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Although this years’ set of antlers are what they are, in the fall we start to build for the next set of antlers. We need to keep body condition up to help the buck get through rut in good condition and post-rut. We need to make sure the buck has a well-balanced diet to ensure repletion of bone mass, minerals for next summer’s antler growth, and body mass, as well as the amino acids needed to support antler growth next year. Mature white-tailed deer will sometimes go days during the rut without eating and can lose up to 30% of...

It seems we hear more and more about the danger of ticks every year and the havoc they wreak on humans and pets alike. Ticks are not insects. Having eight legs, they are arachnids, more closely related to scorpions and spiders than insects. Ticks are ectoparasites (parasites that live on the outside of its host) and live by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds and occasionally reptiles and amphibians. Lifecycle of a Tick Ticks have a four-stage lifecycle. They begin as eggs in a cool, moist environment. The eggs hatch into six-legged larva that congregate in groups around vegetation...

Weaning can be a stressful time for calves, but by starting on a transitional feed that is designed to get calves eating when their appetite is reduced can help their long-term performance. Research conducted by Oklahoma State University says that newly received calves can have low intake with lower requirements for protein. However, calves with severely depressed intake probably have greater protein needs. One way to mitigate any issues when transitioning calves on feed can be to have a proper transitional formula. Consider the amount of protein, energy, vitamins and trace minerals they may need. Transitional feeds are very palatable...

Many regions of the country have been experiencing high heat and humidity this summer, so naturally, the concern of proper hydration comes to mind. Reduced water consumption in horses may impair performance and increase the risk of impaction colic. Additionally, horses may sweat more profusely, resulting in faster dehydration. So what’s a horse owner to do? How Much Water Should Your Horse Consume? The first key element is to make certain that horses have ready access to clean, palatable, cool water at all times or at very frequent intervals. Horses will normally consume about 1 gallon of water per 100...

School’s Out for Summer! No homework, no books, no responsibility; just summertime fun. But this also marks the beginning of the summer season of heat and humidity; a time when we need to be more cognizant of how summer temperatures can affect our pets. Unlike people, dogs and cats do not have sweat glands in their skin and therefore cannot cool by perspiration and evaporation. Panting is their only way for cooling off. As temperatures and humidity rise, this method becomes less efficient. Dogs and cats have a baseline body temperature of 100 to 102 degrees, and their organs begin...