When outside temperature + relative humidity = <130, most horses can keep their body cool, with the exception of very fat or very muscular horses. When outside temperature + relative humidity = >150 or above, it's hard for a horse to keep cool because their ability to sweat is compromised — especially if the humidity contributes over half of the 150. Source: AAEP, … [Read more...]
Does that dog need help?
Every dog handles heat differently. Those not properly conditioned could show signs faster than those that are fit and in good shape. A dog’s drive may override his ability to know he’s overheating . . . it’s up to every owner and handler to keep their dogs safe.” Source: Gray’s Sporting Journal, June 30, 2021. Link. When a dog’s activity causes his body to generate more heat … [Read more...]
2021 Audubon photography awards
Compared to recent competitions, few winning images in this year’s Audubon Photography Awards came from far-flung expeditions. Most were taken by photographers working close to home. This may be a reflection of how birds provided solace during the challenging and restrictive conditions brought on by the pandemic. Enjoy! The finest images showed birdlife at its most tranquil, … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 8, 2021
AHD Archives provide quick access to posts by month. AHD Archives for June 2021. Link. AHD Archives for May 2021. Link. Extreme heat is becoming more frequent—and our infrastructure is going to need to adapt Source: Fast Company, July 2, 2021. Link. Engineers are being forced to rethink new standards and systems to become more resilient to deal with … [Read more...]
Study reveals ag-related injuries more numerous than previously known
Fatality reporting has traditionally ranked farming as the eighth or ninth most dangerous job. New research looking at people treated in emergency departments for nonfatal, agricultural-related injuries suggests that the agriculture industry is even more dangerous than previously believed. Nearly a third of those injured were youths and vehicles were the primary source of … [Read more...]
Historical perspective on drought consequences
The drought conditions in the western U.S. are a daily topic as new high temperatures are recorded, and water and forage resources are being consumed. Greg Henderson shares how drought affected cow herd numbers a decade ago. Source: Drovers, June/July 2021. Link. Drought forces cattle producers to cull their herds. Evidence is mounting that this drought-induced cycle could … [Read more...]
Experimental vaccine cocktail protects cattle from Johne’s disease
Agricultural Research Service scientists have developed an experimental vaccine that protects cattle from the bacterium that causes Johne’s disease. The chronic intestinal disorder is most prevalent in dairy herds and costs the U.S. industry more than $220 million in losses each year. Source: Morning Ag Clips, June 28, 2021. Link. Trials with dairy calves, detailed in the … [Read more...]
Can house dust mites induce enteropathy in dogs?
Marie A. Chartier, DVM, DACVIM, shares an excerpt from a study that evaluated the role of the house dust mite, a common environmental allergen, in allergic inflammation in the GI tract in dogs. The results suggest that house dust mite allergens may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic enteropathy. Source: Clinician’s Brief, April/May 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 24, 2021
Last week’s most read post(s) – two posts tied for most-read Confidence requires a PLAN, Source: AHD, June 15, 2021. Link. Udder conformation, increasing concerns for farmers, Source: AHD, June 15, 2021. Link. Vaccine workshop leads veterinarians in foot-and-mouth disease planning Source: Feedstuffs, June 17, 2021. Link. The vaccine exercise was part of … [Read more...]
Honeybees on the move
The USDA report on bee movement adds an additional dimension to beekeeping and survival as more animal health pros are engaged in bee health initiatives. Similar to food animals, bees experiences stress during transportation and more risks as they are deployed in monocultures. Honeybees fall into veterinarians' purview because of the VFD rule and changes in FDA policy on … [Read more...]
Preparing for show season
For animal enthusiasts, livestock shows and fair events will kick off within the next six weeks. While veterinary teams provide health checks and certifications, animal health pros’ expertise will be valued beyond services and tactics. Given the increasing popularity of backyard rabbits, chickens and goats, the audience for show season preparation is not solely livestock … [Read more...]
Early heatwave a reminder to think about employee needs, too!
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness in people. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly, its sweating mechanism fails and it is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. You don’t have to be working outside all day to get too hot. The same goes for … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 17, 2021
Last week’s most read post 2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners Survey reveals important post-pandemic changes for the pet care industry Source: Animal Health Digest, June 8, 2021. Link. U.S. bans importing of dogs from 113 countries due to rise in false rabies records Source: NPR, June 14, 2021. Link. Veterinarians are praising the decision. 36 … [Read more...]
Understanding summer pneumonia and pinkeye
Arnold Nagely, DVM, and Ray Shultz, DVM, are more likely to be associated with their veterinary supply business, Valley Vet Supply, than as practitioners. Both doctors spent years in veterinary practice before expanding their retail clinic business into the OTC catalog offerings known today. Nagely and Shultz discuss summer, or pasture pneumonia ,which infects calves as … [Read more...]
Udder conformation, increasing concerns for farmers
Opinion, including Complimentary Commercial Content Dairy cows are expected to last 10 seasons. But New Zealand dairy producers are culling cows that should have been in their prime. Their udders simply aren’t holding up. Udders are blowing out, and some cows have had poor suspensory ligaments which became evident when they got a bit of age, shared producer Reg … [Read more...]
No kidding. A review of caprine health concerns
As of January 2021, there were 2.58 million goats in the U.S. The 2012 map shown gives us a good picture of where the goats are. Herds of fewer than 500 animals make a majority of the numbers. Population disbursement, the popularity of goats in urban and ruralpolitan settings, as well as increasing numbers of pet goats make goat information important across the country. Here … [Read more...]
FDA finalizes guidance for antimicrobial drug oversight
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finalized guidance for industry #263 to outline the process for animal drug sponsors to voluntarily change the approved marketing status of certain medically important antimicrobial drugs from over the counter to prescription. With the successful implementation of GFI #213, approximately 96% of medically important antimicrobials used … [Read more...]
Be prepared, avoid being blown away
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. If you stand your ground instead of evacuating, there are a few things that you should have to keep yourself safe and to survive a hurricane: Bottled water and non-perishable food Tools and other supplies First aid and … [Read more...]
Dry cows need shade to thrive, increase lifetime production
When talking about environmental impact in dairies, most would think about carbon footprint or water quality. However, a University of Florida study determined it is most ideal to cool dry cows during the entire dry period to prevent milk loss. The same should be provided for bred heifers. Researchers found reduced dry matter intakes pre-calving and weaker immunity pre- and … [Read more...]
Know how much water cattle need
Sometimes a picture puts things into perspective. This one does when it comes to how much water cows and calves need. Share and discuss water resources with producers to support health and prevention strategies. Drought and hot summer days are coming quickly. Source: BEEF, June 7, 2021. Link. All the grass in world means nothing without water. … [Read more...]
Scoring hair shedding traits in beef cow selection
Selecting for cows that shed effectively is crucial to dealing with summer heat stress. It is so important that the American Angus Association is interested in developing expected progeny difference (EPD) values. This may seem to be a silly thing to do, but hair shedding is a moderately heritable trait.” – Edon Cole, University of Missouri Extension livestock … [Read more...]
Hay! Got any?
Pasture and range conditions are historically poor for this time of year because of ongoing drought west of the Mississippi River. Nearly 70 percent of hay produced, and 76 percent of the nation’s beef cow herd is located in this region. Further, producers expect to harvest the smallest amount of hay in more than a century. Unless there is some drought relief soon . . . expect … [Read more...]
Oh, those dirty rats!
Rodents are one of the major taxa most likely to carry zoonotic diseases, harboring more than 85 unique zoonotic pathogens. The paper referenced here focuses on the unique opportunity zoo personnel have to be at the forefront of the early detection and identification of novel hosts and geographic ranges of rodent-borne pathogens with high impact on endangered species and … [Read more...]
Female veterinarians say gender disparity remains an uphill battle
Meg Mueller, DVM, says one of the biggest challenges females face in large animal practices is the issue of working with strong and powerful patients who are much of the time in non-clinical, less than ideal settings. Clients’ perceptions that they can't handle the job doesn’t help Source: Wisconsin State Farmer, June 2, 2021. Link. This article is part of a series entitled … [Read more...]
Proper antibiotic use improves producer savings and dairy industry image
Complimentary Commercial Content included Consumer demand for dairy products was up last year. Sending positive messages to consumers about U.S. milk production is key to maintaining this demand, says Linda Tikofsky, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim. She stresses that being more thoughtful about antibiotic use is also necessary in preserving it as an important tool for the long … [Read more...]
Dairy herds need to be vaccinated for leptospirosis
Agriculture Victoria and Dairy Australia are working together to inform dairy producers of the risks from leptospirosis. They developed a biosecurity tool to assist dairy farmers create a farm biosecurity plan tailored to their farm. An integrated approach to prevent leptospirosis should consider: vaccinating the whole herd (following directions on the vaccine label) … [Read more...]
Spring ahead of summer flies
Removing breeding material is the foundation of fly control, says Roger Moon, entomologist. And spring is the time to get ahead of the fly population. If flies gain a foothold on the dairy, animals and their caretakers will pay the price as the summer wears on. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 13, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: Now is a great time to remind producers how to … [Read more...]
What to expect at World Pork Expo
Joseph Kerns says hog markets, China, U.S. crop prospects, industry expansion, disease and how to navigate the business environment will be hot topics at the first live World Pork Expo since 2018. 2021 World Pork Expo is held at the Iowa State Fair Grounds, Des Moines, Iowa. June 9 – 11. Link. Source: National Hog Farmer, May 17, 2021. Link. INSIGHTS: The topics of … [Read more...]
AMVC Cares purchases Audubon, Iowa, property
Audubon Manning Veterinary Clinic, LLC, is a multi-species, west-central Iowa veterinary practice with multiple locations and a well-known swine management division. Understanding the need for community improvement and to improve the quality of life for the community and its visitors, its principals created a non-profit entity, AMVC Cares. Source: AMVC Management Services … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 20, 2021
Last week’s top post Why constant learners all embrace the 5-hour rule Source: Animal Health Digest, May 11, 2021. Link. University of Minnesota researchers develop novel, field-deployable test for CWD Source: University of Minnesota, April 19, 2021. Link. The team is striving for a test that could be set-up at individual stations … [Read more...]