Most losses due to blackleg occur when the cattle are between the ages of six months and two years, although it can occur when they are as young as two months. Typically, cattle that have a high feed intake and are well-conditioned tend to be the most susceptible to blackleg. Furthermore, many blackleg cases occur during the hot and humid summer months or after a sudden cold period, but cases can occur at any time during the year.

The use of a seven-way clostridial vaccination is the most common, cheapest, and efficacious preventative measure taken against blackleg. Burning the upper layer of soil to eradicate left-over spores is the best way to stop the spread of blackleg from diseased cattle. Diseased cattle should be isolated. Treatment is generally unrewarding due to the rapid progression of the disease, but penicillin is the drug of choice for treatment. Treatment is only effective in the early stages and as a control measure.

Dr. Oliver Morris (O.M.) Franklin made a significant contribution to the welfare of cattle and the livestock industry with his development of the blackleg vaccine. Franklin developed the original method of giving the vaccine while at Kansas State Agriculture College using live cattle. Franklin and another graduate veterinarian founded the original Kansas Blackleg Serum Co. in Wichita in 1916.

Beet vascular necrosis and rot is a soft rot disease caused by the bacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum" subsp. "betavasculorum, which has also been known as "Pectobacterium betavasculorum" and "Erwinia carotovora" subsp. "betavasculorum". It was classified in the genus "Erwinia" until genetic evidence suggested that it belongs to its own group; however, the name Erwinia is still in use. As such, the disease is sometimes called Erwinia rot today. It is a very destructive disease that has been reported across the United States as well as in Egypt. Symptoms include wilting and black streaks on the leaves and petioles. It is usually not fatal to the plant, but in severe cases the beets will become hollowed and unmarketable. The bacteria is a generalist species which rots beets and other plants by secreting digestive enzymes that break down the cell wall and parenchyma tissues. The bacteria thrive in warm and wet conditions, but cannot survive long in fallow soil. However, it is able to persist for long periods of time in the rhizosphere of weeds and non-host crops. While it is difficult to eradicate, there are cultural practices that can be used to control the spread of the disease, such as avoiding injury to the plants and reducing or eliminating application of nitrogen fertilizer.

The bacteria can survive in the rhizosphere of other crops such as tomato, carrots, sweet potato, radish, and squash as well as weed plants like lupin and pigweed, so it is very hard to get rid of it completely. When it is known that the bacterium is present in the soil, planting resistant varieties can be the best defense against the disease. Many available beet cultivars are resistant to "Pectobacterium carotovorum" subsp. "betavasculorum", and some examples are provided in the corresponding table. A comprehensive list is maintained by the USDA on the Germplasm Resources Information Network.

Even though some genes associated with root defense response have been identified, the specific mechanism of resistance is unknown, and it is currently being researched.