There has been a large amount of research studying the effects of space allowances on grow-finish pigs. However, little information is available about the effects on nursery pigs. Production management systems, facility constraints and establishing optimal space allowance requirements for pigs requires economic, health and welfare considerations. Sometimes, articles titled … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2017
Prevent reverse delegation
Reverse delegation happens when delegated tasks end up back in your bucket. Sometimes it is not your fault, but often perfectionism, over-control or being overly helpful backfires. Dan Rockwell offers 12 simple sentences to help avoid reverse delegation. Source: Leadership Freak, March 27, 2017. Accept 80% as good enough from people who are 80% as skilled as you. … [Read more...]
Evolving meaning of digital transformation
An annual survey conducted by PwC’s Advisory practice provides a compelling look at changes in the digital space as well as the development of a corporation’s Digital IQ. One would expect that today’s companies have a much better Digital IQ than they did in 2007. The reality is surprisingly, no. In a recent PwC survey, executives say they look to digital initiatives … [Read more...]
How to bottle-feed a kid
The bottle-feeding process is easier than you might think. Plus, it ensures proper nutrition and forms more docile milk goats. Lisa Seger gives a detailed primer on bottle feeding goats by choice or by necessity through week 12. She covers what to feed, the frequency of it and includes instructions for bottle-feeding as the kid grows. Source: Hobby Farms, May 22, … [Read more...]
First-calf heifer conundrum
Jason Smith, University of Tennessee tackles the fundamentals of first calf heifer management. The first calf heifer is a different beast compared to mature cows or replacement heifers. As such, being proactive can help develop these individuals’ value to a cow-calf operator. Source: Drovers CattleNetwork, May 16, 2017. Generally we think of a heifer as being mature once … [Read more...]
Speaking of birds
Ana Hotaling provides an experience-based introduction to the discussion of three common myths about aging hens. She recounts the story of losing a seven- year-old hen and offers insight about these myths: Chickens have short life spans Hens stop laying after age 2 Older hens are flock freeloaders Source: Hobby Farms, May 24, 2017. Hens continue to lay longer … [Read more...]
How to grip a bird (pictorial guide)
Dr. Tom Tully offers an image gallery with explanations for handling various avian species. If your team struggles with handling birds, review this information at a team meeting to sharpen your teams’ approach to servicing avian patients. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, March 2017. Avian patients come in many shapes, sizes, and species. Veterinary team members can safely … [Read more...]
Five ways to use live video in content marketing strategies
Leading B2B brands and marketers are now using Facebook Live to engage and build connections with target customers. Jawad Khan shares ideas on how Facebook Live can benefit your business. He offers some tips to get started: Help your customers find success with your product Build your subscriber base with content upgrades Turn proven topics from your blog into live … [Read more...]
Industry events can be blessings or curses
There is no shortage of industry events available to every businessperson. In fact, we are bombarded with so many invitations that attending each would leave us no time to execute our responsibilities. So, knowing how to make sure an event is worth your time is important. Source: Forbes, May 23, 2017. If you’re extroverted, the thought of attending an event may energize … [Read more...]
Quiz: managing canine dental disease
Consider taking this quiz as an individual exercise and then discussing the results at a staff meeting. Whether a veterinary team member, retail associate or sales representative, proactively managing dental disease is important for our own pets as well as our customers’ pets. “Unfortunately, only about 1 percent of pet owners brush their pets teeth,” explained Academy of … [Read more...]
Fetch horse, fetch (includes video)
Just for fun! Training your horse to fetch your beverage of choice out of the cooler is a handy trick for hot summer days. Hokey Pokey, a six-year-old Pinto learned the wine-fetching trick in six sessions. Source: Horse Channel, May 15, 2017. Rebecca Tasker, the New Zealand-based trainer behind Positively Together, uses clicker training to teach her equine charges using … [Read more...]
3 essential summer tips for cats
Karen Nichols says hydrate, furminate and educate are three important tips to keep cats comfortable, healthy and safe as summer begins. This content will help cat owners if presented on social media posts, blogs, websites and newsletters. Note the discussion of hydration and senior cats. Source: Catster, May 26, 2017. Heatstroke is life-threatening, and knowing proper first … [Read more...]
Poultry farm biosecurity improving since the 2015 HPAI outbreak
More than 42 million commercial poultry, mostly layers, died in the 2015 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the U.S. The catastrophe pointed to biosecurity gaps that needed remediation to reduce the risk of future outbreaks. Iowa State University’s Yuko Sato, DVM, MS, DACPV, surveyed the industry to see if behaviors and processes have changed. The results … [Read more...]
Convert an outdoor cat into a happy indoor cat
Behaviorist Marilyn Krieger says cats can gradually be transitioned to living indoors by making their homes more appealing than the great outdoors. Here’s how: Bring your cat to the veterinarian Motivate your cat with food Provide a sanctuary room Teach litter box skills Enhance your cat’s indoor worlds Exercise your cat’s inner predator Source: Catster, … [Read more...]
Any smartphone or laptop can catch fire
BE WARNED! Lithium ion batteries are statistically quite safe, and fires are rare — but they store a large amount of energy in a very small space, so the danger is real. How you use and recharge devices that contain lithium ion batteries could have a significant impact on fire risks. Source: Bottomline Personal, May 1, 2017. Advice from the National Fire Protection … [Read more...]
Seed-spitting goats
Just for fun! The Argania trees of Morocco have a unique seed dispersal method: climbing, spitting goats. Some of the local goats have developed a distinctive approach to grazing during dry periods: They climb up in the thorny branches to get at the tree’s leaves and fruit, sometimes with help from herders. Source: Atlas Obscura, May 25, 2017. If the behavior is as common … [Read more...]
Today is World Milk Day!
June, the Dairy Month celebrates 75 years this year and begins with World Milk Day today. The activities throughout the month celebrate the value of milk in a healthy diet and the value the dairy industry brings to economics and sustainability across the globe. Source: American Dairymen, June 2017, page 34. Also see: WorldMilkDay2017.com … [Read more...]
Predictive model could reveal risk for Lyme disease in dogs, humans
The range of ticks carrying Lyme continues to expand, making it important to be able to forecast patterns of risk to exposure in order to target those areas for vaccines, preventives measure and educational campaigns. Researchers with the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) published an open access article in May in PLOS One that describes the methods taken to create the … [Read more...]
Return from vacation without wanting to die
Steve Errey addresses the realities of returning from a vacation or time away from work. He offers some ideas to make the return easier: Clean Before You Go Remember Resistance is Futile Find the Fun Keep in Touch Change Things Up Chuck it Out Remember How You Were Source: The Muse, May 30, 2017. How you are on vacation is typically how you are when … [Read more...]
What is a product recall?
The regulatory affairs group at Henry Schein Animal Health explain product recalls, various recall levels and processes required to complete them. Veterinary clinic staff members with fewer than five years’ experience will appreciate this overview. Source: Animal Health Solution, 2Q2017, page 22. A product recall occurs when a manufacturer, or the FDA determines that an … [Read more...]
Increased client compliance rewards for patients and practices
Dr. Karen Felstad, Gary Glassman, Dr. Marsha Heinke and Fritz Wood are featured in this 12th article of a series generated from the Henry Schein Animal Health 2016 Solutions Workshop. They discuss the elements of customer compliance and the need for a team plan. Source: Animal Health Solution, 2Q2017, page 8. When you have a plan, a way to measure it, activities to support … [Read more...]
Fitness dos and don’ts for senior dogs
C. J. Puotinen shares a comprehensive list of dos and don’ts when helping an aging dog resume a more active lifestyle. He reminds us that reasonable diet and exercise management balanced with time and effort is worth learning for the dog and owner. Source: Whole Dog Journal, December 2016. Exercise is essential for dogs of all ages. It helps maintain muscle tone, a healthy … [Read more...]
Feline hyperthyroidism reaching epidemic levels
When Dr. Mark Peterson started veterinary school in 1972, feline hyperthyroidism didn’t seem to exist. He treats nothing else today. This article traces the beginnings of research into the condition, to the treatment and to the links it may have to our own health. Source: New York Times Magazine, May 16, 2017 (paywall). A steady drumbeat of research links the strange feline … [Read more...]
Digital boundaries benefit everyone
Technological advances have improved our access to information, speed to market, competitive intelligence, and enhanced our successes. On the darker side, technology has blurred the lines between our work lives and our personal lives. This often causes us to be busier, but less productive. So, setting digital boundaries can help everyone. Source: Forbes, May 15, 2017. While … [Read more...]
A good veterinarian-producer relationship is priceless
The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) has increased interest in creating or improving relationships with veterinarian. Joe Paschal, an Extension livestock specialist with Texas A&M University, offers some down-to-earth perspective about the value these relationships can offer. Source: Progressive Cattleman, May 16, 2017. Since your veterinarian is not as familiar with … [Read more...]
One-legged sleeping mystery solved
Atlanta biologists Young-Hui Chang of Georgia Tech and Lena ting of Emory University wanted to find out how Flamingos can sleep standing on one leg. Their findings that were published in Biology Letters this week are surprising. Source: The Washington Post, May 24, 2017 (paywall). The duo began examining them, when something happened. Chang held one of the cadavers up by … [Read more...]
Arrogance or insecurity?
Are those flare-ups of smug self-righteousness your mind’s attempt to spare you from feeling vulnerable? Most of the time, arrogance is used to cover the fear that we’re not really worthy, that we don’t measure up, writes Ted Leonhardt. It’s fear turned upside down and masquerading as superiority. It isn’t too hard to see, but in practice, it can be tough to correct. Source: … [Read more...]
Dental products you can recommend with a smile
Veterinary dentist Dr. Jan Bellows compiled this list of food, treats and more that are proven effective at maintaining the health of pets' teeth. She says that only 32 dog and 12 cat products have been approved by the VOHC. Click through to see what this means to you. Two of the 10 products showcased are manufactured by AHD Sponsor, Addison Biological Laboratory. Source: … [Read more...]
Cesar: separation anxiety is your fault
When your dog is separated from you, he gets anxious and acts out. So, who causes it? Two words. YOU DO! Cesar Millan explains how pet owners winding up their animals before leaving and upon returning can create separation anxiety. Source: Cesar’s Way, May 21, 2017. In a related article, he shares 5 tips to help dog separation anxiety: Before you leave the house, … [Read more...]
DECISION: write emails with military precision
By adopting military email etiquette, you will introduce a kernel of clarity to your correspondence and that of your colleagues and clients. Kabir Sehgal learned how to structure emails to maximize a mission’s chances for success while in military service. He now successfully applies the same techniques in a corporate setting. Source: Harvard Business Review, November 22, … [Read more...]