Livestock Management RANCHING
Foot rot is one of the most
common lameness problems.
probably pass that trait on to their offspring.” There is no perfect animal and
the commercial producer has to decide whether a conformation is- sue is going to result in reduced reproductive performance or weight gain. A purebred breeder, however, needs to pay more attention to the structural correctness of the animal. “Ultimately, the purebred bulls
are going to be put out on com- mercial herds,” Wells explains. “If they’re not structurally correct to start with, or as close as possible, it’s just going to exacerbate the situ- ation when it gets into a commer- cial herd.”
Address lameness as soon as you can When it comes to lameness, ei-
ther through injury or infection, when do you call in your veteri- narian? “As soon as you notice a problem,” says Ellis. “As a practicing veterinarian, by
the time I see some of these injuries it is too late because the ascending infection is already into the soft tissue of the joint where it is hard to alleviate with just antibiotics. The problem can be more severe and affect more of the herd than you realize. “The quicker you can make a
diagnosis, the quicker you can turn things around.”
66 The Cattleman August 2014 T
TAHC Reminds Equine Owners to Practice Sound Biosecurity Measures
HE TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION (TAHC) REMINDS EQUINE OWNERS TO keep their horses healthy by practicing simple and good biosecurity
measures. Biosecurity is a set of preventative measures designed to reduce the
risk of introduction and transmission of an infectious disease agent, such as equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1). Although Texas horses have not been implicated, EHV-1 has recently been found in other states. Any time horses are congregated at events, owners increase the chance
their horses may be exposed to an infectious disease agent. Pathogens may be brought to and spread at an event by horses, people, domestic animals other than horses, vehicles, equipment, insects, ticks, birds, wildlife in- cluding rodents, feed, waste and water.
By following these simple guidelines you can help minimize that risk. • Consult your veterinarian to establish an appropriate vaccination pro- gram for your horse(s).
• Tie your horse(s) to your trailer. If using a stall, clean and disinfect it before stalling your horse if possible. Always use clean, fresh bedding.
• Minimize your horse(s) having direct contact with unknown horses, especially nose-to-nose contact.
• Use your own water and feed buckets. Avoid letting your horse(s) drink from a communal water trough. Fill water buckets from a faucet.
• Do not share grooming equipment or tack. If you must share, wash and disinfect it before returning to your own horse(s).
• Avoid petting and touching other horses to minimize the risk of trans- ferring a disease to your horse. If you must handle other horses, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer following contact.
• Avoid letting strangers pet your horse, especially if they have horses of their own.
• Before returning home, clean your equipment (boots, tack, grooming supplies, buckets, etc.) to help reduce the risk of transporting an infec- tious agent back home. Consider washing and disinfecting your trailer when you return home.
• If possible, isolate your returning horses for 2 weeks, or at least prevent nose-to-nose contact with your other horses.
For more information, visit
www.tahc.texas.gov, call 800-550-8242 or contact your local TAHC region offi ce.
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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