Equine Lameness Evaluation:  The doctors at AAC utilize physical exams, nerve blocks and radiographs when necessary to evaluate horses for lameness.

Veterinary Acupuncture:  Veterinary acupuncture is the insertion of small sterile stainless steel needles into specific points on the body to cause a desired healing effect primarily through stimulation of the nervous system. Acupuncture is a good adjunctive therapy to western medicine treatment plans.  The American Veterinary Medical Association and the state of Nebraska recognize veterinary acupuncture as a valid modality within the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery.  Acupuncture is used in horses and other  animals as a diagnostic tool and to treat functional problems including musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, respiratory and reproductive problems.

Bovine Preventive Medicine:  Prevention of disease is never more beneficial than when talking about beef herds.  Individual animal protection is important but prevention of disease outbreaks that can turn to epidemics is where the real financial benefits of prevention are realized.  Prevention starts with biosecurity—a plan to prevent exposure to contagious diseases.  A good vaccination program designed to prevent reproductive and respiratory diseases is also an essential part of how we assist our cattlemen and women.

Bovine Reproductive Services:  Much of the time our doctors spend on the ranches is to improve and maintain the cowherd’s reproductive efficiency.  Designing synchronization programs, artificial insemination, pregnancy testing (by manual palpation or ultrasound), and breeding soundness exams of bulls are examples. Drs. Kesterson and Tolstedt also have an interest in providing embryo transfer services to interested clients.

Consultations:  As one of our clients stated, “The livestock business has always been tough, and it isn’t getting any easier. . .”  More and more of our clients recognize that in addition to asking our advice for individual animal treatments and herd health issues they value our input and resources in a much larger array of livestock production.  We enjoy the opportunity to sit down with owners and their crew—to do BQA (beef quality assurance) training, to develop vaccination and treatment protocols, and to evaluate the pros and cons of various marketing strategies.  We don’t have the answers to all of the problems, but we like to think we have the resources—from the University Extension service and various Industry technical services departments to help provide you with good information on which to make your decisions.

Surgery:  Our modern and convenient haul in facilities provide a clean, safe, and sanitary place to do the myriad of surgeries that we do on cows, bulls, steers, and heifers.  The surgery area is busiest in the spring, of course, where we do our Caesarean sections, and obstetrical procedures.

Dispensary for Medicine, Vaccine and Equipment: One of clinic manager Lee Jerke’s chief responsibilities is to maintain an inventory of products needed by our farm and ranch clients.  We pride ourselves in providing service as well as sales—having good quality products available when you need them, at fair prices.

Radiology and Ultrasound: Our portable x-ray machine is convenient for those important yet infrequent times when obtaining radiographs helps with our bovine lameness conditions.  Ultrasound is increasingly utilized to determine whether or not females are pregnant, the duration of pregnancy and whether or not the calves are AI conceptions.

Laboratory:  Our laboratory technicians most often utilize the chemistry machines and blood analysis units for companion animal diagnosis; however, tt is convenient to have them available for use with our livestock.  Necropsy specimens are often sent to diagnostic laboratories in Lincoln, Nebraska; Laramie, Wyoming; and Fort Collins, Colorado.

Necropsy:  Post Mortem examinations are of vital importance in determining cause of death.  Information gained from such examinations is a means of evaluating treatment protocols and disease prevention protocols.  Necropsies are sometimes done at the clinic, but more often on the ranch or at the feedlot.

Chute and Scale Rental: AAC has a Pearson cattle chute and trailer and an Allflex scale attached.  We use them for herd work in the country on some of our ranches.  They are available for rent by those who would like to get individual weights on their calves, or cows.