It is common practice to castrate piglets shortly after birth. The procedure is routinely done without any pain management treatments as there are no FDA approved drugs to control pain in pigs. Preliminary research from the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, showed the off-label use of intranasal flunixin meglumine mitigated pain post-castration … [Read more...]
K-State researchers show value of adding shade to cattle pens
Cattle seek shade, use breezes and their respiration to blow off as much heat as they can on hot days Sometimes that’s not enough. A.J. Tarpoff, DVM, and a team at Kansas State University conducted a multiyear trial researching how shade structures in pens can help cattle in high heat events. Data from the ongoing study shows cows with available shade had an increase in … [Read more...]
Rethinking how we keep horses in stalls
Although most horses accept and adapt to less-than-optimal living situations, the evidence is mounting that it’s time to redesign the basic box stall says Nancy Moffitt. She summarizes research on how confinement affects the well-being of horses. . . . box stalls that may seem cozy and comfortable to us are <likely> wrong for our beloved horses . . . too small and too … [Read more...]
The Neuroscience of trust. Management behaviors that foster employee engagement.
Commentary Although it’s five years old, this article about Paul Zak’s research on trust is relevant to current employment conditions and challenges. Note the eight measurable management behaviors that foster trust he identified. “To boost engagement and retention, treat people like responsible adults. Set a clear direction, provide the resources needed and get out of … [Read more...]
Being happy at work
If you find yourself longing for greener work pastures, try these 10 tips. Source: Monster.com, December 2022. Link. You're in charge of your own mindset. Steering yourself toward the positives can help make your job more enjoyable. INSIGHTS: 24/7/365 happiness would be boring. Remember pearls come from irritants and diamonds come from pressure. … [Read more...]
Hybrid work is here to stay
Wharton management professor Martine Haas says, “Hybrid work is here to stay.” She says hybrid work seems to be striking a decent balance between what employees want and what employers want. Crafting more bespoke policies based on what works best for employers and employees is important when addressing issues of parity and fairness as some positions cannot perform their … [Read more...]
Advice for managing people with disabilities in the workplace
Commentary There’s an important distinction between being disabled and having a disability. Disabled is a category label while having a disability is situational and the differentiation is important! Comedian Josh Blue reminds his audiences that “the disabled community is the largest minority group on the planet . . . and the only minority group you can join at any time.” … [Read more...]
Study raises concerns about broken tails in dairy cows
Broken tails represent an animal welfare concern and result from improper handling. While the acceptable threshold for broken tails in adult dairy cows listed in the National Dairy FARM Program standards is five percent, a recent study found nearly half of cows had broken tails. The study results are telling of an industry management issue that needs further attention, said … [Read more...]
Animal Health International’s online resource site for GFI 263
Complimentary Content AHI’s new online resource center seeks to help animal health professionals prepare for the upcoming OTC to Rx transition, also known as GFI 263. It contains a robust FAQ section, a condensed timeline of the history of FDA action on antimicrobial resistance, a list of manufacturer products designated for prescription labeling and more. Source: Animal … [Read more...]
Cultivating veterinarian and producer relationships, the veterinarians’ perspective
Surveying a large group of rural, large animal veterinarians about what makes a great relationship between a veterinarian and livestock owner, Meredyth Jones, DVM, MS, DACVIM, found 10 common themes worth noting. Consider sharing this article and list with producer customers. It will strengthen expectations and the veterinary-client relationship and benefit the animals.” – AHD … [Read more...]
Getting goosey
Gail Damerow shares 10 reasons to consider raising and keeping backyard geese. Easy keepers with big eggs, geese are relatively disease-free and are extremely hardy. Long-lived, geese are intelligent and make good watchdogs as well. Source: Backyard Poultry, July 9, 2022. Link. As referenced in article: Raising healthy geese, Timber Creek Farm. Link. (commercial site) … [Read more...]
High priced eggs could make incubators more popular
About 40 million egg-laying hens were lost to avian flu disruptions <Link> in 2022 and the layer population won’t recover overnight. The growth in popularity of backyard flocks may continue to grow as consumers seek to reduce the costs of eggs. Egg prices at the grocery store were elevated throughout 2022 due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among … [Read more...]
Seasonal affective disorder is. Here are the signs.
For millions of Americans, this time of year is tough. As the days get shorter and colder, they suffer from sadness and struggle. What affects them is winter pattern season affective disorder, or SAD. It’s more than just the winter blues and can last up to five months. This article offers sources believed to cause SAD, its signs and ways to get relief. Source: The Washington … [Read more...]
People aren’t taking this seriously. Experts say U.S. Covid surge is big risk.
Commentary If the photos and videos from VMX are any indication, mask-free animal health professionals may fall into the group of Americans who are “collectively forgetting” or hopefully, have stayed current with boosters. Moving into the fourth year, Covid-19 is again spreading across America. It is being driven by the recent holidays, fewer precautions and the … [Read more...]
Iowa governor announces funding for ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory project
Governor Kim Reynolds has committed $40 million in funding to help complete Phase 2 of Iowa State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is enormously important to Iowa’s nation-leading livestock industry and provides immeasurable expertise on worldwide animal health and food safety issues.” - Mike Naig, Secretary of … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 19, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 12, 2023. Link. Most read posts from January 12th AHD Bulletin – Social media users more inclined to browse than post content. Link. Place keeper:2023 Veterinary Conferences provided by Galaxy Vets. Link. ====================================== New strain of bird flu kills hundreds of snow … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 12, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 5, 2023. Link. Most read posts from January 5th AHD Bulletin – Handling tardy clients. Link. Clarifying the recission of the FDA VCPR waiver. Link. Does post-transport, pre-processing rest make a difference in calf growth performance. Link. Virus hunters spotting threats in new … [Read more...]
We’re not winning the war on feral swine!
The collective war on feral swine is 10 years old. In addition to various agencies, landowners and deer hunters affected by feral hogs are deploying effective tactics against pigs. Gray Anderson, PhD, shares 10 noteworthy pieces of intelligence he learned at the 2022 International Wild Pig Conference regarding feral hog biology, new weapons, tactics and more. Source: … [Read more...]
It’s not the cow. It’s the how . . . and the who!
Livestock play a major role in sustainable food systems globally. There are widescale efforts to improve livestock sector practices so that they are more sustainable, more equitable and pose less risk to animal and human health. The trajectory of the livestock sector’s growth can be improved by investing in sustainable intensification and climate-smart strategies, as well as … [Read more...]
Are beef-on-dairy calves being over-vaccinated?
Dan Thompson, DVM, PhD, shares industry concerns about the distinct disparities between the lives of full-blood beef calves and their beef-on-dairy cousins before they reach the feedlot. He reviews the likelihood of over-vaccination, overloading the immune systems and pain associated with near-weekly needle pokes. . . . during the first 90-100 days of their lives, … [Read more...]
Umbilical infections taking a toll on dairy calves
David Renaud, DVM, PhD, considers navel infections to be the most under-diagnosed disease in dairy calves, particularly in the first two weeks of life. Sharing research and on-farm experiences, Renaud and Matthias Wieland, DVM, say the symptoms of diarrhea and pneumonia are often readily seen but umbilical infections are rarely noticed. Renaud encourages veterinarians and … [Read more...]
Calving season begins
Calving season brings promise and challenges to producers and the veterinary teams who support them. An early calf born in Missouri reminds us of the need to help producers get ready for late winter and spring calving. Here are several calving resources we’ve shared in AHD posts over the last seven years. Source: Search results for: calving, Animal Health Digest. Link. … [Read more...]
Water temperature is key to keep horses hydrated in cold weather
To encourage water consumption during cold weather, providing either continuously heated water, ranging from 68°F to 95°F, or filling buckets with water ranging from 115°F to 120°F twice daily at feeding time as an effective strategy for most horses. Source: EQUUS, January 4, 2023. Link. Also see: Cold weather colic, AAEP. Link. Horses must drink 10-12 gallons of fresh … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 5, 2022
Top five most read posts from December 2022 - Middle managers are exhausted. Top teams need to listen. Link. Find happiness at work instead of quiet quitting. Link. What a cat friendly veterinary experience looks like. Link. The top pet products of 2022. Link. Thank you! Link. ================================================= Quiz: Surgical … [Read more...]
Silvopasture; forest stewardship meet animal agriculture.
Silvopasture is a regenerative farming method involving the deliberate integration of trees and livestock grazing on the same land. It is one of five forms of agroforestry, and the only one that includes livestock. It is considered a sustainable method of rearing livestock because grazing animals benefit the forested environment and vice versa. Silvopastures can be … [Read more...]
Does post-transport, pre-processing rest make a difference in calf growth performance
A Kansas State University research project evaluated the impact of post-transport rest periods on calf growth performance, mortality and morbidity. The findings show a rest period has little affect on calf performance. Additionally, calf response to anthelmintics and blood serum metabolites were not increased by rest periods. Source: BEEF, November/December 2022. … [Read more...]
The costs of buying, caring for and feeding goats
Goat life spans are similar to dogs and are kept for a variety of reasons. Marissa Ames offers a comprehensive look at the various costs of acquiring and keeping goats for pets, meat, milk and weed control. Source: Backyard Goats, December 22, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Is it safe to feed Christmas trees to livestock?
Lancaster Farming features Penn State Extension Livestock Educator Chelsea Hill’s article about feeding Christmas trees to livestock. She shares safety and health tips about using them as feed. Source: Lancaster Farming, December 13, 2022. Link. … [Read more...]
Honeybee vaccine receives conditional license from USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics
Dalan Animal Health, Inc., has been granted a conditional license by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for vaccination of honeybees against American Foulbrood disease caused by Paenibacillus larvae. Source: businesswire, January 4, 2023. Link. The bacterin was developed by Dalan Animal Health, and is manufactured by Diamond Animal Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of … [Read more...]
Clarifying the recission of the FDA VCPR waiver
The Veterinary Virtual Care Association explains how the FDA’s rescission of the Covid-era waiver to agency regulations concerning the VCPR may affect practices and their clients. Source: VVCA, December 28, 2022. Link. This is not a new FDA policy, but simply a federal agency rescission of the COVID-era waiver pertaining to a regulation instituted decades ago. The … [Read more...]