Valley Vet Supply

Reducing Cattle Pinkeye

Conditions are ideal for the development of Moraxella bovis, the primary infectious agent of pinkeye in cattle. Pinkeye is highly contagious and spreads quickly when one animal comes into contact with the infected secretions of another. As face flies move between cattle to feed on eye and nose secretions, they carry the infection with them. Flies can harbor M. bovis for up to three days, transmitting it rapidly from infected to non-infected animals. Calves and younger cattle are more susceptible because they haven’t developed an acquired immunity from previous exposures.

Pinkeye prevention is economical and typically much less time consuming than treatment. While it’s not foolproof, anyone who’s skipped this step and battled pinkeye all summer long can appreciate the value in vaccinating. Vaccinate prior to pinkeye season for season-long protection in one dose. Or, consider SolidBac Pinkeye IR/PR Implants, which include both immediate and programmed release antigen pellets for the equivalent of two doses of antigen in one application.

If you’re faced with a pinkeye outbreak, prompt treatment can help minimize it. M. bovis is usually susceptible to long-acting oxytetracycline. Vetericyn Pink Eye Spray is sprayed directly into the eyes, and has been proven to kill M. bovis.

When you develop a program to reduce pasture fly populations, the cycle of pinkeye transmission can be greatly reduced too. Fly tags are usually the most convenient and economical option. Fly tags can be applied when working cattle for pasture and control face flies for up to five months. Cattle rubs charged with insecticide or dust bags allow cattle to self-treat frequently. A newer option is the Bullmaster II Mineral Feeder with Fly Killer Kover. It has a built-in insecticide reservoir that allows continuous saturation of the feeder’s felt cover, applying insecticide each time mineral is consumed. Pour-on insecticides and topical sprays provide quick knock-down of flies, but effects are more short-term. Pour-ons and topicals can be quite effective if your cattle are close to home and you have time for more frequent application.

The most successful pinkeye programs often utilize a combination of these efforts for the greatest benefit. Lori H

Karen Kay, Serving You

Hi, My name is Karen Kay and I have been with Valley Vet for over 8 years. I am a customer service representative and love my job, and I am so blessed to have such a great company to work for. My experience with working with people started with a business of my own for many years and with animals on the farm with my husband, also for many years.

My children were involved in 4H with horses, cattle and poultry. I have lots of great memories of camps, fairs and shows with tents, campers and kids. If you have not spent 5 days and nights at a County Fair with your kids and animals in the rain, heat, bugs, you may be missing one of life’s most important times with them. I am now doing the same with my Grands but I even enjoy it more as I see my daughter working with them through all the same enjoyable moments! That circle of life is a gift.

I also have been in the hair industry for many years and worked with clippers and products that we sell and enjoy helping customers finding what they need for their animals and also for themselves with our Valley Natural's hair items. I have gained knowledge and gratification being in this occupation and now can share it with my new line of work with Valley Vet Supply. I hope to be able to help you sometime. Thanks for reading, Karen Kay

Four-Wheeling Fireworks

Only in the country can you get a real “star-spangled” viewing of the 4th of July traditional fireworks. You have to plan ahead of course. The truck bed has to be filled with hay bales and bottles of bug spray, and then the kids can pile in the back with the adults cramming the cab. It’s also a good idea to start out with some light in the sky so you can get the lay of the land and can set up when you arrive. It’s planned just right if you arrive at dusk and the works start right when the stars will try to outdo them.

We took up 2 trucks packed from steering wheel to exhaust pipe with warm bodies, that were either anxious or laughing at the face of danger. In the flinthills of Marysville, KS, a person can  hop in the big cab to  jump over the gully washers, hug the hill by the edge of the cliff, and jostle to the top of the pasture. I don’t know that I would call it a “drive.” Drives have a road.  

At the top, we threw out the bales, with the teen guys hanging off the trucks and the girls down in front on the bales. The adults had their own viewing section and laughter as well. From up there, you feel like you have a slice of grass roots (literally) Americana --Patchwork crop outlines, a single cell-tower, a distant herd, the local gypsum plant and over a million shining stars overhead. When the the fireworks started, I had this overwhelming urge to put my hand over my heart and burst out singing, “And the the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there...”  (Which is a scary thought since I wasn’t invited up there for bad karaoke.) But being there for fireworks, just made me feel kind of, well, -- free.  Like this is a country where people can own their own piece of untamed land and can use it for what they like. Like the feeling that this place in Kansas is so special that unsung men and women died to give the rest of us the right to live here to worship, to build a home and a lifestyle and a dream that is individual as each one of us Americans. I sang the National Anthem anyway, but quietly, so only my husband looked at me strangely. My hand was over my heart too, but thankfully, no one was looking at me, just the sky.  

After we all went careening back down the “hill,” it was agreed that was one of the best firework shows we ever experienced.  I don’t think it was about the actual fireworks though, but the influence of the special place far out in the high pasture where we watched them.  It was declared that from now on, the top of the pasture would be the new traditional viewing site. “Yes!” I thought, “A great American tradition!”  Ellen

Ellen, City Girl No Longer

I was used to the cement cities of Memphis and Colorado Springs. When my husband was interviewing for a job in Marysville, KS, I remember that as we drove to the town of about 3K, we passed nothing but pasture - for a whole hour. The word “rural” took on a new meaning. My anxiety grew as each lonely mile passed until I burst out with, “I hope you know what you’re doing!” The first year of transition was unique. I was so green that I told my husband that Marysville must be a progressive little town. After all, they had twelve limousines for sale in the local paper!

Eleven years later, I am not sorry for the move. I’ve learned a different way of life that doesn’t include long waits at traffic lights or impersonal strangers. We’ve been able to raise our three kids with a love of the outdoors and a sense of responsibility from having a few chores to do.

My job at Valley Vet, with learning about all things animals, has been interesting. It’s a wide world out there, and I enjoy learning about the products, the pets, the farm animals and way of life so far removed from my roots. I get to share with others what I have learned from talking to farmers and ranchers and horse owners for several years. I get to often see this world from new eyes since I was a city girl. And now when I go back to megabuildings and freeways and the lack of my favorite color of grass green, I feel like I miss home.

Because simple and natural is good -- Real good. Ellen

World Pork Expo 2011

I took a quick trip June 9-10 to attend the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, IA. It was a great opportunity to meet with pork producers and manufacturers of all things swine related. While at times it seems as if this is an ever-shrinking industry, it was great to see pork producers from smaller family farms right along with the largest integrators. In fact, when filling out my registration for the Expo, I had to hesitate between describing myself as a “Producer” or “Industry Partner”. I went with my gut and proclaimed myself an industry partner. Somehow I doubt that the folks at WPX look upon someone with 5 pigs (who all have names) as a true producer. Although….. it might’ve been fun to crush the hopes of an unsuspecting salesman when I explained that LuLu, Bruno and the other 3 don’t need an automated feed system or walk-thru Electronic ID tag reader.

Luckily, there is room in this world for pork producers of all sizes, and manufacturers seem to be tuning in to their unique needs.

I would highly recommend a trip to the 2012 World Pork Expo. June 6-8, 2012 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Did I mention that you could eat your weight in pork at dozens of hospitality tents? Great family fun! Lori H

Lori Hill, Hobby Farm

Hi all! My name is Lori Hill. My family and I live in the country on a small acreage that’s just a 5 minute drive from Valley Vet Supply. I like to joke that if you look up “hobby farmer” in the dictionary, you’ll find our family photo. My very tolerant husband and I have four children - Cody 16, Jake 13 and twins Emma & Megan 12. Our animal brood includes pigs, calves, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, cats and two terriers who think they’re protecting us from danger every minute of every day. All false alarms, so far.

Husband Tim grew up in a farm family where he was kept busy with ample daily chores and lots of hours on a tractor. When you grow up believing that your free time is for more work, you make a great hobby farmer. Tim likes projects, and since farm kids just inherently know how to build things, it’s a perfect fit.

Our kids are farm kids too, especially in attitude. When Emma was little, she once begged “Can we get pigs, and if we do, can we eat mine last?” Farm kids know where their food comes from!

Our animals give me the perfect opportunity to test products that Valley Vet Supply offers. I work in animal health merchandising, so I often try products before we offer them to you. We think it’s important to have a real person use and test products in real life.....and if I can successfully install and operate a barn camera (my favorite product), anyone can!

I look forward to sharing my experiences and adventures with you. I’d love to hear yours too, so please share! Lori H

 

Helen, Getting To Know You

Hi, my name is Helen and I have worked for Valley Vet for 11 years. My husband and I have had purebred and cross bred cattle for more than 38 years. In the past we have had sows (sold the pigs as feeders), horses, chickens, ducks, dogs, and cats.

Our 3 children now have families of their own with some living close and others too far away. The grandkids like to come back and "help" with the cows or "work" in the field. My husband and I both work off the farm, but help my in-laws with their farm after work and on weekends. Our family has been active in 4-H as well as all the school functions, but now take in the occasional grandkid activities.

I truly enjoy visiting with our customers and finding how much everyone's lives, although different, are still quite a bit the same! Helen

Rhonda, The New Kid on the Block!

Hi! My name is Rhonda, and I have been at Valley Vet for a little over a year (I’m the new kid on the block). I work in the call center taking orders and answering your questions, and really enjoy my job and the people I work with! Even though I may not have been with Valley Vet very long, I grew up in the country on a hog and cattle farm with my 4 brothers, mom, and dad (only girl in the fam... I’m not spoiled at all though!), so I’m used to all the farmer lingo.

Now that I’m all grown up at the ripe age of 23, I now have 3 horses with my husband, one of whom is only 1 year old (Bella’s my baby). I have been married to Dan for a little over a year, and he is the one who has really gotten me into horses. Him being a cowboy all his life, I’m the beginner in all this horse stuff, but I’m a quick learner and catching on fast! I’m certainly not going to be doing any barrel racing anytime soon, but I’ve really started to get good at causal and trail riding.

A lot of my experiences that I’m going to be talking about in my blog, Dan will be a big part of  because we enjoy riding and working the horses together, and a lot of the advice that I will pass on to you is from his years of working and being around horses (but please don’t spill the beans to him that he’s in a blog, that’d just confuse him)! Hope to hear you on the phone, or post a comment! Rhonda

Baby It’s Cold Outside?

The classic song "Baby it’s Cold Outside" provides no relief for the farmers and ranchers in these hot summer days. They say if you think about being cold, then you will not be as warm, but if you ask me, that’s a bunch of malarkey! I think about being cold, and I just get upset because I’m so stinkin’ hot!

Today it’s very warm outside, with the temperature 103, and the heat index at 106. When it gets to be this warm it is not only dangerous for the rider on the horse, it becomes very dangerous for the horse as well. Even if the horse isn’t being ridden, it’s important that they still stay cool, no matter if they are being penned up or turned out. A Kool Coat Sheet is a great way to help your horse stay cool and clean (it’s a great alternative for rolling around in the dirt). Not only will it keep the horse cooler, but also helps with fly control.

If you do ride your horse in warmer temperatures, it’s important to help the horse cool down after the intense ride. Ice Cells are the perfect fix! Keep them in the freezer and when the ride is over slip them right into the SMB II’s.

If all else fails, and you just can’t beat the heat, jump on in the pool or pond and let your trusty sidekick take a dip with ya! Rhonda

Fly Control is Not Easy...Calm Coat helps stops the itching and scratching.

Valley Vet Supply, my name is Francie. How may I help you?... Summer has arrived and the phones have been busy this week selling fly control products. Fly control is not easy. We all know eliminating breeding sites is one key to success. Valley Vet has over nine pages of fly control products in the horse catalog. We have fly sheets, fly masks and fly boots. We have pages full of sprays, from quick knock-down to long lasting. We also have spot-on control, topicals for the face, and several natural sprays and wipes. We have premise fly control products, and feed through fly control. Each of you have your favorites. No matter how hard we try, our animals will get bitten. This week my product of the week is Calm Coat.

Calm Coat helps stops the itching and scratching. Can use on all animals, and I have used it on myself. My nephew used it on his dog as the tips of his ears were raw and bleeding from bites. Amazing how fast they healed.

The mfg. states use for fungus, girth itch, rain rot, poison ivy, burns and sunburn, insect bites, and more. Put it in a spray bottle and use it as fly spray. Ingredients: canola oil, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree and paba. Instructions: horses apply liberally on first application to mane, tail, face, ears, legs and body. Then sparingly 2 times daily until healed. For best results apply at dawn or dusk when bugs are most active. Cats and dogs apply sparingly 4-5 times daily. Rub lotion thoroughly into coat, wiping off excess to avoid clothing stains.

The consistency reminds me of baby oil. And that is how we want to treat your animals and you. With loving care.

Have a happy Fourth of July and rejoice in our freedom.....talk with you next week. Francie