Tools & Resources

The Beef Cattle Research Council is collaborating with practicing veterinarians and RVTs across Canada to build and modify trusted tools they can use or share with beef clients to improve herd health and profitability. Following are a few examples of the resources and tools available for veterinary clinics and the beef producers they serve.

Biosecurity

The Beef Cattle Research Council offers relevant, science-based information that veterinary teams may use or share with beef clients. Sign up to be notified when new beef herd health resources become available.

travel guide for beef producers to protect Canada from Foot and Mouth Disease

Foot and Mouth Disease clinical signs in beef cattle

Be a Biosecurity Super Hero -- stop Foot and Mouth Disease in its tracks!

Be a biosecurity superhero! With great power washing comes great responsibility. Clean livestock trailers.

Boot washing protects Canadian cattle from Foot and Mouth Disease

Five Strategies to Stop Sickness Before It Starts This Fall (BCRC post)
Common Ways a Herd Becomes Open (BCRC interactive graphic)
Cleaning Versus Disinfecting (BCRC post)
Think You Have a Closed Herd? Think Again (BCRC post)
Disease Risks in Herd Expansion (BCRC post)
Johne’s Disease—Cheap to Buy, Costly to Live With (BCRC post)
Practical Tools to Protect Canadian Livestock from Foot and Mouth Disease (BCRC post)
Foot and Mouth Disease (BCRC topic page)

Calf 911: Emergency Support for Newborn Calves: Download the Calf Vigor Scoring PDF

Download Respiratory Acidosis Guide

Colostrum Management Checklist 4.25″ x 11″ PDF

Colostrum Management Checklist 8.5″ x 11″ PDF

Dehydration Checklist 4.25″ x 11″ PDF

Dehydration Checklist 8.5″ x 11″ PDF

Tube Feeding Checklist 4.25″ x 11″ PDF

Tube Feeding Checklist 8.5″ x 11″ PDF

Calf Resuscitation Checklist 4.25″ x 11″ PDF

Calf Resuscitation Checklist 8.5″ x 11″ PDF

Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

Calving Decision Tree & Presentations 2-page PDF

Download All Calf 911 Checklists (Envelope Size) 4.25″ x 11″ PDF

Download All Calf 911 Checklists (Letter Size) 8.5″ x 11″ PDF

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Nutrition & Feed Testing

Beef Cattle Nutrition

Winter Feeding Cost Comparison Calculator Excel | 109kb

Nutrition in Beef Cattle (BCRC webpage)
Alternative Feeds (BCRC webpage)
Bale Feeding Options (BCRC article)

Carrying Capacity Calculator (BCRC decision tool)

including a legume like alfalfa in a pasture can boost carrying capacity by

Body Condition

BodyConditionScoring.ca (BCRC webpage)
Impact of Body Condition Scoring on Cow Productivity and Profitability (BCRC decision tool)

Feed Testing & Analysis

Feed Testing & Analysis for Beef Cattle (BCRC webpage)
Tool for Evaluating Feed Test Results (BCRC decision tool)

Water Systems & Testing

It's time to test the waters. Think your stock water is fine? Bad water can lead to a 30% increase in open cows and thousands of dollars in losses.

Clean water makes for heavier calves. Calves with access to clean, pumped water average 18 pounds heavier at weaning time.

Water Systems for Beef Cattle (BCRC webpage)
Economics of Water Systems Calculator (BCRC decision tool)
Test Stock Water & Reduce Worry (BCRC post)

Explore the BCRC’s many other resources under the For Producers tab.

Preventative Herd Health

Antimicrobial Use and Resistance

Antibiotic Resistance (BCRC webpage)

Calf Health

Giving Calves a Healthy Start (BCRC post)
Tips for a Smooth Calving Season (BCRC post)
Proper Management to Minimize Risk of Calf Scours (BCRC post)
Benchmarking Calving Management Practices (BCRC post)

Pain Mitigation

Producers Add Pain Medication to Their Routines and Benefit Their Herds (BCRC post)
Castration (BCRC post)
Pain Mitigation (BCRC webpage)

Beef producers care. The number of producers providing pain management to reduce discomfort has increased 500% in recent years.

Vaccinations

Injection Techniques Best Practices (BCRC PDF printable)
New Vaccination Resources Now Available (BCRC post)
Vaccination Infographics & Guidelines (BCRC webpage)
BRD Vaccination Cost-Benefit Calculator (BCRC decision tool)
BVD Vaccination Cost-Benefit Calculator (BCRC decision tool)
Vaccination of the Beef Herd (BCRC webpage)
An (Other) Ounce of Prevention (BCRC post)
Bovine Respiratory Disease (BCRC webpage)

Explore the BCRC’s many other resources under the For Producers tab.

Record Keeping and Data Analysis

The Beef Cattle Research Council offers relevant, science-based information that veterinary teams may use or share with beef clients. Sign up to be notified when new beef cattle record keeping resources become available.

Cow-Calf Production Indicators Calculator Excel

Introduction to Record Keeping & Benchmarking (BCRC webpage)
Guide to Keeping Records That Make Profitable Decisions (BCRC post)

Explore the BCRC’s many other resources under the For Producers tab.

Set goals and level up. Setting goals and keeping records can achieve 60 more pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed. BCRC

Remote Drug Delivery

The Beef Cattle Research Council offers relevant, science-based information that veterinary teams may use or share with beef clients. Sign up to be notified when new resources become available.

Best Practices for RDDD (BCRC one-page PDF)
- Printed tri-fold brochures are also available through Western Drug Distribution Center or by contacting the BCRC
QR code for veterinary prescription labels (right-click and “Save image as” a .png file)
Remote Drug Delivery Devices: What You Need to Know (BCRC post by Dr. Roy Lewis)
Remote Delivery of Antimicrobials Should Be a Last Resort (article by Dr. John Campbell)

Reproduction and Genetics

The Beef Cattle Research Council offers relevant, science-based information that veterinary teams may use or share with beef clients. Sign up to be notified when new reproduction resources become available.