Veterinary Practice

Where Euthanasia Delays Begin on Farm

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:36:43 GMT

Perhaps you have experienced a similar situation: there is a down cow that lingers longer than it should, or a calf that continues to decline despite repeated reassessment, and eventually it becomes clear the issue was not a lack of effort, but a delay in acting when the outcome was already decided. These cases tend to stick with you because they reveal something deeper about how decisions actually unfold on the farm.

As Dr. Mariana Guerra-Maupomé, professional services veterinarian with TELUS Agriculture, puts it, “The main problem is not the lack of guidance. We have plenty of standards and guidelines. The main problem is the failure to turn concern into timely action.”

Most farms are not struggling because they lack knowledge, but because their systems do not consistently support acting at the right time, even when the need is recognized.

Beyond the Euthanasia Method

Euthanasia discussions often center on technique, and that makes sense. Proper execution is important. However, when you step back and look at where things break down, the issue is rarely how euthanasia is performed. More often, it is when the decision is made and how long it takes to move from recognition to action.

This is where the two-clock model becomes especially useful for veterinarians trying to diagnose system failures on farm.

“Clock 1 starts when a compromised animal is identified to when the decision is made, the decision to euthanize. Clock 2 starts when the decision to euthanize is followed by the procedure of euthanasia and the confirmation of that,” Guerra-Maupomé says.

In practical terms, the model separates euthanasia into two distinct types of delay:

Clock 1: Recognition-to-decision delay
Where uncertainty, unclear thresholds or hesitation slow downs the decision itself
Clock 2: Decision-to-action delay
Where logistics, training or equipment affects how quickly euthanasia is carried out

Most farms have invested effort in improving Clock 2, ensuring once a decision is made the procedure is performed correctly and efficiently. The larger and more persistent challenge lies in Clock 1, where unclear expectations or hesitation can delay decisions by hours or even days.

This distinction matters, because it shifts the focus from refining technique to understanding why action is not happening sooner.

Delay Is More Than a Welfare Problem

It is easy to frame delayed euthanasia strictly in terms of animal welfare. But in a production setting, the consequences extend well beyond that. Delayed decisions affect not just the animal, but the broader operation.

“Late euthanasia creates three types of risk: clinical risk, animal welfare risk and business or compliance risk. With euthanasia being delayed, there’s non-compliance to audit, reputational risk for the industry and supply risk for the industry as well,” Guerra-Maupomé says.

Positioning euthanasia within this broader context often resonates more strongly with producers, because it connects timely decision making to efficiency, compliance and long-term sustainability, rather than isolating it as a standalone welfare issue.

Where Systems Tend to Break Down

When delayed cases are reviewed, the same patterns tend to emerge reflecting a lack of clarity in how decisions are structured and communicated. One of the most consistent issues is vague guidance around reassessment. Without clear expectations, cases drift and repeated evaluation replaces decisive action.

“Stop using vague language like ‘Let’s monitor or recheck later.’ Define exactly when you are going to check. The decision trees suggest checking in less than 24 hours, but I would encourage you that you can even check in six to 12 depending on the severity,” Guerra-Maupomé says.

This is where Clock 1 quietly ticks on. Each undefined “recheck later” adds time. Without a clear endpoint, the system defaults to waiting rather than progressing toward a decision.

Role Clarity Keeps the Clocks Moving

Even when the clinical picture is clear, delays can still occur if roles are not well defined. When responsibility is ambiguous, decisions are often deferred, and cases stall despite obvious need. Strong systems prevent that by establishing a clear flow of responsibility.

“The caretaker identifies a compromised animal and escalates. The supervisor makes a decision to euthanize the animal. Next, a trained operator executes the procedure promptly, and then the operator or supervisor confirms that and documents,” Guerra-Maupomé explains.

This structure helps keep both clocks moving, ensuring once a problem is identified, it progresses steadily toward action without unnecessary delay.

The Veterinarian’s Role in Euthanasia Decisions

This type of structure also changes how veterinarians fit into the process. In many operations, euthanasia decisions still depend heavily on veterinary input, which can unintentionally slow things down, particularly when access is limited or communication is delayed.

A more effective approach positions the veterinarian as a system designer and reviewer.

As Guerra Malcome explains: “The veterinarian should never be the bottleneck for a case. The veterinarian is there to help train, audit and review the system. A veterinarian has an oversight role and can help at every single step.”

When farms operate this way, decisions can be made promptly on site while still benefiting from veterinary guidance, training and ongoing oversight.

The Human Side of Delay

It is also important to recognize not all delays are structural. Some are human, and those factors can be just as influential.

These challenges tend to show up in predictable ways on the farm:

Hesitation in clear-cut cases, even when prognosis is poor
Repeated reassessment without escalation, particularly in borderline animals
Avoidance of decision-making, especially among less experienced staff

This is where system design intersects with human behavior.

“A clearer and more structured system does not just improve decisions. It also lifts a weight off the staff. By providing clear protocols and structured support, we reduce ambiguity, delay and the staff burden,” Guerra-Maupomé says.

Reducing ambiguity helps reduce hesitation, which in turn shortens Clock 1 and improves outcomes.

Insight Into Action

Improving euthanasia outcomes does not require complex interventions, but it does require intentional system design and follow through. A few focused changes can make a meaningful difference:

Define clear, time-based reassessment points so Clock 1 does not drift
Assign primary and secondary decision makers to prevent hesitation
Ensure trained personnel are available to carry out euthanasia promptly
Review both clocks regularly to identify where delays are occurring

These steps help create a system where decisions are made and acted on consistently, rather than reactively or inconsistently.

A Process, Not a Moment

Euthanasia is often thought of as a single act, but in practice, it is a process shaped by how quickly problems are recognized, how clearly decisions are made and how reliably systems support follow-through.

The two-clock model makes that process visible. One clock measures how long it takes to decide, and the other measures how long it takes to act. Both matter, but in many cases, it is the first clock that ultimately determines the outcome.

For veterinarians, the opportunity is to influence both. Because in the end, the difference between a good outcome and a poor one is rarely about knowing what to do, and far more often about whether the system supports doing it at the right time.

From Good to Best: Record Keeping That Actually Gets Used

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:15:14 GMT

Most farms are not short on data. They are short on recorded, usable data.

Some have spreadsheets, some use software, some have their treatment sheets printed. But unless the numbers are prioritized, cleaned up and reviewed, they rarely change management decisions.

As Bethany Dado-Senn, calf and heifer technical specialist with Vita Plus, puts it: “The cows don’t lie. They’re trying to tell us all the time what is going on. But if we don’t have any way to measure their outputs and the results, then we can’t do anything about it.”

The real challenge is not collecting everything, but collecting what matters and building a system veterinarians and producers can sustain together.

A practical framework helps: prioritize, essentialize and systemize.

1. Prioritize: Decide What Actually Matters

Before adding another metric or installing another program, start with focus.

“We need to start small. We need to identify what our top priority is to start,” says Kelly Sporer, farm data consultant with Cornerstone Ag Management. “We can’t look at everything and say ‘We’re just going to start, we’re going to dive in, we’re going to do it all.’”

Trying to track everything almost guarantees that nothing will be done well.

Instead, identify the two or three numbers that will move the herd forward right now. Those priorities will differ by farm.

“Everything that we do, we have to think about that customer, that relationship or that client, and what they’re trying to do and where they are now,” Dado-Senn says.

For example, a veterinarian might help a producer prioritize:

Fresh cow losses
Calf morbidity trends
Pregnancy rate
Early-lactation culling

The goal is focus, not complexity. Once priorities are clear, progress becomes measurable.

2. Essentialize: Remove What Gets in the Way

“A lot of the dairies we work with are not collecting completely comprehensive data,” Sporer says.

Even when farms try to track data, the system often breaks down. When records are entered inconsistently, the story they tell can be misleading.

Dado-Senn recalls once reviewing records that appeared to show catastrophic losses: “I’ll look back and it’ll look like we had a mass die-off one month, but it was really just the one month they finally cleaned their records up.”

Incomplete data makes analysis nearly impossible.

“If we have incomplete and inaccurate data, I can do a whole lot for you as far as data analysis, but we can’t do very much in ways of recommendations or changing anything in management,” Dado-Senn says.

And if the data is never reviewed with the intention of making changes, motivation disappears.

“If nobody is looking at it, that data is completely useless to the farm that’s spending valuable time collecting it,” Sporer says.

Essentializing can help with this by removing friction.

That might involve:

Standardizing health event terms
Assigning one person responsible for data entry
Recording events the day they happen
Simplifying treatment sheets
Reviewing numbers regularly with the herd team

The veterinarian plays an important role here, helping define case definitions, treatment thresholds and consistent terminology so the records reflect real clinical events.

3. Systemize: Move From Good to Better to Best

Record keeping does not need to be perfect. The key is building a system that improves over time.

“This is not about being super robust. It’s about starting somewhere,” Sporer reminds.

GOOD — The basics are written down

Deaths recorded somewhere
Pregnancy checks entered
Treatments written down

BETTER — Records become organized

Health events recorded consistently
Reasons for death or culling included
Data entered into herd software

BEST — Data drives decisions

Trends reviewed by age or stage of lactation
Protocol changes evaluated before and after
Health and reproduction trends analyzed over time

The goal is simple: When management changes, records help answer one question: Did it work?

That is when records stop being paperwork and start becoming management tools.

Importantly, not every farm needs to operate at “best” immediately. Progress from inconsistent notes to reliable digital entry is already a major improvement.

5 Record-Keeping Mistakes That Make Data Useless

Collecting data takes time. But when records are incomplete or inconsistent, the information becomes nearly impossible to use.

Recording data months later
Events should be recorded as close to real time as possible.
Using vague or inconsistent health terms
Different staff describing the same condition differently makes data nearly impossible to analyze.
Collecting data no one reviews
Review meetings reinforce why records matter.
Incomplete herd inventory
Animals still listed in the system long after leaving the herd distort nearly every performance report.
Trying to track everything at once
Strong record systems develop step by step.

Partnership Turns Numbers Into Action

Record keeping works best when it is collaborative.

“When everybody is working toward the same goal, which is the success of the farm, there’s no room for pointing fingers,” Dado-Senn says.

The veterinarian–producer partnership is central to building that culture.

Veterinarians translate trends into management insights. Producers provide the operational context that explains what is happening in the barn.

Together they decide what to track, how to track it and when to review it.

Without that collaboration, records sit unused. With it, they guide decisions from calf to cow.

When farms prioritize what matters, remove unnecessary barriers and build simple systems together, record keeping moves from good to better to best. That’s when the numbers start working for the herd.

How to Prevent Needlestick Injuries in Livestock Practice

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:30:06 GMT

Most injection injuries in food-animal practice never make it into an incident log. They happen, they sting and the work continues. But some of them are not minor. Some require urgent medical care, and recognizing which is which can prevent permanent damage.

Dr. Jeff Bender, veterinarian and director of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center at the University of Minnesota, recently spoke on the significance of accidental self-injection as an underreported occupational hazard in livestock medicine. It can be common to continue working, assuming the exposure is harmless, but that assumption is not always correct.

Immediate Response: Slow Down and Assess

When a needlestick occurs, the first step is to stop. Do not finish the chute run. Do not assume it is minor.

Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and note the time of exposure. Identify the exact product involved, how much was injected and where. A superficial puncture through clothing is very different from a deep injection into a finger or thumb.

Bring the product bottle and label to medical care. Most physicians and emergency departments are unfamiliar with livestock pharmaceuticals. The clinical risk depends heavily on whether the product is oil-based, long-acting, hormonal, sedative or modified live.

As Bender emphasizes: “Make sure you grab the bottle, take this bottle with you to the urgent care or the clinic, and let them know this is what you got.”

Tetanus status should also be confirmed at the time of evaluation.

Certain exposures warrant immediate medical attention:

Oil-adjuvanted vaccines
Sedatives, such as xylazine
Hormonal products, such as prostaglandins

Further, if there is increasing pain, swelling, pallor or neurologic symptoms, medical attention is required. These are not wait-and-see injuries.

Not All Products Carry Equal Risk

The severity of a needlestick injury depends far more on the product than on the needle.

Oil-adjuvanted vaccines pose the greatest risk for local tissue damage. Oil-based products can trigger intense inflammatory reactions, increasing pressure within confined spaces like digits. Compartment syndrome, tissue necrosis and surgical intervention are real possibilities. Any digital injection with an oil-based vaccine should be treated as a potential surgical emergency until proven otherwise.

Sedatives present a different type of danger. Even small amounts absorbed systemically can lead to hypotension, respiratory depression, bradycardia or sudden collapse. Exposures involving sedatives warrant urgent evaluation and monitoring.

Bender shares a story highlighting how unpredictable animal behavior adds risk: “Recently, one of our residents had xylazine, and a rambunctious horse caused her to squirt it in her eye. She passed out, and luckily, she didn’t hit her head or anything.”

Hormonal products also deserve heightened caution. Prostaglandins and other reproductive hormones can have systemic effects and pose particular risk to pregnant individuals. What is a small dose for a cow can have meaningful physiologic consequences in a human.

Modified-live vaccines raise concerns about zoonotic potential depending on the organism involved, reinforcing the need for product-specific evaluation. Antibiotics and long-acting depot formulations are often underestimated. Allergic reactions, hypersensitivity and prolonged local inflammation are possible, particularly with depot products that extend tissue exposure time.

The guiding principle is simple: identify the compound before deciding the injury is minor.

Why Human Medicine May Struggle to Advise

Emergency physicians rarely encounter livestock vaccines or reproductive hormones. When a veterinarian or farm worker presents after an accidental injection, the provider may not know the formulation, adjuvant type or pharmacologic effect.

“Usually when I ask my physician colleagues this question… they really don’t have a clue,” Bender says.

Without clear product information, evaluation becomes guesswork.

This places veterinarians in the role of interpreter. Providing the exact product name, formulation and safety data sheet allows healthcare providers to assess risk accurately. Keeping that documentation accessible in clinic trucks or digital files is a simple and effective safeguard.

Prevention Starts Before the Stick

Injection injuries are often described as inevitable. In reality, many are predictable.

Fatigue at the end of processing days, poorly restrained animals and hurried recapping of needles are high-risk moments. Sedatives and oil-based vaccines deserve heightened procedural caution. For certain products, two-person administration may be appropriate.

Facility conditions also matter. Safe chutes, adequate lighting and readily available sharps containers reduce impulsive decision-making. A stocked first-aid kit everyone can locate is not optional. On many farms, especially those with newer employees or language barriers, safety training around injectable products may never have been formalized.

Risk reduction in this context does not require complex protocols. It requires intentional practice.

Key prevention points include:

Avoid recapping needles whenever possible
Ensure secure animal restraint before injection
Use appropriate needle length and gauge
Keep sharps containers accessible
Review high-risk drugs with staff before use

Take It Seriously

Food animal practice involves powerful pharmaceuticals administered in dynamic environments. Accidental injection is a predictable hazard of the profession.

The obligation is straightforward. Stop when it happens. Identify the product. Seek care when indicated. Build systems that reduce risk for the next time.

Needlestick injuries are not badges of experience. They are occupational exposures. And they deserve respect.

Neonatal Calf Distress: Managing the First 24 Hours

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:11:17 GMT

The first 24 hours of life represent the most vulnerable period a calf will ever experience, where oxygen deprivation, metabolic acidosis, trauma and pain can quickly overwhelm an already compromised neonate. Managing neonatal distress involves early detection, rapid assessment and decisive intervention.

Many distressed calves arrive compromised. Prolonged calving, excessive traction or repeated premature intervention increase the likelihood of hypoxia, trauma and delayed physiologic recovery. A live calf is not necessarily a stable calf. Distress is often subtle in the first minutes and can be missed if assessment relies solely on heart rate or movement.

Dr. Ryan Breuer of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine outlined the following early indicators of neonatal distress:

Delayed head lifting or failure to achieve sternal recumbency
Irregular, shallow or gasping respiration
Blue or pale mucous membranes
Meconium staining
Swollen head or tongue

“If calves are not trying to get up or won’t stay in sternal recumbency after 15 minutes, these calves have a very poor prognosis,” Breuer says. These calves need immediate veterinary care and are often experiencing combined hypoxia and metabolic acidosis.

“Acid is toxic to the brain and can cause scarring and neurologic death to the brain tissue,” adds Breuer, listing blindness as a neurologic sign to look out for. “These animals can’t see, or they’ll start stargazing, tipping their nose to the sky.”

Respiratory Distress: The Primary Emergency

Respiratory compromise is the most immediate life-threatening component of neonatal distress. Newborn lungs have never expanded, and even mild impairment can prevent adequate oxygen exchange.

“Open mouth and flaring nostrils are signs of respiratory distress,” explains Breuer, adding that blue tinged or cyanotic mucous membranes are also indicators that the calf is not getting enough oxygen. “If the heart rate is less than 50 beats per minute and falling, intervention is going to be needed to save them.”

Calves in respiratory distress should be placed in sternal recumbency to maximize lung expansion. Physical stimulation including vigorous rubbing, nasal septum stimulation or pressure on the nasal philtrum can trigger inspiratory reflexes and help initiate more effective breathing.

Other Distress Indicators in Calves

Meconium staining is a visible indicator that the calf experienced distress before delivery. Passage of the meconium into the uterus typically reflects prolonged time in the birth canal or delayed delivery.

“Now that the amniotic sac has ruptured, there’s mixing of the waste and what the calf is submerged in,” Breuer says. “This can cause issues down the road because it can cause difficulties in cleaning that airway.”

Calves born with meconium staining are more likely to experience respiratory compromise, difficulty clearing airways and delayed stabilization after birth.

Trauma from dystocia can contribute to pain, reduced movement, impaired breathing mechanics and delayed recovery. Swelling of the head, tongue and soft tissues can further compromise airways and oxygen delivery.

Ongoing Monitoring Through the First 24 Hours

Calves that survive an initial distress event remain at elevated risk through the first 24 hours of life. Ongoing monitoring for declining vigor, abnormal respiration or changes in responsiveness is essential as early compromise often evolves rather than resolves.

Many calves that survive neonatal distress reappear later as poor performers, respiratory cases or unexplained losses. Effective neonatal distress management is not about saving every calf but about recognizing when intervention can still alter the outcome and preventing avoidable compromise. The first 24 hours determine which calves stabilize and recover and which never fully catch up.

To learn more about the first 24 hours of neonatal calf care among other topics, check out the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council webinar series .

5 Tips for Vaccine Handling

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:53:41 GMT

Vaccines are one of the most effective and economical tools available to maintain herd health, reduce disease loss and support animal well-being. However, even the best vaccine can fail if it’s not handled correctly. Dr. Jon Townsend, dairy technical services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health, recently touched on the topic during a Dairy Calf and Heifer Association webinar .

“You’ve made the investment in those vaccines. You want to get the best response out of them. You want to get the best cow health possible,” Townsend says.

Whether you’re working with calves, replacement heifers or mature cattle, following consistent vaccine handling practices ensures your investment delivers the intended immunity. Here are five key guidelines to keep in mind.

1. Store Vaccines at the Right Temperature

Vaccines are sensitive, biological products. Many must be kept refrigerated at a specific temperature range to remain effective.

Use a dedicated refrigerator (not the one used for drinks and lunches), as frequent door opening causes temperature swings.
Place a thermometer in the fridge to monitor temperature regularly.
Avoid storing vaccines in the refrigerator door where temperatures fluctuate the most.

2. Don’t Mix all your Vaccine at Once

Many livestock vaccines are sold as two-part products. Once mixed, the live organisms begin to break down.

“Only mix what you’ll use in the next one to two hours if you have to mix up a vaccine,” Townsend advises. “Your modified live vaccines you have to mix. So don’t mix a huge bottle that’s going to take the whole day to use. By the time you get to the last dose that vaccine has potentially degraded, and you won’t get the same response that you would have immediately after reconstitution.”

3. Keep Mixed Vaccines Cool and Out of Sunlight

Heat and sunlight can rapidly damage vaccines, particularly modified-live vaccines.

Keep syringes and mixed bottles in an insulated cooler with cold packs.
Do not place vaccine bottles on the chute, in your shirt pocket, or on a truck dashboard.
Check your cooler throughout the day to ensure cold packs are still cold and not melted.

Unsure about what cooler to use? Consider making it yourself.

“You can either buy a fancy one, or you can make one yourself with an Igloo cooler and drill some holes,” Townsend says. In the end, the goal is the same. “It’s really important to keep that vaccine cool. If you’re using a multi-dose syringe, make sure you’re keeping [it] cool between calves.”

4. Maintain Needle Cleanliness

Contamination can destroy vaccine potency and introduce infection to animals.

Use new clean needles when drawing vaccine from the bottle.
Do not set uncapped syringes or needles down on surfaces like tailgates or barn rails.
If a needle becomes dirty, bent or touches anything questionable, replace it.

“We need to be thinking about changing out needles more frequently than [we] did 30 years ago,” Townsend says. “Then disinfect the needle and syringes after use or dispose of them, and think about disinfecting multi-dose syringes.”

Townsend also highlights the importance of making sure there is no disinfectant residue remaining after cleaning as it has the potential to inactivate your vaccines. Producers and veterinarians should work together to set up protocols for syringe reuse.

5. Use Sharp, Appropriate Needles

A sharp needle ensures a clean injection and reduces animal discomfort.

Replace needles regularly and check for sharpness.
Choose needle size based on animal size, vaccine viscosity and route of administration:
- Subcutaneous: typically 16 to 18 gauge, ½" to ¾"
- Intramuscular: typically 16 to 20 gauge, 1" to 1½"

Townsend specifically warns about the development of burrs, small barbs or defects that can catch on skin, on your needles after too many uses.

“If you wouldn’t want it going into your arm for a vaccine, you shouldn’t be putting it into a cow or calf either,” he says.

Overall, the immunity an animal gains from vaccination is only as good as the care taken in handling the product. Proper storage, careful mixing, maintaining temperature and using clean, sharp needles are straightforward steps that protect your investment and your herd.

Understanding Umbilical Health in Calves

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:51:44 GMT

Umbilical health might seem routine, but what happens at the navel in the first few days of life can shape a calf’s future health and productivity. The umbilicus isn’t just an anatomical leftover from fetal life; it’s a critical gateway for infection and a window into broader calf health and welfare.

After birth, the umbilical cord should naturally dry and detach. However, until proper drying has occurred, it acts as an open pathway for pathogen entry. When bacteria colonize that space, it results in omphalitis, or infection of the umbilical area, which could manifest as naval ill, urachal infection or full-thickness abscesses. Left unchecked, infection can spread into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of more severe illness.

Despite being often overlooked, naval infections are the third most common cause of disease. The reported prevalence of umbilical infection ranges widely from ~1% in older research to ~30% in more recent studies. These variations underscore how inconsistent case definitions and diagnostic criteria are and how much space for improvement there is.

Most naval infections happen within the first two weeks of life, with seven to 14 days of age being where you see the peak occurrence.

Signs of a healthy umbilical cord

Dry, shriveled and inflexible
No swelling, heat, pain, discharge or foul odor
By one week of age, it should be about the size of your thumb

Signs of an unhealthy umbilical cord

Swollen, especially if larger than 1.5 cm in diameter
Hot to the touch
Painful when touched; the calf might flinch or kick
Discharge, pus or a foul smell
Moist or wet

Umbilical Health Risk Factors

The conditions surrounding calving have the greatest influence on umbilical health. A clean, dry environment minimizes bacterial exposure to the severed cord, while damp or dirty bedding creates ideal conditions for infection. Calves born in unsanitary or overcrowded maternity areas are at a higher risk of infection.

Difficult or assisted births compound this risk. Prolonged delivery increases umbilical trauma and delays cord closure, creating a route for pathogen invasion. Heavier calves often experience greater strain and tissue damage around the umbilicus due to more difficult births.

Male calves tend to be at a higher risk of umbilical infection due to the location of the male urinary tract meatus contributing to wetness of the umbilical area.

Prevention and Management of Umbilical Infection

When asked how producers could address umbilical health, Dr. Dave Renaud of the Ontario Veterinary College offered the following on “The Healthy Calf” podcast :

“If you look at umbilical infections, they do have really serious repercussions. Calves with an umbilical infection have an increased risk of mortality,” he says. “They have reduced daily gain. They have reduced survival to first lactation … Going out and getting an understanding of how common it is on your farm is really the first step towards knowing if you need to put different prevention methods in place.”

Disinfect immediately: After birth, disinfect the stump with a navel dip with 2% chlorhexidine or 7% iodine, as soon as the calf is breathing well.
Provide clean housing: Keep the maternity and calf housing areas clean and dry to minimize exposure to pathogens.
Monitor daily: Check the navel at least once daily for the first week for any signs of infection.
Consult a veterinarian: If you suspect an infection, consult your veterinarian to develop a treatment plan, especially for more severe cases involving hernias or systemic infections.
Avoid transport: Do not transport calves with a “wet” navel as they are vulnerable to infection. Wait until the umbilical cord has fallen off and there is no evidence of infection.

5 Sampling Tips for Improved Diagnostics

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:32:20 GMT

You’d be hard-pressed to find a veterinarian or producer who hasn’t been frustrated with a diagnostic result. When it comes to herd health, good diagnostics are like detective work, but even the best tests can’t help if the wrong evidence is collected.

Sampling isn’t just grabbing what’s handy; it’s a deliberate process that links a clear question to the right animal, tissue and timing. Getting that process right saves money, reduces frustration and leads to faster, more confident decisions.

Here are five practical ways producers and veterinarians can work together to improve sample collection on the farm so that every diagnostic submission counts.

1. Start With the Right Question

Before taking a single sample, step back and ask: What do we want to know?

“Your diagnostic question really drives everything from sample selection to animal selection,” says Drew Magstadt of the Iowa State University Diagnostic lab. “If we don’t define the problem — What are you seeing? What’s going on? Why are you calling the lab? — we can’t really formulate a differential diagnosis list that we ask a diagnostic question.”

Taking samples “just to see what turns up” often leads to inconclusive results and wasted effort.

Field tip: Include your diagnostic question on your submission form. This helps the lab choose the best testing pathway and increases your chances of getting actionable answers.

2. Choose the Right Animals To Sample

When disease strikes, not all animals tell the same story. Aim to collect from animals showing early or typical clinical signs, not just those that are terminally ill.

“The answer isn’t always ‘the dead one that’s in front of us,’” stresses Magstadt. “Focus on acutely affected, untreated and representative animals.”

For herd investigations, sample several animals within the same group or age class to capture variation. In some cases, sampling a few seemingly healthy herdmates could provide valuable comparison data. Sampling only the worst looking survivors or those already treated with antibiotics could mask the cause of disease or send you down the wrong diagnostic path.

Field tip: For mortality events, select the freshest animals possible for necropsy. Early submissions preserve tissue integrity and increase the odds of a meaningful result.

3. Take the Correct Sample Type and Handle It Properly

Even the perfect sample loses its value if it degrades before reaching the lab. The sample type, container and preservation method matter just as much as the collection itself. Each diagnostic test has its own validated sample requirements. Using the wrong media, failing to chill samples or letting tissues autolyze can render tests useless.

On an episode of “ DocTalk ,” Dan Thompson highlighted some considerations for sample collection: “Being able to take the size of the sample from the right spot so that you have healthy tissue next to diseased tissue for histology. Getting the proper sample so that if you’re going to isolate pathogens you can. Whether you [need] fixed or fresh tissue. You need to work with your veterinarian who will know exactly what [you] want to have.”

A few extra minutes of planning can save days of waiting for a “sample unsatisfactory” call.

Field tip: Check your diagnostic lab’s sampling guide before collection and label everything clearly (animal ID, tissue, date).

4. Record Good Clinical and Herd Information

Providing accurate clinical histories and observations helps diagnosticians interpret findings in context. Include information such as onset and duration of illness, number of animals affected, treatments used, feed changes and vaccination history. Consider including photos if applicable.

This kind of supporting information allows labs to match findings with disease patterns and may even prompt recommendations for additional or alternative testing.

The Beef Cattle Research Council has put together a great resource for anyone interested in leveling up their animal health record-keeping.

Field tip: Use your herd health software to standardize the process. The more detail you include, the better.

5. Sample Early and Sometimes More Than Once

Timing matters. By the time a sick animal has been treated, recovered or died, diagnostic clues may have vanished.

Magstadt stressed that it’s possible to get a negative diagnostic test in a positive animal based on when a sample was taken. You must take into account “the timing of disease, when we would expect large amounts of the pathogen to be there, when we wouldn’t, and the different pathogens [involved].”

Whenever possible, collect samples early in the course of disease — ideally before antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory treatment. For diseases with intermittent shedding, repeat sampling over several days increases detection odds. Also consider whether pooled or composite sampling might make sense for your diagnostic goals.

Field tip: Keep sampling supplies ready on-farm so you can act immediately when new cases appear. Rapid responses can mean the difference between inconclusive results and a valuable diagnosis.

Antibiotics with Purpose: Building Stewardship into Daily Dairy Practice

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:57:57 GMT

When a cow shows up in the parlor with clots in her milk, the clock starts ticking. Will treatment restore her quickly to the herd, or will it end with wasted drugs, discarded milk, and frustration?

For decades the answer was almost automatic: reach for antibiotics. However, Dr. Pamela Ruegg of Michigan State University suggests that the future of dairy health management depends on asking a different question: How do we know that we’re using the right amount of antibiotics?

Twenty years ago, Ruegg conducted a survey asking dairy producers about their perceptions of utilizing antibiotics on their farms and found that 80% of them thought they used the right amount. In a recent online survey of Wisconsin and Michigan veterinarians (unpublished), Ruegg asked vets about their perceptions of prescribing antibiotics for dairy cattle. She found that 85% of veterinarians said they felt they were prescribing the right amount, while 15% of veterinarians said they prescribed too many.

“Look at that. Twenty years difference. Similar populations: dairy producers vs. dairy veterinarians. We believe we’re doing the right thing. But the next question that comes out is: How do you know what the right amount is?” proposed Ruegg.

Looking across 40 surveyed farms in Wisconsin , the number of defined daily doses per adult cow per year varied widely. This data shows that while producers and veterinarians may feel they’re using the right amount of antimicrobials, this doesn’t mean the same thing from farm to farm.

Shown is the annual antibiotic use of 40 large farms in Wisconsin.

(Top Milk)

If you’re interested in seeing how your farm’s antimicrobial usage compares to others, the Top Milk program of Michigan State University has created an Antibiotic Usage Benchmark Tool .

Changing the Way We Treat Dairy Cattle

Mastitis and dry cow therapy remain the two biggest reasons antibiotics are used in dairy cattle. When looking at the quantity of antimicrobials sold in the U.S. for cattle in 2022 , intramammary administration accounted for less than 1% of the total mass. While this overall proportion of antibiotics used in dairy cattle is relatively small, there are still opportunities to improve and reduce costs for producers. For veterinarians, that opens both a challenge and an opportunity: ensuring herds receive the treatments they need while cutting down on unnecessary exposures.

Ruegg encourages livestock workers to live by the mantra, “if you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” She proposes the following framework:

Establish standardized methods. Define your antimicrobial usage. Consider using Defined Daily Doses per cow per year.
Create benchmarking reports. These can allow farms to compare similar herds, flag outliers, and observe trends over time.
Follow a four-month stewardship cycle. Perform a quarterly review of antimicrobial usage and protocols.

These steps create a cadence of check-ins and ongoing improvement, but remember that there is no “one size fits all”; apply whatever protocols work best for your herd.

Reduced Antimicrobial Use, Not Zero Use

At the heart of antimicrobial stewardship is deciding when not to treat or how to treat most effectively.

According to Dr. Michael Zurakowski from Quality Milk Production Services (QMPS) at Cornell University, only 15% of all mastitis cases are severe: “The other 85% are mild or moderate, giving us the opportunity to do some diagnostics.” He encourages the adoption of on-farm culturing to determine what pathogen is causing the issue in your animals. “When we implement these pathogen based treatment mastitis protocols, we see a significant decrease in antibiotic use on the order of 60[%]-70%. That equates to a pretty good savings in cost.”

If this is a route you think may work on your farm, QMPS has put together an online culture education module to help you with setup, sample collection, pathogen identification and treatment decisions.

Closing Thoughts

Antibiotic stewardship isn’t about using less for the sake of using less; it’s about making informed decisions for the sake of more — more healthy cows, more trust from consumers and more longevity for the drugs we rely on. With data-driven tools, economic reasoning and veterinary leadership, stewardship can become less of a burden and more of a blueprint for the future of dairy management.

UDSA to Hold Listening Sessions Addressing the Rural Veterinary Shortage

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:26:29 GMT

Last month, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the Rural Veterinary Action Plan, which will enhance the support available for rural veterinarians across the US. The plan includes the following action items:

Improve Veterinary Grant Programs
Better Understand the Rural Veterinary Shortage
Recruit and Retain Veterinarians
Catalog Federal Resources Available to Veterinarians
Work with Stakeholders to Understand the Barriers to Entry and Increase Recruitment in Rural Areas

This plan aims to address the rural veterinary shortage due to the low percentage of veterinary school students that come from rural areas or express an interest in rural practice, along with the low number of recent grads entering production animal medicine.

As a part of the working with stakeholders action item, USDA will be hosting two virtual listening sessions for the veterinary workforce on Sept. 29 and 30. The following USDA agencies will be represented at these sessions:

National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Economic Research Service
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Rural Development

These sessions will begin with a short update on the current veterinary landscape followed by stakeholder comments for the remainder of the meeting. Interested parties are invited to participate and must register for these sessions in advance. Both sessions will cover the same topics.

Register for the September 29 Session

Register for the September 30 Session

Generic vs. Pioneer Drugs for Cattle: Should You Care?

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:58:12 GMT

Medication use is an essential part of maintaining health, productivity and welfare in dairy and beef cattle. From treating mastitis on a dairy to managing respiratory disease in a feedlot, veterinarians and producers rely on a range of pharmaceuticals to keep herds healthy. However, with many drugs available in both pioneer and generic forms, the question arises: Is there a meaningful difference between the two?

For veterinarians and producers, the decision involves more than just the label. Understanding the approval process, economics and practical considerations behind generic and pioneer drugs can help guide responsible choices that support animal health, food safety and economic sustainability.

What are Pioneer and Generic drugs?

Pioneer drugs are the original products developed by a pharmaceutical company that have an approved new animal drug application (NADA). They are protected by patents, which give the company exclusive marketing rights for a period of time. This exclusivity allowed the manufacturer to recoup the significant investment made in research, development and regulatory approval.

Generic drugs enter the market once those patents expire and have an approved abbreviated NADA (ANADA). A generic contains the same active ingredient, in the same dosage form and strength, and is administered through the same route as its brand name counterpart. In other words, a generic drug must deliver the same therapeutic effect as the brand name drug.

The key differences often lie in the inactive ingredients, such as stabilizers, preservatives or carriers, that can vary between products. These differences generally do not affect stability or efficacy, but may influence characteristics such as palatability or ease of administration.

Approval and Regulatory Oversight

Both pioneer and generic veterinary drugs are regulated by the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. However, the approval pathways differ:

Pioneer drug approval requires a company to submit an NADA. This includes extensive studies to prove the product’s safety for the target species, its effectiveness against the labeled condition, tolerance in the animal, food safety data (residue studies for milk and meat) and environmental impact. These studies often involve large clinical trials and can take years to complete.
Generic approval follows the ANADA process. Instead of repeating all of the brand name drug’s trials, the generic manufacturer must prove bioequivalence — that the drug behaves the same way in the animal’s body as the original product. Generics must also demonstrate consistent manufacturing practices and establish withdrawal times for milk and meat.

The result is that generics are held to rigorous standards of safety and efficacy. They are not weaker or inferior, they simply follow a more streamlined approval process as the groundwork has already been laid by the pioneer product.

Economics

One of the most notable differences between pioneer and generic drugs is cost. For producers, generic options can significantly reduce the cost of herd-level treatment, which is an important factor when treating dozens or hundreds of animals. For veterinarians, cost can influence prescribing practices and client satisfaction. Offering effective but more affordable treatment options might improve compliance and strengthen the veterinarian-producer relationship. In the long term, the availability of generics supports more sustainable herd health programs, particularly for common or recurring conditions.

Clinical and Practical Considerations

Does it work? vs. Did it work here?

When speaking on generic drugs, one of the key distinctions Dr. Nora Schrag, from Kansas State University, pointed out was the difference between whether a drug works and whether a drug worked in a specific production environment.

“‘Does the thing in the bottle work’ is a fundamentally very different question than ‘did it work,’ Schrag says. “‘Did it work’ includes the stuff in the bottle, but it also includes the people that are getting the stuff in the bottle into the critter, it includes the critters, it includes the weather, it includes everything else.”

Outcomes are influenced not just by the drug but also by management. Measuring whether a drug worked in a particular production setting requires keeping good records, monitoring success rates and comparing farm outcomes to peer benchmarks.

While generics and pioneer drugs are equivalent in active ingredient and expected efficacy, a few practical points deserve attention:

Perception: Some producers might be skeptical, perceiving pioneer products as more trustworthy. Veterinarians play a critical role in reassuring clients with evidence-based guidance.
Formulation differences: Rarely, a difference in inactive ingredients might influence animal tolerance or ease of use.
Compliance and stewardship: Regardless of whether pioneer or generic, observing label directions, withdrawal periods and judicious antimicrobial use principles remains essential.

Guidance for Decision-Making

The choice of what drug to use should be a collaborative effort between veterinarians and producers.

Veterinarians should evaluate both clinical needs and economic considerations. Recommending a generic is often appropriate, but being prepared to explain the science behind equivalency helps build producer confidence.
Producers should recognize withdrawal times and responsible use requirements apply equally to both drug types. Partnering with veterinarians ensures choices align with herd health goals and regulatory compliance.
Both parties must consider not only cost, but also judicious antimicrobial use, animal welfare and food safety when selecting products.

Both brand name and pioneer drugs are indispensable tools for managing cattle health. FDA’s rigorous approval process ensures generics are just as safe and effective as their pioneer counterparts. Generics offer producers significant cost savings that support sustainable operations. Working with their clients, veterinarians can help guide drug choices to ensure effective treatment while promoting stewardship and trust.

In the end, the decision is not about brand loyalty but using evidence-based judgment to balance animal health, food safety and economics. Together, these values benefit both the beef and dairy industry.

Breaking: USDA Warns of Avian Flu in Nebraska Dairy Farms

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:30:39 GMT

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories recently delivered surprising news. A dairy cattle herd in Nebraska has tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, marking the first known case of HPAI in cattle within the state. Although this outbreak within dairy cattle initially occurred in March 2024, it’s the first instance in Nebraska. As cases have been relatively limited to a handful of states, APHIS teams are on the ground, collaborating with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to carry out comprehensive investigations and assessments.

Though this detection significantly impacts the Nebraska cattle farming community, it will not alter USDA’s diligent eradication strategy for avian influenza. Biosecurity persists as a vital element in preventing the spread of disease. USDA strongly advocates dairy farms across the nation amplify their biosecurity protocols, particularly with the upcoming fall migratory bird season. Producers are urged to report any unusual clinical signs in their livestock or unexpected wildlife mortality to their state veterinarian to refine containment measures.

Consumer Health Remains Secure
An assurance to consumers remains crucial in times of such uncertainty. According to FDA, there is no cause for concern regarding consumer health or the safety of commercial milk supplies despite the detection. It is affirmed pasteurization effectively neutralizes the H5N1 virus. Milk intended for human consumption originates only from healthy animals, with milk from potentially impacted animals being safely segregated from the human food supply.

Lessons from the West Coast
Experiences from other regions can provide valuable insights into managing such outbreaks. A pertinent case is that of Zonneveld Dairies, Inc. in California, which faced HPAI outbreaks in October 2024. Jacob Zonneveld, the dairy’s president, reflected earlier this year at the 2025 California Dairy Sustainability Summit in Visalia on the challenges the outbreak presented.

With a sprawling operation of 10,000 cows and an equivalent number of replacement heifers spread across 6,600 acres in Laton, Calif., Zonneveld points out the challenges in preventing birds from accessing feed piles, emphasizing the role of biosecurity in treating infected cows, rather than prevention.

Like Nebraska, California dairies faced significant hurdles. In November, Zonneveld Dairies experienced a 15% decrease in milk production, signaling the peak impact of the epidemic. Despite a gradual recovery, production levels remain slightly lower compared to the previous year.

The persistent nature of avian influenza and its contingent effects on dairy farming call for an unwavering commitment to biosecurity and cross-sector cooperation.

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USDA Announces Plan to Address Rural Veterinary Shortage

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:39:12 GMT

On Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the Rural Veterinary Shortage Action Plan that will expand the support available for rural veterinarians.

“Rural veterinarians are vital for the agricultural economy in the United States. Our farmers and ranchers rely on these critical services to prevent the transmission of animal disease, protect our food supply and support America’s rural economy,” said Rollins during a press conference at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “As the number of rural food animal veterinarians continues to decline, USDA is putting farmers first to ensure we build back our first line of defense in our animal food production system – the rural veterinarian.”

The plan aims to support veterinarians and protect livestock across rural communities by:

expanding grants and financial assistance
streamlining loan applications
investing in economic research to guide solutions
making federal service more attractive to veterinarians
recruiting more students from rural America into veterinary schools

Great to be in Starkville with @SenHydeSmith at @msstate’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Rural food animal veterinarians are essential to livestock health, disease prevention, and the strength of our rural economy, but their numbers are declining.

That’s why I’m announcing… pic.twitter.com/LUHwqviSQt
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) August 28, 2025

Veterinarian Shortage

According to the AVMA , the number of companion animal veterinarians has increased by 22% over the past decade; however, the number of mixed animal and food animal veterinarians has decreased by 15%. Meanwhile, the national cattle inventory was only down 2.5 million head, or approximately 1%, in January 2025 compared with January 2015, as reported by the USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service . USDA has designated at least one rural area in nearly every state as having unmet veterinary needs.

Recent efforts to increase the number of rural veterinarians have included state and federal repayment programs, as well as program development at veterinary colleges to attract students. While these programs have been generally successful, they were not intended to comprehensively address the lack of veterinarians in rural areas.

Plan Details

The Rural Veterinary Shortage Action Plan encompasses five actions to address the challenge of the growing veterinarian shortage.

Enhance and streamline veterinary grant programs. The USDA will be making changes to the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and the Veterinary Services Grant Program to streamline applications and increase funding.
Analyze rural veterinary shortages to better understand the need. For improved Federal and State policy decisions, data on the scope of the rural veterinary shortage will be collected and analyzed by the USDA Economic Research Service.
Recruit and retain USDA veterinarians. The USDA will explore special pay rates, increased tuition reimbursements, and recruitments bonuses for federal veterinarians. They hope to make Federal service more attractive and create a direct pipeline into public service for veterinarians.
Catalog federal resources available to veterinarians for starting a practice. As opening a veterinary clinic in a rural area can be cost prohibitive, the USDA will catalog relevant programs (including rural development programs) to better inform veterinary schools and graduates.
Work with and listen to stakeholders, including veterinary schools, to understand the barriers to entry and increase recruitment from rural areas. Very few veterinary students come from rural backgrounds or express interest in production animal practice. Next month, the USDA will hold listening sessions with stakeholders to determine what additional actions can be taken to stimulate interest in rural veterinary practice.

Through this action plan, USDA hopes to address the rural veterinarian shortage, thus strengthening the ability to deal with animal health threats, foodborne illnesses and complex trade barriers as well as protecting the safety of the U.S. food supply chain.

Take The Edge Off: Meloxicam Eases Calf Pain After Dehorning

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:00:20 GMT

Managing calf pain has become a growing priority, not just for animal welfare, but for veterinarians, producers and consumers who are paying closer attention to the way animals are cared for. And while calves tend to bounce back quickly after dehorning, research continues to show the physiological effects of pain and inflammation linger longer than the visible signs suggest.

A study out of Kansas State University, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, took a closer look at how meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), can help calves through the stress of dehorning. And more importantly, whether giving it before or after the procedure makes a difference.

In the trial, 30 Holstein bull calves were split into three groups - one got meloxicam 12 hours before dehorning, another got it immediately after and the third group received no pain relief at all. Over the course of a week, researchers tracked signs of pain and stress, including hormone levels, inflammation markers and how sensitive the calves were to touch around their horn buds.

Here’s what they found:

“The administration of meloxicam in the MEL-PRE and MEL-POST calves had a considerable impact on physiological indicators of pain and inflammation when compared to the CONT group,” the researchers note.

Put simply: the calves who got meloxicam — no matter when — handled the procedure better.

At just four hours post-dehorning, meloxicam-treated calves had significantly lower levels of cortisol — the stress hormone that spikes when animals are in pain. And five days later, they still had reduced levels of substance P, which is an indicator of discomfort.

However, not every measurement showed a difference. Eye temperature and haptoglobin (a marker of inflammation) were about the same across all groups. But when it came to prostaglandin E2 (PgE2), a chemical that fuels inflammation, the timing of treatment stood out. Calves who got meloxicam after dehorning had lower levels of PgE2 for up to three days compared to those treated beforehand or not at all.

This suggests that administering meloxicam after the procedure appears to extend its anti-inflammatory impact.

“The precise timing of meloxicam administration proved to be a factor, particularly influencing the duration of certain anti-inflammatory effects,” the researchers explained.

In the end, this study confirmed meloxicam can play an important role in easing pain and reducing inflammation in calves after dehorning. While both before- and after-treatment helped, the timing did seem to influence how long the drug’s effects lasted, especially when it came to certain inflammation markers. The difference in PgE2 levels suggests there’s still more to learn about how best to time pain management. But overall, the research supports meloxicam as a practical and effective tool to improve calf comfort during one of the most stressful early-life procedures.

7 Health Insurance Solutions for the Self-Employed

Fri, 30 May 2025 15:59:38 GMT

If there is anything that could derail your business literally overnight, it’s a serious injury or illness in your family.

That’s why health insurance is an absolutely critical risk management tool, even though the cost of the insurance itself can also strain your business. While it probably won’t cover every medical expense for your family, it can protect you from the catastrophic effects of a major health event.

The majority of farm families agree with that sentiment, according to a 2017 study by HIREDnAG. The survey of nearly 1,000 farm families in 10 rural states found more than 75% of the respondents viewed health insurance as an essential risk management tool.

At the same time, however, many farm families still roll the dice by going without health insurance. The most recent USDA data on the subject shows more than 10% of U.S. farm households do not have health insurance, which is slightly higher than the general public. But even more telling is the type of farms that forgo it the most: dairy farms. They made up more than 40% of all farm households without health insurance, which is more than double any other type of farming enterprise.

Options to Cover Your Family

For those who are insured, many farm families rely on off-farm employment to secure health insurance — about 56% according to the USDA data. But what options are available for the rest of the families or individuals who wish to purchase their own coverage? Penn State University Extension’s Maureen Ittig, family well-being educator, and Ginger Fenton, dairy educator, recently presented a webinar where they shared the following suggestions:

Health Insurance Marketplace. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 created the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. Americans who do not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance can secure coverage through the marketplace, which provides credits for factors like income and family size. A handy calculator to estimate credits and plan costs can be found here . All ACA-compliant plans must cover 10 categories of services that includes things like prescriptions, pediatric care and emergency room services. Open enrollment for ACA plans is usually in the fall, but special circumstances can allow for enrollment throughout the year.
Medicaid/CHIP plans. Lower-income families may qualify for Medicaid and/or Children’s Health Insurance Program plans. These plans vary by state. They typically are less costly to families and may provide additional services, like dental and vision coverage, compared to ACA plans.
Association-based plans. Farm organizations and cooperatives may offer group plans to farmer-members. These organizations also offer guidance to help farm families understand the “language” of health insurance and aid in decision making.
HSAs. Using a Health Savings Account (HSA) is a popular way for farmers to maximize their health insurance dollars. HSAs are actual bank accounts that families fund annually and can be used to cover qualified health expenses. Any dollars not used can remain in the account for expenses incurred later on and even invested into higher-yielding financial funds. To access an HSA, the insured must have a High Deductible Health Plan, which can be accessed via insurance brokers, association-based plans, or the Health Insurance Marketplace. HSAs offer the “triple-treat” tax advantages of pre-tax contributions, tax-free growth and no tax on qualified withdrawals.
Skinny and gap plans. Some states allow for skinny plans that have lower premiums, largely because they are not required to offer the ACA-required 10 categories of services, like allowing entry with pre-existing conditions or maternity coverage. They also may have lifetime payout limits. Gap plans offer short-term, emergency coverage in some states. After 180 days, the insured must enroll for new coverage. They also may have exclusions and lifetime limits.
Armed forces health insurance. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, about 9% of U.S farmers are veterans. They and their families are usually eligible for TRICARE or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health insurance programs.
Healthcare sharing ministries. Several faith-based group health coverage ministries are available that share healthcare costs among their members. This is not health insurance, but many users find they are able to negotiate rates with providers similar to discounts offered to insurance companies. Enrollment may require specific belief systems and lifestyle choices (no tobacco or illegal drug use, for example). Users pay monthly fees similar to health insurance premiums. When they incur an expense, they pay their bills up front and then submit them for reimbursement.

The Penn State experts advised looking not only at costs, but also at the services your family might need, such as maternity and mental health coverage.

“The array of options available hopefully will allow you to pick an option that works best for you, your budget and your values,” Fenton notes.

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Your Veterinarian: A Critical Partner for Success

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:24:17 GMT

When it comes to livestock production — whether beef, dairy or swine — a knowledgeable large-animal veterinarian is a critical resource for producers.

The veterinarian’s duties have grown through the years from emergency calls and service to now include consultation and planning to improve cattle and dairy herds as well as swine operations.

Craig Bieber of Bieber Red Angus in Leola, S.D., says working with a vet is essential to his herd’s success.

“I don’t know how people do it without a relationship with their vet,” Bieber says. “A good working relationship is so important. As producers, we can’t be on top of every animal disease or problem there is.”

Bieber says he is lucky to have a comprehensive clinic with five veterinarians near his ranch. He meets with his team of veterinarians three or four times per year to discuss health strategies.

“Our diversified livestock operation uses a team of veterinarians for the health and well-being of our cattle, swine and sheep plus our livestock guardian dogs and family pets,” says Sarah Jones of Red Hill Farms in Lafayette, Tenn.

The Jones family works with its primary veterinarian, Roger Thomas of Thomas & England Veterinary Services in Smiths Grove, Ky.

“Dr. Thomas is essential to our operation,” Jones says. “Without our team of veterinarians, we couldn’t provide the very best care for our livestock. Dr. Thomas is our first call for issues we are not comfortable treating without consultation. Our operation also uses additional veterinarians for pregnancy ultrasound, cattle embryo transfer, sheep artificial insemination, sheep embryo transfer and swine consulting.”

In an unscientific survey, Drovers asked its Facebook followers, “How important is your veterinarian to the success of your operation?”

One follower wrote, “Essential. Having our veterinarian of a little over 40 years, we have created herd health programs for pre-breeding and pre-calving, as well as vaccination programs for calves at birth and weaning. We review these programs every year.”

Another said, “Our vet from Vale Veterinary Clinic is key to the success of our program through integrated research and herd health management our vet is priceless!”

Unfortunately, a few respondents noted they don’t have a close large-animal veterinarian near them or that they must take individual animals to an equine veterinarian for consultation, affirming the need for more large animal vets.

(Farm Journal)

The evolving role of dairy veterinarians

Traditionally seen as the guardians of animal health, focused primarily on treating sick individual animals, today’s dairy veterinarians are expanding their roles.

Scott Bohnert of Bohnert Jerseys in East Moline, Ill., exemplifies the modern dairy farmer’s reliance on veterinary expertise. At his dairy, home to 700 Jersey cows and an equal number of replacements, Bohnert leans heavily on his long-time veterinarian, Ryan Schaefer of Blue Grass, Iowa. Their working partnership of more than 15 years highlights the evolving importance of veterinarians in dairy.

Schaefer collaborates closely with Bohnert, conducting routine herd health and pregnancy checks twice a month — but their relationship goes far beyond basic animal care.

With a deep understanding of the dairy industry’s challenges, Schaefer consults closely with Bohnert on various critical topics. This trusted advice plays a pivotal role in helping Bohnert and his team drive their dairy operation forward.

“Ryan and I work very well together,” Bohnert says, acknowledging how Schaefer’s insights into disease prevention, vaccine management and industry trends keep his farm thriving in a competitive market.

This collaboration reflects a broader trend in agriculture where veterinarians serve as essential consultants instead of just animal doctors. Their role extends to strategic decision-making, helping farms navigate through diverse challenges like disease outbreaks, regulatory changes and economic pressures.

Swine veterinarian’s critical role

The swine producer and veterinarian relationship is critical in managing health issues in the swine herd.

“I can’t overstate how important our farm’s relationship is with our veterinarian,” says Mike Paustian, a swine producer from Wolcott, Iowa. “We treat that relationship as one of the key parts of our team that we’ve assembled to help advise our farm.”

Paustian, who is contact with his veterinarian every week, challenges the misconception that veterinary involvement is costly.

“I don’t see how you’re going to get a bigger bang for your buck than getting a veterinarian who knows your herd, to provide input into issues you’re having,” he says.

Paustian says he also appreciates a veterinarian who approaches work with a sense of curiosity and a desire to understand things better, which aligns with his own approach to constantly seek improvement.

Ben Barcovtch, a pig farmer from Berwick, Pa., says a strong veterinarian relationship is essential to the success of his pork operation.

“They support proactive herd health, help improve productivity, strengthen biosecurity and provide expert guidance during health challenges,” Barcovtch says. “The vet practice I work with is a key partner in maintaining animal well-being and our overall profitability.”

The veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is the basis for interaction among veterinarians, their clients and their patients, and it is critical to the health of animals.

“Our VCPR is a partnership that allows more proactive and long-term strategies instead of just responding to needs as they arise,” says Rob Brenneman, owner of Brenneman Pork in Washington, Iowa. “This allows both parties to focus on preventative care, optimized service offerings focused on system health and stability.”

Thank you

April 26 is World Veterinary Day . Observed annually on the last Saturday of April, the day aims to celebrate the contributions of veterinarians to the health of animals, people and the environment. “Animal health takes a team,” is this year’s theme and summarizes the collaboration between veterinarians and beef, dairy and swine producers.

“I believe that sincerely communicating appreciation is one of the most important things farmers and ranchers can do for their veterinarians,” says Jones of Red Hill Farms.

Veterinarians are considered trusted advisers with an integral role in the livestock industry. A recent survey released by Boehringer Ingelheim shows 94% of animal owners appreciate the work of veterinarians, compared to only 49% of veterinary professionals feeling who think the profession is appreciated.

The survey is part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s “Going Beyond” campaign, which seeks to spotlight aspects of veterinary work that too often remain unseen and underrecognized.

In support of World Veterinary Day, the “Going Beyond” campaign also released a video asking animal owners to guess what type of professional meets the description of a range of compelling job responsibilities and characteristics.

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The Effects of Heat Stress on Dairy Cattle Development, Health and Performance

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:18:39 GMT

It is not breaking news that yearly temperatures on Earth have been consistently rising. Indeed, data released from NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies – GISS show that the global land-ocean temperature index has consistently increased after the 1900s (see Figure 1 below).

Regardless of the many factors that have been tied to the increase in global temperature (some that were addressed in previous WSU VetMed Extension Articles ), it is evident that the agriculture is affected by such changes, including the dairy industry. With increased global temperatures, the occurrence of heat stress (a condition that occurs when the body is exposed to excessive heat, leading to an inability to regulate body temperature effectively) and its associated detrimental impacts are more likely to be observed particularly in dairy cattle.

A recent study projected the decadal increases in average heat stress frequencies by 2100, and revealed that the majority of the U.S. regions will have at least 6 to 8 additional days under heat stress/decade until 2100 ( Gunn et al., 2019 ; Figure 2).

Because of the expected differences in climate, it is important that dairy industry stakeholders work together to further 1) understand the complexity and underlying mechanisms of heat stress impacts, and 2) develop alternative strategies to mitigate the detrimental impacts of heat stress.

With that in mind, this article focuses on reviewing some of the key aspects related to heat stress impacts on cattle development, health and performance, industry economics, and mitigating strategies.

Historically, the temperature-humidity index (THI) has been the mechanism used to determine when dairy cows are heat stressed. Although there is some variation on THI cut-offs the consensus was established as a THI between 68 and 70 ( Zimbelman et al., 2009 ; Chen et al., 2024 ). Guinn et al. ( 2019 ) described the differences in mean THI between summer and winter months in the U.S. for the last 10 years (69.5 vs. 39.3, respectively), highlighting that without any heat stress abatement strategies U.S. dairy cows could be under heat stress conditions for most of the summer months.

In fact, the same study revealed differences in productive and reproductive performance between summer and winter, illustrated by reduced milk production and pregnancy rates in summer compared with winter months. Similar results were also reported by other authors, including lowered pregnancy rates in warmer months compared with colder months of the year ( Hansen, 2009 ). Both Tao et al. ( 2020 ) and Ouellet et al. ( 2020 ) depicted the detrimental impacts of heat stress on milk production and dry-matter intake (Figures 3 and 4).

Other studies have demonstrated the effects of heat stress (or contrast between warmer vs. cooler months) on the occurrence of diseases, culling, and cow welfare. For instance, cows that calved in warmer months were observed to have greater odds of retained fetal membrane (Odds Ratio = 1.6), subclinical ketosis (Odds Ratio = 2.3), displaced abomasum (Odds Ratio = 1.8), and mastitis (Odds Ratio = 1.1) as compared with cows that calved in cooler months ( Pinedo et al., 2020 ).

Al-Qaisi et al. ( 2020 ) observed a greater somatic cell count in milk from cows exposed to heat stress conditions as compared with cows exposed to thermoneutral conditions, and cows that calved in the summer were more likely develop metritis as compared to cows that calved in cooler months ( Molinari et al., 2022 ). Furthermore, Vitali et al. ( 2015 ) reported higher mortality of cattle during heat wave periods compared to subsequent periods, and an association of mortality and heat wave duration (Figure 5). Heat stress conditions have also been associated with welfare issues in dairy cattle, as cows under heat stress conditions remain in a standing position for greater periods of time (possibly contributing to lameness issues) and have greater blood cortisol levels than cows under thermoneutral conditions ( Cook et al., 2007 ; Allen et al., 2015 ; Al-Qaisi et al., 2020 ).

Considering the effects of heat stress on cattle performance, mortality, and welfare, it is not a surprise that economic losses occur. Specifically, data published in 2003 estimated that heat stress conditions cause up to $2.3 billion/year in economic losses to livestock production ($2.9 billion in 2024 considering inflation). Under heat stress abatement strategies, the economic losses drop down to $1.7 billion/year and the dairy industry represents over 50% of the costs ($897 million; St-Pierre et al., 2003 ).

A component to heat stress in dairy cattle that has received a lot of attention is the “in utero” heat stress on dairy calves. Recent studies highlighted the carryover effects of late gestational heat stress on the progeny, illustrated by lowered birth weight (-4.6 kg), lowered weaning weight (-7.1 kg), and reduced longevity ( Ouellet et al., 2020 ). Moreover, the occurrence of heat stress during the dry period is also associated with differences in offspring mammary gland structure ( Dado-Senn et al., 2019 ), adrenal gland development ( Guadagnin et al., 2024 ), behavior ( Laporta et al., 2017 ), and hormonal/metabolic biomarkers ( Guo et al., 2016 ).

Lastly, combined studies have shown the legacy effect of heat stress on offspring, as lactational performance of such offspring is also different compared to offspring generated by dams under thermoneutral conditions ( Ouellet et al., 2020 ; Figure 6).

The research findings related to the legacy effect of heat stress on offspring add another layer of importance to the topic, and suggest that the detrimental effects and economic losses previously described are potentially underestimated.

Although the complex mechanisms that underlie the detrimental effects of heat stress on lactating dairy cows are not yet fully elucidated, studies have demonstrated biological changes associated with heat stress. For instance, lipopolysaccharide-induced accumulation of IL-1β, IL-10, and MIP-1α was greater in blood collected from postpartum cows that were under prepartum heat stress conditions as compared with control cows,implying that prepartum heat stress has carry-over effects on postpartum innate immunity, which may contribute to the increased incidence of uterine disease observed in cows exposed to prepartum heat stress ( Molinari et al., 2023 ).

Other studies have depicted differences in gut, ovary, muscle, and metabolism morphology/function associated with heat stress, which could be tied to the occurrence of subsequent diseases, animal performance, reproductive performance, and mortality ( Baumgard and Rhoads Jr, 2013 ; Fernandez et al., 2015 ; Hale et al., 2017 ; Ross et al., 2017 ; Fausnacht et al., 2020 ; Mayorga et al., 2020 ; Tang et al., 2022 ; Roths et al., 2023 ). Last but certainly not least, and certainly not depicting the entirety of the mechanisms of heat stress associated with cow performance, cows under heat stress conditions have reduced feed intake ( Rhoads et al., 2009 ) and reduced energy substrate adaptability in skeletal muscle, possibly contributing to reduced performance ( Ellett et al., 2025 ).

Given the detrimental impacts of heat stress on cattle performance, health, and welfare, it is important to consider the region-specific variations in climate and implement heat abatement strategies as needed. There are a variety of heat abatement strategies available for dairy calves, heifers, and cows that can be implemented in dairy operations. Multiple studies have tested the effects of different strategies for heat abatement in calves.

For instance, Dado-Senn et al. ( 2020 ) reported a positive association between postnatal heat stress abatement and thermoregulatory responses, feed intake, and health in dairy calves. Montevecchio et al. ( 2022 ) reported a positive relationship between pre-weaning heat stress abatement and lying behavior and healing time (related to disbudding) in dairy calves. The same group also reported positive welfare-related responses and greater wither-height for calves given heat abatement strategies as compared to calves under a simple plywood hutch ( Montevecchio et al., 2022 ).

Benefits for heat abatement in heifers and cows were also reported. For instance, the use of shade from a freestall barn, water soakers, and fans were associated with positive effects on heifer thermoregulation and productivity as compared with heifers kept under freestall shade only ( Davidson et al., 2021 ). Gunn et al. ( 2019 ) described the milk production losses (per cow/year) according to different heat abatement strategies, ranging from minimal (open barn or shading) to intense (air conditioning).

Aside from structural tools to improve heat abatement for dairy cattle, other studies have reported varying results associated with nutritional tools to ameliorate the impacts of heat stress in dairy cows, including chromium supplementation ( Soltan, 2010 ), Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation ( Al-Qaisi et al., 2020 ), choline ( Holdorf and White, 2020 ), and other components ( Fabris et al., 2017 ).

The potential of other strategies for heat abatement have been described; for example, a research group from the University of Florida reported that the SLICK haplotype confers thermotolerance in intensively managed lactating Holstein cows ( Dikmen et al., 2014 ). In that study, the authors revealed that cows carrying the SLICK haplotype had lowered rectal temperature and respiration rate across most times of the day compared with cows not carrying the SLICK haplotype.

Although several aspects associated with the SLICK haplotype have not been explored, a recent study reported that SLICK Holstein cows in Puerto Rico exhibited lower body temperatures, greater voluntary solar radiation exposure, enhanced blood supply to the mammary gland, and alterations in genes and metabolites involved in arachidonic acid metabolism at the mammary gland and blood plasma ( Contreras-Correa et al., 2024 ).

Figure 1

(The Author)

Figure 1. Global land-ocean temperature index ( NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies – GISS ).

(The Author)

Figure 2. Projected decadal increases in average annual Heat Stress Frequency between 2000 to 2100 ( Adapted from Gunn et al., 2019 ).

Average Daily THI

(The Author)

Figure 3. Correlation between milk yield and the average daily temperature-humidity index (THI) of the previous week. Circles represent individual observations, and dash line represents simple linear regression. All cows were housed in the same barn equipped with evaporative cooling, and fed similar lactating cow rations (Adapted from Tao et al., 2020 ).

(The Author)

Figure 4. (A) Summary of difference (kg/d) in milk yield in late-gestation heat-stressed cows relative to cooled counterparts (average difference = 3.6 kg/d; 10.3%) and (B) difference (kg/d) in prepartum and postpartum dry matter intakes in late-gestation heat-stressed cows relative to cooled counterparts (prepartum average difference = 1.4 kg/d; 12.7%; postpartum difference = 0.1 kg/d, 0.5%). Adapted from Ouellet et al., 2020 .

(The Author)

Figure 5. (A) Odds ratio and 95% CI calculated for dairy cow mortality during heat wave (HW) and in the 3 not heat wave days (nHW) after the end of heat wave (d 1, 2, and 3 defined as nHWst, nHWnd, and nHWrd, respectively). (B) Odds ratio and 95% CI calculated for dairy cow mortality in relation to the duration of exposure to heat. The duration of exposure was classified as short (1 to 3 heat wave days), medium (4 to 6 heat wave days), long (7 to 10 heat wave days), and very long (>11 heat wave days). Odds ratios are statistically significant when 95% CI does not include the unit (dashed line). Adapted from Vitali et al., 2015 .

(The Author)

Figure 6. Summary of the performance impairments associated with late-gestation heat stress for the dam (1), daughters (F1), granddaughters (F2), and dairy sector (2) reported in a series of study (where ECM = energy corrected milk). Extracted from Ouellet et al., 2020

Congress Approves CR, Includes $31 Billion in Farmer, Disaster Aid and Farm Bill Extension

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:50:13 GMT

With little if any drama like the House, the Senate easily cleared the 118-page continuing resolution (CR) early Saturday morning with a vote of 85-11 (four members did not vote). The measure funds the government through March 14. The CR includes nearly $110 billion in disaster and farmer aid ($21 billion ag disaster and $10 billion in farmer aid), and a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill.

The Senate vote came hours after the House passed the measure on a 366-34 vote, well above the two-thirds majority threshold required under that chamber’s suspension of the rules procedure, with no Democrats voting no along with 34 Republicans. Texas Dem Rep. Jasmine Crockett voted “present”.

Debt Ceiling

GOP leaders dropped a two-year suspension of the statutory debt ceiling that was in a previous CR version and that helped push the bill through both chambers. Democrats opposed inclusion of the debt limit provision, arguing it would make it easier on Republicans next year to cut taxes and ram through other partisan priorities. Cutting the debt limit language was enough to convince Democrats to go along with the stripped-down bill, even though it excluded their priorities contained in an i nitial 1,547-page bipartisan measure .

One ag sector lobbyist said, “Ag groups need to start playing the game… those who always vote no on everything… why not actively oppose them… they don’t support farm bills anyhow.”

Breaking Down the Votes

Here is the list of House Republicans who voted no on the CR that contained $31 billion in ag sector assistance:

House no votes on CR

(House of Representatives)

Some notable representatives who voted against the CR include Nancy Mace (South Carolina), Thomas Massie (Kentucky), and Chip Roy (Texas). The reasons for voting against the CR varied among representatives, with some citing concerns about high levels of spending, lack of reforms, or opposition to giving the current administration additional funding.

Here is the list of Senate Democrats who voted no:

Senate no votes on CR

(U.S. Senate)

Farmer Aid in the CR

This is a breakdown of the $31 billion in farmer assistance via the CR:

Farmer aid breakdown

(House Ag Committee)

Possible Payment Amounts to Farmers

The farmer aid should be available 90 days after the legislation’s enactment. Farm CPA Paul Neiffer estimated per acre payment amounts via the Economic Loss Assistance program based on his knowledge of the provisions.

Possible payments as calculated by Farm CPA Paul Neiffer

(Lindsey Pound )

While USDA will make the final calculations, based on Neiffer’s estimates, producer payments look like this per acre, using the following calculation: (USDA’s Projected Cost of the Crop – National Projected Returns) x Eligible Acres x 26% = Total Payment.

Corn: $43.80
Soybeans: $30.61
Wheat: $31.80
Cotton: $84.70
Rice: $69.66

Neiffer says there is a payment limit of $125,000 dollars, which is down from the $175,00 originally proposed in the FARM Act. He says it’s also key to note with the updated relief, if 75% of your total gross income comes from farming, which includes wages and interest and dividends, then you qualify for the double payment.

Related Story: Poll Results: 71% of Farmers Say Congress Should Approve Economic Aid Before Year-End

House Ag Committee Fact Sheet Details Payments

The House Ag Committee released a fact sheet on the farmer economic assistance that is provided in the current Continuing Resolution (CR), modeled off of Rep. Trent Kelly’s (R-Miss.) FARM Act (HR 10045). There is a list of eligible commodities, a payment formula, administrative provisions, and estimated payment rates.

House Ag panel staffers say please keep in mind that the payment rates in this document are estimates and “almost certain to change slightly once implemented. These rates are the best approximation based on the data cited in text. This does incorporate the minimum payment rate provision. You’ll see that those crops receiving payments via the minimum payment provision have an asterisk.”

The House Ag panel had the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M analyze the impact of the economic assistance provided through this provision. Their findings suggest that the funds will improve ending cash position on their Representative Farm system by nearly 20% by the end of 2025.

Farmer aid

(House Ag Committee)

Your Next Reads:

Poll Results: 71% of Farmers Say Congress Should Approve Economic Aid Before Year-End

Ag Gets Potential Christmas Gift from Congress: Continuing Resolution Includes $31 Billion in Aid for Producers

Finding Peace: Managing Mental Health During the Holiday Season

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:01:52 GMT

The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. For many, however, it is also a period marked by increased stress and mental health challenges. The reality is that the rites and rituals of the season sometimes come with pressures that can be difficult to manage.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults’ experiences mental health struggles. This statistic is a stark reminder that these challenges are pervasive, impacting individuals of all backgrounds and life circumstances. What’s more revealing is that three out of four people report a worsening of their mental health during the holiday season.

Common Stressors and Their Impact
There are several factors that contribute to this heightened stress. Financial pressures are a significant concern, as individuals grapple with the expectation of gift-giving, hosting, and traveling. Coupled with these financial worries is the potential conflict with family members, which can strain relationships rather than bring people closer.

The loss of loved ones also becomes more pronounced during the holidays, as memories of past celebrations may bring feelings of longing rather than comfort. Moreover, the busy schedules that come with holiday preparations can leave little room for self-care or relaxation, further exacerbating feelings of stress and anxiety.

Strategies for Managing Holiday Stress
The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences offers these options if you notice your mental health worsening during the holidays.

Practice self-care. What activities help you feel refreshed or relaxed? Taking a walk around your property, watching a favorite movie, or driving through a Christmas light display in your community are all simple activities that can bring happiness.

Avoid negative coping strategies. It is common for people to enjoy alcoholic beverages, but excessive drinking to change your mood can harm your physical and mental health.

Set healthy boundaries. It is okay to say “no” or “not right now.” If your schedule is too busy, consider limiting the number of invitations you accept. If family gatherings are a little contentious, plan to stay for only an hour or two.

Follow your routine. Enjoy holiday treats and remember your veggies and protein. Settle in for a fun movie night and aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Proper rest and nutrition help your mental health tremendously!

Acknowledge your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend or family member and tell them how you feel. Sometimes, just saying words out loud can help remove a burden from our minds. Your loved ones may also be able to provide additional support.

Help is Available:

• 988 – call or text this number 24/7 to be connected to the Suicide and Crisis Prevention Lifeline. A trained counselor will listen to you, support you, and share resources in your area.

• 741741 – text the Crisis Lifeline 24/7 to connect with a trained counselor.

• 911 – if you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts or a medical emergency, call emergency services immediately.

Understanding the factors that contribute to the decline in mental health during the holidays is the first step toward managing them effectively. By recognizing and addressing the triggers, you can regain a sense of peace and joy during what is meant to be a festive time. Remember, taking care of your mental health should always be a priority, holiday season or not.

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Protecting Potency: Best Practices for Effective Vaccine Storage on the Farm

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 21:16:57 GMT

Vaccines are only as effective as the conditions in which they are kept. That’s why paying a bit of extra attention to storage can go a long way when it comes to ensuring these immunizations do their job.

According to Curt Vlietstra, DVM at Boehringer Ingelheim, improper storage or handling can result in ineffective vaccines. Temperature fluctuations, exposure to light and improper handling can all impact a vaccine’s potency, reducing its protective power. Vlietstra advises farmers to pay close attention to vaccine storage conditions to help maintain effectiveness.

Top Vaccine Storage Pitfalls

Vaccines are sensitive biological substances that need specific conditions to maintain their potency. Three issues Vlietstra commonly sees when it comes to vaccine storage include:

Improper Temperature: Most vaccines must be stored between 35°F and 46°F. Any exposure to freezing or excessive heat can denature the active ingredients, making them ineffective.
Exposure to Light: Many vaccines are sensitive to light, which can also degrade their quality. These vaccines should be protected from UV light once removed from the refrigerator.
Expired Vaccines: Use older vaccines first and always check expiration dates. Storing newer stock at the back and keeping older doses at the front makes it easier to avoid using expired vaccines and helps maintain the effectiveness of your supply.

Steps for Proper Vaccine Storage

Vlietstra suggests implementing the following steps to help ensure vaccines are stored properly.

Invest in Reliable Refrigeration: “Don’t go with the cheapest fridge you can find,” Vlietstra advises. Instead, he recommends investing in a quality refrigerator that is designated solely for medical usage.

“I don’t want your lunch or drinks in there because the more time it gets open and closed, the more changes you have in the temperature. Plus, there’s a higher likelihood that it doesn’t get closed all the way.
Use Temperature Monitors: Implement temperature monitoring systems that alert staff if the vaccine storage deviates from the optimal range.

“Usually, a fridge doesn’t go bad overnight,” Vlietstra says. It slowly starts to lose its effectiveness. Having a good thermometer can warn you when your barn fridge is on its way out. Some of these thermometers even have wireless alerts that can connect to an app on your phone.”
Handle With Care: When it comes to vaccine handling, keeping doses at a stable temperature is crucial, even after mixing. Whether it’s hot or cold outside, Vlietstra recommends storing mixed vaccines in a transportable cooler to help protect them from extreme temperature fluctuations and sunlight.

“How we mix, handle and store these vaccines matters,” Vlietstra adds. “Have conversations with your veterinarian and consider implementing a training day to review proper storage and handling SOPs with your team. Regularly refreshing this training ensures everyone is on the same page, which can make a real difference when it comes to herd health.”

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Set Micro Goals to Accomplish Big Dreams in 2023

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:03:21 GMT

It’s the season for setting resolutions. Does this motivate or overwhelm you? For most, it’s the second.

Why? We set lofty goals that are challenging to meet.

Instead of writing down these big audacious goals, Jon Acuff, an entrepreneur, speaker and best-selling author, has better advice: Set micro goals.

“A micro goal is a small action that generates big results; a micro goal punches above its weight,” Acuff says.

10 MINUTES FOR 30 DAYS

As you set your goals in life (prioritizing your family, running a profitable farm, etc.), brainstorm little steps you can take to impact those goals. Acuff suggests micro goals take 10 to 15 minutes and you do them each day for one month. Yep, we’re talking less than 10 hours for the entire month.

Here are a few Acuff recommends:

Read 10 pages of a leadership or development book each day. Feel free to find something not related to farming (it can even be fiction).
Encourage one person. It doesn’t have to be a handwritten letter with a wax seal. Just once a day say one encouraging thing to one person.
Walk, bike or run one mile. Essentially every day you’re moving your body for a quarter of an hour. Acuff likes the mile approach because at the end of the time frame, you have traveled 30 miles in a month.
Write down one thing for which you’re grateful — on paper with a pen or pencil. Recognize big and small blessings.
Spend 10 minutes planning your day. This is one of my favorites. Look at your calendar, check your to-do list and make a plan to accomplish the big things.

You can pick one or 10 micro goals to do for one month. Regardless of the number, you’ll see the results. What if you miss the third day? No big deal.

“We’re not aiming for perfect,” Acuff says. “Even if you only do your habit for 50% of the month, that’s infinitely more than you were going to do if you didn’t set the goal. So don’t let perfectionism steal the joy of a micro goal.”

Want more inspiration to accomplish your goals? Watch Jon Acuff present at the 2021 Top Producer Summit .

Veterinary Technicians Key to Underserved Rural Areas

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:52:23 GMT

Imagine working less and serving more clients. Is it hard to picture? Maybe it’s time to reimagine what you’re doing—and whether you’re effectively utilizing a critical member of your veterinary team.

Veterinary technicians can be a solution to underserved rural areas, says Dr. K. Fred Gingrich II, the Executive Director of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP).

“A lot of times veterinarians in those communities are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the workload can be tremendous,” he says. “And veterinary technicians have the skills and the expertise, that they can do some of those technical procedures, as well as train producers to do those technical procedures, which then frees up the veterinarian to do the things that they are experts at,” he says.

There are a number of opportunities for veterinary technicians to grow within the veterinary profession, and those opportunities don’t stop at the private practice, says Dr. Jason Nickell.

“I would urge you to gain as much experience there as possible. But I would also encourage you to look at opportunities within academia, opportunities within industry opportunities potentially within government,” he says.

Nickell also encourages the veterinary profession to look to human healthcare and how they utilize nurses, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants as a model to explore to serve rural areas where producer numbers are holding steady but there are fewer large animal veterinarians.

Dr. Geof Smith, professor of ruminant medicine at North Carolina State University School of Veterinary Medicine, agrees.

“I think learning how to use technicians appropriately and food animal practice can be a great builder, particularly in those practices where you’re covering a lot of territory,” he says. “Maybe use the veterinary technician. Veterinarians don’t always have to be on every farm, and we can find ways to utilize those technicians and help us in our day-to-day role.”

Watch the video here:

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