Have You Herd? AABP PodCasts

Latest Episodes:

Cultural Awareness for Veterinarians Working with LatinX Livestock Caretakers Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

This episode of Have You Herd? is guest hosted by Dr. Kendra Wells, a dairy veterinarian from northeastern Wisconsin. Wells was the dairy coordinator the 2023 6th AABP Recent Graduate Conference and was joined at the conference by Dr. Noa Roman-Muniz to follow-up from her presentation at the conference. Language differences can limit effectiveness of training but is not the primary challenge to effective communication. Our guests discuss tips for training and presenting to LatinX employees and how to recognize cultural differences that can be celebrated not as a limitation, but as an opportunity for making personal connections. Roman-Muniz suggests that veterinarians should attempt to use the Spanish that they know with farm employees and that they will be appreciative of your efforts even if you have limited Spanish-speaking skills. She suggests being open to correction and telling workers to help you when you make a mistake. Our guests also discuss the definitions of the terms LatinX and Hispanic. Roman-Muniz also explains why “knowing the why” is important for workers in training, discussing euthanasia, and how this makes employees feel like they are a part of the team. Explaining and embracing the why in our training also is liberating for managers and owners, a lesson she learned from her dairy farmer father.

AABP members can listen to Roman-Muniz’s conference presentation on the BCI CE portal when the recorded sessions are available. We also encourage anyone interested in this topic to review the resources on the AABP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee page. If you are interested in joining the DEI committee, click on the email committee link from that page. AABP members can also advance their Spanish-language skills for communicating with farm workers in a practical setting by taking part in our free Spanish language webinar series. Two webinars are available on the BCI CE portal and more will be offered in the future. Find the AABP webinar schedule under the "Members" menu of the AABP website.

Is Your Refrigerator Running? Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Emmanuel Rollin, clinical associate professor of dairy production medicine at the University of Georgia. Rollin is a former Amstutz Scholarship winner and currently serves as the chair of the AABP Amstutz Scholarship Committee. Today we are discussing a paper published in The Bovine Practitioner, titled “Maintenance of the last step of the cold chain: on-farm refrigerator storage and performance.” The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of refrigerators in an on-farm setting to determine the temperature ranges observed using a data logging device. Rollin discusses the types of refrigerators that are commonly seen on farms and some of the different features of those refrigerators. The recommended temperature interval (RTI) for most biologics used in cattle is 36-46 degrees F. The study was conducted for 6 months with temperatures measured every 10 minutes resulting in over 1 million data points. Results demonstrated that household refrigerators were outside the RTI 37% of the time, commercials refrigerators 2% of the time, and mini-refrigerators 27% of the time. They also evaluated the mean daily temperature ranges (MDTR) in the refrigerator (low to high daily temperature range) and found MDTR from 1 – 14o F with type of refrigerator and ambient temperature in the room impacting MDTR ranges. Rollin discusses that the study does not indicate if the biologic products stored outside of the RTI had diminished efficacy, however monitoring refrigerators can be a part of risk management for disease mitigation strategies. Veterinarians can play a role in ensuring that the cold chain for biologicals are maintained to decrease the risk to herd health when implementing vaccine protocols, including monitoring inventory, temperature data logging, refrigerator location and maintenance.

The In Temp data logger used in this study can be found at this link.

Fallness, C. A., Rollin, E., Heins, B. D., & Berghaus, R. D. (2022). Maintenance of the last step of the cold chain: on-farm refrigerator storage and performance. The Bovine Practitioner, 56(2), 62–69. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol56no2p62-69

Reducing enteric methane emissions with 3-nitrooxypropanoal Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Sara Place, an associate professor in Animal Sciences at Colorado State University and affiliated with Ag Next which is focused on sustainable solutions in animal agriculture, to discuss an exciting molecule called 3- nitrooxypropanoal or 3-NOP. Methane is the number one greenhouse gas (GHG) associated with dairy and beef production. The primary source of methanogenesis in beef and dairy cattle is the rumen. If we look at all activities associated with beef production, it is 3.7% of U.S. GHG emissions and about 2% for dairy. This includes enteric methane as well as feed, transportation, manure and other inputs. The primary driver of GHG in the U.S. is burning fossil fuels and release of CO2 into the atmosphere and not animal agriculture, however methane has 28 times the warming potential of CO2, but the half-life is only 10 years, much less than CO2.

3-NOP has a very specific mode of action in the rumen to competitively inhibit the last step of methanogenesis. Research has consistently shown that 3-NOP decreases rumen methanogenesis by 30% in dairy cattle and up to 50% in feedlot cattle. 3-NOP has a different mode of action to ionophores such as monensin. We discuss that 6% of the energy fed to dairy cows and 3.5% of the energy fed to beef cows is lost to methane. Research has not demonstrated an increase in milk production or dry matter intake, but it has had some impact on milk components. We also discuss the practical application of 3-NOP in dairy cows, pastoral beef systems, pre-weaned calves and its impact on future lifetime production of methane, and during the finishing phase of beef production.

We also discuss that 3-NOP is a new concept with proven reductions in methane production but there is opportunity for future research to demonstrate potential benefits to producers, animals and consumers as well as the environment.

Related publications:

Summary of scientific papers from DSM on 3-nitrooxypropanoal

DSM sustainability website

Use of 3-nitrooxypropanol as feed additive for mitigating enteric methane emissions from ruminants: a meta-analysis

The effects of feeding 3-nitrooxypropanol on methane emissions and productivity of Holstein cows in mid lactation

A meta-analysis of effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol on methane production, yield, and intensity in dairy cattle

Use of 3-nitrooxypropanol in a commercial feedlot to decrease enteric methane emissions from cattle fed a corn-based finishing diet

Providing appropriate pain management for cattle Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by AABP members from Kansas State University, Dr. Michael Kleinhenz and Dr. Hans Coetzee. Our guests discuss research that indicates cattle feel pain even when they do not exhibit outward signs of pain and some common procedures where the animal can benefit from an analgesic protocol. Providing appropriate pain management is not only our moral obligation from the oath we took as veterinarians, but also is expected by customers and consumers. There are also benefits to the animal and the producer when these procedures are managed with appropriate analgesic protocols. We discuss how to manage with current supply chain issues for lidocaine as well as the types of drugs that can be used when developing analgesic protocols for producers. Kleinhenz reviews a recent publication that discusses aspirin use in lactating dairy cows, appropriate withholding times, and its efficacy for reducing inflammation in cows. We also review some of the challenges that veterinarians may face when discussing pain management with clients and how we can overcome those challenges to speak for the cow or calf and advocate for appropriate animal care.

Links:

Current attitudes of veterinarians and producers regarding the use of local and systemic analgesia in beef and dairy cattle in the United States
Elizabeth C.S. Johnstone, Johann F. Coetzee, Pablo J. Pinedo, Lily Edwards-Callaway
JAVMA, Vol. 258. No. 2
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.258.2.197

Determination of milk concentrations and pharmacokinetics of salicylic acid following acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) administration in postpartum dairy cows
B.R. Fritz, M.D. Kleinhenz, S.R. Montgomery, G. Magnin, M.S. Martin, M. Weeder, A.K. Curtis, J.F. Coetzee
J Dairy Sci, Vol. 105, No. 2
https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21507
AABP Resource Approaching Pain in Cattle

A survey of US Cow-Calf Producers to Investigate Cattle Health and Production Records Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Isaac Jumper, a clinical instructor at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Jumper is the principal author of three papers recently published in the AABP peer-reviewed journal, The Bovine Practitioner. We discuss the journal and our new submission, review and publication process. The Bovine Practitioner is open access and published online at this link.

This series of papers was published after Jumper et al. administered a survey to 14,000 cow-calf producers in the U.S. who were members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association with a 25% response rate. One interesting response to the survey was the question asking what was the producer’s motivation for being in the cow-calf industry. The number one response was that they enjoyed taking care of cattle and number two was that cattle had been in their family for generations. The results of the survey provide multiple opportunities for veterinarians to be involved in their client’s operations to develop consulting on cattle health, production and welfare. The majority of responses (2/3) stated that their veterinarians was influential in management decisions. The survey was used to ask producer’s questions about the use of cattle health and production records (CHPR), what were the odds of using CHPR based on various demographics, how did they use and access technology for CHPR and what is the veterinarian’s involvement in CHPR on their operations.

The results of this survey can be used by veterinarians to develop questions for their clients, identify the challenges and bottlenecks to CHPR on their client’s operations, and identify opportunities for them to help their clients develop CHPR practices to incorporate consulting services to help the client, their cattle, and the veterinarian. Jumper reminds us that for clients that do not have CHPR, it is best to identify some simple yet important pieces of information to record and build the CHPR from there. Veterinarians are an investment in cow-calf operations and we should work to develop consulting relationships to help these clients enjoy their cattle even more!

Jumper, W. I., Huston, C. L., Willis, R. W., & Smith, D. R. (2022). Survey of U.S. cow-calf producer methods and opinions of cattle health and production record-keeping. The Bovine Practitioner, 56(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol56no2p1-15

Jumper, W. I., Huston, C. L., Willis, R. W., & Smith, D. R. (2022). Survey of U.S. cow-calf producer access to and use of technology for cattle health and production record-keeping purposes. The Bovine Practitioner, 56(2), 16–28. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol56no2p16-28

Jumper, W. I., Huston, C. L., Willis, R. L., & Smith, D. R. (2022). Survey of veterinary involvement in cattle health and production record-keeping on U.S. cow-calf operations. The Bovine Practitioner, 56(2), 29–37. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol56no2p2-37

Meat is Medicine Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by family practice physician Dr. John Madany. Madany worked on ranches and assisted with beef production research while in college and considered veterinary school but ultimately decided to become a physician. He describes his journey of prescribing medication to patients with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol before realizing his prescribing practices may have increased patient risk for these diseases and aggravated metabolic syndrome. He now approaches these disease with dietary therapy, primarily utilizing a low carbohydrate diet that is based on animal-sourced proteins to ensure a high-fat/high-protein low-carbohydrate diet. Madany discusses the results he has seen using this approach which include decreasing or eliminating the need for medication, improved neurologic and mental health, decreasing joint and muscle pain, and overall improvements in satisfaction from patients. Madany discusses the importance of measuring a fasting insulin level and monitoring insulin level to see a response to dietary interventions. He discusses that hyperinsulinemia has deleterious effects on the body including high blood pressure, inflammation, insulin resistance and tachycardia.

Dr. Madany states that he would not be able to practice without meat and that animal products are his medicine. Cattle veterinarians can advocate for the health benefits of an animal based diet to promote the products our clients produce.

Interested in more information about low carbohydrate diets or the carnivore diet? Two books discussed in the podcast are listed below for further information:

Good Calories, Bad Calories – Gary Taubes

The Carnivore Diet – Shawn Baker

Impact of Nutrition and Postbiotics on Animal Health - Sponsored by Diamond V Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Mario Vailati Riboni from the technical services team at Diamond V, a platinum sponsor of the 55th AABP Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif. AABP members can view the breakfast presentation delivered by Dr. Matias Stangaferro, “What’s Next: How to use research and data to drive effective decisions”, on the online recorded CE platform health.

Robini discusses how nutrition can impact animal and we discuss several research projects and publications that support the use of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics in dairy rations as well as defining these terms. Mastitis and udder health remain a significant disease challenge in the dairy industry and we review some of the financial impacts of mastitis in dairy cows. Currently, the dairy industry spends $70-100 per cow per year on prevention and up to $450 per case of clinical mastitis. Feeding the immune system with key nutrients can decrease the impacts of mastitis in the dairy industry. Robini also unpacks the practical application of feeding these products on the dairy and the financial returns that can be realized from utilizing them in dairy rations.

To find out more information about these products, contact your Diamond V technical service specialist and visit their website.
Publications:
Vailati-Riboni, M., Coleman, D.N., Lopreiato, V. et al. Feeding a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product improves udder health and immune response to a Streptococcus uberis mastitis challenge in mid-lactation dairy cows. J Animal Sci Biotechnol 12, 62 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-021-00560-8

M. Al-Qaisi, E.A. Horst, E.J. Mayorga, et al. Effects of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product on heat-stressed dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 103, 10 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-18721

A.M. Zontini, E. Zerbini, A. Minuti, E. Trevisi. Effects of supplementing Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products to dairy cows from the day of dry-off through early lactation. J Dairy Sci. 104, 11 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-20463

Dr. Dan Grooms – Cattle Veterinarian, AABP Past President, Dean Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by the dean of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Dan Grooms. Grooms discusses his career as a mixed animal veterinarian in Ohio after graduating from The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Veterinary Medicine and the mentors he had that encouraged him to become involved in organized veterinary medicine. He started his volunteer service to AABP as a member of the Amstutz Scholarship Committee, became president in 2014, and currently serves on the AABP Foundation Board. He returned to OSU and was on faculty at Michigan State University, and then became dean at Iowa State University. Grooms discusses the current shortage of veterinarians and how it particularly impacts rural mixed/food animal practice. He encourages veterinarians to develop young people in their community in following a path to veterinary medicine by getting them to enter college and apply to veterinary schools and think about a a career in cattle medicine. Grooms discusses the challenges with maintaining a curriculum that satisfies the Council on Education requirements for accreditation, and how veterinary school develops a foundation for students to enter the profession and continue to learn and advance their careers. Veterinary school tuition continues to increase and he outlines the budget and revenue streams at Iowa State University and how this impacts tuition fees to students. Scholarships and paid externships are important for all AABP members to participate in to encourage recruitment and retention in bovine practice. Grooms also discusses the efforts by AABP and universities to promote diversity, equity and inclusion to make sure that the profession is welcoming and supportive of everyone, regardless of their demographic backgrounds.

The AABP Foundation continues to support veterinary students and we encourage everyone to donate to the Foundation at this link to support scholarships, research and externship programs for veterinary students. AABP members can list their externships to welcome students to bovine practice by going to this page. Are you interested in joining an AABP Committee? Visit the committee page on the AABP website and click on a committee to find information and email the committee chair!

6th AABP Recent Graduate Conference February 9-11, 2023 Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by the program committee for the 6th AABP Recent Graduate Conference. The program committee members are Dr. Tommy Ware (AABP Emerging Leader and chair), Dr. Alex Pop (beef and practice management sessions), Dr. Michael Rohde (beef sessions) and Dr. Kendra Wells (dairy sessions). The conference offers a unique CE opportunity for AABP members who graduated from 2015-2022. The theme of the conference is “Competence to Confidence” and offers CE sessions on practice management, small ruminants, clinical skills, beef and dairy. The keynote address will be delivered by AABP member Dr. Eric Rooker who will discuss “rituals of strength” to provide meaningful skills for recent graduates to develop confidence in their competence! Our guests discuss how they have enjoyed attending this conference for not only the continuing education that is developed with the recent graduate in mind, but also the networking with colleagues who are at the same stage of their career. AABP offers this conference to support our recent graduate members and demonstrate the organization’s commitment to retaining them in bovine practice. The conference offers networking, social events and a trade show. On Thursday, February 9, four preconference seminars are offered that will provide small group settings to learn skills on becoming an owner, reproductive ultrasound, thoracic ultrasound and lameness. Find more information about the seminars at this link. Each preconference seminar is approved for 8 hours of CE in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval. The conference is RACE-approved for 15.5 hours of CE.

Register for the conference at this link. View the schedule of events on this page. Make sure to book your hotel room in the AABP block and support your organization to ensure the continued success of this conference by going to this page.

#RG2023
#competencetoconfidence

Diagnostic testing for BVD Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

This episode of Have You Herd? is sponsored by Allflex. Producers all over are going all in on Allflex monitoring solutions and they want to tell you why. Allflex empowers producers to get the most from their operations. Allflex monitoring solutions increase labor efficiency, improve herd health and boost reproduction rates. Ongoing training and support keeps things running smoothly from install and beyond. For more details, visit this website.

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Russ Daly, extension veterinarian from South Dakota State University. Today we discuss bovine virus diarrhea (BVD), an RNA envelope virus that can have devastating effects in beef and dairy herds. BVD can have many effects in cattle and Daly discusses the impacts of the virus on reproduction and immunosuppression. The primary focus of a control program should be in preventing persistently infected (PI) calves. Daly discusses that 2/10-4/10% of animals that arrive in the feedlot are PI animals, but the incidence can vary between and within cow calf herds. Data from the SDSU laboratory shows that of submissions, about 1.5 to 3% of calf samples are PI for BVD.

When determining which diagnostic test to run, Daly states that we want to detect viral antigen and this is typically done using antigen capture ELISA testing. He discusses pooling ear notch samples to decrease cost but recommends veterinarians contact their laboratory diagnostician for advice on submitting samples. It is also important to not forget purchased heifers, cows and bulls. When testing purchases, it is critical to not forget the gestating fetus to screen for PI and therefore all fetuses born to purchased animals should be tested at birth. Ensuring that PI animals do not enter the breeding pasture is important to mitigate the risk of PI animals being born into the herd.

Veterinarians should work with producers to make sure they have a good BVD control program implemented. Outbreaks tend to be much more costly and devastating than preventing the introduction of BVD into the herd. A sound reproduction protocol, biosecurity measures, vaccination and strategic diagnostic testing are ways that veterinarians can implement control programs to prevent BVD in herds.

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