Veterinary Agri-Health Services Ltd.

04/21/2025

It’s and we are taking a moment to appreciate the lady who keeps us all on track…

⭐️Tricia Wade⭐️

Although reception is just one of her many duties around VAHS, we are so grateful to have her on the front-lines. Tricia’s extensive experience in client communications (and doctor wrangling) along with her background in the agriculture industry and familiarity with producers and operations in the area make her an invaluable part of the team. To say we wouldn’t be nearly as efficient without her is an understatement.

Thank you, Tricia, for everything you do, and most importantly, for being you!

03/27/2025

Thank you to the American Association of Bovine Practitioners for highlighting so many amazing women in our industry during Women’s History Month including these ladies right here! Vet Ag is so fortunate to have an entire team of women (13 to be exact!) working both the front lines and behind the scenes every day at our practice!

03/20/2025

Congratulations to our friends and colleagues, Amanda Elzinga-Pugh and Mariana G. Maupome! An honour well-deserved, ladies. Thanks for representing our industry so well!

Celebrating eight extraordinary women taking Alberta's agriculture and agribusiness industry to new heights! Their passion and dedication have earned them the 2025 AFSC Women in Ag Award.

Discover their stories here: https://afsc.ca/news/the-2025-women-in-ag-award-winners/

03/19/2025

Tune in tonight at 7pm to hear our very own Dr. Carling C Matejka talk about practical parasite management!

This live webinar for beef cattle producers and veterinary teams will cover the best way to approach the management of internal and external parasites in a typical production year to ensure the health of a herd and to avoid resistance.

03/08/2025

It's International Women's Day and we are so honoured to not only have a group of remarkable women to celebrate, but to be able to use our platform to express our support for women in the veterinary and agriculture sectors, and beyond.

The 2025 IWD theme is "Accelerate Action", which calls us to take progressive steps to reach global gender equality. With both veterinary medicine and agriculture being historically male-dominated fields, we are proud to see more female influence in the industries in Canada and feel optimistic for the expansion of opportunities for the future generation of girls looking to pursue careers in these areas.

To the women of Vet Ag, we are so lucky to have you, you are valued, and we appreciate you greatly. We look forward to seeing where these ladies' aspirations (continue to) take them!

02/26/2025

It feels like every year we are overwhelmed with even more gratitude for our clients and industry partners than the last, and this year was no exception. An impressive lineup of speakers, a delicious meal, and an engaged and knowledgeable audience made this evening, we would argue, one of the best producer meetings to date.

Animal Health Inventory Administrator, Melissa McKenna, kicked off the event by greeting the attendees and provided introductions and guidance to all throughout the evening. Our first speaker, VAHS veterinarian Dr. Carling C Matejka, gave a digestible and informative presentation on EPDs and genomic testing and offered ideas to our producers on how they can use this as a tool to gain valuable insights into their herd, depending on their production goals. Following conclusion of our inaugural "Cow Sense Challenge", we were delighted to indulge in another wonderful supper catered to us by the Irricana Lions Club. To close out the night, we were honoured to welcome RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney, who enlightened us on the "5 Trends to Watch Out for in Canadian Agriculture".

As an added bonus, we celebrated the 5 Year "VetAgriversaries" of Accounting & HR Administrator, Adele Brunning, Clinical Practice, Export, & Research Administrator, Lauren Stefaniuk, RVT, and Office Administrator & coordinator of last night's event, Tricia Wade. As a small token of their gratitude for their dedication and all the hard work they've contributed to Vet Ag over the years, partner veterinarians Dr. Elizabeth R. Homerosky and Dr. Tommy Ware were proud to present these three individuals with their very own custom-made belt buckles.

Once again, thank you to Melissa, Dr. Carling, Shaun, the Irricana Lions Club, Tricia, and all the VAHS staff who took time out of their days to help out and make this event great. But most importantly, thank you to all of the attendees; it truly would not have been the success it was without you.

*If you or someone you know didn't receive an invite to this event and would've hoped to attend, please email [email protected] to be added to the newsletter emailing list*

02/11/2025

Happy Canadian Ag Day!

Today’s all about celebrating the people who grow our food, raise livestock, and keep Canadian agriculture moving forward. From early mornings in the calving barn to late nights in the field, farmers and ranchers put in the work every single day—and we’re proud to support them.

At VAHS, we’re lucky to work alongside cattle producers who are dedicated to raising top-quality beef and pushing the industry forward with innovation and sustainability. Agriculture isn’t just a job—it’s a way of life, and today, we recognize the passion and resilience that keeps it going.

Here’s to the people who feed our country and beyond. We appreciate you.

12/23/2024

From all of us, to all of you,
Hopes of joy, great health, and good tidings too.

With the holiday season drawing near,
We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

- the VAHS team

Our holiday office hours are as follows:
December 24, 2024 - regular hours of operation
December 25, 2024 - CLOSED
December 26, 2024 - CLOSED
December 31, 2024 - regular hours of operation
January 1, 2025 - CLOSED

11/29/2024

STUDENT FEATURE:

Research, and preg checks, and post-mortems, oh my! We've certainly kept College of Agriculture & Technology Veterinary Technology student, Riley, busy during her week here with us.

Riley grew up on her family farm around the Interior of B.C., but is currently rounding out her last three weeks of school before starting her six week practicum. Coming from an agricultural community, it is no surprise that her passion for livestock, specifically cattle, remains an integral part of her interests and career goals.

In her free time, Riley enjoys being around her show animals, working horses, and being outside doing all things ag-related. Following graduation, Riley plans on immersing herself in the feedlot sector, however, demonstrates special interests in cull cow management and reproductive health.

11/27/2024

Implanting season is here, and now’s the perfect time to check in on implant technique. Implants are an investment, but the real costs come with poor technique—things like missing implants, abscesses, or implants in the wrong spot can seriously hurt performance and feed efficiency.

The cost of cattle is no joke right now, and implants are one of the best tools we have to improve feed conversion. That’s why regular implant audits matter.

The sweet spot? About 10-14 days post-implanting. Pull 20-30 head from the pen and take a look. Check the ear for swelling, scabs, or abscesses around the implant site, as well as proper placement in the middle third of the ear.

At VAHS, we offer complimentary implant audits for all feedlots on our annual health program. If you’re ready to schedule or just want to chat about best practices, give us a call. Let’s keep those implants working as hard as your cattle do.

11/20/2024

Simplify Feed Rations with CowBytes.

Dr. Tommy Ware teams up with Russell Gallelli of Bar GB Land & Cattle to showcase how feed testing and CowBytes software are vital tools for veterinarians and producers alike.

Balancing rations with accurate feed data ensures cattle receive the precise nutrients needed for growth, reproduction, and overall health. These tools help optimize herd performance while supporting sustainable and profitable management practices.

How do you incorporate feed testing or ration-balancing tools into your herd management strategy?

CowBytes ration-balancing software allows Canadian beef cattle producers to formulate their own feed rations. Producers can input various combinations of fee...

11/05/2024

We’re officially in the thick of one of our busiest seasons which means our vets are spending a LOT of time…at the tail end…if you know what I mean…that’s right, it’s preg checkin’ time!

Pregnancy Checking 101
Step 1. Safely & effectively restrain the female bovine

Step 2. Veterinarian (or RVT certified to perform pregnancy detection) puts on waterproof clothing reminiscent of a dry-cleaning bag, funny-looking goggles, & a backpack with a cord & a long stick attached.

Step 3. Veterinarian inserts stick…you know where…& calls out pregnant or open over & over again.

Step 4. You (the rancher) administer pharmaceuticals to keepers as per your protocol!

Sounds pretty easy, doesn’t it? But why else is it valuable to preg check, besides determining pregnancy rates?

-Fertility Selection – Depending on the length of your breeding season & when you schedule your preg check, we could determine which females caught on their first cycle & sort off those who didn’t. (This also tells you who to keep a closer eye on come the start of calving season, who has twins, etc.)

-Reproductive Health Surveillance – Let’s talk about high open rates; although no one wants to be in this situation, having a vet on-site permits them to readily investigate & brainstorm with you on potential downfalls experienced the past breeding season. (ex. Nutrition, bull injury/lack of libido, disease, etc.)

-Individual Health – By this point, it could’ve been months since someone has gotten to take a good look at these girls up close, so preg checking is also a great opportunity to give each individual a once-over & ensure there are no health concerns that need to be addressed going into winter.

-Renewal of Regulatory Documents – Did you know in order for us to practice & dispense pharmaceuticals legally, our vets are required to perform annual site visits? Taking the time to have a conversation with the vet about the health of your herd, your current protocols, and your production goals, allows us to stay informed as your veterinary team, & enables our inventory administrators to get you what you need, when you need it.

So, what are you waiting for? Schedule your preg check today!

11/01/2024

STUDENT FEATURE!

This week we welcomed back past Advanced Beef Production Medicine Rotation student, Bailey!

Bailey is a final year veterinary student at The Ohio State University and was born and raised in the small town of Germantown, Ohio. Her vast experience with livestock originated on her family's formerly owned & operated beef feedlot operation and continued on to include involvement in livestock transportation, A2A2 specialty dairy, and 4-H. Bailey says her pre-veterinary school work history allowed her to really appreciate the importance of quality veterinary care. Having the opportunity to be part of a large-scale beef operation was a driving point that sparked her involvement in food animal production.

During her free time Bailey operates & manages her business, The Turquoise Vet, where she speaks to pre-veterinary organizations nationwide during the academic year. Additionally, she utilizes her social media platform to share about her journey within veterinary medicine, and offers techniques to defeat imposter syndrome, and overcome mental health challenges.

Upon graduation, Bailey plans to serve as a cow-calf and feedlot practitioner with special interests in pathology and disease investigation, focusing on providing clients with valuable services through consulting strategies.

Please join us in wishing Bailey the best of luck on her upcoming licensing examination, and congratulations as she prepares for graduation in the coming months!

10/25/2024

STUDENT FEATURE!

Over the past 2 weeks, we were pleased to be accompanied by 4th year Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Calgary - UCVM student, Paulina!

Originally from The Netherlands, Paulina moved to Central Alberta with her family 20 years ago to start a mixed grain and cow calf operation, which is where her love for cattle began. In her free time Paulina enjoys being with their small herd of Red Angus x Simmental cattle, her pet goat Timmy, and participating in outdoor activities like skiing. Paulina loves all things ruminant and is excited to enter into large animal practice following graduation.

Join us in wishing Paulina luck on her upcoming licensing exam and congratulations on her pending graduation!

*Please note: the carcasses pictured either died of natural causes or were humanely euthanized due to chronic illness. Necropsies are a valuable diagnostic tool performed in feedlot settings to assist in disease management and mitigation.*

10/16/2024

Next up, Dallas! As part of RVT Month, we’re highlighting Dallas, who brings 13 years of experience as a tech and joined VAHS just this past September. Fun fact: Dallas lives on an elk farm and is a huge fan of Rex cats and little fluffy dogs—the fluffier, the better! Her tech superpower? Having the perfect small arms to help adjust and pull elk calves! Dallas’ favourite memories so far come from scrubbing in on complex small animal surgeries, and she is excited to make new ones here with us at VAHS.

10/11/2024

As part of RVT Month, we’re excited to introduce Adrianna, who joined the VAHS team this August and has been a tech since 2019. Fun fact: Adrianna’s got a killer karaoke lineup, with go-to songs like Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams, Creep by Radiohead, and Wild Thing by Krokus. She’s also a proud mom to a 1.5-year-old!

Professionally, Adrianna’s superpower lies in calf care—her experience in the scour ward at her previous job allowed her to make a real difference. One of her favorite veterinary memories includes witnessing a live two-headed calf and recovering a rooster after a castration.

10/07/2024

October is RVT Month, and we couldn’t be more grateful for our incredible techs who are the backbone of our clinic!

Today, we’re especially celebrating Lauren, whose dedication and compassion make a difference every single day. It’s also her birthday, so join us in wishing her the happiest of days!

As part of RVT Month, we got to sit down with Lauren, one of our amazing techs who has been in the field for 7 years and with VAHS for a little over 4.5. A fun fact about Lauren? When she’s not at the clinic, you can find her on the trails, hiking or trying her hand at long-distance running! When it comes to her professional superpowers, Lauren excels at caudal epidurals, tail vein blood collections, and super-fast nasopharyngeal swabbing. She also has a knack for navigating our electronic filing system like a pro. One of her favourite veterinary memories is a day where the whole team pulled together at a client’s place—performing a c-section on a heifer while others carried on with bull testing, ending with a live calf and a great sense of teamwork.

We’re so lucky to have her!

09/25/2024

Team VAHS hit the greens! Dr. Tommy, Dr. Brittany, Dr. Elizabeth, and Dr. Carling got a round of golf in after a long day.

Who do you think took home the win? 🏆 Comment your guesses below!