Water bowls and drinkers that aren’t regularly scrubbed often develop bad-tasting biofilm that discourages drinking. Biofilms are part of the normal complement of microbes in many healthy animals. However, biofilms can be very harmful making them important to remove. The CDC estimates that up to 70 percent of human bacterial infections in the Western world are caused by … [Read more...]
CDC finalizes dog import rule to prevent rabies
All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least six months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies, according to new government rules. The updated rules apply to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups, as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners. All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least six months … [Read more...]
U.S. to spend $200M on bird flu fight, including dairy farm compensation
The USDA is providing a range of financial incentives to help increase biosecurity and cover veterinary fees plus costs associated with sample collecting and testing. Source: Agriculture Dive, May 13, 2024. Link. Producers can receive compensation for implementing effective biosecurity plans and establishing heat treatment systems to safely dispose of milk. … [Read more...]
Wildfire smoke is back
Dozens of wildfires are burning across Canada in May 2024 and sending unhealthy smoke blowing into the northern U.S. again. At the same time, the southeastern U.S. is getting smoke from Mexico, where drought conditions have been fueling fires. Think of smoke waves like heat waves. They’re easier to face if you’re prepared and know they’re coming. That means paying attention to … [Read more...]
Cheese by-product turned into plastic
Say what? Researchers at UC-Davis have developed yet another use for dairy products. They discovered polyhydroxyalkanoates can be made at a low cost from dairy byproducts and used in a wide range of applications, such as films, rigid packaging and single-use items like straws, utensils, compostable bags, cosmetics and biomedicine. Previously expensive and in short supply, the … [Read more...]
Measuring methane from cow burps
Commentary The next time someone says cattle producers aren’t seeking to manage GHG emissions, share this article about four climate-controlled respiration chambers installed at Cornell University to quantify GHG emissions from cows. Source: American Agriculturist, May 14, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Heat abatement important for calves
Holstein heifer calf prices are reported at double to triple their values from a year ago <Link> as well as being in short supply. Optimizing their growth and development is critical to future potential, lifetime production and health. As warmer temperatures approach, investing in heat abatement is good business. Similar to mature cattle, calves have a thermoneutral … [Read more...]
2024 Global Hog Industry Virtual Conference set for May 22nd
National Hog Farmer's sixth annual Global Hog Industry Virtual Conference is scheduled for May 22 10:00 a.m. CDT. Topic themes will focus on policy, performance and profitability. New to this year’s conference is The National Hog Farmers' New Product Tour competition. Register here for this FREE educational event and to interact with the speakers on event day <Link>. … [Read more...]
Equine grass sickness: a global concern?
Equine grass sickness is a devastating disease with an 80 percent mortality rate and is almost exclusively seen in horses eating fresh, green grass ,in pasture. EGS is more widespread than initially thought, writes Tanith Harte, PhD who is working to expand knowledge and record the prevalence. Keep EGS in the back of your mind the next time you’re faced with an unresponsive … [Read more...]
Farm dogs play many roles
The celebration of farm dogs in recent years <Link> has brought more focus to the health of pets on acreages and farms. Whether working dogs or companions, these animals encounter environmental risks from domestic and wild animals, some of which are One Health concerns. This recording and article feature farm dogs and the importance of getting regular veterinary care for … [Read more...]
Diagnosing benzimidazole-resistant hookworms
Includes Commercial Content Multi-anthelmintic, drug-resistant hookworms is now recognized as more far-reaching in terms of geography locations and breeds of dogs, shares Emily Singler, VMD. MADR hookworms are a concern because they can wreak havoc on companion animals and farm animals, as well as humans. Singler shares Keyscreen, a test created and offered by Antech … [Read more...]
Benefits of insect-based pet food beyond nutrition
Tim Wall shares seven benefits pets derive from insect proteins and oils. He says black soldier fly larvae, crickets, mealworms and other species benefit pet health in various ways including: the gut microbiome allergy relief weight management Source: PETFOOD Industry, May 9, 2024. Link. Also see: Ÿnsect mealworm protein for dog food authorized in US, PETFOOD … [Read more...]
A comprehensive guide to poisonous plants for dogs
For gardeners, spring is a time to fill planters, pots and beds with flowers to add color and dimension to landscapes. However, some plants are toxic to dogs. A quick review of this listing will likely change plant selections for dog owners. It did for me. Included in the list of 29 outdoor plants are: Lilies Daffodils Hydrangeas Morning glory Sweet peas … [Read more...]
Watch out for foxtail (video)
Foxtails are everywhere in the environment <Link>. Pet owners need to take preventive steps to minimize the risks to their pets. Once on the cat or dog, a segment of a foxtail can burrow into the skin, get stuck in the eyes, creep into ears, be inhaled into the nose or even make its way into the lungs. Source: The Conversation, May 9, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider … [Read more...]
Veterinary medicine and substance use
Not One More Vet’s Dustin Kieschnick, PsyD, shares the experiences and perspectives from counseling veterinary team members on substance use. Substance use in this article encompasses alcohol, cannabis, illicit drugs and the overuse/misuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Source: DVM 360, May 8, 2024. Link. When substance use becomes problematic there are a … [Read more...]
How far should we carry the logic of the animal rights movement?
Kelefa Sanneh covers the development of the animal rights movement, its advocates and its philosophies. This review offers insights about major influencers and the results of their advocacies. It’s not an easy read but well-researched and worth studying by animal health pros. We selected a few statements from the article for your review: Debates about animals tend to be … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 9, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 2, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the May 2nd AHD Bulletin – Why vet bills are so high. Link. 7 cleaning tips about washing pet toys. Link. AHD’s archives offer a quick way to see posts by month, see what you missed. Archives for April 2024. … [Read more...]
GEA acquires CattleEye AI solution to predict, identify lameness
Next to mastitis, lameness is a major disease in dairy cows that can lead to infertility and decreased milk yields. The CattleEye system combines a 2D camera with specialized software that analyzes cow movement and body score patterns giving farmers unparalleled insight into their herd's health. Source: Feedstuffs, April 8, 2024. Link. With the trend towards larger and more … [Read more...]
Seek Labs announces progress targeting the African Swine Fever Virus
The successful completion of an in vivo therapeutic trial using innovative CRISPR-based technologies to target the African swine fever virus in pigs demonstrated pigs infected with ASFV and treated with Seek Labs’ CRISPR-based systems survived longer than untreated infected pigs. Over half of the CRISPR-treated pigs survived beyond the duration of the trial. Source: … [Read more...]
Temple Grandin, PhD, joins Fear Free as director, animal well-being
In her new role, Dr. Grandin will focus on developing innovative strategies to improve the well-being of animals to ensure lives worth living. She will begin her focus on how to bring Fear Free to farm animals. I'm especially excited about plans to give animals used for food and fiber what's being called 'a life worth living', where animals get to experience positive, … [Read more...]
Asian longhorned tick now in 19 states
Asian longhorned ticks, described by USDA as “invasive pests that post a serious risk to livestock,” are now in 19 states. The CDC says that ALT have been found in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West … [Read more...]
Pork Powerhouses listings for 2023 released
The 36th largest U.S. pig producers reduced sows by 17,348 in 2023. It’s the first net loss Pork Powerhouses has reported since 2010 and shows the pain pork producers experienced last year. There was an average loss of $31.57 per head. However, productivity increased. Source: Successful Farming, May 6, 2024. Link. Producers credited improved genetics and continued investment … [Read more...]
Rebuild or sell off? Considerations for beef producers.
The question, “What do you think about (fill in the blank)?” dominates discussions at rural coffee shops, during neighborly stops on gravel roads and during on-farm veterinary visits. Scott Brown is no stranger to these environments and shares thoughts about strategic choices beef producers are facing during high value beef markets. Source: Missouri Ruralist, May 6, 2024. … [Read more...]
Differentiating mastitis from teat sealant residue at freshening
Sharing information from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Audrey Schmitz’s article addresses some challenges at dry-off with high-producing cows. Teat sealants are frequently used to close teats in top milk producers as they are less likely to form a natural keratin plug. She shares the importance of keeping milking employees trained on identifying milk versus teat sealants, as well as … [Read more...]
Managing dry-off with high-producing cows
Abruptly ceasing milking is a widely adopted practice for low-producing cows but may not be the best method for drying off high-producing cows. Heather Dann shares approaches for reducing milk yield before dry-off to manage involution and keeping cows healthy. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, May 6, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider sharing this article with dairy producers to help … [Read more...]
July 12 is deadline for Farm Dog of the Year nominations
Nominations for the 2025 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year are open. Farmers and ranchers who are Farm Bureau members can nominate their dogs by reviewing eligibility guidelines and submission requirements here. Link Once there, click on the black “submit” button to be taken to the final instructions. You can see last year’s winner here. Link. Source: Farm Bureau, May 1, … [Read more...]
Beware the hungry coyotes
With pups growing and hungry, adult coyotes are more aggressively hunting for food now. This article is a good reminder to keep pets safe and be aware even when out walking pets. Those cute little coyote puppies quickly become a ravenous mob that requires more and more food every day. Share local warnings with pet owners. Source: LAist, May 3, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
The challenge of leaving a long-term job to start something new
Dorie Clark and Natalie Nixon offer advice on to overcome six common transition challenges and share strategies to ensure that a new job or career is just as successful as the last one: Ruminating and second-guessing Feeling guilty Being afraid of losing status Needing to adapt Managing the perceptions of your new colleagues Balancing opposing … [Read more...]
Why we need fewer performance reviews and more check-ins
Leadership expert, author Ashley Goodall, argues that check-ins are a more personal way for teams to set goals. He shares when Cisco researchers looked at the relationship between frequency and effect, they found that a biweekly conversation had a clear, positive effect, and that a weekly conversation had a very big, indeed positive effect. Source: Fast Company, May 6, 2024. … [Read more...]
Follow your dreams and other terrible career advice
An industry leader shared Bonnie Hammer’s essay with us along with this comment, “This message needs to be sent to the new generation of animal health professionals.” Hammer, vice chair of NBCUniversal pulls no punches. She says: It’s no wonder that when young people start working, too many feel betrayed or bored having been told that they could do anything growing … [Read more...]