Valley Vet Supply

Moonlight Is Not That Romantic On The Farm

Moonlight is not that romantic on the farm. After an unfortunate problem with blue-green algae, and losing 3 of our best cows, we decided to pull cattle off pastures early this year. Everything went so smoothly. Yes, way too smoothly. The kind that makes you know it went way too easily.

Saturday, I had a wonderful day with my grand-daughter (9) and grandson (almost 2), along with their mothers, at the Huff and Puff Balloon Rally. The weather was perfect and we were almost home at about 10:30 pm when my husband called. Since he is usually asleep in the recliner, I was somewhat alarmed by the call. "Where are you?" he asked. I then became less alarmed and more suspicious. "Mmmm, about 5 miles from home." I said cautiously. "Well, get here quick as the calves are out here, and the cows are out at Dad's."

As my in-laws are no longer able to round up cattle, I hurried home and threw on my cattle chasing clothes and grabbed a flashlight. As I went out the door I was amazed at the beautiful moonlight! You could see without the flashlight.

The calves cooperated very well and we thought we found them all. Walking to the truck to go to the in-laws, I thought I heard another calf not too far away. Could it be the neighbors had some? Our ever vigilant Corgi and I walked down the road and around the corner. In a draw, munching on the neighbor's corn, was the hold out. Mind you our Corgi, Ansley, has never been trained for cattle, but it has to have been bred into her. She had the calf at the first turn and all the way home. Her favorite words are cows, truck, tractor, and load up. When I said truck she was ready for more.

We got down to the other farm and found cows in the beans, cows in the lot, cows in the pasture, and cows in the yard. Did I tell you most of them are black? Luckily, it only took another 2 hours to get most of them in. My husband played the hay card. As he fired up the tractor, I sat on a dirt pile, in the middle of a bean field, in the moonlight. This is the place farm people can really appreciate the beautiful moon at its best. At least before the coyotes started in.

The cows wandered over to the hay, we closed the gates and turned the fencer back on, and we were done for the time being. Slowly, I started out of the field towards the truck yelling and snapping at the coyotes. They are way too brave and were now within 100 feet. Ansley was barking and running between me and the truck, back and forth. I think she was telling me that she really did not want to be a late night snack.

It was now almost 2 am and it had been a long day and then some. After all was said and done, it worked out well and I thank God for the awesome night and light from above! Helen

The Pony Express Re-Rides Again!!!!!

The National Pony Express Association just completed another successful re-ride commemorating the Pony Express of 1860-1861. You may wonder what this has to do with Valley Vet Supply....We have many ties to this historic event.

Marysville is on the route taken by the riders 150 years ago & the re-riders of today. We have one of the original home stations right here in our little town. We have a bronze statue of a Pony rider located right on our main street. And my biggest tie is my husband, Keith, who celebrated his 30th year of re-riding this year.

If you don’t know too much about the Pony Express, it is a unique & interesting part of our U.S. history. Back then they wanted young, scrawny, orphans to ride hard & fast to get the mail delivered. The route was from St. Joseph, MO to Sacrament, CA. Today the route is very close to the original but, we have over 600 men, women & teens handing off the mochila (mail bag). They go 1,966 miles non-stop for 10 days to get their job done. To read more about the re-rides visit xphomestation.com.

If you have been receiving our equine catalogs since 1996 you just “might” remember seeing a Pony Express rider on the cover, carrying the Olympic torch. That was my hubby, Keith. He rode up our main street through about 10,000 spectators. That was his 15 minutes of fame, as nearly everyone was taking photos of him & his trusty steed, “Boots”! Now when you’re driving through Kansas and get to Marysville at the junction of Highway 36 & 77 you’ll have some American history to take in, on your way out to visit us at Valley Vet Supply! Kathy K

Using the Copasure Bolus for Goats

Before you read any further, you should know that the deworming program I’m about to tell you about is not recommended or endorsed by Valley Vet Supply. If you have goats, you’ve probably grown accustomed to using products in an off-label manner. Very few products are labeled for goats, and those that are labeled for goats may be used in a different way by “real goat people” than the label advises. I think that most goat producers learn as they go and pick up valuable advice from people who’ve been in the same situation.


So, having made that disclaimer, I will tell you about my goats and the goat deworming program that husband Tim and I use. We have 20 Boer-Spanish cross nannies, each one special, each one with a name, much to Tim’s dismay. Around 3 years ago, I learned about the deworming success some producers were having by using the Copasure bolus in goats. Each Copasure bolus contains thousands of tiny copper oxide wire particles (COWP). Boluses are administered with a small balling gun, which is much easier than I feared. When the bolus reaches the goat’s stomach, the gelatin capsule disolves, releasing the copper particles into the goat’s stomachs. The small particles become trapped in the folds of the abomasum. Research has shown that the particles remain in the stomach for up to 32 days, but the copper absorbed into the liver appears to protect the animal from copper deficiency for 4 to 6 months.COWP appear to be almost immediately toxic to the barberpole worm (Haemonchus contortus).

Barberpole worms are of particular concern because they are the internal parasite that is most likely to cause anemia and death in goats. Their life cycle is short and they thrive in warm, wet conditions like those of spring pastures.These internal parasites attach themselves to the goat’s stomach, robbing it of blood. Adult female worms produce eggs that are passed out in manure. The larvae typically develop on grass, which infects more goats as it is eaten. Because the barberpole worm’s life cycle is only 3 weeks long, contamination and infection develop quickly. When the worm burden is not controlled, goats can become anemic, which can lead to death.

Copasure is not labeled for goats, but there have been many studies regarding its use. Various dosages have been researched in various climates and conditions. Most studies use a dosage between 1 gram Copasure per 22 lbs body weight, and on up to 12.5 grams Copasure per mature animal. Copasure is sold in two sizes, 12.5 gram bolus and 25 gram bolus. We give one 12.5 gram bolus per adult goat, each spring and fall. Many producers who want to dose smaller kids, or dose at a lower rate, will take apart the large Copasure bolus and repack the COWP into smaller gelatin capsules, at their desired dosage rate.

In addition to its deworming capacity, Copasure provides a supplemental dose of copper that really seems to benefit our goats. They have never looked slicker, shinier or more healthy. Because Copasure doesn’t kill all of the worms a goat is succeptible to, we also deworm with Dectomax injectable (also off-label). We use the FAMACHA guide to monitor eye membrane color and determine when to use Dectomax. Lori H

Additional resources:
Journal of Animal Science

research study
Saaendoah - provides many research links
International Kiko Goat Association - research study

Tapeworm Control in Dogs and Cats

Tapeworms are parasites that attach themselves to you pet’s intestines and feed off of their nutrients. Dogs frequently get tapeworms from fleas, which are an intermediate host for the most common type of tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum. When your dog chews at and swallows an infected flea, it also ingests tapeworm eggs. As tapeworms mature, their tail segments drop off, pass through your pet’s digestive system and then shed eggs which become food for flea larvae. The cycle continues as more infected fleas mature and are ingested. Consistent flea control can minimize the risk of common tapeworm infections. Other species of tapeworms can be acquired by eating infected rodents or the remains of other animals. These types of infections can be higher in curious farm dogs.

Canine Tapeworm Tabs and Feline Tapeworm Tabs contain praziquantel for removal of tapeworms in dogs and cats. Tapeworm Tabs are available without a prescription, and can be fed easily by mouth or crumbled over food. There are many other wormers available to treat other specific internal parasites, like roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. Some monthly heartworm preventatives also contain medication to control one or more of these internal parasite infections. Lori H

What worming product do you use on your pet?

Saddles, Try Before You Buy

Valley Vet Supply, my name is Francie, how may I help you?  I am in need of a car. My old 1994 has over 327,000 miles! And I was thinking, I wish car and truck dealerships had the deal “try before you buy for 10 days”, like we do with some of our saddles. We have a demo program consisting of thirteen saddles. Four Circle Y saddles, seven Tucker saddles, and two English Collegiate saddles. Most of the demo saddles are for trail riders, but we sell all disciplines. Just check out our website to view all the saddles!

Like buying a car, what style are you looking for, what size, does it fit my horse and me? I would suggest you do some research before, there is a lot of information available. Tucker and Circle Y both have excellent websites. Familiarize yourself, then give us a call and we can talk saddles just like the guys talk about trucks and cars. Write your questions down and we will be ready to answer. You are investing your money and we want the saddle to be worth the expense.

Here are some details about the saddle demo program. Cost of shipping and new price of saddle will be charged to your card. Upon return of the saddle, the entire amount, plus your shipping cost and $50.00 demo fee will be credited toward your order of a new saddle. If you decide to not purchase a new saddle, you will just be charged the $50.00 + shipping. But you will have ridden in it for 10 days, and by then you and your horse should know if this is the saddle you like.
 
The saddle I have chosen to talk about is the Topeka Flex by Circle Y. We are from Kansas, you know, and that is our capital. All Flex Lite saddles are built for fit, weight and comfort. It has an impact foam seat, neoprene filler in skirt to absorb shock, and a Softee seat jockey. Fender leathers provide “a ready to ride” saddle to minimize the rider’s knee and ankle strain. Weighs about 28 lbs.

Hey! if you don’t believe me, believe Julie Goodnight..( a nationally known natural horsemanship trainer, speaker, and television personality-Horse Master on RFD- TV)  She states in the Circle Y catalog, “The Flex2 tree allows for plenty of rider support and weight distribution. I am close to the horse in just the right spot on his back for a balanced ride and good control.” So give me a call, let’s talk saddles. Francie

State Fair Food - We Ate This!

Ready to go on a tour of foods from the Kansas State Fair with me? Here’s a re-cap of the culinary adventure I recently took with husband Tim and our 12 year-old twins. And for those of you who guessed what we ate, thanks for joining the fun! There’s only one rule when it comes to fair food....your funnel cake needs to stay down for at least 3 hours before you can get in the car for a ride home. Learned that one the hard way at the Nebraska State Fair in ‘08!

#1. Corn Dog from Pronto Pup - even babies in strollers eat these.

#2. Chocolate Marshmallow Cupcake - our favorite!!

#3. Chili Cheese Fries - you might regret this one later.

#4. Roasted Corn - they dip ‘em in butter for you!

#5. Dippin Dots - Cotton Candy flavor, of course. It’s a two-fer of fair foods.

#6. Krispy Kreme hamburger - yes this is a burger w/ Krispy Kremes for buns. Are you horrified or excited?

#7. Ice Cream - helps settle the stomach after a hard day’s eating.

#8. Funnel Cake - no trip to the fair would be complete without one! Probably the most notorious “that made me sick” fair food.

Well kids, where to next? We still have time to make the 2011 fair in South Carolina or Arizona or Arkansas.....There are so many things that I still want to eat. Fried butter anyone? What is your favorite State Fair Food? Lori H

Winners!!!!! Ariat Boot Give-a-Way!

Oh my goodness!!  Thank you all so much for participating in the blog boot giveaway!  I never dreamt of having so many responses. LOVE LOVE LOVE hearing all your stories.

We have drawn our two winners this morning.

Congratulations to:
Melissa P. from Tx and Sara from KS. Both winners have been contacted via email of their good fortune this Friday morning.

Please keep checking back on our blog post. I will have more giveaways coming soon. Just to tempt you a little, in the near future I will be having an equine winter blanket, Classic Equine package and a men’s and ladies jeans giveaway.

Thanks again!!
Julie

Equestrian College At Your Fingertips - At No Cost

The internet has become a library of vast knowledge for every subject under the sun. Sometimes the issue is how to pull out the right book and find what you need. When it comes to horses and ranching, online horse magazines are an amazing resource. For instance, HorseandRider.com sports both English and Western concerns covering saddle fitting and seat sizing. The have great resources for dressage fitting and other videos covering English tack. You can find Western saddle fitting under the top tab of Tack and Apparel. It’s labeled “The Saddle Buyer’s Primer.” The seat sizing chart based on a person’s weight and height is found under that tab as well. Need some country wisdom? The Farm and Ranch tab drops down into a library to itself including popular subjects such as Fencing, Pasture, Trailering and Fly Control.

There are also a number of specialized online horse mags that cover shooting sports and barrel racing and even special breeds of horses. Google searches can bring those up. (I like to search different engines in order to get a different spread of ideas.) By the way, the magazines I mention in this blog are by no means exhaustive. Having said that, some other informative basic horse mags that don’t require a username or password beside HorseandRider.com include Equestrianmag.com, westernhorseman.com, horsebackmagazine.com, equestmagazine.com (with links to other equestrian networks), horsesmagazine.com, horsemanmagazine.com, and EQUUSmagazine.com. Several of these sites have searchable yearly archives written by experts to peruse.

You might just think you died and woke up in equestrian college. The good news is there are no tests and no bills. Just the personal satisfaction of knowing you studied to help you and your horse be at your best. Ellen

Ariat Boot Give-A-Way!!!!!

I told you in my previous post that one of my most absolute favorite things to do as the Merchandising Manager of the Apparel category is to shop and select the fashion boots we carry. I just LOVE boots. I want there to be an option for every taste and personality out there. So to get you started and share my LOVE of boots....just comment and tell me "What is your favorite place to wear your boots?" and then tweet or like this post and you will be signed up to win one of the below pair of boots. I have listed official details below the great looking boots.

10" Ladies RodeoBaby Relic Boot 

11" Mens Sport Round Toe Boot

TO ENTER

1) Answer the following question in the Comments section of this post:

What is your favorite place to wear your boots?

and

2) Tweet or Like the post

THE RULES

One entry per person, please. (Note: if you don't see your entry right away, please don't enter a second time. It will show up shortly!)

No entries after 8:00 am Central Time Friday September 23, 2011.

Two winners will be selected at random and announced Friday.

Each of the two winners can choose from one of the following: Ariat Mens Sport Round Toe Boots (20009) or Ladies RodeoBaby Relic Boot (20022)

Good luck! Julie

Electric Fence Building Basics

Selecting the right fence charger is crucial to the success of your electric fence. It maintains voltage on the fence and determines the severity of the shock an animal receives. Low impedence chargers are designed to continue operating when weeds and brush come into contact with the fence. When selecting a fence charger, consider your power source (AC, DC or Solar), the type of animals being contained, and the total length of fence being installed. Be sure to choose a charger that is powerful enough for your needs. Solar chargers draw power from a sealed internal battery that is recharged by sunlight. Prior to the first use each season, recharge the internal battery overnight with a battery charger or by placing the charger in the sun for several days. AC operated fence chargers plug into a standard 110 volt power outlet. DC operated fence chargers require an external battery for power. AC/DC Dual Purpose “go anywhere” fencer chargers can be powered by either 110 volt power outlet or 12-volt battery.

A properly installed grounding system is essential. Without grounding, electricity can’t find a path back to your fencer and little or no shock is given when an animal touches the fence. For proper grounding, your fence charger will have one terminal connected securely to the wire and the other terminal connected to your grounding rod(s). Many electric fence systems with dirt or moist soil will require one 6’ grounding rod and one ground rod clamp. Additional ground rods and clamps, spaced 10’ apart, may be necessary for longer fences or in rocky, sandy or dry soil.

When choosing fence posts, consider whether you will be building temporary or permanent fence. Most temporary fences are built with step-in posts or fiberglass rod posts because they are inexpensive and can be moved easily. T-posts are often used for permanent fencing. Corner posts are usually made of wood, and must be sturdier to handle the tension of corners, gates and fence end points.

Poly wire, rope and tape consist of many strands of poly material interwoven with strands of stainless steel, copper or aluminum for conductivity. Aluminum provides the greatest conductivity and shocking power. Poly wire is frequently used for livestock fencing and temporary rotational grazing. Poly rope is similar to poly wire but stronger and wider in diameter, making it more visible. Poly tape is most often used to contain horses. Because it is wider than wire or rope, it is much more visible. Poly tape creates a look similar to traditional wood fence at a fraction of the price. To calculate how many feet of wire you’ll need, multiply the number of wires being used by the perimeter length of the area being fenced in.

Once you’ve determined a post type and selected a wire, rope or tape, choose appropriate insulators. Insulators come in many styles to accommodate your specific needs. To calculate how many insulators you’ll need, multiply the number of posts being used by the number of wires on each post. Corner insulators are specifically designed for tension points, and are typically used at each corner, gate or end point.

Planning to build an electric fence? These resources can help you further define your fence building needs:
Zareba - Building Your Fence
Gallagher - How An Electric Fence Works?
Power Wizard - Selecting An Energizer
Patriot - Fence Planning
Baygard - FAQ
Lori H