Commentary This online article, full of commercial references, is another example of what-they’re- reading-content being proliferated at breakneck speed. We believe it is important for animal health pros to see content like this, which could potentially mislead pet owners. To the author’s credit, cannabis with THC and CBD are differentiated and disclaimer language is also … [Read more...]
Feline Heartworm Guidelines updated by the AHS
Driven by the underdiagnosis and undermanagement of heartworm disease in cats, the American Heartworm Society outlined four main reasons for recommending routine heartworm screening in cats: aiding diagnosis in symptomatic cats monitoring heartworm-positive cases establishing baselines before preventive treatment assessing heartworm risk in specific … [Read more...]
Keep cold weather safety top of mind
An easy-to-use infographic from ASPCA® Pet Insurance covers many of the winter hazards including extra care for senior pets. Communication from veterinary practices is noticed and appreciated by pet owners and often reinforces messages clients receive from consumer media. Consider printing a few of the infographic pages for waiting and exam rooms in addition to sending it to … [Read more...]
Protecting ourselves from hearing loss
Includes Commercial Content The discussion of electronic hearing protection as a solution for hunting- and shooting-related hearing loss caught our attention. Animal health pros and workers in swine confinement, kennels and shelters and confined cattle areas can experience hearing loss from the noise in those environments. Different from over-the-ear noise cancelling … [Read more...]
A viral investigation of bathroom biomes
This article will likely prompt more thinking about the bacterial and viral diversity we encounter daily. The discussion of bacteriophages and biofilms is intriguing. The amount of microbial diversity out there is awesome, and the amount of phage diversity is another degree of magnitude or several greater, which is kind of mind-blowing.” – Erica Hartmann, PhD Source: The … [Read more...]
‘Tis the season for gratitude
Thanksgiving is a day dedicated to gratitude. It is also a reminder to share our blessings with others. Today and every day, we’re most thankful for our subscribers, regular readers and sponsors. Thank you for supporting Animal Health Digest and for making 2024 a great one. 2025 will be our 10th year of curating actionable content for animal health professionals who seek to … [Read more...]
Venmo privacy tip
It seems many animal health pros are using Venmo to transfer cash, send money gifts or reimburse a friend for some expense. Because these activities are visible to anyone in your contacts, we're sharing this privacy tip. Open Venmo, click on your "me" or "profile" button, click on settings . . . then scroll down to privacy. Choose a privacy setting that keeps your … [Read more...]
First factory farm ban passes in Berkeley, California
Mostly symbolic, Measure DD’s passing in the city of Berkeley, California, may spur similar policies elsewhere in the United States. Advocates say large livestock facilities produce immense amounts of waste that can pollute water and spread disease, adding to human health risks. Source: Agricultural Dive, November 14, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: A review of the city of Berkeley … [Read more...]
Midwest Food Bank getting hay to North Carolina farmers hit by Hurricane Helene
Midwest Food Bank is seeking volunteers and funds to transport hay to North Carolina livestock farmers struggling to secure enough feed for their cattle to survive the winter. To date, 650 large round alfalfa hay bales have been donated to Midwest Food Bank for this critical relief effort. Some shipments are already on their way. Volunteers are needed to transport the relief … [Read more...]
Rendering: Every part has a purpose
The parts of animals we don’t eat provide many benefits. NARA has a new informative video for the young, the old, those in the livestock business and those who’ve never touched it. Thanks to Sharla Ishmael, editor of NARA’s Render magazine, for sharing. Source: North American Renderers Association, November 2024. Link. (animated video, 4:00 min) … [Read more...]
BQA practices now saturate every phase of the beef industry
Today, approximately 85 percent of U.S. beef comes from BQA-certified producers, writes Clint Peck. He shares the history of capturing the value, challenges and opportunities BQA certification presents. We noted the comments about involving smaller producers and the need for continuously educating cattle producers about best practices. Source: BEEF, October 18, 2024. … [Read more...]
50th Leaman Conference. What the experts had to say.
It’s been two months since the 50th annual Leman Swine Conference. Those who attended likely left with three or four action items. Now, let’s revisit some of the comments made by experts to refresh our intentions and focus on making a difference. Topics include biosecurity compliance, managing influenza, continuing to fight PRRSV and environmental effects of concentrated animal … [Read more...]
Forage alone may not cut it for fall-weaned calves
Commentary So many variables determine producer success when raising calves and preparing them for the next stages of their lives. Amber Friedrichsen’s discussion of various approaches to supplements and forage as winter progresses provides an opportunity to visit with producers about ensuring proper nutrition. It also supports the overall health of the animals and the … [Read more...]
Updated APHIS rule for EID now in effect
Jennifer M. Latzke’s article is a reminder about APHIS’s updated traceability rule that went into effect November 5th. The rule, which amends the previous 2013 rule, now requires ear tags to be both visually and electronically readable for sexually intact cattle that are 18 months of age or older, rodeo and exhibition cattle, and dairy cattle moving interstate. Cattle that … [Read more...]
Chicken feather and skin development
The development of the feathers and the feather follicles is extremely involved and a complex part of the bird, writes Doug Ottinger. Animal health pros may find his article worth reading if feather development is not a familiar topic. The feather is a complex epidermal organ.” Source: Backyard Poultry, October 5, 2022. Link. The follicles, feathers, and skin of the chicken, … [Read more...]
Can fecal microbiota transplantation help treat diarrhea in foals?
Fecal microbiota transplantation is a medical procedure that transfers healthy bacteria from a donor's stool into a patient's colon. In adult horses, FMT has been shown to improve intestinal diversity. Australian researchers explored the effects of treating diarrhea in foals using FMT and found it to be safe for foals. Source: The Paulick Report, November 11, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
When to delay a conversation
Most problems can be traced back to a conversation that should have happened but didn’t. Still, timing is important. This article highlights three situations when it’s more strategic to delay a conversation until a more opportune time. Marlene Chism offers ways to go into conversations with the right frame of mind. Source: SmartBrief, October 7, 2024. Link. Photo by Joel … [Read more...]
Can people be ‘inoculated’ against misinformation?
Commentary Since our inaugural AHD Bulletin in 2015, we have curated content for animal health pros, including published information at all levels, with consumer-facing media being part of it. The growing amount of misinformation creates tremendous costs in our lives and industry. Once out in the public, incorrect information requires a lot of time and effort to correct, not … [Read more...]
Despite employer prioritization, employee well-being falters
A workplace culture that truly prioritizes employee well-being makes people feel cared about. It also improves their lives and benefits organizational outcomes. Trends from Gallup’s Life Evaluation Index mark a new record low since Gallup began measuring employee well-being in 2009. Just 50 percent of U.S. employees are thriving in their overall lives. Source: Gallup, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – November 14, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, November 7, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the November 7th AHD Bulletin – Insights into the reasons pet owners surrender their pets to shelters. Link. A fresh perspective on horse expenses. Link. Help livestock and farm customers get funds they deserve. Link. Practices value Promoboxx benefit … [Read more...]
Surf and turf: researchers to study feeding seaweed to cattle
Past research has found that feeding seaweed can reduce methane emissions from cattle, but results are mixed. Now, researchers from Oregon State University are investigating a specific type of seaweed and supplementing cattle that graze in the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem rather than a feedlot environment. Source: Oregon State University, October 28, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Building a new breed: the American Black Hereford
There is considerable pride and breed loyalty among cattle producers despite the overriding objectives to improve production efficiencies and profits. Gilda V. Bryant shares the development of the Black Hereford in the article here. Despite the name sounding like an oxymoron, Black Herefords are a thing. Source: Progressive Cattle, October 15, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Pigs per litter continues steady growth
The number of pigs per litter reached another record in September, writes Michael Langemeier. Using his metrics, it appears we’ll soon see an average of 12 pigs per litter compared to eight per litter in 1994. Key performance metrics for swine production have steadily improved over the past 30 years. In addition to pigs per litter, performance metrics include feed conversion, … [Read more...]
NCBA guide for making culling decisions
A guide developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and CattleFax will help cattle producers with the often difficult decision to cull cows and bulls. Not all of these animals must end up as ground beef if producers understand how to optimize the value of cows that don’t bear calves through better welfare management practices. About 20% of the total revenue of a cow … [Read more...]
Calves like their water hot
Calves and cows prefer warm water closer to their own body temperatures. Maureen Hansen shares how water temperature adjusts rumen development and its bacterial environment. A Finnish study showed calves offered warm water continued to drink more even after weaning. Source: Dairy Herd Management, November 12, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Feeding water near or above 70o F seems … [Read more...]
Blueprint for receiving new feeder calves
The objective of a receiving strategy is to make the transition from calf origin into the feedlot or backgrounding yard as seamless as possible. Jessica Sperber says the first 14 days upon feedlot arrival are critical in calf development and set the performance trajectory of the calf for the remainder of the feeding period. The main concerns are feed intake and water … [Read more...]
Merck Animal Health announces FDA approval of SAFE-GUARD® AQUASOL (fenbendazole oral suspension) for use in backyard chicken flocks
Complimentary Commercial Content The approval of SAFE-GUARD® AQUASOL (fenbendazole oral suspension) for use in backyard chicken flocks makes it the only FDA-approved chicken dewormer designed for home use. The product will be available in a 3 mL presentation at fleet and dealer retail outlets beginning in January 2025. Source: Merck Animal Health, November 13, 2024. … [Read more...]
A dairy like you’ve never seen
The calves eat first at Humpback Dairy in southern Missouri. That’s because their mothers only produce milk when their calves are present. They’re part of a herd of 200 dromedary camels that produce milk for 650 markets across the country. Source: Rural Missouri, October 21, 2024. Link. Three years ago, Sam and his family built an FDA-approved and licensed processing, … [Read more...]
Reinforcing the 12-month flea prevention message
Holiday spending may affect flea preventative compliance as pet owners juggle budgets to buy gifts and meet holiday expectations. Whether or not pets are guests during holiday gatherings, pet owner visitors can carry larvae and eggs on their clothing from address to address. Animal health pros understand that visible fleas are just the tip of the iceberg when dealing with a … [Read more...]
The importance of self-awareness and how to improve if you’re not
Tasha Eurich, PhD, defines self-awareness as “the ability to see ourselves clearly — to understand who we are, how others see us, and how we fit into the world around us.” Being in tune with yourself is especially important when it comes to your relationships with others. In the article here, Rebekah Brandes shares the whys of self-awareness and steps to improve if you’re … [Read more...]