Valley Vet Supply

Parmak Fence Charger Giveaway

Typically in our area, May is thought of to be the beginning of pasture season. From May 1^st to October 1^st, I love driving through the Flint Hills of Kansas and seeing acres upon acres of rolling hills, pasture land, grass, and cattle.

Hopefully we’ve all had enough moisture to get those ponds and pastures back into shape and green with growth.

To help you out with possible sectioning off of those pasture areas, we are going to provide one lucky winner with a Parmak Deluxe Field Solar Pak 6 Fence Charger.

For your chance to win:
1. Answer the following question in the comments section of this post:

Why is Valley Vet Supply your choice in providing for your farm or ranch needs?

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 Thursday, June 27, 2013.

One winner will be selected at random and announced Friday, June 28, 2013. Winner will receive a Parmak Deluxe Field Solar Pak 6 Fence Charger #27127.

Good Luck!
Julie

Ariat Boot Giveaway

It’s giveaway time people!!  Let’s hear it!!!  Are you ready??

 

 

For your chance to win a pair of Ariat Boots:

1. Answer the following question in the comments section of this post:

 

What is it about Valley Vet Supply that makes us your favorite catalog/site to order from? Our customer service, our selection, our prices, our delivery times, etc.?

 

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 Thursday, June 20, 2013.

One winner will be selected at random and announced Friday, June 21, 2013. Winner will receive a pair of 10" Ladies Showbaby Peace Boots #29201 OR a pair of Men's Heritage Horseman Boots #37828.

 

Good Luck,

Julie

Live Chat

Valley Vet Supply is proud to introduce a new feature on our website this week. We are now offering Live Chat to all web customers. This feature allows all of our customers (or future customers) the option to chat with our Live Chat technicians. They are trained to answer most questions, and can aid in placing an order via the internet. Clicking on the icon to the right of the page that looks like: will send you directly to an agent for help. Live Chat is easy and fast. This feature is available Tuesday through Friday 8-5. Rachael

Working in the Muck

When I was a kid I loved going to the farm with my dad. It was great riding on the tractor and in the back of the truck to feed cows.  Those were some great memories to have as a kid, but one that really stands out is the cold. Within an hour your feet were wet and frozen, and by lunchtime you thought they were going to fall off.  Yes, I complained a lot, but they didn’t offer a lot of choices for kids back then.

Now as an adult there are more brands that offer better technology for keeping my feet warm. My boot of choice is Muck Brand. These boots are 100% waterproof (your socks and pant legs won’t get wet).  They have a lot of diversity in design and style. I really like the Muck Master Boots.  This line of Muck Boot is great for all purpose wear. Here in Kansas the weather changes daily, and with this boot I am covered if it snows or rains. The insulated lining will keep my feet warm and dry, even in sub-zero conditions. I really like the tread and the weight of these boots. I can slop around in the mud and my boot never gets stuck. I remember, as a kid helping dad, my boots would get stuck in the mud, and I would walk out of them and my socks would be a mess.

Muck Boots are my boot of choice. This is not the only brand we offer, so come take a look at some of the other brands we carry. We even have boots for kids, so you can make their experiences memorable with a lot less complaining. Rachael 

The Evolution of Animal Identification

Animal identification and herd recordkeeping have evolved to save time and improve efficiency. Traditional herd identification methods, including visual ID tags, ear tattoos and entries in pocket notebooks are now being incorporated into Electronic Identification (EID). EID recordkeeping can improve time management and efficient use of data within your own herd. Best of all, your current record keeping practices can be incorporated into an EID program. Electronic ID Tags (EID) - Enhance animal traceability and management because no two animals share the same 15-digit EID tag number. Tag manufacturers provide instant download to your computer of each tag ID number shipped to you. This gives you a quick listing of your 15-digit tag numbers and becomes the baseline for your recordkeeping. From here, you can add existing herd records, including visual ID number, tattoo number, health records, etc. Stick Reader - Save time and manual entry of health data by adding a stick reader to your EID program. Gives you the freedom to scan each ID tag and enter data pertinent to the animal at chute side. Weigh scales and indicators - Can also be synced to your EID program, allowing you to capture individual animal weights and enter other data as it crosses the scale. Cattle identification has come a long way, and we live in a time when technology can be used to document quality and add value to our product. Equally as important, data can be captured and analyzed to help you determine future herd decisions.

Winter is Fast Approaching

Winter is fast approaching. Are you ready? This is the perfect time of year to prepare for what winter is going to bring. So you may be asking yourself, “Where do I start, and what does Valley Vet Supply has to offer for winter weatherization?” Here are a few ideas to get you started.

In our Valley Vet Direct Pet edition, we have several items to keep your furry friend warm and comfortable during the up and coming cold months. The first thing that I am going to purchase is an electric heat pad. There are several available, ranging in watts and dimension. Most are waterproof, and they are all very durable.

The next item that is a great seller is our dog blankets, for the stubborn dog that won’t go outside in freezing weather. A blanket is a great way to keep you animal warm and dry while outside. Direct Pet Super Store has them in a variety of colors, deniers, and sizes. Most are water proof and easy to keep clean.

Valley Vet Supply has products for bigger animals, too, with everything from horse blankets to water deicers to keep your livestock watered, even in freezing conditions. Valley Vet Supply also has a variety of items in stock to help ensure the safety of your animal.

The Deicer that will really come in handy this winter is the Submergible Tank De-Icer. This de-icer can be used in any tank and only runs when needed. I personally hate having wet gloves and freezing hands after breaking ice in the tank. No more having to worry that your livestock won’t have water because of ice.

Valley Vet Supply has hundreds of items to help you get through the winter months. If there is something else you need and can not find it, our wonderful staff is always willing to help you. Feel free to call with any questions. Rachael

Preventing Calf Scours

Within the first few hours of life, a calf gets up and is likely to suckle everything within reach as it searches for the udder. In the process, the calf is at risk for picking up various pathogens. As these pathogens make their way to the gut, the calf can quickly develop scours and become dehydrated.

When pregnant cows have been vaccinated against bacterial and viral pathogens like E coli, Rotavirus and Coronavirus, they pass along the protection to calves through their colostrum. It’s important that the calf received adequate colostrum in order to achieve passive transfer of immunity from disease. You may wish to feed a supplemental dose of Colostrum, especially when the weather is poor. Cold, damp, and muddy conditions can increase the pathogen load and weaken a calf’s immune system.

Scour protection Antibiodies may be administered to newborn calves within the first 6 to 12 hours of life. They provide a degree of scour protection until the calf’s immune system is functional. Certain types of scours and pneumonia are caused by bacterial infections and may improve with the use of sulfas and Antibiotics.

Cryptosporidiosis (Crypto) is another possible cause of calf scours, which is resistant to treatment. The organism invades cells in the intestines and can quickly spread through a high percentage of the calf crop. Avoid buying calves to cross-foster, as this is the usual source of the organism.

Clean, dry calving areas also help prevent infection. Keep ‘em warm and dry!

Be Prepared to Assist with Calving

Calving season can be unpredictable. You can’t eliminate all of the surprises and late night barn checks, but difficult births are much easier to manage when you’re prepared. First-calf heifers labor longer, tire easily, and are more likely to require assistance. Only a small percentage of calving problems come from seasoned cows.

Before stepping in to help, assess her progress by answering these questions:
Has the cervix dilated?
Has the water sac broken?
Will the calf fit through the pelvis?
Is the calf in normal birthing position?

When the cervix is fully dilated, active delivery begins and contractions become very strong. The calf should be right-side up in forward position with both front legs and the head extending into the birth canal. If the calf presents normally, most births will progress without your assistance. The cow will often lie down at this point and begin to push.

Once her water has broken, it’s important to see progress. When the calf moves from water to air, its first instinct is to take a breath. If the calf doesn’t present normally or progress hasn’t been made in a 30 minute period of laboring, determine whether you can assist or need to call on a veterinarian. Time is crucial. Most calves lost at birth will die from suffocation or from injuries associated with delayed calving.

If you make the decision to assist with the birth, wash and disinfect all equipment, your arms and hands, and the cow’s perineum to prevent bacteria and infection. Use OB gloves and OB lube for lubrication and protection during vaginal exams. If using OB chains, secure them around the calf’s legs and then pull alternately to gradually increase traction. This will help ease the head and shoulders free. A calf puller is a worthy investment for most cow-calf operations. It puts traction on the calf and the counterthrust against the cow for quicker delivery with less effort. Lori H

Trichomoniasis and Its Devastating Effect

Trichomoniasis, or “Trich.” is a disease that can be economically and emotionally devastating when it infects a cattle herd. It can cause infertility, open cows, and abortion, a cycle that may persist for years. Trich is caused by a microscopic parasite that lives in the reproductive tract of an infected animal. It is most commonly transmitted from an infected bull to heifers and cows during breeding.

If your herd becomes infected for the first time, you can expect around a 90% infection rate and a long, drawn-out calving season resulting in a 50-70% calf crop. Infertility and repeat breeding of individual cows can span several months, because the embryo usually dies within 2 weeks of conception and the cow is bred again. Eventually cows begin to cycle regularly and may carry a fetus to term. Once the herd has been infected for a long period, more cows will get pregnant, but never as many as if there were no Trich present.

Bulls are the main carriers of Trich, but they don’t exhibit any signs of the disease. Once a bull becomes infected, it remains infected for life. In cows and heifers, the immune system destroys it within 3-20 weeks. The immunity is short-lived though, so she can become re-infected. An infected cow is capable of passing Trich to an uninfected bull, perpetuating the cycle.

It is important to test incoming, borrowed, or rented bulls to keep this disease away from your herd. Using bulls that have serviced other herds greatly increases the risk of passing Trich. Artificial Insemination or virgin bulls are generally considered safe breeding options. It’s also important that you maintain secure fences to prevent neighboring bulls and cows from commingling with your herd.

TrichGuard is a vaccine to aid in the prevention of Trichomoniasis. A series of 3 injected doses is required, with the last dose given 4 weeks prior to breeding.

Trich is a disease that you should be aware of and take precautions to prevent. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and in this case the only path to a “cure” is long and devastating. Lori H

Take the Gallagher Weigh Up Challenge!

Have you ever taken a culled cow to auction and been surprised by her weight? If you don’t have an on-farm scale, you probably rely on the age-old visual method of “guesstimating” weights.

Guess right every time and you’re ok. Guess wrong and you could unintentionally make mistakes that impact herd health. When you think about it, weight is at the core of most herd health decisions. The dosages of dewormers, parasiticides, antibiotics and other medications are all based on weight, and proper dosage size is crucial to their success.

So, for fun, let’s see how good you are at “guesstimating” weights. Take the Gallagher Weigh Up Challenge. In the online contest, you’ll see actual video footage for three groups of cattle and enter your guess for each. You’ll then see the animals’ actual weights and know how close you were. You must register with their site first, but it’s quick and easy. Well worth the time and a lot of fun. There are also some great prizes at stake! The online challenge continues until February 28, 2013. Good luck! Lori H

www.gallagherweighupchallenge.com