Thought Leaders Emphasize Cattle Health and Well-Being for the Sustainable Development of the Beef Industry

More than 220 participating cattle veterinarians and producers from 14 countries had access to the latest in research and knowledge, and engaged in discussions with global experts. The three-day symposium featured a curated program encompassing scientific presentations, expert panel discussions and a day on a beef cattle farm for hands-on demonstrations and application of science in practice.

Among the expert panel was Professor Brad White from Kansas State University, US, who discussed mitigating bovine respiratory disease in cow-calf herds. He believes that optimizing calf well-being and health in this first step of the beef value chain presents an opportunity to maximize their lifetime potential.

Another speaker, Professor Nick Jonsson from the University of Glasgow, UK, addressed the impact of cattle ticks and emphasized the importance of effective control through proper use of acaricides, monitoring and rotation programs.

Professor Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes from Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil, highlighted the significance of coccidiosis in beef calves. He put forward that for endemic farms, the strategic treatment of coccidia in calves up to 15 days of age helps to mitigate the adverse effects of the disease.

The Beef Symposium was also an occasion to acknowledge and celebrate cattle professionals’ commitment and contribution to advancing animal well-being. Bayer Care4Cattle grant recipient from Brazil, Professor Mateus Paranhos da Costa, was present to share more on his work in improving weaning methods for optimal cattle well-being.

Bayer also introduced its Beef Master Club, an initiative designed to connect the global network of beef cattle professionals. Dr Almut Hoffmann, Head of Farm Animal Products Marketing at Bayer Animal Health, said: “Collaboration and exchange are essential for driving continous advancements in cattle well-being and health, as well as sustainable beef production. We are delighted to help further this through our new Beef Master Club initiative, which will offer cattle professionals access to tailored scientific education and expertise and facilitate greater exchange within the community.”

At the 2nd International Beef Symposium, Bayer showcased its latest practice-oriented tools to assist cattle professionals to enhance cattle health and well-being. These include: i-COWNT BRD, a digital comparison tool for different antibiotics used for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease; and Virtual Farm, an educational virtual reality experience of flies, their impact on cattle, and the importance of customized parasite control. Also presented were precision livestock farming programs in Latin America – METRA and PRENA – that are designed to help cattle producers to mitigate bovine respiratory disease challenges throughout the beef production chain, and enhance bovine fertility, respectively.

The 2nd International Beef Symposium was held adjacent to the Scot Feedlot Congress (3rd-5th April), a key event for cattle professionals in Latin America, of which Bayer was a key sponsor. For more highlights and educational insights from the Symposium, follow us on the Bayer Animal Health Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Bayer4Animals

Highlights from the two panel discussions at the 2nd International Beef Symposium:

• Panel discussion: Cow-calf segment – a global constant in beef production
Professor Paulo Emilio (Maringa University Center, Brazil), Professor Robert Larson (Kansas State University, US) & Professor Alonso Diaz (National Autonomous University Veracruz, Mexico)
Veterinarians have important roles to play in the establishment, growth, and maintenance of the cattle industry. Key areas to focus on are: good nutrition (pasture), reproduction efficiency, and mitigating health risks.

• Panel discussion: Control of cattle ticks in Latin America
Professor Nick Jonsson (University of Glasgow, UK), Professor Roger I. Rodriguez–Vivas (National Autonomous University, Merida, Mexico), Dr. Chandra Bhushan (Bayer Animal Health, Germany), Dr. Jose Reck (IPVDF, Eldorado do Sul, Brazil)
Tick control is essential for cattle health and well-being, as well as success of farms. Traditional approaches are no longer successful in the fight against development of tick resistance – it’s important that we develop novel control strategies. An integrated approach that includes appropriate use of acaricides, resistance monitoring, and rotation programs are vital to effectively control parasites in livestock.