CVM alumnus ensures cattle quality at world’s largest auction site

CVM alumnus ensures cattle quality at world's largest auction site

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Media Contact: Taylor Bacon | Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator | 405-744-6728 | [email protected]

Amid the echoes of auctioneers and the steady rhythm of hooves, one young veterinarian stands as a protector of health and welfare.

The Joplin Regional Stockyards is home to the world's largest cattle auction. In 2023, over 526,000 head of cattle were sold at the event. One of the newest additions to JRS is Dr. Wyatt Catron, an Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine class of 2023 graduate.

Catron began working at the stockyards in April 2024. He is an associate veterinarian for the Animal Clinic of Monett, part of the Heritage Veterinary Partners network. In this role, he is one of only two veterinarians responsible for the veterinary inspection and regulatory compliance of JRS.

Catron's job at the stockyards is to ensure every adult bovine has USDA official ear tags, a backtag for the sale, an age based on dentition and a recorded pregnancy stage if the seller chooses. They also ultrasound heifers, perform semen evaluations and trichomoniasis testing for bulls, and process calves and cattle after each sale.

Catron is at JRS for the feeder calf sale, where they regularly ultrasound 500-800 heifers, and the cow and bull sale, where they test 700-1,300 cows weekly.

"One facet I enjoy is the challenge that exists in every palpation I do," Catron said. "The cows are anywhere from open to third-stage pregnancy until they aren't. That's when we see rare things like an involuting uterus, mummified fetuses, or other oddities that present challenges when you are feeling."

Catron said CVM courses - such as the bovine theriogenology elective taught by Dr. Lionel Dawson, theriogenology professor, and other classes in the subject instructed by fellow theriogenology professor Dr. Reed Holyoak - were instrumental in preparing him for his current role.

During Catron's time at the CVM, he also participated in externships with veterinarians who had livestock market responsibilities.

Aside from the unique veterinary challenges Catron experiences, he also enjoys the people he gets to work alongside.

"I think the most enjoyable part is the camaraderie of the people who help make our job easier," Catron said. "Given the scale at which we operate, we need quite a few hands to ensure everything runs smoothly."

In addition to his role at one of the largest livestock markets in the U.S., Catron also owns and operates Catron Veterinary Services, a mobile-based veterinary business with clients in five states.

"Our passion is ruminants, but we focus particularly on the underserved small ruminant industry," Catron said. "Our mission is to help clients be more productive and profitable. We do this by providing flock or herd level services such as pregnancy scanning, breeding soundness exams, developing health and treatment protocols, and evaluating mineral and nutrient levels."

Catron is also a commercial small ruminant producer. A complaint he often heard from his fellow producers was the lack of veterinarians willing to work on commercial sheep and goat operations.

"We currently have clients with five head of sheep or goats all the way to 2,500 head," Catron said. "No matter the operation's size, we are willing to travel to them and provide both individual and herd-level medicine as well as telehealth and medicine procurement."

Some of Catron's inspiration for creating his small ruminant-focused practice was an externship he participated in during his fourth year of veterinary school. He traveled to Australia to spend time with sheep consultant Dr. Tim Gole.

"I learned a lot about flock management and veterinary intervention," Catron said. "While I was there, I gathered ideas, pictures, drawings of efficient handling facilities and Dr. Gole's pregnancy scanning crate."

Catron said an issue in the U.S. compared to Australia is a distinct lack of quality and affordable handling equipment. Since he couldn't go to the local farm store to order a pregnancy scanning crate, he decided to build his own with inspiration from Gole's setup.

"Today, it is a key piece of equipment and allows me to ultrasound 150 ewes per hour," Catron said. "We spray mark the ewes based on their pregnancy status of open, single lambs or twins. The data collected is used in a variety of ways depending on how the client chooses, but the expected return on investment for scanning is 5:1, which is paramount in helping producers be more productive and profitable."

One of the biggest benefits he sees to working with the Animal Clinic of Monett at JRS, aside from the experience and camaraderie, is the ability to make his own schedule when he's not at the stockyards.

Outside of Joplin, one can find Catron traveling to see his CVS clients, assisting as an onsite veterinarian at livestock shows such as the Oklahoma Youth Expo and the Tulsa State Fair, or working on his commercial sheep operation.

"The most rewarding part for me is watching my clients be successful and getting to network with my clients and for my clients," Catron said. "I get to work with amazing farmers and ranchers who produce quality beef, lamb and goat for American and international consumers.

"When I do this, I get to have valuable discussions, travel to unique places and see some of the best livestock."

Photos By: Taylor Bacon

Story By: Taylor Bacon | Vet Voices Magazine

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