Abma Veterinary Services

10/12/2025

No farmers, no food!

Happy National Farmer's Day! Today we honor the farmers whose hard work, innovation and resilience keep Tennessee growing.

At UTIA, our mission is to support their success through UT Extension's on-the-ground support, UT AgResearch's cutting-edge discoveries, the Herbert College of Agriculture's next-generation training and UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine's expert animal care. Together, we're cultivating a stronger future for Tennessee agriculture.

09/26/2025

🦙 It’s National Alpaca Farm Days this weekend! Go visit this wonderful client and see their beautiful alpacas! 🦙

09/14/2025

Happy (false? 😉) Fall Y’all!! Cattle spray paint can be pretty handy!! 🍃🍁 🐮

Thank you Ms Lana for the pumpkins Osborne's Pumpkins and Gourds ! 🎃

09/12/2025

🐶 🛻 Heading to Community Helper Day at Metro Christian Academy. 🐶 🛻 🩺

08/23/2025

🚨 Do you know what happens to shrubbery trimmings? It’s a question that might surprise you, and it could save a life.

I'm Jason Garrett, UT Extension Agent in Overton County, and I've noticed a lot of homeowners and landscaping crews trimming shrubbery around town lately, which made me wonder: what happens to the trimmings?

Usually, trimmings are hauled to an isolated location, but sometimes that location is near livestock. If you didn't know, several common landscape plants are poisonous to cattle if ingested, especially when wilting. In the wilting stage, these plants develop prussic acid, which can kill cattle in a matter of hours or even minutes.

⚠️ Some of the deadliest ornamental shrubs are:

- Yews
- Burning bush
- Nandina
- Oleander
- Wisteria
- Rhododendron
- Laurel
- Bracken fern

So, the next time you or your landscaping crew are trimming ornamental shrubbery, please dispose of the clippings far away from cattle. Never throw trimmings "over the fence" to feed them. If you see someone doing this, please help educate them on how deadly ornamental shrubbery can be to cattle!

For any questions on beef production, you can call Jason at Overton U.T./T.S.U. Extension at 931-823-2735. UT Extension offers equal opportunities in programs and employment.

08/03/2025

This podcast is about Kelley’s Dairy in White House, TN. Many of you know my grand parents had a dairy farm, and Mr. Philip and Miss Diane remind me of them. These people are the salt of the earth.

Farmers are working EVERY day, rain or shine, heat or snow storms, to produce the food you eat every day!! (Not to mention products like clothing, make-up, toiletries, even medicines that are made with animal ingredients!)

Remember, no farmers, no food!

Grazing · Episode

07/20/2025

We wish we could save them all, we just can’t… we hurt when your animal dies, whether it’s a pet or a production animal. We feel the loss of a beloved family member, as well as the (financial) loss of a production animal.

But the outcome of a case is not what defines a veterinarian. Too many vets are bashed online, which adds to the mental burden that is already heavy. Thank your vet for showing up, thank the staff member for answering the phone (even when they had to put you on hold), thank the technician for loving on your animal.

In today's email, I answer one of your questions, "What is standard of care in large animal medicine?" I talk about the definition of standard of care, why I think it's fluid, and give you some free, open-access resources that give you as close as we have to standard of care documents for some conditions. I hope you find it helpful.

Not on my email list? You gotta try it! Head over to largeanimalce.com and enter your email in the green box.

07/01/2025

🥩 It’s beef month! 🥩

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Y92Yf1w9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

NASHVILLE – Governor Bill Lee has proclaimed July 2025 as Beef Month in Tennessee, recognizing the vital role of the beef cattle industry in the state's economy, environment, and food supply.

Beef is Tennessee’s second highest-grossing farm commodity, generating $5.2 billion in agricultural cash receipts annually. Tennessee is home to approximately 1.6 million head of cattle and calves, ranking 9th in the nation for the total number of cattle farms and 16th in cattle production. The state’s 37,000 cattle producers contribute significantly to Tennessee’s agricultural and rural heritage.

Pictured with Governor Bill Lee are Tennessee Beef Industry Council Chairperson Dustin Pearson and his sons, Judd and Gage, and Tennessee Beef Industry Council Executive Director Valerie Bass.
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06/17/2025

06/06/2025

🚜 🌾 Let’s all be patient and careful! And don’t forget where your food comes from! 🌾 🚜

05/23/2025

"Beware of Hay Cutting Height with Cool-Season Perennial Grasses" by UT Extension Agent, Jason Garrett

Many forage producers in Overton County will begin harvesting their first cutting of cool-season perennial hay crops as soon as time and weather allow. Cool season annuals such as wheat and ryegrass have already been harvested as haylage and wrapped. We just haven’t had the weather to dry roll hay.

Before you begin cutting cool-season perennial grasses such as fescue and orchardgrass, make sure your hay mowers cutting height is set to cut forage at 3-
4 inches above ground level.

There have been many instances where fescue and orchardgrass stands have
been cut out of existence because harvest heights were set too low. Fescue and orchardgrass regrowth are generated from carbohydrates stored in the lower 2 inches of stem. If removed, this will impede both stand regrowth and longevity. Also, leaving some photosynthetic plant tissue aids in more rapid recovery.

Fescue and orchardgrass go semi-dormant when hot, humid summer temperatures arrive. When these plants are scalped or cut below the recommended height and drought is experienced, plus high temperatures, one can expect negative results on plant recovery and regrowth. One will also get a stand of unwelcome summer annual weeds filling in the bare spots where the desired forage once was. Always remember that fescue and orchardgrass are perennials, so one needs to take the utmost care to ensure future longevity and healthy stands.

For questions or UT recommendations on forages, contact Jason at Overton Extension and UT Extension offers equal opportunities in programs and employment.

05/14/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BYcaz5APp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

NASHVILLE – Tennessee State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Beaty is urging animal owners to be aware of New World Screwworm (NWS), an invasive pest that poses a serious threat to livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including pets.

NWS is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing painful infected wounds. Adult flies are slightly larger than houseflies, with metallic blue/green bodies, orange eyes, and three dark stripes on their backs.

Although the pest was eradicated from the United States decades ago, recent detections in Mexico highlight the potential for reintroduction and spread, particularly in southern states. USDA recently announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports along the southern U.S. border in response to NWS. However, Tennessee’s position along key travel, wildlife migration, and trade corridors heightens the need for increased awareness.

“An international border means nothing to NWS or wildlife that may be carrying the larvae,” Dr. Beaty said. “Livestock and pet owners should carefully inspect their animals and report any unusual or persistent wounds. NWS can cause devastating health impacts to affected animals, and early detection is critical to containment and treatment efforts. As with many animal health concerns, awareness and prevention go a long way in reducing the risk of spread to Tennessee.”
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