Working Ranch Magazine January/February 2025

BY GILDA V. BRYANT Feed The MICROFLORA Fight scours before it starts with medicated feeds. more about minerals from Argentina beef producers, who cannot give anti biotics to cattle because they are pro hibited by law in Argentina. However, they beef up mineral programs to boost animal health. Since following their example, Cowley has had only a handful of scours cases.

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roactive producers can pre vent or reduce cases of scours in calves by feeding medi cated feeds containing anti biotics, ionophores, prebiot

runs 3,400 Angus mama cows with Brangus influence. Ranch manager Bill Cawley says, “Primarily a commercial [outfit], we also raise 250 registered cattle for our seedstock operation.” Passionate about cattle health, Cawley vaccinates cows and heifers for local diseases. “Healthy cows give us healthy calves,” he explains. “We also provide liquid feed from December to April first to ensure cows are on a level plane of nutrition.” He has learned

“Our supplement supplier custom mixes a mineral that includes the prebiotic, Mannen Oligosaccharides (MOS), which helps with scours,” Cawley reveals. “It’s legal for Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Animal Welfare Certification programs and natural beef.” When Stalwart calves develop scours during the dam’s estrus cycle, they recover quickly because complete

ics, and probiotics. Additional scour prevention strategies include timely vaccinations and a complete vitamin and mineral package for dams. The Stalwart Ranches, with three locations in Houston, Madison, and Montgomery Counties in south Texas,

38 I JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.