This week I got the chance of attend and participate at the TAMU Beef Short Course in College Station. This year, the program attracted more than 2200 attendees and must of the session I participate were very well attended. The major topics that attracted my interest were on the Animal Health track. For those who have not attended this yearly event, the set-up of the lectures is divided in topics of interest, and the sessions are conducted concurrent. A participant can attend any session offered but must decide ahead since the sessions are conducted live and chances are that due to scheduling a participant could miss a lecture if attention is not provided to the program. This year several producers from Hopkins County came to the program and I got the chance to spend time with some of them. It is also possible to miss participants due to the size and number of concurrent session. During the event, just because you do not see somebody, does not mean that they were not there!
Trichomoniasis Control Program: Changes are proposed to the Texas Animal Health Commission Working Group related to diagnostic, bull testing and the possibility of including females into the testing protocols. As on today, those are just suggestions after years of program implementation. The working group will discuss and evaluate those suggestions and probably make changes in the future.
Tick Fever Program: According to the Texas Animal Health Commission, the fever tick problem continues in the south part of Texas. There is a report of at least one outbreak already outside of the permanent quarantine zone. Some of the challenges of the program include cattle smuggled from Mexico, exotic hoofstock keeping the ticks and financial resources to maintain treatment in affected areas.
Warts in cattle: A common concern for cattle ranchers in Texas are warts or also known as papillomatosis. According to producers from central Texas, the problem is severe. I am not aware for us having a big number of cases of cattle warts and the few ones I know related to cattle overcrowding.
I will continue to share some of the information collected on the beef short course in the next few weeks to come.
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
