterile males. The episode closes with reassurance that the New World Screwworm has been successfully eradicated before. The key messages are to avoid panic, remain vigilant, report promptly, and remember that this is an animal health and welfare issue rather than a food safety concern.   For Future or Previous episodes visit our websites: American Cattlemen [https://americancattlemen.com/podcasts/] American Dairymen [https://americandairymen.com/] Cattlemen and Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health Sponsored by: Moly Manufacturing [https://www.molymfg.com/] Central Life Sciences [https://www.centrallifesciences.com/] Medgene [https://medgenelabs.com/] Forge [https://forge-ind.com/]

Fair Time Tips & Tricks Cattlemen & Veterinarians

Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians, a Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Kaid Panek and Dr. Shynia Peterman, and they sit down with Dr. Dalton Newell, DVM of Oklahoma Beef Consultants. In this episode, they will dive into some tips and tricks for fair time to keep your animals as healthy and strong as possible. Dr. Dalton Newell was raised on a backgrounding operation in Minco, OK, where his family preconditioned cattle, sheep, and goats. Dalton judged livestock at Redlands Community College, Oklahoma State University, and graduated from OSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. Dr. Newell is a production animal veterinarian with the Oklahoma Beef Consultants; a consulting firm reaching from Nebraska to Texas and Missouri to California. Along with the services and consulting provided to producers, Newell volunteers as animal health official for Cattlemen’s Congress, the Oklahoma Youth Expo, EYO at the State Fair of Oklahoma, and the California Ag Youth Expo. Dalton, his wife Kass, who is the Executive Vice-President of OYE, and daughters Nyla and Nellie reside in Yukon, OK. Dr. Newell begins by explaining the importance of Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs). Requirements vary by state and by show, and can change rapidly with emerging disease threats such as screw worm, Theileria, and tick-borne conditions. Exhibitors are encouraged to review each show’s rules well in advance and provide those requirements to their veterinarian to streamline CVI preparation and avoid last-minute problems. He notes that CVIs are typically valid for 30 days, but that window may shorten during disease outbreaks. The conversation then turns to foundational husbandry. Dr. Newell stresses that preparation starts on day one of owning the project. Quarantine of new arrivals, daily observation of feed and water intake, clean bedding, appropriate vaccination protocols, deworming, and coccidia control are presented as non‑negotiable basics. At the fair, three pillars of husbandry—clean water, fresh feed, and a comfortable environment—are described as essential across species. Timing hauls to avoid heat stress, pre‑bedding stalls, running fans, managing water familiarity, maintaining feeding schedules, and using hay strategically all help keep show cattle eating, drinking, and coping with stress. For terminal shows, Dr. Newell highlights the critical importance of drug withdrawal times and meticulous treatment records to protect food safety. He recommends simple, consistent recordkeeping systems such as spreadsheets or shared digital documents, noting that documentation is vital if an animal ever tests positive on drug screens. Biosecurity when bringing animals home is addressed through quarantine, close observation for 7–10 days, and attention to equipment, trailers, and footwear to reduce disease spread. Dr. Newell closes by underscoring the life skills, work ethic, and human–animal bond developed through 4‑H, FFA, and showing livestock, encouraging families and educators to prioritize both animal welfare and biosecurity while enjoying the show barn lifestyle. Fair Time Tips & Tricks Cattlemen & Veterinarians   For Future or Previous episodes visit our websites: American Cattlemen [https://americancattlemen.com/podcasts/] American Dairymen [https://americandairymen.com/] Cattlemen and Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health Sponsored by: Moly Manufacturing [https://www.molymfg.com/] Central Life Sciences [https://www.centrallifesciences.com/] Medgene [https://medgenelabs.com/] Forge [https://forge-ind.com/]

Hawkeye Breeders Cattlemen & Veterinarians

Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have our hosts Kaid Panek and Dr. Shynia Peterman and they chat with David Jensen and Cesar Melgar with Hawkeye Breeders.  Jensen explains that Hawkeye Breeders is a custom bull collection facility that does not own or market bulls but provides semen collection services for artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and IVF for a global customer base. He traces the history of artificial insemination from cooled semen shipped in milk fat on milk trucks to modern frozen semen, sexed semen, genomic tools, and advanced reproductive technologies. Jensen outlines the semen collection process using trained teaser steers and artificial vaginas, emphasizing the importance of evaluating motility, morphology, and concentration. He stresses that breeding soundness exams are critical “cheap insurance” to ensure bulls are structurally sound, reproductively normal, and capable of settling cows, especially given today’s high cattle prices and demand for herd growth. Melgar details laboratory evaluation, including microscopic assessment and computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA), along with verification of concentration using a nuclear counter. He explains dose differences between beef and dairy semen and the importance of progressive motility. Jensen then describes the industry’s adoption of sexed semen, the role of flow cytometry, and collaboration with major providers. Because of extensive quality control, bacterial testing, DNA verification, and packaging steps, turnaround time for sexed semen is typically about two weeks, compared to roughly a day for conventional semen. The discussion shifts to health, disease testing, and nutrition. For domestic use, tuberculosis and brucellosis testing are standard; for export, bulls and semen undergo extensive testing for leukosis, BVD, IBR, Campylobacter, trichomoniasis, and more. Vaccination strategy becomes more complex when export is anticipated, since some markets restrict vaccinated animals. Melgar emphasizes deworming plans, vitamin supplementation, and comprehensive mineral programs, highlighting key trace elements such as zinc, selenium, copper, and manganese, and treating bulls like athletes ahead of breeding or collection. Listener questions cover age at first collection, bull longevity in the breeding battery, mineral timing before turnout, and protocols for retesting bulls that initially fail a breeding soundness exam. Dr. Shynia Peterman closes by reinforcing proactive health, testing, nutrition, and early planning as essential to a successful breeding season.   For Future or Previous episodes visit our websites: American Cattlemen [https://americancattlemen.com/podcasts/] American Dairymen [https://americandairymen.com/] Cattlemen and Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health Sponsored by: Moly Manufacturing [https://www.molymfg.com/] Central Life Sciences [https://www.centrallifesciences.com/] Medgene [https://medgenelabs.com/] Forge [https://forge-ind.com/]

Veterinary Client Patient Relationship Cattlemen & Veterinarians

Welcome back to Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, the Owner of American Cattlemen Media, and Dr. Shynia Petermen, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and they chat with Blaze Mullhagen and Dan Schweitzer about the Veterinary Client Patient Relationship. Blaze describes his background as a fifth- or sixth-generation cattleman involved in farming, ranching, and building cattle handling equipment. His operation centers on a black cow-calf herd, using cattle both for production and to test handling systems. Dan shares that he is a fourth-generation farmer and cattleman, raising crops such as wheat, milo, corn, and alfalfa alongside a cow-calf operation, working with multiple generations of his family. Dr. Shynia will then dive deeper into the Veterinary Client Patient Relationship and how it is legally required in most states before a veterinarian can ethically and legally prescribe medications for any species, large or small. Key elements include the veterinarian assuming responsibility for animal health and treatment, the client agreeing to follow instructions, the veterinarian having sufficient knowledge of the animals through recent exams or farm visits and being available for follow-up care and record keeping. From the producers’ perspective, the VCPR is “everything” because it underpins having a solid, efficient herd health plan. They emphasize planning ahead with their veterinarian, staying informed about new products, and tailoring protocols to their specific herd history, disease challenges, and management style. They highlight the economic importance of precision and efficiency, given the high value of cattle and the cost of pharmaceuticals. Dr. Shynia notes that herd health programs differ between operations due to varying disease pressures and goals. She stresses the value of producers being prepared when the vet arrives: cattle caught and sorted, equipment functional, products on hand, and all team members aware of the plan. While a written herd health protocol is not a legal requirement for VCPR, it is presented as a powerful tool for elevating herd performance and ensuring consistent, efficient care. The episode concludes by reinforcing that a strong VCPR enhances animal welfare, operational efficiency, and the producer–veterinarian partnership. For Future or Previous episodes visit our websites: American Cattlemen [https://americancattlemen.com/podcasts/] American Dairymen [https://americandairymen.com/] Cattlemen and Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health Sponsored by: Central Life Science [https://www.centrallifesciences.com/]

Calving Setup for Lifelong Success Cattlemen & Veterinarians

Welcome to Season 2 of Cattlemen & Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health, powered by American Cattlemen Media! Today, Gale and Dr. Peterman chat with Dr. Roger Osinchuk to discuss calving setup for lifelong success through sound cow and calf management.  They begin with cow management before breeding and calving, emphasizing pre-breeding vaccinations and scours vaccines. Dr. Osinchuk explains that reproductive diseases, including BVD and IBR, are largely preventable with correctly timed and administered vaccines, and that effective vaccination supports both pregnancy maintenance and colostral immunity for calves. He stresses reading labels, understanding the differences between killed and modified-live vaccines, and vaccinating four to six weeks prior to calving so protective antibodies are concentrated in colostrum. Colostrum is highlighted as the single most important factor in neonatal calf health. Calves are born without antibodies and must absorb immunity through colostrum within the first 24 hours, especially the first few hours of life. Failure of passive transfer predisposes calves to scours, pneumonia, joint and navel infections. Both veterinarians strongly advocate early intervention in dystocia, rapid colostrum supplementation when there is any doubt, and judicious use of high-quality commercial colostrum replacers. The discussion then moves to recognizing and managing calf scours, hypothermia, heat stress, and dehydration. Early fluid therapy, proper use of electrolytes, and appropriate antibiotics under veterinary guidance are key. They note that prevention through sound vaccination, hygiene, and timely intervention is far cheaper and more profitable than treatment. Later, they cover calf processing: early castration and dehorning to reduce stress and long-term performance losses, strategic respiratory and clostridial vaccinations, and management of pinkeye and other region-specific issues. They also address bottle calf management, stressing colostrum status, controlled milk feeding, rapid transition to high-quality starters, and meticulous sanitation. The episode concludes with a discussion of udder and teat quality, mastitis recognition, and culling criteria, all framed around the goal of producing healthy, efficient calves and ultimately higher-quality beef. For Future or Previous episodes visit our websites: American Cattlemen [https://americancattlemen.com/podcasts/] American Dairymen [https://americandairymen.com/] Cattlemen and Veterinarians: A Partnership in Bovine Health Sponsored by: Central Life Science [https://www.centrallifesciences.com/]