Blackleg: A pasture nemesis - Canadian Cattlemen

Two weeks ago, we lost a steer calf to Blackleg—a brutal disease that can take a perfectly healthy animal in less than 24 hours. Its a bacteria that can live in the soil for years, often showing up after heavy rain or flooding. You might never see it on your land… until the day you do. There’s a vaccine that’s nearly 100% effective. In herds that use it, Blackleg deaths are almost unheard of. For years, I’ve chosen not to vaccinate my herd. I’m not anti-medicine—I’m just calculated. I’ve done th