The early morning fog lifted on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Allen McReynolds Farm in Louisville. Allen meticulously planned for this herd vaccination session. Today, I am preparing my herd for the winter months. Members of the Mississippi Small Cattle Group provided manpower, which produced an efficient herd health working session. Dr. Llewellyn Peyton of Tri-County Veterinary provided the technical services. “I am hoping all of my mama’s cows are bred. I have better success with spring births.” Weather conditions are more palpable, and the forages support the growth of the newborns. Allen lamented the need for small cattlemen should institute a health regimen for their herds. Healthy animals create more income at the auction barns. Therefore, I recommend that other small cattlemen invest in herd health.
This is a brief narrative from Saturday’s working session. The group vaccinated and dewormed all mature cows, calves, and one mature bull. Each mature cow was given vaccines, dewormer, and properly ear tagged if they didn’t already have one! Same process with the herd bull also properly dewormed. All calves were ear tagged, dewormed, and vaccinated. Yearling bulls were castrated, and growth hormones were applied under the skin behind the ear for better growth potential and higher weaning weights at the sale!
Final Notes
- Keep constant communication with your veterinarian.
- Parasite control helps your herd stay healthy all year long.
- When cattle are underperforming, take note and try to address.
Mississippi’s agriculture industry remains vibrant with an overall production value estimated at $9 billion dollars, despite a drop in row prices. Livestock, which includes beef cattle, dairy cattle and hogs, ranked fourth overall behind soybeans, with a value of $578 millions, a 14% increase from 2023.Poultry is again the # one sector of the agricultural industry with a value of $3.8 billion, up 10.5% from 2023.
