Dewormer guns need to be thoroughly cleaned after use. Plungers should also be lightly lubricated after use, otherwise they will become stiff and brittle. If this happens, the correct dose of dewormer may not be delivered. Most deworming guns come with lubricant, but mineral or vegetable oil may also be used. Dull blades cause more discomfort to the calf and actually increase the risk of cutting yourself or the calf's leg.
Dirty blades are more likely to cause infection.
The livestock and meat markets appear to be poised for a relatively quiet day on Tuesday. Then, later in the trading session, rumors that a television show Tuesday evening was going to talk about mad cow disease sent traders scurrying and sent the markets lower. This mixed bag of news joins the weather as a factor bringing volatility to the meat complex. We get mixed messages as to what the cold weather might have done to the pig crop, for example, and there is always the threat of a storm coming through the Southern Plains and putting the fed cattle in conditions where they don't gain very well. Having seen all this, I would be a bit surprised if the February cattle close below the uptrend line that we continue to see on that chart.