A look back at the top animal health stories in 2018 from the BEEF magazine website might suggest areas common veterinary clients are most likely to need help.

All of these are "evergreen" stories from years past that keep coming up either in broad web searches or internal BEEF webpage searches.  

The most-viewed story in 2018 by a significant margin was an older story from year 2000, Prevention and treatment of cow prolapse. It was a review of probabilities and basic treatment of the problem.

The No. 2 story was Assisting with calving, a story published online in 2008. It reminds readers the majority of problems arise with heifers and gives a series of tips for calving management. It was read almost as much as the prolapse story.

The third most-popular story in BEEF's animal health category How to treat lump jaw disease in cattle, a story that originally dates clear back to 1998. It reviews the two types of lump jaw and some treatment options.

The No. 4 animal health story last year, in terms of page views, was When to castrate beef calves. This story dates to 2009 and reviewed scientific literature on age of castration and performance and suggested best management practices.

Two stories occupy the No. 5 and No. 6 spots with equal page views. Two-step weaning system for beef calves was a 2001 story suggested weaning calves by preventing suckling first and the separation second. Five tips for preventing, diagnosing and treating foot rot was a 2014 blog that offered a quick review on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of foot rot.

Foot rot stayed on the list of reader attention with How to prevent foot rot in cattle occupying the No. 7 spot. Another 2014 story, this quoted J. Dustin Loy, veterinary diagnostic microbiologist in the University of Nebraska’s Veterinary Diagnostic Center, on the association between these anaerobic microbes and reducing cattle exposure to feces underfoot.

The No. 8 story was How to control sucking and biting lice on cattle, a 2011 story addressing the effects of nutrition and animal contact, plus some treatment options and tips.

The No. 9 story was How to treat leg fractures in young calves, a 2015 story that reviewed basic fractures, splinting methods and splint materials.

The No. 10 story was Diagnosing, treating hoof cracks in cattle, another story addressing the basics, defining vertical and horizontal cracks, some causes and treatments.

If we search deeper into the most-read stories, there are more on hoof problems, foot rot and lump jaw, plus stories on rabies, abortion prevention, water belly, and brisket disease.