Bovine Leukemia Virus is a hidden but damaging infection. In fact, it could be in your herd right now, and you would likely not even know it is there. It already has a significant impact on the cattle industry at large.
This virus has already caused significant losses in the cattle industry, though currently more in the dairy industry than in the beef one. Your more direct cost will be due to loss of production, veterinary expenses, as well as replacement costs from the death of affected animals. Some of your indirect costs will be from loss of revenue due to the restrictions placed on your operation. A large Northeast slaughter plant that processes 350,000 cattle each year will condemn about 2,000 carcasses due to this disease.
Once it appears in your place, the ability to get rid of this disease will differ from herd to herd. The primary determining factor will be the producer’s ability to prevent it from horizontally transmitting. Having a good herd health plan in place will go a long way in preventing this from being catastrophic.
A breeder is an essential part of the future of the cattle industry. The products they make, i.e., calves, can determine the genetic potential of a beef herd. This genetic potential is why it is vital to do business with a reputable one.
Bovine Leukemia Virus is a hidden but damaging infection. In fact, this thing could be in your herd right now and you would likely not even know it is there. It already has a major impact on the cattle industry at large.
A breeder is a very important part of the future of the cattle industry. The products they make, i.e. calves, can determine the genetic potential of a beef herd. This is why it is vital to do business with a reputable one.
The value of a bull is something we have always tried to figure out. It is a question that we have been asking for as long as we have been trying to make the next generation better. It is a question that is asked a lot during this time when many bulls are being marketed and we are getting ready for spring breeding season.
Selecting a bull is one of the most important decisions that a cow/calf producer will make. This is because that one animal will have such a large impact on your herd’s genetics going forward.
Finding a good cattle breeder is a very important decision to make. The cattle that you will be buying will be having an impact on your herd’s genetics for years to come. A good cattle breeder should have a very strict selection strategy. Not just with the ones that they are selling but also the ones that they’ll be keeping in their own herd. Here are some tips to help you find a good one:
