Have You Herd? AABP PodCasts

Latest Episodes:

A Minute Delay - Seven Pounds Tossed Away: The importance of premilking preparation Dec 07, 2020

Show notes

AABP members Dr. Ron Erskine and Dr. Roger Thomson discuss milk ejection with Dr. Fred Gingrich. Only 10% of the milk is in the cistern with the remainder requiring ejection from the alveolar component of the udder due to the effects of oxytocin. We discuss how a properly timed pre-milking routine can delay milk ejection and how this delay affects mouthpiece vacuum, teat end vacuum, and its associated affects on teat health. Milking routine not only can impact udder health, but also has implications for cattle well-being. Inappropriate mouthpiece and teat end vacuum causes pain and our guests discuss “interviewing the cow” by evaluating the teats, cow behavior, and residual milk volume with strip yields as an important evaluation step. We also discuss that bulk tank somatic cell count should not be utilized as a stand-alone metric for udder health and a holistic approach looking at records and parlor evaluations are a better system for identifying if there are concerns with milk ejection. Dr. Erskine references his research that demonstrated that proper milk ejection does not decrease unit on time but the savings is that cows that have delayed milk ejection (maximum milk flow rate more than one minute after unit attachment) produce 7 pounds less milk per milking. This research was presented at the 2019 AABP Annual Conference in the Research Summaries session. AABP members can access this recording through the AABP online CE portal by searching for the 2019 St. Louis Conference Research Summaries session or reviewing the proceedings paper titled “Effect of bi-modal milk letdown on milk production” at this link.

Relevant publications:

Erskine RJ, Norby B, Neuder LM, Thomson RS. Decreased milk yield is associated with delayed milk ejection. J Dairy Sci. 2019 Jul;102(7):6477-6484. doi: 10.3168/jds.2018-16219. Epub 2019 Apr 25. PMID: 31030923.

Moore-Foster R, Norby B, Schewe RL, Thomson R, Bartlett PC, Erskine RJ. Herd-level variables associated with delayed milk ejection in Michigan dairy herds. J Dairy Sci. 2019 Jan;102(1):696-705. doi: 10.3168/jds.2018-14561. Epub 2018 Oct 19. PMID: 30343911.

Moore-Foster R, Norby B, Schewe RL, Thomson R, Bartlett PC, Erskine RJ. Herd-level variables associated with premilking stimulation time in Michigan dairy herds. J Dairy Sci. 2019 Mar;102(3):2544-2550. doi: 10.3168/jds.2018-14943. Epub 2019 Jan 11. PMID: 30639006

Ketosis - Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention with Dr. Kathryn Bach Nov 30, 2020

Show notes

Join us for a new conversation about a common disease! Dr. Kathryn Bach is an AABP member on faculty at Cornell University and in this episode, she discusses some of the current research and intervention strategies to manage hyperketonemia on dairy farms. Up to 80% of cows with hyperketonemia can be clinically normal. We review testing protocols for herd-based monitoring using hand-held blood ketone meters as well as treatment protocols based on these routine monitoring results. Dr. Bach reviews a recent research trial evaluating the effectiveness of oral propylene glycol versus intravenous dextrose for treating ketosis. She also provides her thoughts on future research for monitoring ketones in herds and how that can be utilized to manage this disease on dairy farms that impact the health and productivity or our patients.

Links to relevant publications:

Seely, C.R., K.D. Bach, D.M. Barbano, and J.A.A. McArt. 2020. Effect of hyperketonemia on the diurnal patterns of energy-related blood metabolites in early-lactation dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. doi:10.3168/jds.2020-18930.

Bach, K.D., D.M. Barbano, and J.A.A. McArt. 2019. Association of mid-infrared-predicted milk and blood constituents with early-lactation disease, removal, and production outcomes in Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 102:10129–10139. doi:10.3168/JDS.2019-16926.

Bach, K.D., D.M. Barbano, and J.A.A. McArt. 2020. The relationship of excessive energy deficit with milk somatic cell score and clinical mastitis. J. Dairy Sci. doi:10.3168/jds.2020-18432.

Pralle, R.S., and H.M. White. 2020. Symposium review: Big data, big predictions: Utilizing milk Fourier-transform infrared and genomics to improve hyperketonemia management. J. Dairy Sci. 103:3867–3873. doi:10.3168/jds.2019-17379.

Q&A with the 2021 AVMA Delegate Candidates Nov 23, 2020

Show notes

Listen in as AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by 2021 AABP candidates for AVMA Delegate, Dr. Bryan Halteman and Dr. Hunter Lang. Each candidate provides their background and professional activities to introduce themselves to our members. They are asked how their membership in AABP has impacted their career, what role they envision as an AVMA delegate, what experiences they have to bring to the position, and what they believe are the major issues that are important for AABP advocacy working with the AVMA.

Information about Dr. Halteman’s practice, Lander Veterinary Clinic, located in Turlock, CA, can be found at https://bit.ly/3kG9JJ2.

Information about Dr. Lang’s practice, Sauk Prairie Veterinary Clinic, S.C., located in Prairie du Sac, WI, can be found at https://bit.ly/3f8LMch.

AABP veterinarians, grad student, and Honor Roll members can vote by going to this link before December 18th at 5 pm Eastern. Candidate videos and biographies can be found at that link.

Q&A with the 2021 AABP Vice-President Candidates Nov 23, 2020

Show notes

Listen in as AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by 2021 Vice-President candidates Dr. Randall Spare and Dr. Michael Capel. Each candidate provides their background and professional activities to introduce themselves to our members. They are asked how their membership in AABP has impacted their career, what they would say to a bovine practitioner that is not a member of AABP, and what initiatives they want to take on as a leader of AABP.

Information about Dr. Spares practice, Ashland Veterinary Center in Ashland, Kansas, can be found at https://bit.ly/36BP3ge.

Information about Dr. Capel’s practice, Perry Vet in Perry, New York, can be found at https://bit.ly/2IxSGM0.

AABP veterinarian, grad student, and Honor Roll members can vote by going to this link before December 18th at 5 pm Eastern. Candidate videos and biographies can be found at that link.

Hypocalcemia – diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and future research opportunities with Dr. Jess McArt Nov 16, 2020

Show notes

Although veterinarians may not be administering individual treatment to clinical, recumbent milk fever cases, there are many opportunities for us to be involved with preventing, monitoring, and developing protocols for treatment of hypocalcemia. In this episode, AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Jess McArt, a clinician and researcher from Cornell University. Dr. McArt discusses practical tips for diagnosing and treating cases of clinical hypocalcemia, as well as providing suggestions for veterinary involvement in prevention and monitoring of this disease. We also discuss the effects of subclinical hypocalcemia, which can be diagnosed in 30-50% of cows on some dairy farms, even with a clinical incidence rate of well under 5%. Dr. McArt also discusses some of the research on hypocalcemia, including a recent project that demonstrated blood samples taken pre-treatment can sit in cold storage for an extended period without adversely affecting accuracy of results for blood calcium levels. Dr. McArt also discusses future research, including the effects of transient, persistent, or delayed subclinical hypocalcemia in early lactation cows. AABP members can listen to Dr. McArt’s research summary presentations on calcium by going to the BCI CE portal and searching under the Research Summaries or the Annual Conference Proceedings and searching for McArt.

Relevant publications:

McArt JAA, Neves RC. Association of transient, persistent, or delayed subclinical hypocalcemia with early lactation disease, removal, and milk yield in Holstein cows. J Dairy Sci. 2020 Jan;103(1):690-701. doi: 10.3168/jds.2019-17191. Epub 2019 Nov 6. PMID: 31704009

Bach KD, Neves RC, Stokol T, McArt JAA. Technical note: Effect of storage time and temperature on total calcium concentrations in bovine blood. J Dairy Sci. 2020 Jan;103(1):922-928. doi: 10.3168/jds.2019-17394. Epub 2019 Nov 14. PMID: 31733856.

Neves RC, Stokol T, Bach KD, McArt JAA. Method comparison and validation of a prototype device for measurement of ionized calcium concentrations cow-side against a point-of-care instrument and a benchtop blood-gas analyzer reference method. J Dairy Sci. 2018 Feb;101(2):1334-1343. doi: 10.3168/jds.2017-13779. Epub 2017 Dec 14. PMID: 29248221.

Leno BM, Neves RC, Louge IM, Curler MD, Thomas MJ, Overton TR, McArt JAA. Differential effects of a single dose of oral calcium based on postpartum plasma calcium concentration in Holstein cows. J Dairy Sci. 2018 Apr;101(4):3285-3302. doi: 10.3168/jds.2017-13164. Epub 2018 Feb 14. PMID: 29454686.

Neves RC, Leno BM, Stokol T, Overton TR, McArt JAA. Risk factors associated with postpartum subclinical hypocalcemia in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2017 May;100(5):3796-3804. doi: 10.3168/jds.2016-11970. Epub 2017 Mar 16. PMID: 28318576.

Bovine Anaplasmosis – Effective Treatment and Control Strategies with Dr. Hans Coetzee Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss Anaplasmosis with Dr. Hans Coetzee of Kansas State University. Anaplasmosis was first described in 1925 and has spread to all 48 contiguous US states. Anaplasmosis is classically spread through blook sucking parasites, primarily 17 different species of ticks. However, Dr. Coetzee has demonstrated that 6/10 animals will become infected if exposed to dirty needles, making mechanical transfer via infected equipment an important pathway for disease transmission. That study can be found here.

Dr. Coetzee discussed the importance of the veterinarian consulting their clients on Anaplasmosis control and that different management strategies depend on the geographic location of the herd and if the herd is in an endemic area versus non-endemic area and if the herd is naïve or exposed. Using the PCR test for herd purchases for low prevalence areas is important to prevent introduction of the disease into naïve herds.

In herd situations where the disease is not endemic, Dr. Coetzee discusses the importance of testing all at risk animals to determine the prevalence within the herd as well as identifying positive from negative animals to develop an appropriate treatment and control strategy. Veterinarians should understand the legalities of treating individual animals as well as understand there are four commercially available products for medicated feed to control anaplasmosis with chlortetracycline (CTC). Not all minerals are labeled for free choice feeding so using the appropriate product is important. Dr. Coetzee has published research on plasma-CTC concentrations which can be found here. He also discusses the challenges with vaccination and the lack of published data on Anaplasmosis vaccination efficacy. He continues to look at alternative vaccination strategies, including work on his previously published research on an ear implant vaccine which can be found at this link.

Veterinarians are encouraged to work with clients to develop effective, economic, and legal Anaplasmosis testing, treatment, and control strategies. He encourages veterinarians to contact him with herd Anaplasmosis problems. Dr. Coetzee et al. have published two papers in the AABP Bovine Practitioner on the management and epidemiology of bovine Anaplasmosis in 2010 and 2012.

Pharmacogenomics with Dr. Richard Weinshilboum MD - Mayo Clinic Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

Today’s episode of Have You Herd? with Dr. Fred Gingrich, Executive Director of AABP, is a discussion with Dr. Dick Weinshilboum, an M.D. from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Dr. Weinshilboum has been involved in human pharmacogenomic research for over 40 years and was one of the initial investigators of this fascinating field in human medicine. Pharmacogenomics identifies the variety of genetic differences and how these variances might explain an individual’s response to chemicals in their environment. Dr. Weinshilboum explains that there have been twenty drug-gene pairs identified in the human genome for commonly prescribed drugs for which there are genetic variations. He discussed some specific examples of where identifying these drug-gene pairs can prevent an adverse reaction to a drug or improve therapeutic outcome. The primary clinical utility for this application is in cancer therapy, however he also identified the application of pharmacogenomics for treatment of cardiovascular disease with the drug clopidogrel and improving the outcome of treatment of depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Dr. Weinshilboum predicts that there is no doubt pharmacogenomics will have application in veterinary medicine, including guiding antimicrobial therapy, determining how a drug might be metabolized in animals with identifiable genetic variants, and responses to other therapies. He also suggests that veterinary researchers can utilize what has already been discovered in human medicine and apply it to veterinary medicine as the scientific principals are the same and our patients have the advantage of less genetic diversity when applying pharmacogenomics.

Relevant Research Papers:

Richard Weinshilboum: Pharmacogenomics – The Future Is Here
Mol Interv. 2003 May;3(3):118-22
https://bit.ly/3nUOGWg

Pharmacogenomics in Practice.
Wang L, Weinshilboum R.
Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2019 Nov;106(5):936-938.
https://bit.ly/3dthekC

Pharmacogenomics: Precision Medicine and Drug Response.
Weinshilboum RM, Wang L.
Mayo Clin Proc. 2017 Nov;92(11):1711-1722.
https://mayocl.in/33YCcoy

Research Directions in the Clinical Implementation of Pharmacogenomics: An Overview of US Programs and Projects.
Volpi S, et. al
Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2018 May;103(5):778-786.
https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cpt.1048

Clopidogrel Pharmacogenetics.
Pereira NL, et. al
Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2019 Apr;12(4):e007811.
https://bit.ly/37bI8N0

Pharmacogenomics-Driven Prediction of Antidepressant Treatment Outcomes: A Machine-Learning Approach With Multi-trial Replication.
Athreya AP, et. al
Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2019 Oct;106(4):855-865.
https://bit.ly/3k73TB6

Epidemiology in Veterinary Medicine with Dr. David Smith Oct 26, 2020

Show notes

AABP member Dr. David Smith joins us in this episode to discuss basic principles of epidemiology. Dr. Smith defines epidemiology as studying population and group dynamics to understand health and disease. We begin by discussing the evidence pyramid to discuss the types of evidence and how to evaluate each level for incorporating results into practice. We also review basic epidemiologic terms such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, confidence interval, p-value and treatment effect or effect size. Listen to his recommendations for how practicing veterinarians can determine if an effect they are seeing is due to a specific intervention or disease process. Dr. Smith also makes recommendations for veterinarians that do not have a large sample size and how to apply evidence-based decisions to your treatment and prevention protocols. We also discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and how epidemiology is applied to testing and control measures. Join us for this refresher course on epidemiology that can be applied by every veterinarian!

Suppress, Substitute and Soothe Pain with Dr. Hans Coetzee Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by AABP member Dr. Hans Coetzee to discuss pain management in cattle. Dr. Coetzee has been actively involved with research on pain in cattle. He references FDA Guidance #123 which outlines validated methods of pain assessment in animals. We discuss some of the challenges in performing this research as well as challenges to implementing pain management techniques in practice. Dr. Coetzee also discusses the legalities of using drugs in an extra-label manner in the US and the letter from the FDA written to Dr. Gingrich regarding the use of meloxicam for castration and dehorning pain. That letter can be found on the AABP website at this link.

Dr. Coetzee discusses the differences in pain management implementation in beef versus dairy management systems and a holistic approach, not just pharmacological approach, to pain management. Under the leadership of Dr. Coetzee and a working group, AABP developed a pain management resource that provides drugs, dosages, suggested withdrawal intervals, and research to pain management in cattle. This resource can be found on the CPBI committee page at this link. AABP has also developed guidelines on dehorning and castration that are useful to assist veterinarians and producers in performing these procedures while optimizing the health and welfare of the patient.

Dairy Cattle Lameness with Dr. Gerard Cramer Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

Lameness in dairy cattle remains a major issue on many farms. In this episode, AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by AABP member and lameness expert Dr. Gerard Cramer from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Cramer states that lameness is a major animal welfare issue and relieving the pain associated with lameness in individual cattle is a major treatment goal. He references a paper in the Journal of Dairy Science, “Evaluation of treatments for claw horn lesions in dairy cows in a randomized controlled trial” by Thomas et. al. which studies that use of NSAID’s for relief of the pain associated with lameness.

We discuss three major causes of lameness: digital dermatitis, sole ulcers and foot rot, including pathophysiology, prevention and treatment strategies. Dr. Cramer also suggests that veterinarians have a tremendous opportunity to be involved in lameness monitoring and evaluation on dairy farms. He recommends to “put teats on the feet” and evaluate the data from your client’s farms similar to how we evaluate udder health data. We also discuss footbath strategies and the appropriate dimensions of a footbath to improve effectiveness.

Dr. Cramer is the recipient of the AABP Foundation’s competitive research grant for dairy. His project, “Development of a sole ulcer induction model in Holstein cows: The next step in lameness research” was funded in 2020 by the AABP Foundation. He discusses how this funding can be a seed for obtaining additional funding from other organizations. The AABP Foundation supports clinical research for beef and dairy projects that might not be funded elsewhere. These projects are funded by member donations. Please donate to the Foundation by going to this link today! A $10 minimum donation from each listener of this podcast will generate a significant amount of funds for the Foundation! All of the research projects funded by the Foundation and links to publications can be found at https://bit.ly/3gH87gn and projects funded by the Foundation and Hoof Trimmers Association can be found at https://bit.ly/3gzeaU8.

We also discuss the work of the AABP Lameness Committee and development of fact sheets that are provided as a member resource. You can find these fact sheets on the Lameness Committee page at this link.

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