CALF_News_June_July_2018

39 CALF News • June | July 2018 • www.calfnews.net bean casserole and sourdough dinner rolls made from Kansas’s own wheat. Coinciding with Beef Month in Kansas, May is also National Barbeque Month. Decades ago, the Barbeque Industry Association (now, the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association) petitioned Congress to declare May such, kicking off the peak grilling season. Periodically having to don a parka and gloves, I consider the grilling season to be year ‘round and, evidently, with the annual American’s consumption of meat reaching 222 pounds, I’m not alone. While consumers, drive-by vegetarian movements and the like claim to be eating less meat, the USDA says 2018 will be a record year for meat consumption, which can only mean that consumers will be filling their shopping carts. Since It’s May in Kansas and the barbeque grill is beckoning, I’m off to grab a cart and shop for that perfect cut of what else? Beef.  RANCH GATE Continued from page 32 “Flank Steak Friday” becomes “Fabulous Filet Friday” at Public at the Brickyard, Wichita, Kan. Kevin Hill, DVM, practiced veterinary medicine privately for 27 years before joining Merck. rules is legal) be used in the field – Banamine Injectable, which was approved in 1978. The Banamine Transdermal product, more conve- nient and technological, was just approved in 2017 with updated FDA requirements. Merck used an ingenious method of letting cattle tell us how they feel. Test cattle suffering lameness were walked across mats that electronically measure the pressure of hoof prints. After treatment with Banamine Transdermal, they were walked across again, giving an accurate measure of improved hoof use and the metrics needed to quan- tify scientific study. Pain relief is only one benefit of the Banamine Transdermal product. Fever reduction (anti-inflammatory) benefits are another. The combination makes a remarkable improvement in the outlook of a suffering steer. Hill explained that Merck tried more than 70 formulations before coming up with the right carrier to absorb Banamine through the skin. It is officially approved for the reduction of pain associated with foot rot, and fever associated with respira- tory disease. It has an eight-day withdrawal. Hill went on to explain that flunixin meglumine is number two on the list of violative residue risks in the U.S., mostly because of the abovementioned mishandling of injection sites. Banamine Transdermal will help prevent more administration site violations and residue risk. What about the costs? Although the initial cost of treatment is higher (estimated $1-$2 per head more for a 500-pound calf ), it lasts longer than the injectable, thereby cutting down on time and labor. Time, safety and risk reduction will compensate for added initial expense. More Merck marvels Merck recently rolled out other new products over the past several months. Revalor® XH is an extended release feedlot implant exclusively for heifers. Vista® vaccine (a five-way, modified-live virus vaccine) studies have recently been com- pleted that demonstrate immunity for a full 365 days. It is the longest-lasting vaccine to date of any five-way virus vaccines, and is specific for BVD types one and two, and IBR respira- tory protection. Clearly, the private research and development at Merck has had long-lasting benefits for bovines, and if they could spell, you know how they would spell relief: B-A-N-A-M-I-N-E.  and is consequently, a more predictable product than satellite or other imagery offers. The web portal offered by STEPS can combine data feeds for soil moisture, aerial imagery, scouting visits, planting and/ or yield maps, as well as other data layers to give users a more holistic, field-centric view of the data, in a user-friendly and accessible format. Servi-Tech’s goal is to be more than a “one-trick pony” for our customers – our crop consulting business relies on technology for accuracy and efficiency. Our lab customers can benefit from the IT assistance in data delivery and accuracy. Our technology products and services are designed to be used in a variety of settings and applications. Servi-Tech – a crop consulting company, and so much more! If you would like to learn about these services, visit on the web at www.servitech.com . Better yet, email me directly at greg.ruehle@servitech.com or call my cell phone (620) 253-3137.  ONE-TRICK PONY Continued from page 37