Whether cross-country, by air or locally, it is critical to ensure pets are prepared for a trip for their health and to prevent potential zoonoses. This brings an increased need for animal health certificates, especially certificates of veterinary inspection that show pets are healthy and free of transmissible diseases. Digital health certificates make it easy to keep patients … [Read more...]
Backyard chickens? Wash your hands. Don’t kiss chicks.
Scott Weese, DVM, like many of us, is anti-Salmonella and anti-Campylobacter. He references CDC’s investigation notice about Salmonella Hadar infections being linked to backyard chickens. It also notes the likelihood of underreporting. The CDC provides a good list of preventive measures < link >. kids less than 5 years of age (and elderly people, pregnant women and … [Read more...]
Dairy topics: cow lying time, evaluating colostrum and virtual dairy tours
Keeping cows resting, improving measurements for failure of passive transfer and preparations for June Dairy Month are all actionable topics for animal health pros working with dairy producers. The Undeniably Dairy educational resources may interest people in your networks who plan to extend home education during summer. Take a few minutes to watch this virtual tour. < … [Read more...]
Beef topics: anaplasmosis, water and pandemic processing
Anaplasmosis, availability of water and its quality, and keeping processing teams aligned to limit coronavirus transmission concerns were among recent beef production discussions. Producers may have skimmed this information and need help with answers. It is also important to support the National Cattlemen’s Association’s Beef Quality Assurance trainings to help raise the … [Read more...]
True or False? Ticks can jump.
Stephanie Lantry, DVM, shares how ticks get around and how they find and attach to their hosts. They are pretty handy at getting onto a new host but they do not jump and without wings, they cannot fly. Source: PetMd, May 8, 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good reminder for animal health pros to monitor the parasite prevalence maps available at PetDiseaseAlerts.org … [Read more...]
Understanding the power of the gut
An organization at the forefront of microbiome research, The Morris Animal Foundation provides general information about the microbiome in this article. It is good background information for animal health pros. Source: Morris Animal Foundation, May 6, 2020. Link. Scientists are just learning how these organisms interact with each other, how they work together to promote the … [Read more...]
Hand hygiene is an EVERYDAY practice
We should know this, right? Ginger Fenton shares handwashing reasoning for dairy farms, but her message is a One Health message, too. Developing and implementing hygienic practices can be beneficial for all involved in protecting humans from diseases carried by animals and the reverse as farmers protect their animals from diseases that are spread by humans. Source: Dairy Herd … [Read more...]
FFA: $2 million in 2020 scholarships, 103 sponsors, 1,323 recipients
2020 marks the 36th year for the scholarship program, which began in 1984. Since then, more than $50 million has been awarded in scholarship funds through the National FFA Organization. Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you to supporting sponsors. Source: Rural Marketing News, March 11, 2020. Link. Approximately one in every four students who applied was … [Read more...]
Did you wash that egg?
Backyard chicken numbers continue to climb. Owners cite fresh, tasty eggs as one reason to have their own chickens. Bacteria can be a concern without proper care of the chickens and the eggs. Dianna V. Bourassa, PhD, shares ways to minimize bacteria risks. Source: Chicken Whisperer, Spring 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a resource worth sharing with folks keeping chickens … [Read more...]
Recent trending headlines from BEEF
BEEF offers a quick review of trending headlines from the last three weeks. Topics include: Improving returns on calves Dealing with environmental idiots The value of reproduction rates Proper timing is crucial for calfhood vaccinations Let calves grow or not? Source: BEEF, May 11, 2020. Link. Source: BEEF, April 27, 2020. Link. For a laugh see: … [Read more...]
Guidance for expanding veterinary care during the pandemic
Ontario inadvertently became a laboratory for implementing telemedicine and adjusted VCPR practices during the pandemic < link >. Scott Weese, DVM, shares the Guide to reopening veterinary medicine in Ontario, as a resource for veterinary teams as they prepare to provide more veterinary services while still minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. We’re going to … [Read more...]
Revisit the 3 Rs of client retention
This article is more current today than it was when Brenda Tassava, CVPM, CVJ, VLCE, wrote it in 2018. Communication diligence is one of the big lessons as we manage through a crisis. We cannot assume that one-and-done efforts will resonate or be remembered, let alone acted on. Tassava discusses the need to remind, recall and recheck, plus forward booking appointments with … [Read more...]
Goats get foot rot, too
All hoofed animals risk foot rot and related foot scald. The reason for hoof rot in goats is commonly wet, moist ground and damp weather, according to Janet Garman. Two organisms cause foot rot: Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides nodusus. Fusobacterium necrophorum lives in the soil and is anaerobic. That’s the situation in deep, muddy pastures or stalls. If F. … [Read more...]
Training and education available for backyard poultry raisers
With growing interest in backyard hens, and with some towns and cities allowing residents to raise chickens in their backyards, Alberta Farm Animal Care is hosting a Backyard Chicken webinar series for beginner poultry raisers. The series covers information on flock health, handling, costs, bylaws, breeds, coop design, diseases and more. Cassandra Kirkpatrick, Urban Hen … [Read more...]
Somatic cell counts spike in spring
Bacterial and somatic cell counts are used by dairy farmers and processors as indicators of milk quality. In general, the higher the counts, the lower the milk quality. Warm, wet spring weather provides the perfect opportunity for bacteria to breed and wreak havoc on milk quality. In order to stay ahead of a springtime spike, producers should focus on cow comfort, cow … [Read more...]
Pest buster listing for 2020
With resistance building among parasites that attack livestock and horses <link>, it is important to have a resource to identify options for pest and parasite management. BEEF magazine shared an updated listing for 2020 compiled from company supplied information and websites. Source: BEEF, April 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good tool for retailers, … [Read more...]
Keep the value of your vaccine dollars
Producers cannot afford to overlook the importance of how they store vaccines and handle them prior to injection, states Glenn Selk, PhD Biological products should be stored under refrigeration at 35⁰F to 45⁰F unless the nature of the product makes storing at a different temperature advisable (APHIS 2007). Producers cannot afford to overlook the importance of how they store … [Read more...]
Temple Grandin: Big is not bad. It is fragile.
Temple Grandin, Colorado State University animal science professor and autism advocate, weighs in on the current state of meat processing, the overwhelmed supply chain and possible animal welfare effects. Big operations are extremely cost efficient. That’s why they’ve been built this way, she says. The downside is the fragility of the supply chains, as Covid-19 proves. This … [Read more...]
Stop the imposter syndrome
Rhonda Brooks shares perspective about and solutions to offset impostor syndrome experiences. Seventy percent of people are affected at some point in their lives, notes Amy Ruple, DVM. The percentage may be higher among high-achieving veterinarians. The article includes 10 steps to help learn to think like a non-impostor from Valerie Young, EdD. Source: Bovine … [Read more...]
Move forward and live
Disney’s popular movie, The Rookie (2002), starred Dennis Quaid who plays Jim Morris, the oldest player in professional baseball. Morris shared the experience of getting there with AgriTalk in the context of the current pandemic recovery. He talks about meeting challenges head-on, perseverance and the value of surrounding yourself with the best people to be the best you can … [Read more...]
Robert Hummel, DVM, receives Industry Leadership Award
The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame has honored veterinarian and entrepreneur Robert Hummel with its 2020 Industry Leadership Award. He graduated from Ohio State University in 1961 and worked as an veterinarian for the American Cyanamid Company until he bought a small distribution company in 1967 that became Great Plains Chemical. Today, Hummel is most known for leading and … [Read more...]
Herd immunity in pigs: A case study for getting America back to work
Swine vets are working with medical doctors to apply the principles of her immunity practiced on farm to populations of workers in packing plants. Herd immunity is everyday language for swine veterinarians and managers. The synergies with the current Covid-19 pandemic are evident and algorithms from swine production provide strong skeletons for building human herd immunity … [Read more...]
Uncover hidden opportunities to save time and money in dairy operations
Pauly Paul shares the benefits of taking time to work alongside dairy workers. He says he routinely finds five areas where he commonly uncovers opportunities for saving time and money: Herd checks Breeding Hoof trimming Foot bathing Fresh and treated cow pens Source: Progressive Dairy, April 3, 2020. Link. Spending time working alongside employees can help … [Read more...]
BQA training specific to dairies is now online 24/7
Some packers now require BQA (or equivalent, FARM 4.0 or higher version) certification as a condition of their purchase of beef animals, including cull dairy cows and dairy beef steers. The Beef Quality Assurance program’s Dairy Animal Care and Quality Assurance (DACQA) and Dairy Cattle Care modules now are available online. The training units provide an excellent, virtual … [Read more...]
Parasite control strategies
Parasite resistance has taken root in most regions, writes John Maday. Ever-increasing scrutiny of antibiotic use and regulatory action has encouraged producers to focus more on prevention rather than treatment. Prevention mindedness is good news. Yet, both external and internal parasites have developed some resistance to treatment chemistries. Source: Drovers, March 2020, … [Read more...]
16 ways to get your emails read
Do you consider yourself a designer when writing an email? Dan Pallotta thinks so. He says a design approach is necessary to get emails read. He shares ways to achieve this. Source: HBR Ascend, September 2019. Link. A good design gives you an edge. It’s the difference between getting read or getting ignored. . . . develop an eye for the difference between visual order and … [Read more...]
Milk replacers versus fresh milk. A value discussion.
Someone recently said that milk replacers are more nutritionally consistent than fresh milk. Ioannis Mavromichalis, PhD, takes on the statement and discusses the value of fresh milk and milk replacer use in calf supplementation. Source: Feed Strategy, April 20, 2020. Link. . . . the notion that cow’s milk is unsuitable because it is too variable in composition simply makes … [Read more...]
Correcting dehydration is always job 1 with calf scours
Calf scours are complex, multi-factorial and expensive in the immediate and mid-term life of the animal. Alan Newport discusses calf scours causes, interventions and consequences. Prevention of scours requires the combined experiences of veterinarians and the calf care team. Source: Beef Producer, April 14, 2020. Link. The calf’s age is as important as the color of the … [Read more...]
STD Awareness Month applies to more than humans
Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month, better known as April, will be over soon. Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease that can cut a calf crop in half. Infected animals show no outward signs; it is a lifelong infection and there is no treatment. There is still time to have conversations to help producers understand the disease and work with a veterinarian to … [Read more...]
How to manage pinkeye
Fly season is well underway. It marks the beginning of pinkeye infections to come by mid-summer. Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK, or pinkeye). Pinkeye costs the beef industry an estimated $150 million annually. Historically, Moraxella bovis was considered the primary IBK pathogen. More recently, mixed cultures of M. bovis, Moraxella bovoculi and Mycoplasma … [Read more...]