Too often, parents purchase a rabbit for a child. Easter is the most common time for this to happen. The child is excited, the rabbit is terrified, the child loses interest, the rabbit is ignored and the parents become disappointed and resentful. Consider sharing the information in this reference site on websites, blogs and in newsletters. Rabbits, families and children will … [Read more...]
Pigs – a hobby farmer’s view
Every breed is unique, but producers should know what they’re getting when raising pigs for market pork. Rodney Wilson shares how he learned this all-important first lesson in our lifelong education about feed conversion efficiency: pigs can loosely be lumped into two classes, bacon pigs and lard pigs. Source: Hobby Farms, March 20, 2017. Today’s new and prospective hog … [Read more...]
Update your LinkedIn profile
How to update your LinkedIn profile based on what you've done and where you want to go. Source: The Muse, March 2017. Figuring out what story to tell at different points in your career can be a challenge. But, you need more than keywords to impress on LinkedIn. Get creative as you update your profile and capture your “So what?” factor using elements that others tend to … [Read more...]
Changing pet owner perceptions of veterinary hospitals
AAHA Chief Executive Officer Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP (Emeritus), presented new research data during the opening session at the AAHA yearly conference. Pet owner perceptions of veterinary hospitals are declining, while awareness of veterinary hospital accreditation has increased. Source: AAHA Press Room, March 30, 2017. While the news of overall pet owner perception of … [Read more...]
Cage-free eggs come with costs
The majority of the U.S. egg supply will become cage-free within a decade, but the egg industry says the economics don’t make sense. “The ability for the industry to do this conversion is truly subject to the demand for cage-free eggs from the consumer,” said Jeff Coit, a poultry industry specialist at Farm Credit Services of America. “Today, we’re not there. The vast majority … [Read more...]
How mindful are you?
In our information-saturated workplaces, mindfulness is becoming as important as emotional intelligence and technical skills. Research shows that people spend almost 47 percent of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they’re doing. This impairs their creativity, performance, and well-being. Source: Harvard Business Review, March 29, 2017. Take the … [Read more...]
Small talk can enhance the client-veterinary practice bond
Small talk plays an important role in everyday lives. In the veterinary practice, small talk is the first step toward building solid client–team relationships based on understanding and trust that result in improved patient-care outcomes. In subsequent meetings with the client, team members can refer back to what they learned from casual conversations about the client’s … [Read more...]
There is no such thing as a lead pencil
Just for fun! Pencils do not, and have never, contained lead of any sort. When graphite was first discovered, people called it black lead, because it resembled lead. Still, we call it lead, and think there’s lead in pencils. Caroline Weaver discusses pencil fact and fiction from her position as a pencil obsessive. Source: 99U, March 20, 2017. The first question you have to … [Read more...]
There’s something wrong in the neighborhood
Who you gonna call? Pest busters. Here’s a list of available products for parasite and pest management. Source: Beef, April 2017, page 20. Pest busters for 2017. … [Read more...]
Cross-selling is not a strategy
Ken Favaro shares that almost overnight, cross-selling has gone from a ubiquitous practice imbued with positive connotations to a politically incorrect word that’s redolent of corporate misbehavior. This could be a wonderful thing if it causes companies, including your own to rethink their approach. Source: Strategy + Business, March 21, 2017. You want your customers … [Read more...]
5 tips to improve conversion rates
The common thread in Michael Georgiou’s tips for improving conversion rates is that they all move toward building a positive and personal relationship with the customer. It starts from the beginning and moves through the whole process, bringing you to the end result: making the sale. Source: Entrepreneur, April 1, 2017. If you want to know how to close more sales, start … [Read more...]
Selling in the age of the connected customer
Tiffani Bova says the role of sales is experiencing a renaissance. However, sales reps must adapt and embrace new ways of doing their job. As we entered the 2000’s many thought advertising, mass media, the internet and e-commerce would replace the traveling salesman. Bova believes that the future of selling will be contextual. The hardest part of most sales today is that we … [Read more...]
Live by Ancora Imparo
“In retrospect,” often begins a story about missed opportunities, augmented with regrets. The story ends with the admonition to “not make that mistake.” Occasionally, “in retrospect” will yield worthwhile advice that contains one real nugget. “6 Pieces of Advice Leaders Wish They Could Tell Their Younger Selves” is this kind of piece. Source: Forbes, September 19, … [Read more...]
Here come the mosquitos! (includes video)
Veterinary parasitologist Dr. Laura Kramer discusses the increased dispersion of mosquitoes in Europe. The phenomenon is mirrored in the U.S. She sees three factors: Climate change Infected dogs moving around more than in the past New mosquito vectors that can transmit heartworm disease Source: Veterinary Medicine, April 5, 2017. Stop to consider the second point … [Read more...]
5 reasons to monitor colostrum quality
You may think that we don’t need to discuss colostrum ever again. Phil Durst shares five reasons to routinely check test colostrum to better understand the variances in quality. Colostrum quality is the first step in making sure calves are protected and set up for success in life. Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 5, 2017. Why test colostrum quality? Here are some … [Read more...]
Swine Science Online offers opportunity for students, current producers
Leading universities are collaborating to ensure the pork industry is led and managed by individuals who have broad educational and production experiences that prepare them for these roles. The effort, Swine Science Online, teaches scientific principles and management skills involved in pork production for an efficient and sustainable operation. Source: National Hog Farmer, … [Read more...]
Increase feline heartworm prevention efforts
At an estimated prevalence of 0.4%, hundreds of thousands of cats in the United States are likely infected with heartworms. Given the difficulty in diagnosing infection at all clinically relevant parasite stages and lack of curative treatment options, efforts should be increased to ensure all cats receive heartworm preventive. Source: JAVMA, April 15, 2017. Results: … [Read more...]
Review of hazards to female reproductive health in veterinary practice
A systemized review of publications that address female reproductive health hazards in veterinary practice, summarize best practices to mitigate reproductive risks and identify current knowledge gaps identifies a growing risk in veterinary practices. Reported hazards included exposure to anesthetic gases, radiation, antineoplastic drugs, reproductive hormones, physically … [Read more...]
Meet change head-on with customers
In this piece, Pam Foster shows how the distributor rep is a resource for customers. Her solid guidance is to look at each practice individually and not fixate on short-term interactions. Source: Veterinary Advantage, March 2017. Mike Hay, Abaxis (formerly Henry Schein) offers some pointers to help you stay on top of the latest innovations while also managing your daily “to … [Read more...]
5 essential questions in life
James Ryan, dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, gave a 2016 commencement address that went viral. Lessons he presented are enjoying a resurgence of late. Ryan notes that if we regularly ask five questions, our chances for personal and professional success and happiness are higher than if we don’t ask them. The questions are: What? (seeks clarification) I … [Read more...]
Drs. Blach and Clark hammer key points
This installment of Is My Practice Healthy? focuses on customer care, the beginnings of forecasting inventory and financial literacy. Each post is worth reading. Source: Is My Practice Healthy?, April 3, 2017. Ismypracticehealthy.com (IMPH) was designed to provide an educational venue and community where stakeholders in the veterinary industry can go to learn about … [Read more...]
Becky Turner Chapman bids farewell to veterinary media
Becky Turner Chapman, longtime vice president of UBM’s Veterinary division reflects on her animal health family as she retires after 30 years in veterinary publishing. She is a true leader, consummate professional and exemplary role model for women in our industry and will be missed. We wish her the best. Source: DVM360, March 29, 2017. Each and every day, UBM Americas, … [Read more...]
Transitioning at work
With the acceptance of transgender people on the rise, more employers are adopting specific policies for workers who are transitioning. Julie Cook Ramirez shares one person’s story and discusses the trends in dealing with blurred gender-line realities. According to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2017 Corporate Equality Index, 82 percent of all Fortune 500 companies … [Read more...]
Lead, Coach, Manage
In my experience, the most effective and successful practices have a clear leader and effective coaches. Together, they efficiently manage the entire operation. We have written about leadership and management before. Today’s focus is coaching. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, March 12, 2017. The great sales coaches that I have known see teaching and training as a continuous need for … [Read more...]
Be aware of the causes of bloating
Spring pastures are greening up. Cattle grazing these lush grasses, especially immature legumes, are susceptible to bloat. It can occur in as little as 15 minutes or nearly two days after grazing. It can also be painfully deadly. Experts from Purdue University’s agronomy and animal sciences departments offer 10 tips to help avoid bloat, as well as a video showing how to tube a … [Read more...]
Stressed now, lame later
International hoof care consultant Karl Burgi identifies three primary incidences that can trigger lameness events: heat stress any episode of cows standing too long transition Source: Dairy Herd Management, March 31, 2017. Heat stress affects the feet? Yes, said Burgi, because hot cows stand more to try to cool off. When cows are standing, blood does not flow as … [Read more...]
Improve your finance skills, even if you hate numbers
If you’re not a numbers person, finance is daunting. “If you can speak the language of money, you will be more successful,” says Richard Ruback, a professor at Harvard Business School. Source: Harvard Business Review, March 31, 2017. Finance and accounting are very simple. It’s mostly addition and subtraction and occasionally some multiplication and division. There’s no … [Read more...]
Don’t leave the dishes in the sink
Maggie Seiler emphasizes the importance of cleaning procedures in dairies and reminds us of how susceptible dairy calves are to bacteria. Her cleaning tips are good for at home in our own sinks, in break rooms or areas where we clean animal care equipment. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, March 27, 2017. Particularly of concern are biofilm buildups that are hard to see and occur … [Read more...]
Organic or conventional – what’s better?
It’s hard to discuss organic versus conventional without using the word,“better”. A new paper written by University of British Columbia researchers looked into some of the pros and cons of each management style. Their summary helps shed light on some of the “betters” associated with both. Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, April 3, 2017. Specifically, this study looked at … [Read more...]
Exceptional customer service, the extra mile
Celeste Van Deinse, LVT, shares ideas about how to enhance customer service. Our team especially liked her recommendations about considering young owners, communication on wait times and prioritizing follow-up calls. Source: MWI Messenger, April 2017, page 11-12. Going the extra mile can set your practice above the rest, helping to reduce client turnover rates while … [Read more...]