Livestock producers and farmers often get lumped together in terms such as, big ag, industrial farms and factory farming. These are not negative terms. In fact, industrial farms are good for the environment. Jayson Lusk, Oklahoma State University agricultural economics professor explains why in this well-researched op-ed. Source: New York Times Sunday Review, September 25, … [Read more...]
Search Results for: phone
Looking for a job? Your boss may know.
Even if you use personal email and phones to correspond with prospective employers, don’t assume your activity is confidential. You may leave a perfect data trail for your existing boss to see. Source: Washington Post, September 6, 2016. The startup, Joberate, scrapes publicly available data from millions of individuals’ online social media accounts, or buys it from other … [Read more...]
Be careful when you share your new job on social media
Social media is like an open microphone, says Megan Leonhardt, a writer for Money. When changing jobs, you don’t want to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. She offers tips for staying on message and in control. Don’t tip your hand Pace yourself Get in sync Break the news Source: Money.com, September 2016, page 30. 'Put a little thought behind the process,' … [Read more...]
Where to look, how to stand and what to do with your hands
Make eye contact. Keep your hands out of your pockets. Find balance between stiffness and fidgeting. Practice good posture. These are among tips experts give for improved communication. In conversation, "pretend your eyes are glued to your conversation partner's with sticky, warm taffy," Leil Lowndes, says. Source: Business Insider, August 20, 2016. Here are six body … [Read more...]
Handling scheduled drugs requires teamwork
Team accountability sums up this article about scheduled drug handling. Too frequently, we forget that inventory is managed best by a trained, knowledgeable team. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, August 2016, page 13. Team Takeaways: Veterinarians: Each veterinarian should carry his or her own individual DEA license, as well as any required state licensure, to ensure … [Read more...]
Love, hate, indifference on antibiotic rules
John Maday reviews preliminary qualitative feedback from an online survey currently in process. The rules in question include: FDA’s Guidance for Industry 213, which removes performance or production claims from the labels of medically important antibiotics. Expanded veterinary feed directive (VFD) rule which ends over-the-counter purchases of medically important … [Read more...]
Tech to help dogs talk
Special vests that enable dogs to send audible messages will help rescue-trained pups and service animals. Source: Petcha, June 8, 2016. A research team at the Georgia Institute of Technology has developed a new vest that allows dogs to respond to their owners, CNN reports. The vest comes equipped with sensors that the dog can use to send text notifications or audible … [Read more...]
Tips for good horse photos
Shows, rodeos and fairs pepper summer days into fall. Cellphone cameras make shooting a photograph easy. However, many of these photos are just snapshots instead of something that represents a horse and rider in the best light. Mary Cage provides good tips to use when photographing horses. Source: American Racehorse, May/June 2016. (direct link unavailable). Various factors … [Read more...]
Make a list of unethical things you’ll never do
Most people want to make a positive difference and remain ethical. But, it is easy to take shortcuts, cheat or stretch the truth. Like it or not, cellphone cameras make our behaviors more easily scrutinized today than ever before. We like this exercise of writing down what you won’t do. See what you think. Source: Harvard Business Review, May 30, 2016. Write a list of … [Read more...]
Petcube is Skype for Fido and Fluff
The stress of being stuck in traffic or working late while one’s dog or cat waits at home may be eased with Petcube, a new smart camera. Paired with a smartphone app, it lets users watch, talk and play with pets in real time time using a laser pointer. Source: Sacramento Bee, May 4, 2016. It’s basically like Skype for you and your pet, but your pet doesn’t have to pick up … [Read more...]
4 networking mistakes to stop making immediately, if not sooner
The old joke goes, “You can easily tell if a DVM is an introvert or extrovert. The extroverted DVM is the one who looks at YOUR shoes during a discussion.” Natural tendencies make networking difficult for some, whether they’re introverts or extroverts. This article provides sound considerations for networking. Source: Inc, May 4, 2016. In environments where you should be … [Read more...]
The skill to make something happen
While industry and product knowledge is important to success, there is too much emphasis placed on being all-knowing in those areas. The skill to influence and produce a result is more critical. Yet, we spend hours developing a killer strategy and when it comes time to implement it we wing it. Then, we cannot understand why everyone isn’t buying our carefully crafted plan and … [Read more...]
Free April AQHA Journal
This month's digital edition of The American Quarter Horse Journal, plus the Journal High-Point Supplement, are free for readers to enjoy via computer, tablet or phone. Many animal health professionals are aware of the AQHA but may never have seen its publication. Source: America’s Horse, April 11, 2016. Whether you’re a die-hard competitor, recreational rider, a horse … [Read more...]
Text from your computer
Texting is rapidly becoming the primary way of communicating. Working in an email environment creates challenges for sending links or messages to someone’s cell phone. We found this handy listing for simple ways of sending text messages from the internet or from your computer to phones. These email addresses act as direct links to a carriers’ SMS gateways. Source: Martin … [Read more...]
Equine vaccination Q and A
Horse owners have questions about vaccines. Nancy Loving, DVM addresses common questions from magazine readers in this article. Veterinary teams, dealers and representatives will find value in understanding the horse owner perspectives. The questions remind us that our knowledge when not shared leaves our customers with questions. Source: The Horse, March 2016, page 16. … [Read more...]
New rabies regulation can save lives
This consumer information is important to veterinary teams and the company representatives who call on them. Rabies vaccinations remain critical to incidence control in all mammalian populations. Read the info, follow the links and determine hospital protocols. Once decisions are complete and vet team members on are all on board, assertively communicate your rabies protocols to … [Read more...]
Cats speak for good reasons
Since we can’t understand their body language, cats learn to vocalize based on their needs and human environments. Veterinary teams and retail associates will find this interesting, as will animal health pros who own cats. Source: Washington Post, February 24, 2016. Swedish phonetics expert and cat lover Susanne Schötz has developed a program to analyze and interpret cat … [Read more...]
Quiz: Are You a Client Compliance Expert?
Compliance in veterinary medicine is defined as the patient receiving the care the veterinary team believes is best. The acronym CRAFT, where compliance = recommendation + acceptance + follow-through, can help the team remember this definition. It is important that the client accepts recommendations. Following the recommendations at home is just as important. Source: … [Read more...]
Shorter meetings. More action.
Veterinarians, veterinary assistants and sales persons will benefit from Peter Bregman’s assertions in this short article. Learn how leading meetings with a hyper-focused approach changes the value of meetings. Check your cellphone at the door and come prepared! Source: Harvard Business Review, February 22, 2016. If you have half the time to accomplish something, you become … [Read more...]
Free winter travel app is chillin’
If you travel across wintry landscapes, this app’s for you. Learn how the Winter Survival Kit smartphone app can help during risky winter driving conditions. Source: High Plains Journal, January 9, 2016. “The Winter Survival Kit app can be as critical as a physical winter survival kit if you find yourself stuck or stranded in severe winter weather conditions,” said Mary … [Read more...]
Livestock wearables now reality
The art of reading a cow is being augmented by actual measurements from wearable digital technology. Herdsmen with cellphone technology can monitor body temperatures, heat cycles, rumen conditions, GPS locations and more. Source: Modern Farmer, January 28, 2016. The market for wearable technology for animals is expected to grow from around $1 billion currently to $2.5 … [Read more...]
Editorial – Understand the customer’s perspective
People often like to discover their own solutions. Technologies, processes and practices have tactically improved the business of people doing business with people. This doesn’t mean folks don’t want help at times. Too often, companies look at customers as cash machines that can satisfy shareholders and offer solutions without the customer in mind. When we approach business … [Read more...]
Where do dogs really come from?
A new study may help us understand the origin of modern dogs as we know them. Scientists have some consensus but many hypothesis are still at odds. Source: The New York Times, January 18, 2016. One reason for the conflicting theories, according to Greger Larson, a biologist in the archaeology department at the University of Oxford, is that dog genetics are a mess. In an … [Read more...]
How Apple’s Trojan horse will eat the credit card industry
Lower fees, better service, and faster transactions. We won’t need to carry paper money and credit cards any more – just our cellphones. Can it be real? More secure? Can we trust it? All this and more is presented in this intriguing story relevant to anyone who carries credit cards or accepts them at their businesses. Source: Washington Post, December 21, 2015. Apple Pay … [Read more...]
Runny nose
Horse owners will likely keep this checklist and photo-filled story on equine nasal discharge. The article will cause horse owners to notice their horses’ sniffles and consider calling their veterinarian. Veterinary hospital personnel will appreciate the resource, as well. Source: Equus, January 2016, page 26. (direct link unavailable) The color, odor, quantity and … [Read more...]
Ready to roast? Beef app helps.
Holiday events, traditions and gatherings frequently center on food. For this Midwesterner, this often meant special treats and recipes from grandmothers, aunts, uncles and other relatives. Certain foods never seemed to be prepared as well as elder relatives used to do. Often, those recipes disappeared with those relatives after they passed on. Beyond hamburgers and steaks, … [Read more...]
The Online Client Education Survival Guide
Google has made the client education process a bit more immediate, for which many veterinary hospital teams are unprepared (think client searching terms on an iPhone during a post exam consultation). This article discusses options for veterinary practice teams to proactively prepare for on-the-spot client education. Source: Veterinary Team Brief, September 2015 page … [Read more...]
ABM Agri Media Council’s research
For marketing managers and reps, Jack Semler provides a quick overview of past "Media Channel" study results examining media usage habits of farmers and ranchers in 2010, 2012 and 2014. The study shows that a general shift to digital preference is clear, while key decision makers are still reliant on people and printed materials. Source: Agrimarketing : July August 2015 page … [Read more...]