Pipestone Veterinary Services News

Sometimes we over look one of the most important ingredients in the total ration and how we deliver it. For starters, blocks are worthless. It always should be provided in a loose form and free choice. Salt should be offered free of manure contamination and moisture. Salt should be a...

by Dr. Brett Kroeze Stages Time Frame What is happening Tips Stage 1 Dilation 4-24 hours before parturition. Uterus muscle becomes more sensitive causing contractions and dilation.  The fetus is positioning itself for birth. Watch for behavioral changes such as isolation, discomfort, elevation and switching of the tail, and mucus...

This spring, the cattle market has hit a record high.  I am sure most of you never thought your herd would be worth what it is today.  With feeder calves bringing $900-$1200 per head and cull cows hitting a dollar a pound, it may be time to re-examine your calving...

Dr. Joel Nerem Late last fall, I wrote my first article centering around PED virus as we had just finished testing our transportation protocols at South Dakota State University (SDSU), and these protocols proved to be effective against PED virus. We were also in the process of testing our 3M...

by: Marty Rost Many of our system and shareholder barns pump their manure pits in the spring, but pumping safety is not always top of mind. That's because spring is a busy time, and we have lots of other things to think about. But, the welfare of our employees and our animals...

by: Adam Schelkopf, DVM Spring is usually a very positive time in the swine industry-a time when Midwestern producers dewinterize and thaw out their barns after being in a deep freeze for several months. It's also an important time to verify that a few key components of our barns functioning...

Last month the sheep industry lost the most forward thinking and successful innovators that I have encountered in my fifty plus practice years in the industry. I had been in practice six years before Dion Van Well was born. What a difference one person can make. I had a few...

This is one of the most difficult challenges we are faced with when ewes fail to dilate. There are anatomical reasons and infectious reasons. I have covered the anatomical reasons in my prolapse blog. I suspect iodine deficiency and abortive agents such as chlamydia are often involved. Tip off is...

We are getting a lot of calls about downer ewes. This syndrome is the result of a lot of different conditions. The first I want to talk about is pregnancy disease. Pregnancy disease is the result of ewes that are too fat in the fall. Then as the lambs develop...