Whether it’s a large show barn, or single horse owner, feeding and nutrition questions seem to be the same. This article addresses common questions about how to properly feed our four-legged friends. From how to care for the senior horse, to if an easy keeper needs concentrate, you can find out how to provide proper nutrition and feeding for your horses. Source: Horse … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2016
Shorten the breeding season
This quote says it all, “While the use of estrous synchronization and AI will increase time and labor for cow-calf producers, there is great value to capture.” Veterinary teams and representatives serving cow/calf producers will gain a deeper understanding of the economics of herd bulls compared to artificial insemination from this article. As veterinarians meet with producers … [Read more...]
Farm animals featured in Guiness World Records
Just for fun, here are some stats on record farm animals from Guinness World Records. 5 - Most calves born in a single birth, at the Santa Clara Ranch in Mexico. Each calf weighed 35 lbs. 16 oz. - Heaviest chicken egg, laid by a White Leghorn hen in New Jersey. 07" - Shortest cow, from hoof to withers, named “Manikyam,” raised in Kerala, India. 5" - Largest horn … [Read more...]
Bounce back from service mistakes
How you react to service mistakes can determine whether the customer stays long term or is just lost. Source: Repertoire Magazine, April 2016. If you make a mistake, don’t despair. Most people remember the recovery more than the misstep and often appreciate when you go above and beyond to correct a situation. Treat every problem as a customer service opportunity, and you … [Read more...]
Vitamin D is good for all
Vitamin D is good for all of us, according to this article. Changes in the daily dose guidelines will interest all animal health professionals. Source: Repertoire Magazine, April 2016. Vitamin D is not only known for its ability to help maintain healthy bones and teeth. Research has suggested it also: Supports the health of the immune system, brain and nervous … [Read more...]
Cesar Millan’s tips for picking up dogs
Cesar reminds pet owners of a dog’s perspective about being picked up. The perspective is interesting to consider. “Stay calm, and leave the dog on the floor,” is his guidance. Source: Cesar’s Way, May 1, 2016. We always have to remember that dogs are different than people, no matter how much we consider them to be a part of our lives and families. Their psychology is … [Read more...]
Scan every pet, every visit
This is a good reminder during National Pet Week. Routine scanning of individual microchips ensures their reliability. To be effective, the microchip, scanner and the registration databases must all in good order. Routine scanning is essentially quality control and supports the value of the recovery systems should an animal become lost. Source: MWI Messenger, May 2016, page … [Read more...]
National pet week
National Pet Week is in full swing through Saturday, May 7. With the theme, “Lifetime of Love,” each day focuses on a special topic. They are: Sunday, May 1: Choose well, commit for life. Monday, May 2: Socialize now. New doesn't have to be scary. Tuesday, May 3: Exercise body. Exercise mind. Wednesday, May 4: Love your pet? See … [Read more...]
5 ways to keep small teams efficient
John Rampton shares how he works to make small teams as efficient as they can be. These are five key areas: Get everyone square on the team’s goals Give people freedom, then preserve it Automate and outsource wherever you need to Keep check-ins regular and meetings small Craft an unbelievable culture Source: Fast Company, April 25, 2016. In many ways, small … [Read more...]
World Pork Expo kicks off next month
There is more to the World Pork Expo than hogs walking around a show ring. It is a destination worthy of consideration for any animal health professional, especially those working in swine markets. The show can help open your eyes to industry changes on the way. If you plan to be near Des Moines, Iowa, June 8 to 10, consider adding it to your plans. Source: National Hog … [Read more...]
The skill to make something happen
While industry and product knowledge is important to success, there is too much emphasis placed on being all-knowing in those areas. The skill to influence and produce a result is more critical. Yet, we spend hours developing a killer strategy and when it comes time to implement it we wing it. Then, we cannot understand why everyone isn’t buying our carefully crafted plan and … [Read more...]
Editorial – Questions are essential to successful workplaces
My grandfather often said, “the wisdom is in the question, not the answers.” He was not admonishing me for talking too much, rather, trying to get me to think more broadly and thoughtfully. Companies that view questions as a problem are missing out, writes Jay Steven Levin and Scott Mabry in these blog posts. Meaningful questions take time and consideration. They’re, intended … [Read more...]
Is your vet making your dog sick and charging you for it?
With the headline, Dangerous over-vaccination is on the rise, Patricia Jordan, DVM, challenges annual vaccination protocols, duration of immunity and profit motives. She makes no reference to the regulatory oversight required to get a vaccine approved or the ongoing testing continually underway in manufacturing. Source: Dogs Naturally, April 26, 2016. Today I’m writing … [Read more...]
9 things to know about animal vaccine development
Drs. Richt, Rowland and Shi share the goal of developing rationally designed vaccines that are safe and efficacious. Their vaccine development and testing projects are in various stages and all of them guard animal health. Each of them are pursuing Differentiation of Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) or marker vaccines that allow for vaccination while retaining the … [Read more...]
Lighthearted viral lemur video has serious undertone
Everything about this video—the lemur, its incessant demands and the young boys —is adorable. However, the real story of lemurs and domestication is quite different according to Tara Clarke, assistant professor at Duke University and co-director of a nonprofit called Lemur Love. Source: Slate, April 27, 2016 via AVMA SmartBrief, April 29, 2016. Lemurs (Lemur catta) are not … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Equine gastroscopy 101
Merial provides a primer on what to expect if an equine veterinarian suggests a gastroscopic examination. This was sent to AQHA Daily subscribers. Source: AQHA Daily, April 28, 2016. Two out of three non-racing competitive horses have stomach ulcers. Signs such as poor performance, decreased appetite, recurrent colic or poor body condition may point to stomach ulcers. … [Read more...]
Find Fido’s perfect rawhide chew
Nancy Kern provides an informative essay on the subject of rawhide chews. It includes the who, what, when where, how and why of chews. She shares how to identify the best ones. This is good information for veterinary teams to discuss at staff meetings and to use on websites, blogs and newsletters. Source: Whole Dog Journal, February 19, 2016 via May 1, 2016 … [Read more...]
New York issues guidelines for avoiding conflicts with coyotes
Coyotes are adaptable and have invaded urban and suburban spaces. Their normal behaviors often put pets at risk. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has issued coyote guidelines that could be used in any part of the U.S. It is good information for websites, blogs and newsletters. Source: AgriPulse, May 2, 2016, link to WBNG News. The state Department of … [Read more...]
Run meetings that are fair to introverts, women and remote workers
The title says it all. Diversity and geographic separation make meetings challenging. Those challenges get deeper if biases are not mitigated. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 29, 2016. By overcoming the biases, organizations can elevate their collective thinking, giving them a much greater chance of realizing the full potential of their entire workforce, not just the … [Read more...]
Another E. coli
E. coli O165:H25, is an enterohemorrhagic strain that can cause disease in cattle and could poses a food safety hazard for humans. It is a potential risk in young calves and recently caused enteric disease in feedlot heifers. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, April 25, 2016. The 0165:H25 serotype is similar to E. coli O157:H7, and could be an emerging food-borne pathogen in … [Read more...]
Whole Foods whops PETA
For some, this article will be a rude awakening. Others will smile and laugh with author Dan Murphy. See how a lawsuit from PETA exposes perfectly permissible premium pricing and nebulous labeling by Whole Foods. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, April 29, 2016. This entire scenario is classic. PETA sues Whole Foods because they’re not righteous enough for the extremist … [Read more...]
Billboards attack at conventional food production
The Animal Health Digest team helps show animal health professionals information media presents to business-to-business business-to-consumer audiences. Some of this information is actionable. Some is more for your information. This article is one of the latter. Review it to determine how you may wish to respond within your own community. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April … [Read more...]
Professor clarifies livestock’s part in greenhouse gases
Frank Mitloehner, University of California – Davis professor and air quality specialist, is working to clear the air on the role of livestock in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. He notes that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has quantified livestock as the source of just 4.2 percent of all U.S. GHG emissions. This compared to transportation and energy sectors contribute … [Read more...]
Improved environments stop cats from eating non-food items
Pica or wool-sucking is common in oriental cat breeds. Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University shares an experience with a pica cat and discusses the disorder. Source: Cat Talk, March 2012. These days, wool-sucking/pica is regarded as a form of feline compulsive disorder and, as such, has … [Read more...]