Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 15, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the February 15th AHD Bulletin – Creating a Fear Free toothbrushing experience for pets (video). Link. Consistent ordinary produces extraordinary. Link. Improve the narrative with diagnostic listening. Link. … [Read more...]
Free Free’s revitalizes branding and tools signaling a broadening focus
Conventioneers attending Viticus’ WVC were introduced to a fresh look and promising improvements to the Fear Free platforms. According to the company’s press release, providing the best physical and emotional care for animals remains the core objective, along with making certification and training easier for animal pros. Source: Fear Free, February 19, 2024. Link. Working … [Read more...]
National FFA week
National FFA week celebrates and supports the future of agriculture. Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate the special week. It’s a time to share what FFA is and its positive effects on members daily. One of the most iconic symbols of the FFA is the blue corduroy jacket.” Source: RFD-TV. Link. … [Read more...]
Biosecurity is center of best farrow to finish performance
Biosecurity procedures that are implemented on-farm can be different in how they are performed but the principles remain the same. Success depends on ensuring biosecurity protocols are understood by everyone involved in the process. To be successful, multiple layers of protection should exist between the pigs and the outside. For sure, the best protocols don’t mean much without … [Read more...]
Managing for the profitable cow
Producers young and old need our help to optimize profitability. Sometimes the decisions seem counterintuitive but productive isn’t always profitable. Taliah Danzinger shares how the use of herd management data insights to monitor cow performance can help keep costs in check and maintain a profitable herd. Source: AgProud, January 25, 2024. Link. It is important to … [Read more...]
Winter break? Not for parasites or control plans.
Commercial Content Some ectoparasitism slows in winter but parasites such as mites and lice prefer the cooler time of the year, writes Elanco’s David L. Prentice, DVM, MS. He reviews the five primary types of mites in cattle, two types of lice and offers tips for effective mitigation and control of mange and lice. Source: Progressive Dairy, January 19, 2024. … [Read more...]
Adopt a Cow program reaches 50 states and 40 countries
Elementary and middle school students who participate in the Dairy Excellence Foundation’s Adopt a Cow program can watch calves grow up. The program allows students to learn about the sustainability of dairies and the nutrition of dairy products they consume at home. The program now reaches students throughout the U.S. and in 40 countries. Field trips encourage strong … [Read more...]
Respecting the cow: What does it cost you?
Ensuring comfort and calmness in the parlor can only benefit your bottom line, writes Jason Reid who frequently sees cows being negatively affected by the drive for speed and efficiency in dairy operations. He shares economic pros and cons of working too quickly and focusing on efficiencies that ignore what can put cows in a state of stress. Source: AgProud, January 25, … [Read more...]
USDA updates defense against African swine fever
AFS has not entered the U.S., thanks to continuing efforts to prevent this deadly swine disease from breaching the country’s borders. Yet, it is getting closer and shows no sign of stopping. This article gives an update on the global situation and USDA, APHIS and state efforts including surveillance of feral hogs. Source: National Hog Farmer, February 12, 2024. Link. The … [Read more...]
Strategic anaplasmosis management needed this season
There are concerns that anaplasmosis is reemerging throughout the U.S. The transmission of bacteria from ticks and horseflies is the initial cause, especially during heavy tick and fly seasons. Beef producers may control the disease with strategic pest control methods, good husbandry practices and antibiotics, writes Gilda V. Bryant. Source: Progressive Cattle, February 7, … [Read more...]
Improved winter grazing management
Commentary Livestock producers need animal health pros for more than medications and preventatives to be successful. Being aware of resources to share is one of the ways we can support the growth and development of healthy production. Consider this article when discussing ways to improve herd health. Winter is sometimes overlooked as a time to make improvements to range … [Read more...]
Cunning chameleon, M. bovis contributes to calf pneumonia
Mycoplasma bovis might seem harmless, but its presence increases a calf's chance of contracting bovine respiratory diseases by 74 percent, writes Geof Smith. Difficult to detect at onset, M. bovis is more common than producers think. It is hard to treat, too. Source: Ag Proud, January 30, 2024. Link. BRD caused by M. bovis is a threat to dairy calves and ultimately a dairy’s … [Read more...]
Body condition score in early lactation sets the fertility stage
There is a relationship between body condition and fertility. University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers studying fertility share that when diary cows lose a lot of body condition, they have much lower fertility than their herd mates that maintain or gain weight in early lactation. Source: Dairy Herd Management, January/February 2024. Link. It’s not a foregone conclusion … [Read more...]
Bedding makes a difference to cow comfort
Dairy cows will rest in a lying position 14 or more hours per day. Maximizing cow comfort during these periods is important to optimum production. Italian researchers compared wheat straw and poplar wood shavings focusing on the cleanliness of the beds and comfort of the cows resting on them in a small study worth noting and using to start a conversation on a farm … [Read more...]
CattleFax forecasts continued producer profitability
Profitable cattle production is always a pleasant thought. However, the downside for animal health pros will be the smallest beef cow inventory in the last 50 years. CattleFax says herd expansion will likely be delayed once again due to factors of uncertainty including drought. Source: Feedstuffs, February 2, 2024. Link. Also see: Drought’s heavy impact on decline of … [Read more...]
9 ways to resuscitate a newborn calf
Bovine veterinarians offer ways to help a calf at birth if needed. They assert the importance of improving their own resuscitation skills and teaching them to producers. Instead of drenching the calf with water . . . pour a small amount of cold tap water into one ear to activate neurons and stimulate the calf’s gasp reflex.” Source: Bovine Veterinarian, November 10, 2023. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 1, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 15, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 25th AHD Bulletin – Develop an opportunity mindset. Link. How dogs understand time. Link. An update on multi-drug-resistant parasites in horses. Link. ============================================ 8 Pet supply, service businesses on … [Read more...]
Studies: Early social housing helps dairy calves thrive
Dairy cows are social creatures so they seek contact with fellow calves after birth. Their eventual social status within herds can play a role in their access to water and food. Research results increase our understanding of paired housing in the critical newborn and pre-weaned stages of dairy calf lives. . . . housing designed to facilitate early socialization can build … [Read more...]
Ready or not, here they come
Oklahoma State University shares ways to get ready for calving season. The article is a good resource to send in newsletters or post on social media to help producers prepare for calving. Yes, they probably know most of this . . . but have they acted on it? Give them a nudge to save a middle-of-the-night emergency during a storm. Source: The Cattle Site, January 23, 2024. … [Read more...]
How to read cattle mineral tags
Pet food labels are not the only confusing product labels animal owners must read and decipher. Understanding how to choose the correct mineral for cattle can be challenging. This article from Penn State University provides an overview of how to read mineral tags. Source: The Cattle Site, January 24, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider this article as a resource when working … [Read more...]
Cattle industry and animal health pros gather for NCBA CattleCon
CattleCon24 provides education, networking, business ideas, advocacy and fun for those who work in the cattle industry. It’s happening in Orlando January 31 through February 2. Not going? Never been? Follow posts here: #cattlecon24 Source: NCBA. Link. See the floor plan and exhibitor list here <Link>. … [Read more...]
Episode 3, Zoetis’ Born of the Bond
Complimentary Sponsored Content The health of an operation depends on the health of its herd. This episode of The Born of the Bond Series documents the story of the Schuler Red Angus Operation. By being proactive in vaccinating their cattle, the Schulers have helped their operation avoid any serious health issues for more than two decades. The Born of the Bond series … [Read more...]
Biosecurity methods update, learning across segments
Driven by African swine fever, avian influenza, PRRS, the realistic risk of hoof and mouth disease, more livestock producers are paying more attention to how to protect our domestic food production animals and in the process protect human populations from zoonoses. We’re sharing two articles as animal health pros interact and work with animal owners. The devil remains in … [Read more...]
Don’t let dairy cows get lost in transition
One of the bigger threats to overall transition cow health is a reduction in dry matter intake while her energy requirements increase to support milk production. Mindy Ward gathered dairy management practices to help improve overall transition cow performance for this article. The transition cow is milking, producing more milk and not consuming enough calories to cover that . … [Read more...]
Dairy cattle genomics quietly improving sustainability
Since genomic testing became commercially available in 2008, more than 8 million U.S. dairy animals have been genotyped for dozens of key genetic traits related to milk production and quality, feed efficiency, reproductive viability and cow health. By optimizing genetics within their herds, dairy producers have successfully bred new generations of cows to produce more milk, … [Read more...]
Beef impact on dairy gestation
Little had been known about the impact of beef semen on the dairy cow until a project at Pennsylvania State University that was summarized in the Journal of Dairy Science. . . . using beef sires on your dairy herd isn’t going to hurt a herd of high-producing dairy cows.” – Bailey Basiel, PhD candidate Source: STgenetics, January 10, 2024. Link. Basiel reports there was a … [Read more...]
Marketing might benefit from some cynicism
Commentary We put Hannah O’Rourke’s article calling for more realistic messaging in this section acknowledging veterinarians serving producers are providing services and products in B2B settings focused on optimizing revenue in addition to animal health. She lends a dose of realism given how frequently products are presented as the Holy Grail with no room for business owners … [Read more...]
Ventilation required despite cold for backyard chickens
When temperatures fall below 35°F, supplemental heating is needed to keep backyard chickens from cold stress and frostbite. However ventilation is important to remove excess moisture and avoid a build-up of ammonia. Mary Hightower’s article provides several wintertime tips for backyard poultry raisers worthy of sharing on social media or in newsletters. Source: Farm Talk, … [Read more...]
Social media calendars help plan clinic outreach
Consistency, relevance and authenticity are key to fostering lasting relationships with your audience in the digital landscape, writes Adam Christman, DVM, MBA. His article is good guidance for veterinary clinic teams to help them avoid knee-jerk posting. A content calendar serves as a road map, enabling veterinary hospitals to plan their social media content systematically.” … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – January 18, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, January 11, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the January 11th AHD Bulletin – Understanding active listening and distractions. Link. The pros and cons of servant leadership. Link. 22 team-building activities and games for 2024. Link. ============================================ Study: Antibiotics … [Read more...]