Dr. L D Barker Says A Strong Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship Is Key To Good Herd Health

The USDA mandated veterinary feed directive (VFD) goes into effect January 1, 2017 and will require cattle producers to work with their veterinarian before administering antibiotics via feed. Newcastle veterinarian Dr. L D Barker says a VFD is just a small part of the veterinary-client-patient relationship, which is essential to the overall health and productivity of a herd.

 

Barker says a strong veterinary-client-patient relationship allows a veterinarian to know the ins and outs of an operation in order to better prevent and treat diseases like bovine respiratory disease - a major concern for a lot of producers. BRD can be prevented with vaccine protocols, but Barker says if an animal is trace mineral deficient or has a parasite load, the vaccine won’t be effective. Having that veterinary-client-patient relationship in place gives veterinarians the information they need about the kind, origin and management of cattle on an operation.

 

For producers looking to introduce high-risk cattle to their herd, Barker says it is especially important to develop a relationship with a veterinarian and work closely with an animal nutritionist to address deficiencies. He also recommends updating facilities to meet Beef Quality Assurance standards, as mishandling cattle can cause unnecessary stress that leads to compromised health.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.