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...]
Bovine Veterinarian: What to expect from the 2020s, 8-part series
Veterinarians provide their thoughts on the key challenges and opportunities for success during the 2020s in this insightful series. Their comments are a directional microcosm facing bovine practices, as well as veterinary practices in general. . . . veterinarians serve as forward-looking change agents in animal agriculture, as they continuously evaluate new systems, products, … [Read more...]
New BVDV-PI rule in Texas
The Texas Animal Health Commission adopted a rule to mitigate the risk of uninfected cattle being exposed to bovine viral diarrhea virus persistently infected cattle. . . . newly adopted rule defines which cattle are classified as BVDV-PI . . . requires the seller of a BVDV-PI animal to disclose the status in writing to the buyer prior to or at the time of sale. Source: … [Read more...]
Dehorning, castration guidelines updated to include pain mitigation
The American Association of Bovine Practitioners is the go-to organization for government and policymakers when it comes to cattle health, production and well-being issues. Its animal welfare committee has updated the sections in the guidelines on proper restraint, local anesthesia and systemic pain relief. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, December 30, 2019. Link. In 2019, the … [Read more...]
Fair Oaks Dairy; what’s different now? (video)
Mike McCloskey says he didn’t think it would ever happen on their farm. Now, months after the allegations, he shares the changes made including more video oversight, intense animal welfare training and additional veterinarian resources. Fair Oaks Farms is a dairy and agri-tourism destination in Indiana. It prides itself on opening up its operation, being transparent and … [Read more...]
The evolution of metaphylaxis
Tom Latta, DVM, outlined the history and current trends in metaphylaxis for feedyard cattle during the recent AABP Conference. Since its beginnings in the 1970s, procedures have evolved with the availability of more effective antibiotics, more regulation of veterinary medications, greater emphasis on food safety, antibiotic residues and prevention of antibiotic resistance. … [Read more...]
Keep vets protected on the farm
We often bemoan the need to minimize veterinarian exposure to liability on farm. But, with growing numbers of veterinary students who grew up in the suburbs and have little to no real experience in handling livestock, the potential of injuries increases. Kenneth Brown, JD, DVM, shares steps for veterinarians to minimize the risk of liability and avoid problems. Source: … [Read more...]
Tick study: One single tick, multiple pathogens of tick-borne diseases
Ticks can carry several different pathogens capable of several different tick-borne diseases, sometimes in a single tick, according to a study in mBio < link >. Notably, the lone star tick is a very aggressive tick that can transmit a bacterium that causes a disease known as Ehrlichiosis. The lone star tick has also been implicated in cases of a novel form of meat … [Read more...]
USDA wants nominations for areas short on vets
Veterinarians who commit to practicing in areas short of veterinary services can get help from USDA’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. It is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). NIFA identifies the locations in greatest need for veterinarians through a nomination process. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, September 3, 2019.Link. The … [Read more...]
Zoonotic diseases drive One Health approach
Seventy five percent of emerging infectious diseases of people are zoonotic, or originated with animals according to the CDC. John Maday reminds us that these diseases can pose a health risk to farm workers through animal contact, and potentially to the public overall, either through contact with animals or disease vectors such as mosquitos or ticks, or through contaminated … [Read more...]
Handle MLVs with care (includes video)
Modified-live vaccines must be handled and stored properly if they are to be efficacious. This article and a YouTube video cover basics that are helpful for newbies and old hands alike. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, July 3, 2019. Link. Incorrect storage, exposure to sunlight and delayed administration all can reduce or even eliminate the effectiveness of an MLV, cautioned New … [Read more...]
Preweaning BRD is the leading cause of mortality in young calves
Presentations during the recent Academy of Veterinary Consultants meeting reviewed research with BRD-caused mortality in young calves. The mix of pathogens involved in preweaning BRD is similar to older calves. Diagnostics labs find Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni, mycoplasma and coronavirus, usually in association with at least one other … [Read more...]
Microbiome; it’s a bug eat bug world
“The microbiome is a collection of different microorganisms that we find in the intestinal tract of animals, and we know these microorganisms are essential to immune development,” says Christopher Chase, DVM. “Understanding how they interact with the gut, and particularly the epithelium of the gut, is really important.” In the last decade, research has shown the epithelial … [Read more...]
Check bulls before they get turned out
An annual breeding soundness exam is vital to ensure bulls will be fertile and physically sound at turnout, writes Wyatt Bechtel. Good genetics are useless if the bull is unable to perform his job when covering a cowherd or group of heifers. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, March 27, 2019. Link. Bechtel shares the four parameters to a breeding soundness exam and what … [Read more...]
Commentary – Manage cattle pain for their benefit and yours
Cattle pain management is at long last a viable topic when it comes to taking care of beef and dairy cattle. Two commentaries in Bovine Veterinarian are worth reading. The first, by editor John Maday, calls on veterinarians to advocate for animal welfare and consumer preferences, even though clients may resist. The second was written by Brandon Treichler, DVM and quality … [Read more...]
Bragging rights: Top veterinary universities
Rankings prepared by Quacquarelli Symonds ranks The University of California – Davis in the number 2 spot globally for 2019. The ranking makes it the top-ranked veterinary university in the United States. Eleven North American schools are ranked in the top 25 as shown below: University of California – Davis (#2)Cornell University (#5)University of Guelph (#7)The Ohio … [Read more...]
Trick cows to calve in the daylight
Few cattle producers like to get out of bed to check the cows at 2:00 a.m. It’s cold and dark then. When late-day feeding is implemented, field studies and researchers all report 80 percent or more of cows calve in the daytime. . . . to have more cows and heifers calve in daylight hour, try to delay putting out hay and cubes until late in the day. . . The class of … [Read more...]
Researchers bust antimicrobial-resistance myth
It would seem logical to assume beef from cattle treated with antibiotics would carry more resistant bacteria than beef from “antibiotic-free” production systems. Testing this hypothesis researchers with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have shown shows similar levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in ground beef raised with and without antibiotics. The … [Read more...]
Refine receiving protocols to assess morbidity risk
At the recent Academy of Veterinary Consultants conference, John Richeson, Ph.D., discussed how the use of new chute-side diagnostic tools have potential to help cattle feeders assess morbidity risk for individual cattle upon arrival. This could potentially reduce antibiotic use in mass treatments while improving health outcomes. Citing Kansas State University research, … [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...]
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...]
Healthy cows start with healthy people
For livestock veterinarians, maintaining the health of a herd, as well as a good relationship with their owner is an important aspect of the job. Bovine Veterinarian has three white papers available that are full of tips to help DVMs ensure a long-lasting relationship with farmers and ranchers. The topics are: Foreign-disease prevention Monitoring human health … [Read more...]
Opinion: Fly services have potential
There is historical rationale in the recommendation for veterinary practices to add a fly control service for their clients. More than 35 years ago, we had master fly-baiter contests and awards to help promote fly control at a time when our industry was just learning the science behind preventing production losses and transfer of diseases such as pinkeye and anaplasmosis. In … [Read more...]
Lepto: important but potentially misleading
Suspected cases of leptospirosis deserve a comprehensive investigation, writes John Maday. Infertility issues are typically multi-factorial and may be difficult to diagnose, but the causes usually involve non-disease issues such as bull fertility, cow nutrition, genetics, toxins or others. Some producers can mistakenly assume they have a lepto problem and focus on that while … [Read more...]
VFD, one year later
To explore firsthand experiences and client challenges through the first year of the VFD rules, John Maday asked a group of bovine veterinarians from around the country to summarize their experiences. Mike Appley, DVM, believes the VFD has helped generate collaboration between veterinarians and clients in developing better disease-prevention protocols including vaccinations, … [Read more...]
Pinkeye often flares in fall
“Pinkeye, or keratoconjunctivitis, is an infectious disease of cattle that costs producers money in several ways,” says Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian. He and Neil Dyer, an NDSU pathologist, notes that the bacteria Moraxella bovis is one of the primary agents in pinkeye, although Moraxella ovus and Moraxella bovoculi have also been isolated. … [Read more...]
Unique research collaboration studies immunity in feedyards
The labels have always read, “for the vaccination of healthy animals” but based on convenience, tradition and a perception of urgency, feedyards often vaccinate calves with modified live virus (MLV) vaccines upon arrival, after they’ve been weaned, commingled, loaded, shipped, shrunk and stressed. Delayed viral vaccination, along with use of an immunostimulant, could help … [Read more...]
Cornell University launches vector-borne disease center
To better understand, prevent and treat diseases passed from insects to people, the Cornell University-led Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases will launch later this month, thanks to a $10 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, January 11, 2017. The center will have six applied research … [Read more...]
17 days left to become VFD compliant
Despite tremendous educational efforts, many producers and veterinarians remain unclear on the details about using medicated feeds for prevention, control and treatment of disease in their herds effective January 1, 2017. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, December 5, 2016. FDA officials have indicated their enforcement activities will focus on education during the initial months … [Read more...]