An ounce of prevention

By Shaun Wellert, DVM MS DACVPM

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” “Measure twice, cut once.” “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” The English language is full of well-worn clichés that drive home the importance of preparation. The fact that we have so many of these sayings underscores a simple truth: humans are naturally reactive, and we wait for problems to arise before we act. Unfortunately, this mindset often carries over into how we manage animal health, usually focusing on treatment rather than prevention. That can be a costly mistake. Many of the most common and challenging health issues in agriculture occur early in an animal’s life or during times of significant stress, such as calving, pen moves, or long-distance transport. These are not times to improvise; rather, they’re moments that demand planning.

Vaccination is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to decrease diseases in your animals.… Continue reading