It has only been five weeks, but the American Association of Swine Veterinarians 2018 annual meeting may seem a distant memory. Realistically, there has likely been little time to act on the information learned there. Now is a good time to refresh the action items from the meeting, discuss them with colleagues and industry representatives. Source: National Hog Farmer, March … [Read more...]
Search Results for: cat food
Urban poultry needs more regulation to protect human and animal health (includes video)
Backyard chickens are increasingly popular throughout the U.S. Nearly one percent of all U.S. households surveyed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported owning backyard fowl in 2013, and four percent more planned to start in the next five years. This is more than 13 million Americans flocking to the backyard poultry scene. Researchers from University of California - … [Read more...]
Feedyard sector featured in March 23 New York Times
Antibiotic resistance in cattle is the focus of, “Hamburger Central, Antibiotics for Cattle That Aren’t Sick,” an article posted online by the New York Times and in print with the headline, “Drugs Go to Healthy Cattle. Should Consumers Worry?” on March 23. The article features three officers of Cactus Feeders, Dr. Martin J. Blaser, a scientist at a Manhattan, New York, Veterans … [Read more...]
Chicken farming: evolving or returning to its roots?
Over the past 160 years, consumers and poultry farmers have changed the way we care for and eat chickens. The 19th-century fancier valued the beauty of the various breeds. Most consumers now value low prices more. Kenny Googan traces the evolution of the chicken industry. Source: Countryside Daily, March 27, 2018. The evolution of the chicken industry over the past century … [Read more...]
Demographic shift in pet ownership
Millennial pet ownership has surpassed baby boomers, according to a December 2017 Packaged Facts report on pet food in the U.S. The report also states that millennials account for 35 percent of all pet owners. Approximately 66.8 million households, which is more than half of U.S. households at 54.6 percent, owned pets in 2017. Source: Petfood Industry, March 8, 2018. … [Read more...]
USDA offering $75K for 3 years in designated DVM shortage area
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced 2018 veterinary shortage areas for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program last January, NIFA has designated 187 areas as having inadequate access to livestock and public health veterinarians. Now, NIFA is accepting applications for veterinarians who want to apply for a VMLRP award to … [Read more...]
Beef checkoff continues to enjoy strong approval
The most recent survey on the beef checkoff shows a higher percent of cattle producers approve of the program. often controversial, overall, beef producers are pleased with the performance of the checkoff, says Burt Rutherford, editor: 76% say the beef checkoff has contributed to a positive trend in beef demand 78% say the checkoff has value even when the economy is … [Read more...]
Kindest Care for wildlife
Bonnie Chasteen offers tips for dealing with baby wildlife as spring births are just around the corner. She cautions people to be aware of what lives around you, to avoid drawing animals close to your home and to remember that your family can get sick when handling baby wildlife. This is basic information. Posting it on social media, in websites and in newsletters will … [Read more...]
A new case for animal ID in beef industry
Greg Henderson tackles the important issue of traceability in the beef markets. He notes the impact of the Chipotle fiasco and the impairments that reluctance to trace activity places on exports and vertically integrated meat supply chains. Steve Williams, JBS USA head cattle buyer, names three rationales for animal identification standards: Export customers demand ID; a … [Read more...]
KC Animal Health Corridor continuing workforce development efforts
A 2015 study predicting a shortage in skilled labor for manufacturing jobs spurred Kansas City area manufacturers to begin developing meaningful workforce solutions. Since then, the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor has worked alongside industry executives to close skill gaps affecting the global animal health industry. One tool KCAHC developed is ExploreKCCareers.com. It … [Read more...]
New formulation of HyperRAB approved for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis
Grifols announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new higher potency formulation of HyperRAB (rabies immune globulin [human]) for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. The new formulation has twice the potency (300 IU/mL) of currently available rabies immune globulin options. This allows for fewer injections, along with a significantly lower volume of the … [Read more...]
Animal Health Digest receives Bronze VETTY Award
Our AHD team is pleased to be recognized with a 2018 Bronze VETTY in the category of Digital Education Tool, B2B/Trade. The VETTYS are the first and only animal health marketing awards competition created by NAVC. The competition focuses on products and services available through veterinarians or that support the veterinary profession, including pharmaceuticals, pet foods, … [Read more...]
Kitten knowledge makes things easier on them and you
Two articles address the topic of dealing with kittens that are frequently found on our doorsteps. Consider the perspectives as you answer questions from those who wish to save an abandoned litter or adopt a new kitten. For would-be cat owners, this information can be new and helpful. Source: What You Should Do If You Find A Kitten. Modern Cat. I hadn’t realized that … [Read more...]
8 fun scent games dogs love
Smell is the most powerful sense dogs possess. It is fully developed at birth. Dogs have up to 300 million sensors compared to six million in humans. The part of the dog brain that analyzes smells is 40 times bigger in dogs than humans. As pet owners, we frequently forget to include scent games as part of activities with our animals. Steve Duno shares some that owners can play … [Read more...]
Opinion – Local delivery may be an option
During a seminar explaining pet owner purchasing behaviors and confidence indicators, a colleague leaned over to me and said, “Florists deliver flowers locally, also pizza and now groceries, why don’t DVMs deliver pet supplies the same way?” His observation interrupted thoughts throughout the day alongside memories of how we used to do things before specialized small package … [Read more...]
Queens are righties, Toms are lefties
Female cats are more likely to be right-handed than males, research suggests. Research published in the Journal Animal Behavior, January 2018 presented these highlights: Lateralized spontaneous behavior in the domestic cat was explored for the first time. Cats showed a lateral bias for behaviors of stepping down and stepping over. Animals showed no significant … [Read more...]
Hilarious chicken questions; or not
These questions make it easy to see that most folks are generations away from on-farm poultry experiences. On the one hand, they are amusing; on the other, disturbing at best. Animal health pros have a long way to go to educate people about the animals in our food chains. Easter is Sunday April 1, 2018. Before the eggs hatch and the chicks get delivered to the local farm … [Read more...]
Pet owners prefer to buy from brick-and-mortar stores
Pet Food in the U.S., 13th Edition states that about 88 percent of dog owners and 93 percent of cat owners admit to buying food for their pets from a store within the last 12 months. One demographic most comfortable with non-traditional purchasing options is millennials. This group was more likely than any other to buy items through a website or app for home delivery or … [Read more...]
2016 antibiotic sales down 10 percent from 2015
The use of antibiotics in livestock production continues to be a hot topic with the threat of antibiotic resistance from superbugs. A new report indicates a reduction occurred even prior to the implementation of the VFD. Source: Dairy Herd Management, December 18, 2017. FDA released a 2016 summary report December 7, 2017 on “Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in … [Read more...]
Opinion – California raccoon distemper cases expose risks (includes video)
Cases of infected wildlife are not unusual. But, the human population encroachment into wildlife habitats has forced raccoons, skunks, coyotes and opossums to adapt to city living. In some areas, garbage cans, pet food dishes and potted gardens provide a more sustainable food supply than previous habitats. The result is an abundant, unbalanced critter population that inevitably … [Read more...]
375 kittens help identify obesity risks
A prospective study attempted to identify early life risk factors for cats to become overweight or obese. Results largely agreed with previously reported investigations of obesity risk factors. At two years of age, 25.3 percent of the study population was overweight or obese according to owners. The proportion was 36.8 percent when body condition score was measured by a … [Read more...]
Canine body language important for health, safety
Reading canine body language accurately is important for patient health and comfort, veterinary team safety and proper client education and consultation. Clues such as proximity preference, food acceptance, postures and expressions improve understanding of patient emotions. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, September 2017. The more relaxed a patient is, the more likely an … [Read more...]
Puppy poop infects 55 with Campylobacter bacteria
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have tracked Campylobacter infections in humans. The agency says infections that were linked to puppies from Petland have been reported between September 2016 and October 2017 in Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Source: HealthDay, October … [Read more...]
Animals can get bored
Animals can feel boredom, according to Charlotte C. Burn, a biologist at The Royal Veterinary Collge of the University of London. Her essay in the August issue of Animal Behavior, explains that boredom is felt by some animals left alone for long periods. Source: NPR, August 10, 2017. We need to look inward too, at our own homes. “As for the pets we live with,” Burn says, … [Read more...]
10 myths about farming to remember when you buy groceries
For those of us not actively engaged in farming and ranching, Jenna Gallegos, a plant biologist, offers important clarifications for pervasive myths about agriculture. Source: Washington Post, July 2, 2017 (paywall). Most farms are corporate-owned. This myth is probably the most pervasive on the list. It is also the furthest off-base. Nearly 99 percent of U.S. farms are … [Read more...]
Transportation stress adds layer of risk
Greg Henderson writes about transporting cattle, but this content is applicable to pigs and horses, as well. Transportation stress remains a primary determinant of how much work awaits feedyard employees. “Cattle that are hauled long distances go through many types of stress which could include maternal separation (weaning), transportation, water and feed deprivation and more,” … [Read more...]
Dental products you can recommend with a smile
Veterinary dentist Dr. Jan Bellows compiled this list of food, treats and more that are proven effective at maintaining the health of pets' teeth. She says that only 32 dog and 12 cat products have been approved by the VOHC. Click through to see what this means to you. Two of the 10 products showcased are manufactured by AHD Sponsor, Addison Biological Laboratory. Source: … [Read more...]
A short lesson on AVMA policy
Dr. Mark Helfat, chair of the AVMA board of directors, recently answered questions about what AVMA policies are, how they’re created and why they’re important. The association has 250 policies that span issues from animal welfare to food safety to antimicrobials to general practice. Source: JAVMA, April 12, 2017. AVMA policies exist in three primary categories and are … [Read more...]
An overview of rabbits’ teeth
This series of articles provide a good overview of rabbit teeth. Rabbits use their incisors to slice food, while the molars grind it down. Rabbits have 28 teeth. The ones we see most often are the four incisors in the front of the mouth. Behind the top incisors are two smaller incisors known as peg teeth. The 22 remaining teeth are molars and premolars and are known as cheek … [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...]