Jen Reeder was floored by the passion, knowledge, and dedication of Jessica Krafthefer, CVT, whom she shadowed to better understand the role and challenges of veterinary technicians. It was a simple assignment that turned into one of the more eye-opening experiences of her life. It’s hard work, but at the end of the day, when I go home exhausted, I still want to come back,” … [Read more...]
Nigerian dwarf goats now approved as livestock dairy goat
4-H and FFA participants can now use Nigerian dwarf goats in livestock projects. The breed is experiencing a rise in popularity due to its small size and colorful markings. The goats have gentle personalities which makes them good pets, plus they are easy to handle and take little space. Source: Countryside Daily, October 1, 2018. Link. Most owners do not raise their goats … [Read more...]
Talking about dogs and dreams
Like humans, dogs dream. Dog dreams likely summarize the day’s events and allow dogs the opportunity to process what they learn. I don’t think anyone can say for sure what dogs dream about but we can be fairly certain that they do dream,” says Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM. Source: Dogster, September 18, 2018. Link. What we’ve basically found is that dogs dream doggy things,” … [Read more...]
Opinion – Your smartphone obsession may make your dog sad
I recently noticed a change in our Morkie’s behavior when I turn to my cell phone to monitor emails, texts or see what’s going on with LinkedIn or Twitter. Once I do, the dog allows about 30 to 45 minutes before deciding if it’s time to play, pet or seek attention. I’m not alone. Cheyenne Macdonald reviews growing amounts information that dogs are especially hurt by owners’ … [Read more...]
Understanding customers and decision makers
Two posts featuring Pat Malone, AHD’s weekly contributor, were opened at exceptionally high rates. Malone's focus on leading a customer to decide is evident in his writing and in his daily interactions with colleagues, customers, seminar participants and friends. These posts and the associated articles are relevant in today's business environment. Source: Understanding the … [Read more...]
Employees; our industry’s most discussed topic
Jared Wareham writes from his experiences with livestock management, yet, his take-home points are applicable industry-wide across animal health. Managing people will always require more effort and personal skill development than any of us want to devote; yet, it is absolutely necessary. Source: Drovers, August 14, 2018. Link. The risk of losing a great employee that you … [Read more...]
So, a Jewish dietician walks into a pig farm. . .
Leia Flure writes about her experience of learning about swine production. She had no knowledge about raising pigs and had questions of her own. They included: What’s a “factory farm” really like? How are the animals treated? How sustainable is animal agriculture? And, of course, are piglets as cute in person as they are in the movies? (note the anthropomorphic … [Read more...]
Antibiotics and vaccines are critical to livestock production
Those of us in the U.S. are well-aware of efforts to vaccinate for disease prevention and use antibiotics judiciously. Some organic and antibiotic-free operations operate with them. Perspectives from other parts of the world offer insight into why antibiotics remain necessary for humane livestock production. Kenneth Wameyo, secretary of the Kenya Veterinary Association, shares … [Read more...]
Genomics has reduced the generational interval
Genomic selection refers to breeding selection decisions based on genomic breeding values. The discovery of thousands of DNA markers plus the development of predicted breeding values based on marker data has allowed for accurate genomic selection of dairy sires by AI centers. A reduction in generation interval translates into more rapid genetic progress. Source: Dairy Herd … [Read more...]
Boehringer-Ingelheim forum focuses on well-being, not welfare for farm animals
The 11th Boehringer Ingelheim Expert Forum on Farm Animal Well-Being recently convened in Australia. Delegates from around the world focused on the intersection between animal well-being and international trade. The discussion centered on how to recognize and measure well-being, and how this relates to introducing standards in a global market where appetite and capacity for … [Read more...]
Modern livestock production practices are environmentally friendly
A new study in published in Nature Sustainability shows that modern, high-yield agricultural practices that produce as much food on as little land as possible is good for the environment. Researchers associated with Cambridge University looked at the effects of Asian rice and European wheat cultivation, Latin American beef and European dairy production. They then measured the … [Read more...]
Interest building for NAVC Resource Library
NAVC’s recent introduction of the Veterinary Resource Library <link> is generating considerable interest from the veterinary community and manufacturers alike. Designed to eliminate the need for veterinary personnel to check multiple websites to seek information, the resource center is quickly building toward its objective of becoming a one-stop product portal. The … [Read more...]
Purdue establishes National Academy for Veterinary Medicine
"Vet Up! The National Health Careers Opportunity Program" (HCOP) Academy for Veterinary Medicine will address a national shortage of veterinarians in public health and rural and food animal practice and a significant lack of under-represented individuals entering the veterinary profession. Vet Up aligns with other programs already in place at Purdue, including being home to the … [Read more...]
What kind of thinker are you?
Technologies for collaboration are improving faster than people’s ability to learn to use them. . . . in today’s marketplace, the smartest companies aren’t those that necessarily out-produce the competition . . . it’s the organizations that outthink them. After a lot of co-creation and trial-and-error, Elisa Steele and Mark Bonchek developed a three-step method that … [Read more...]
Avoid toxic plant risks for livestock
Fall changes in plants, dryer conditions and a tendency to overgraze can put livestock at risk to consume toxic plants. Anna O'Brien reviews some common toxic plants to help livestock avoid: Milkweed Rhododendron/Azaleas/Mountain Laurel Pigweed Ragwort Foxglove White Snakeroot Cherry Trees Black Walnut Source: Hobby Farms, August 27, 2018. Link. … [Read more...]
Survey identifies needs, gaps to advance cattle care
U.S. beef producers and veterinarians identified animal handling and stockmanship as the two most important topics on which they could use additional training in a recent survey. Identifying and treating sick animals, and animal identification and training were also highly ranked. Written protocols and procedures, as well as written employee animal care commitments are the two … [Read more...]
Don’t ruin production with drought-stressed feed
The impact of this year’s drought conditions cover much of the country. It has reduced supplies of quality forage and grain. The practice of turning cows into fields to graze on total plants puts them at risk from the presence of aflatoxin, prussic acid or nitrate in the grazed crops. Aflatoxins are especially a threat to dairy farmers because they can render milk unsalable as … [Read more...]
Caterwauling, what and why
There’s nearly always a reason behind caterwauling, the higher pitched, drawn-out, melodic yowling sounds cats sometimes express, writes Angie Bailey. She shares some reasons for it, and what might help remedy the situation. Cats caterwaul: because they’re in pain as a signal they want to breed to alert us to outside activity when they are feeling insecure or … [Read more...]
Planning for a hobby that costs almost as much as children
Equestrians say that once they fall in love with a horse, there’s no turning back. The total cost per year for a horse is about $3,876, according to a University of Maine study. Over 30 years, an equestrian can pay out more than $116,200. Source: Bank Investment Consultant, September 11, 2018. Link. While the expenses related to horse ownership may make some financial … [Read more...]
Vetfolio announces new education programs
New programs offer free education. Minimizing Preoperative Vomiting and Maximizing Post-operative Care, sponsored by Zoetis <link> This two-part podcast series discusses strategies for preoperative management in dogs with an in-depth discussion on the role of a veterinary nurse in this clinical scenario. Dealing with Ixodes scapularis and Lyme disease … [Read more...]
Rebecca Robbins, DVM, receives 2018 Science in Practice Award
Dr. Robbins is the senior production veterinarian for Seaboard Foods. She sees the ultimate goal of what she does as serving the betterment of a healthy swine industry. She believes the problem-solving focus of swine practitioners sets the swine industry apart from other livestock segments. You cannot do this by yourself . . . It seems silly for me to receive this award when … [Read more...]
AAHA announces pet insurance plan and new board of directors
Congratulations to the new AAHA board members whose leadership began following the inaugural Connexity conference. AAHA also announced The AAHA Pet Health Insurance Program, offered by Petplan. The AAHA plan seeks to provide more options for pet owners seeking to manage the cost of veterinary care and is specifically designed to help clients pay for unexpected expenses for … [Read more...]
Nicely done, Beef Checkoff (includes video)
The popular “Beef, its what’s for dinner!,” campaign has been retooled and updated to be more relevant to today’s consumer. We think animal health pros will enjoy seeing the videos of the new ads and components. Commercials range in length from six seconds for sites like YouTube to a traditional 30 second ad for streaming services. Source: Drover’s, September 14, 2018. … [Read more...]
VFD audits. What to expect
Global VetLink recently held a webinar featuring presenters representing industry segments affected by the expanded veterinary feed directive (VFD) rules. General consensus surrounded rules and records. Follow the rules, keep good records and you shouldn’t have to worry about FDA audits John Maday presents information about the VFD and inspections in a question and answer … [Read more...]
Deciding when a pet’s behavior is a problem
Zazie Todd, PhD, explores behavior issues. Some we find endearing, some we tolerate,and some we struggle with. But she asks, “How do we know when a behavior issue is a problem?” Referencing an Italian study, she shares the three behaviors people were more likely to see as a problem: aggression towards other dogs, being fearful on walks and aversion to strangers. For many … [Read more...]
Watch out for “The iPhone Effect”
As a manager, when you talk with employees do you incessantly check your cellphone? Or, are the employees looking at theirs? “The iPhone Effect: The Quality of In-Person Social Interactions in the Presence of Mobile Devices,” was published in the journal, “Environment and Behavior.” It examined the relationship between the presence of mobile devices during social interactions … [Read more...]
Changing attitudes toward fish, the forgotten farmed animal
One of AHD’s objectives is to present information for you to consider in a neutral environment. We believe these articles are important for animal health pros. It’s time to reconsider how we think of fish and take a fresh look at how they are treated. Fish are the most utilized animals on Earth. Their numbers are hard to know. Exactly how many fish are killed for food … [Read more...]
Solar panels double as summer cow shades
Researchers at the University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center at Morris have installed solar panels that generate power and also provide cooling shade for cows and heifers. Power generation is the solar panels’ main purpose, of course. But positioned 8’ to 10’ above the ground surface, the panels can provide shade for 30 to 40 cows under one structure … [Read more...]
Clean meat? It may not be that simple
Dave Sjeklocha, DVM lives and works in cattle country. He thoughtfully writes about test tube meat, technological challenges, current production methods and other changes that need considering during the development of this potential resource. Receiving support from the likes of billionaires Bill Gates and Richard Branson, cultured meat has certainly garnered … [Read more...]
Sponsored content: Recently seen in AAHA NEWStat
We’re sharing sponsored content from NEWStat, one of several publications available from AAHA Press, the publishing arm of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). New study shows link the evolution of feline hypertension, Boehringer Ingelheim, September 1, 2018. Link. New study shows link between ticks and kidney disease, September 1, 2018. Link. Guide to … [Read more...]