Farm & Ranch
The Big Deal About Brucellosis
By Jessica Crabtree and Dr. Jered Harlan
What is brucellosis?
Brucellosis is a contagious disease that occurs when animals carrying Brucella bacteria infect other animals. It is caused by a group of bacteria scientifically known as the genus Brucella.
This disease can affect cattle, goats, camels, dogs, bison, cervids (meaning elk and deer), as well as pigs.
There are three different species of Brucella that cause the gravest concern: B. abortus, which affects cattle, bison and cervids; B. suis, which affects swine and may also affect cattle and bison; and B. melitenis, which affects goats, although not presently in the United States. Commonly, this disease is known as contagious abortion disease or Bangs.
In cattle and bison, brucellosis largely affects the reproductive organs as well as the udder. Therefore, bacteria are shed in the milk or the aborted fetus, afterbirth or other secretions from the reproductive tract.
The serious disease has symptoms such as abortion, stillborn, calves born very weak, retention of fetal membranes, signs suggesting infection in the membranes and swollen or infected testicles in a bull. The disease can be diagnosed through laboratory testing samples of blood or milk.
Diagnosis can even be made from laboratory cultures of brucella abortus from the placenta, vaginal discharge or the milk from an infected cow. Unfortunately there is no treatment for brucellosis. That is why detection and prevention are essential.
Brucellosis is not a disease to be taken lightly. The disease has the potential to significantly impact animal health, public health and, consequently, international trade.
To read more pick up a copy of the June 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Barry Whitworth, DVM, MPH
With the prolonged drought, most pastures in Oklahoma end up in poor condition. With the lack of available forage, animals may go in search of alternative foods.
If oak trees are in the pastures, acorns may be a favorite meal for some livestock in the fall. This may result in oak poisoning.
Oak leaves, twigs, buds, and acorns may be toxic to some animals when consumed.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Tony Dean
There are a handful of grasses on North Texas grazing lands ranchers need to know, not because they are highly desirable, but rather because they are not of much value. I call them “decom” plants, which is am acronym for “Don’t Ever Count On Me.” Silver bluestem is a “decom” grass.
Silver bluestem is a perennial which grows in all areas of Texas. It can survive in almost all soil types, and in full sun conditions or in semi shade. It grows up to three feet tall and is easily recognized with the presence of the white fuzzy seed head. Also, one of the identifying characteristics of Silver bluestem is a bend in the stems at each node, causing the plants to take on a rounded shape as they mature.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Rayford Pullen
Fall is here which means winter is closing in on us and before we officially get into winter, we need to make sure our factories are either producing or will be producing in a few months.
We have been pregnancy testing our cows this fall and if they are not bred or nursing a calf, we are bidding them adios. With annual costs somewhere between $900.00 and $1,000.00 per cow, those cows not producing a live weaned calf are costing us quite a bit.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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