Veterinary Practice

How to Prevent Needlestick Injuries in Livestock Practice

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:30:04 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.

Juggling Glass Balls: How Veterinarian Micah Jansen Prioritizes What Matters Most

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:55:49 GMT

“The key to juggling is to know that some of the balls you have in the air are made of plastic and some are made of glass. And if you drop a plastic ball, it bounces, no harm done. If you drop a glass ball, it shatters, so you have to know which balls are glass and which are plastic and prioritize catching the glass ones.”

When Micah Jansen, DVM, first heard the glass ball theory by author Nora Roberts, she remembers instantly connecting with it.

“As working moms, we have a lot of things we are balancing,” Jansen said on The PORK Podcast . “This concept helps me remember that I must differentiate the glass balls from the rubber balls. If I drop a rubber ball, like failing to get a deliverable to a co-worker on Friday, I can get it to them on Monday. But my daughter’s Christmas program – that’s a glass ball I cannot drop because it won’t happen again.”

She says understanding the difference between the two has helped her focus and be more deliberate as a working mom. It’s also helped her learn how to prioritize and say no at times.

“When I start getting upset about not getting something done or not being somewhere I wanted to be, I have had to learn to say, ‘Okay, even though I’m upset, this is a rubber ball. It is not the end of the world if I can’t accomplish this because I’m catching this glass ball over here.’”

As a swine tech services veterinarian with Zoetis, the struggle is real at times. No two days are alike for Jansen who has been with the company since 2015. From helping people understand how different products work and troubleshooting with clients on swine health issues to assisting with research projects and hosting student interns, Jansen has learned that her role requires some juggling.

Fortunately, she enjoys the challenge.

The Face of Veterinary Medicine is Changing

“The swine industry is constantly changing,” she says. “It’s becoming more integrated, and with those changes in structure, has also come a change in what swine medicine looks like.”

More production systems today have staff veterinarians who work full time and focus on their system’s pigs. Veterinary clinics are becoming more consolidated, too. There has also been a major shift from mostly men to mostly women entering practice.

She believes this may be another reason why the structure of swine medicine has changed, too. Women are multi-taskers at heart and as more women step into veterinarian roles, Jansen says they have sought out how to find balance between their roles at work and at home as mothers so they could do both well.

“I’m still the only woman in the room sometimes,” Jansen says. “But, I’ve never wanted that to define me. I try to focus on what I know without a doubt to be true and also be humble. If I don’t know the answer to something, it doesn’t mean I can’t find it. I’ve always been somebody who would rather not know the answer and come back to someone than to tell them something that’s wrong.”

Jansen spends a lot of time working with students through internships and other research programs. She says they’ve taught her a lot along the way. She is impressed how younger generations are realizing sooner in life that you only have so much time to devote to certain things like work or school, while also taking care of your mental health and well-being.

“They are better at saying, ‘OK, you want me to complete this task, but I know I have exams next week so I can’t commit to getting it done today. However, I will get to it as soon as I’ve completed my other exams,’” Jansen says. “Never in a million years would I have ever done that! But I admire them for being honest with themselves.”

Hard Decisions

A big part of being a great swine veterinarian is making hard decisions and offering clients holistic support.

Terry Moeller, a Zoetis strategic account manager and colleague, says, “Micah always strives to do the right thing when it comes to pig health, and she has extensive knowledge of critical financials that yield a strong return on investment for our customers.”

Her grasp of the swine industry and understanding of the decisions producers face every day have helped her be successful in her role.

“The decisions that we help our clients make are going to impact essentially whether or not they can feed their families,” Jansen says. “Regardless of if you’re in private practice or if you are a staff veterinarian working for a production system, you constantly must keep in mind the other piece of it that adds up fast. When we make a decision to treat an animal, it’s not just a single animal. You have to take it times 1,000, times 10,000, or times 5 million, depending on what decision you’re making.”

Abbey Briscoe, a veterinarian with Harding Veterinary Services, says this is one of the things she admires about Jansen.

“Micah doesn’t settle for ‘easy.’ She doesn’t have her mind made up with an answer to a problem for a client and genuinely takes her time to listen to everything surrounding an issue, gathering all sides and information before thoughtfully answering,” Briscoe says. “She will follow up with additional advice and options once she has had more time to digest and gather outside expert feedback on a case. She honestly wants her clients to have the best possible insight to an issue.”

One of the not-so-easy roles Jansen plays at Zoetis is serving as a go-to-person on influenza. She admits she actually enjoys studying influenza.

“I think people don’t like flu because it can be really overwhelming,” she points out. “Part of the reason it becomes so complicated is that the influenza virus is so good at changing. We continue to see changes in the virus over time, and what makes it even more nerve-wracking is that interface between pigs and people.”

Biosecurity is key to fighting influenza. She says it’s a constant challenge of knowing what you should do next when it comes to animal husbandry, pig movement or vaccination.

“And then what do we do about caregivers? Even if they’re sick, they want to come into work because they want to be able to feed their families. But at the same time, how do we decide when a sick employee could be putting that population of pigs at risk?” she says. “There are so many moving pieces.”

If she could share one message with the industry now, it’s a simple, but profound one.

“Let’s make sure we’re doing things the right way,” Jansen says. “We know the right way. We love data in the swine industry, and we always talk about how it drives our decisions. Let’s make sure that’s not just something we’re saying. Let’s make protocol decisions based on that concept and doing everything we can to get better.”

Jansen shares more about swine health, her days at the University of Illinois and her passion for team roping and more on The PORK Podcast. You can watch it here on YouTube or listen anywhere podcasts are found.

Watch more episodes here.

UDSA to Hold Listening Sessions Addressing the Rural Veterinary Shortage

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:26:30 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

Breaking: USDA Warns of Avian Flu in Nebraska Dairy Farms

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:32:27 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 15:39:11 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.

7 Health Insurance Solutions for the Self-Employed

Fri, 30 May 2025 15:59:39 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 21:24:44 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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Is the Swine Industry Ready for H5N1? Texas Veterinarian Says “No”

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 20:26:37 GMT

Nearly one year ago, USDA made a shocking announcement. Highly pathogenic avian influenza type A H5N1 (H5N1) was identified in milk and in cows on two dairy farms in Texas and two dairy farms in Kansas. A disease no veterinarian had previously feared in cattle had jumped from wild birds to domestic cows.

Scanlon Daniels, a large animal veterinarian with Circle H Headquarters in Dalhart, Texas, received a call 10 days prior to that announcement that he will never forget from one of his dairy clients that something wasn’t right with some of the cows.

“My client sent me a text: ‘I think I might have it,’” Daniels says.

He went out to the dairy, collected samples from four cows and submitted them to Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) as any good swine vet would do, he explained, during the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting. He also took some nasal swabs and tested those in his own lab. He did a follow-up, collecting samples from 20 different cows later on that week and sent those to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

The four cows that initially presented symptoms of decreased rumination, decreased activity and nasal discharge were eventually confirmed to have H5N1. Right around that same time, he said there were reports from Texas Animal Health Commission about a backyard poultry flock in the county next door diagnosed with H5N1.

Scanlon Daniels shares his experience with H5N1 in Texas.

(Jennifer Shike)

“We had a suspicion that it could have been influenza, because of what was going on with some of the detections in birds in that area,” Daniels says. “But from my standpoint, I was thinking about flu from all my experiences dealing with it in pigs, and it didn’t present as a primary respiratory pathogen. It presented as a mastitis pathogen. Once we knew to look for it in milk, it was super easy to find, but we had to get over that hurdle to be able to rapidly identify it.”

In the past 15 years, Daniels grew his practice to develop its own laboratory capabilities, conducting PCR and Elisa testing for swine, dairy and beef clients. This, combined with his involvement with H5N1 from before it was even identified as an issue in cattle, caused him to bring up an incredibly important question for the swine industry: Are you ready for H5N1?

Who is Steering the Ship?
To date, H5N1 has been discovered in one pig that was on a hobby farm with H5N1-infected poultry. Although this is considered an isolated incident and hasn’t been discovered in the commercial swine population, it needs to be on everyone’s radar, Daniels says.

Andrew Bowman, DVM, one of the country’s top swine influenza experts, joined The PORK Podcast during a special report on H5N1 last fall. A professor in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at The Ohio State University, he is well-known for his expertise in swine production medicine, veterinary public health and epidemiology.

“Across the swine industry, we routinely deal with influenza, so we’re pretty well versed in flu,” Bowman says. “But this adds a whole other character to the scene that we really don’t want reassorting with the flu viruses we already have.”

One of the things that makes H5N1 different than other new swine disease outbreaks is that the USDA has jurisdiction over H5 in any animal, so they have the regulatory authority, Daniels says.

“USDA had no rules or regulations around H5 in cattle, and we’re at the same place today in the swine industry,” Daniels adds. “If we were to find H5 in swine, USDA would have the authority and there are no rules or regulations around it.”

This has made the discovery of H5N1 in dairy cattle challenging in the past year, because it’s taken a long time for those regulations to be developed.

“There’s the state and federal aspect of that, where states have autonomy to set their own rules, and then federal rules can come in place that everybody has to abide by,” he points out. “There’s been this slowly evolving plan with a patchwork of regulations by different states. That’s been challenging to keep up with as a veterinarian and a producer.”

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has likely amplified concerns around influenza’s ability to be transmitted from humans to animals and from animals to humans.

“This has resulted in a high concern about influenza being the next COVID. Yes, that could happen. Today it hasn’t to that degree.”

Scanlon Daniels

People are fearful of government influence and interaction, he says.

“No one wanted to be first or second or third to get H5N1 in their dairy cattle – just like no one wanted to be first to get COVID-19. There was a reluctance to test because of the uncertainty of it,” Daniels explains. “People fear government overreach or regulations that wouldn’t be applied in a fair or equal way across the industry.”

The Stakes are High
Everybody has a stake in this issue, Daniels says. The challenge is that everybody comes to it with differing priorities regarding the issues at hand.

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners invited seven different groups that have the ability to provide vaccine to share about their technologies on a webinar. This gave avian and bovine veterinarians alike exposure to their vaccine technology.

“The hard part is getting everybody to agree on what needs to happen,” Daniels says.

But he believes the vaccine question is worth talking about.

“If it was just another influenza, we would have had a vaccine available in a couple weeks, honestly,” he says. “The government has the ability to authorize vaccine use under an emergency use exemption. For all the concerns that have been talked about with export markets, and how people might respond from a trade standpoint, they haven’t been willing to look at that. But if we could use vaccine on an experimental use basis, we would know a lot more by now about the value of that intervention.”

In a USDA update on March 20, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said USDA is exploring the viability of vaccinating poultry for highly pathogenic avian influenza. However, Rollins said the use of any vaccine for poultry or any animal species has not been authorized at this time.

“I know there has been some misreporting on that,” Rollins said. “The day we rolled out the plan, I actually talked about the fact that we’re not ready to vaccinate. We need to do some more research, and so that has not changed, but I do look forward to this next process of learning more about getting more research done and perhaps seeing what makes sense for the country moving forward, once that is concluded.”

Another concern on Daniels’ mind is the implication with human health. Influenza A viruses are common in people. They are constantly changing and reassorting.

“Influenza viruses exist and circulate in people all the time,” says National Pork Board chief veterinarian Dusty Oedekoven . “The threat of influenza virus infection is ever present. It’s why healthcare providers recommend people get annual influenza vaccines to prevent against new strains of the virus that are emerging all the time.”

Daniels says the unknown transmission opportunities between humans and animals, especially pigs, can be concerning.

“The transmission from people to pigs is a legitimate concern. As an industry, it might be worthwhile doing some serological surveillance.”

Scanlon Daniels

At a recent bovine practitioners meeting, they surveyed 150 veterinarians and found three of them have had prior exposure to H5N1, he says. Some of those had no contact with dairy or birds.

“It would probably be wise for us to do some serosurveillance to know if people working at hog farms have had some exposure and it hasn’t transmitted yet,” he points out.

For example, his lab had a lot of infected milk come through before they knew what it was.

“My staff had legitimate fears and concerns we had to address,” Daniels says. “Fortunately, we didn’t experience any illness or lost time outside of the normal. That could have been different. We can’t lose sight of the human aspect of it. I am a human, a swine vet and a beef producer, so I can understand several aspects of it from a balanced way.”

Hurdle By Hurdle
At the end of the day, the swine industry has a lot to learn from what the dairy industry experienced in the past year, he says.

“On one hand, we have advantages relative to bovine veterinarians because we have a strong background and applied experience in diagnostics and strong working relationships with state and federal animal health officials,” Daniels says. “We have a mindset of disease elimination when possible and strong integrated relationships with producers. The swine industry also has the ability to direct Pork Checkoff dollars toward research (the dairy industry does not).”

On the other hand, he says many of the factors that have caused consternation will continue to be problematic if HPAI is identified in swine. Studies need to be done looking at H5N1 in swine, he says. If a sow is infected, does it transmit to pigs? Can her pigs shed it to contact controls? How could the movement of wean pigs spread the disease?

He also wonders if pigs have some cross-protective immunity at this point because influenza is pretty much endemic in almost all swine populations. And, even though it presents in the mammary system in cows, he argues the swine industry could do some additional work in growing pigs, because it would be easier to deal with there than on a sow farm.

One of the biggest hurdles is that H5N1 is a select agent. Once samples are known to be positive for H5N1 antigen, there are many requirements related to storage, handling and testing that come into play. Space is limited to research H5N1 and Daniels is concerned at the delay in testing this virus in swine.

“Another challenge is H5N1 is of economic significance to dairy producers but has not been great enough to stimulate much independent industry action.”

Scanlon Daniels

For comparison, the relative economic impact of H5N1 in dairy is estimated to be approximately 10% that of a porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) outbreak in swine, he says.

“We have seen growing interest by veterinarians and producers in eliminating H1 and H3 influenza infections in swine, but the interest and adoption is less than what we see for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and PEDV,” Daniels says. “Would we see the same if H5N1 was identified in swine?”

He believes the swine industry still has an opportunity to develop the response to H5N1 in commercial swine before it occurs.

“It’s time to get some of these questions answered that are important to us,” Daniels says. “If it were to happen, we need to be prepared to address some of the risk factors, things that are real versus the fear of the unknown.”

Your Next Read: Influenza Expert Gets Real About the H5N1 Risk to Your Swine Herd

Editor’s Note: On March 12, APHIS confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H7N9 in a broiler chicken breeder flock in Mississippi. APHIS has previously documented H7 low pathogenicity avian influenza in U.S. wild bird surveillance this year and in previous years, but this is the first HPAI H7 case in commercial poultry in the U.S. since 2017. This H7N9 virus is a fully North American virus of wild bird-origin and is unrelated to the Eurasian H5N1 currently circulating in the U.S. Spillovers of avian influenza from wild bird sources can occur due to breaches in biosecurity. APHIS closely monitors these subtypes because H5 and H7 LPAI viruses in poultry species such as chickens and turkeys can mutate into highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Government Designates $103 Million to Monitor Avian Influenza in Farmworkers

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:46:10 GMT

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Jan. 3 that it will award $306 million to continue its H5N1 Avian Flu response. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s assessment of the risk of avian influenza to the general public remains low, USDA and HHS plan to collaborate with federal, state, local, industry and other stakeholders to protect human health, animal health and food safety, a release said.

“While the risk to humans remains low, we are always preparing for any possible scenario that could arise. These investments are critical to continuing our disease surveillance, laboratory testing, and monitoring efforts alongside our partners at USDA,” Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a release. “Preparedness is the key to keeping Americans healthy and our country safe. We will continue to ensure our response is strong, well equipped, and ready for whatever is needed.”

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response said it will award approximately $183 million in additional funding for regional, state and local preparedness programs:

$90 million to the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP)
$10 million to the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC)
$26 million to the Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs)
$43 million to the Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (SPTCs) Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Activities
$14 million to replenish equipment and supply caches for the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)

CDC will award approximately $111 million in funding for additional enhancements to our ability to monitor H5N1 at the local, state and national levels:

$103 million to jurisdictions for increased monitoring of individuals exposed to infected animals, testing, and outreach to high-risk populations (such as livestock workers)
$8 million to manufacture, store, and distribute additional influenza diagnostic test kits for virologic surveillance

National Institutes of Health will award approximately $11 million in funding for additional research into potential medical countermeasures for H5N1:

$11 million to the Centers for Excellence for Influenza Research and Response contracts

Your Next Read: I’m Going Into 2025 With Increased Concerns About HPAI H5N1

Oklahoma Initiatives to Address Rural Veterinary Issues

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 21:12:27 GMT

Over the past several years, Oklahoma legislative and agricultural industry leaders have invested in supporting the OSU CVM, its students, and graduates. During the 2023 session, the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority (OSUVMA) was created through House Bill 2863 for the purposes of supporting the educational, research, and practice activities of the CVM. The OSUVMA secures long-term support for clinical faculty, student training, and the veterinary teaching hospital, similar to how the OSU Medical Authority and the University Hospitals Authority support the state’s medical schools.

Additionally, during the 2024 legislative session, House Bill 3196, the Dr. Lee Denney Act, was passed to provide financial support for students pursuing a veterinary medicine degree at OSU to practice in rural Oklahoma communities and receive training to meet the needs of livestock producers. Preference for awards will be given to those students who are focused on large animal veterinary medicine, who are Oklahoma residents, and who agree to serve in a community in Oklahoma which has a population not to exceed 25,000. HB 3196 also provides language for support of large animal veterinarians currently practicing in similarly sized communities.

Oklahoma State University is joining a new pilot program from Farm Journal Foundation (FJF) to support veterinary students and early career veterinary graduates in their professional development and address the national shortage of rural, food-supply veterinarians. The university is one of 10 schools participating in the Veterinary Workforce Solutions Program. The program supports veterinary students across a number of areas, including tackling student debt and financial planning, developing business management skills, and learning how to engage with rural communities. More information, including educational modules for undergraduates, veterinary students, and veterinarians can be found at www.ruralveterinaryworkforcesolutions.org .

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry is also collaborating with the FJF to assess Oklahoma’s unique challenges, as well as mechanisms to support veterinarians, producers, and rural communities. Oklahoma is one of only three states participating in this initiative. Data collection is currently ongoing from veterinary and agricultural stakeholders. Information will be analyzed to develop measures to support the veterinary workforce and community readiness.

Your Next Read: Benefits, Costs and Insights of Liquid Feed

Become a More Anticipatory Leader

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 02:21:56 GMT

Dave Mitchell uses his two-decade career in corporate HR to coach businesses on improving company cultures and reaching peak performance. And he says he’s not afraid to slay some dragons when it comes to tools many businesses may rely on, but don’t provide the service leaders are seeking.

“There are some things that we’ve adopted over the years that really aren’t particularly useful and I think in some cases even detrimental to our performance,” he says.

For example, he encourages leaders to stop using employee surveys.

“It’s just a waste of money. It’s offensive, and it does more harm than good,” Mitchell says. “Employee surveys don’t fix the problem. To be a great leader and reach peak performance, you have to get feedback in a more genuine and immediate way.”

He says today, leaders need to become more anticipatory managers—and identify and address problems much quicker.

“Leaders need to be plugged into what’s happening on a daily basis,” he says. “The people that have authority need to be better aware of what’s really happening and the people that know what’s happening have to have a conduit to educate those people that have the ability to make change.”

Mitchell has noticed a large trend of too much distance between managers and the work being done. This has created a dangerous gap for problems to linger, grow larger and cause major issues.

“As such, leaders must build in systems in their culture that reconciles that distance,” he says. “The fact that leaders don’t know what’s going on, doesn’t mean they don’t have plenty to do, so they often wait until they hear something.”

Mitchell uses “people preventative maintenance” a method to identify problems while they are still small—before they are exacerbated.

“We have a tendency just to wait until something becomes so obnoxious to the employee that they’re willing to storm into someone’s office and complain about it, and by that time, this is probably beyond the tipping point,” he says.

He says more and more organizations are using this method and building in the mechanisms to make problems known earlier.

Hear more in The Scoop Podcast:

Quoteworthy: 8 Takeaways from the 21st Century Animal Health Symposium

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 15:14:54 GMT

How will veterinary medicine evolve to harness the power of technology to make both animal health and the wellbeing of veterinarians better? That was the question on many minds during the first 21st Century Animal Health Symposium at Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus on Oct. 27.

Here are a few quotes that are worth repeating.

“I think we’ve got to evolve and shift our thinking from ‘blinders on’ efficiency and production, towards what the consumer wants in the eating experience.” – Bradley Wolter, president of Windy Hill Meadows, LLC, during “The Future of Food Animal Veterinary Care”

“I think the veterinary profession has to continue to adapt, meaning that we’ve been adapting over time, but we need to continue to do that. A personal example: I graduated from Iowa State in 1982 and when I first started practice, we got called out to castrate pigs, deal with erysipelas vaccinations and do things that producers wouldn’t think of calling a vet to do today.” – Dale Polson, senior business development manager integrated health management for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, during “The Future of Food Animal Veterinary Care”

“We are pretty innovative about the care we deliver, but we haven’t been very good at innovating how we deliver care.” – Jim Lowe, associate dean of Online Programs and Extension at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine during “21st Century Land Grant University and Animal Health”

“We have a COVID hangover that is still forcing innovation in the small animal world. And that’s a very good thing.” – Shawn Wilkie, chief executive officer of Talkatoo, during “Embracing Disruptions”

“Thomas Edison didn’t see the ‘failures’ he experienced during the innovation of the light bulb as ‘failures,’ but rather as the number of steps he had to do to make it work. We’re so conditioned by people who clap when you get off of podium or people who boo when you drop a pass. We’re conditioned by this black-and-white thinking of success and failure, whereas the people that make things happen can understand failure is good because I’ve learned something from it.” – Gregg BeVier, chief operating officer at Inguran, during “The Future of Food Animal Veterinary Care”

^{Source: University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine}
“Technology gives you time to talk to your client more. It allows you to have the time to build on the human-to-human bond.” – David Heinze, veterinarian with Fox Valley Equine Practice, during “The Future of Companion Animal Veterinary Care”

“The human component of being a veterinarian will always be needed.” – Keith True, founder of True Vet Potential during “The Future of Companion Animal Veterinary Care”

^{Source: University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine}
“We need to facilitate the engineering and comprehensive solutions to improve not only your animal but also human and ecosystem health, and the production of a safe food supply by collecting, organizing, synthesizing and delivering information and resources to our profession.” – Peter Constable, dean of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, during his welcome

Read More:

Why We Need to Reinvent Veterinary Care Now

Why We Need to Reinvent Veterinary Care Now

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 13:50:38 GMT

What does veterinary care look like in the 21st Century? That question drove hours of conversation during the 21st Century Animal Health Symposium at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Ill.

A group of more than 125 veterinarians, animal health industry leaders and academia gathered to discuss the future of the veterinary profession on Oct. 27.

“I think our challenge is to reinvent how we deliver veterinary care. And care is about people, too. It’s about the receiver of care and the giver of care,” explained Jim Lowe, DVM, associate dean of Online Programs and Extension at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine .

Labor productivity is often a measure of economic success, he said.

“Veterinary productivity (care per vet hour) has not advanced at the same rate as the demand for care, which has led to overworked, frustrated veterinarians,” Lowe said.

Until the productivity gap is solved, he believes the industry will continue to see challenges around employee dissatisfaction and burnout.

“We have young vets being paid a tremendous amount of money when they graduate and they are still not satisfied,” he said. “We have to change some fundamental things around this.”

The Paradox

Adoption of medical technologies has resulted in better patient care creating more work, leading to increased professional dissatisfaction.

“Technologies have improved quality of care, but they often increase the workload required to manage each case,” Lowe said. “It’s much better for the patient, but we are killing the person delivering the care.”

That’s why a group of thought leaders are coming together to develop the Center for Veterinary Innovation.

“Meat production systems must continue to improve quality of animal care consistent with consumer expectations,” said Bradley Wolter, president of Windy Hill Meadows, LLC, and conference attendee. “The veterinary profession must take a leadership role in that objective as experts on the system. A center that creates an environment for supporting the profession with the capability of today’s technology will catalyze that role into becoming impactful.”

Lowe hopes the center can increase access to veterinary care and promote the sustainability of the veterinary profession by increasing the amount of care a veterinarian can provide while reducing the effort to provide that care.

“We have to figure out how do we – in this commodity market – create value for the animal owners and veterinarians,” he said. “I’m terrified we won’t have veterinarians in certain parts of the country in the future because no one wants to move there. How can we provide better access to care?”

Here’s the Ask

The model Lowe proposes will bring university, profession and industry together to solve problems.

“We think the University of Illinois can be a resource for the state with integration of technology, technology improvement, primary development, communication and education, combined with profession leaders to help articulate needs and share how they use new technology and industry to provide ideas, solutions and commercialization,” Lowe said.

They plan to build a new facility within the Round Barn Complex on the U of I campus to foster collaboration, creative thinking, problem solving and education to house the Center for Veterinary Innovation.

“We are putting a facility back in a spot that really started because of Extension,” he added.

So, what is the ask? Lowe is looking for people to join their journey to reinvigorate land-grant roots to address 21st century problems to improve how the veterinary industry delivers care, improves the sustainability of the profession and ultimately, the wellbeing of the animals.

Micah Jansen, DVM, Managing, Pork Technical Services Veterinarian at Zoetis, attended the conference and said it challenged her to think more deeply about how the industry can challenge itself to embrace technology to drive change in veterinary care.

“It’s not only about improving the actual care being delivered,” Jansen said. “It’s looking out for those veterinarians delivering the care so that they are engaged in their role.”

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 .

Rural Veterinary Shortages Create Risks for U.S. Food System, New Study Says

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 15:48:40 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (DEC. 6, 2022) – The U.S. is facing an alarming shortfall of veterinarians to treat livestock and poultry in rural areas, threatening public health, food safety, and economic growth in communities that depend on agriculture, according to a new report commissioned by Farm Journal Foundation.

More than 500 counties across the U.S. have shortages of food animal veterinarians, according to the report, authored by Cornell University’s Dr. Clinton Neill. Today, only about 3-4% of new veterinary school graduates pursue livestock or other food-animal practice areas, a stark decline from 40 years ago when about 40% of graduates specialized in this area. Shortages stem from several factors, including high levels of education debt that have outpaced potential earnings, especially in the rural U.S. This is encouraging more veterinarians to pursue companion animal practices and work in urban and suburban areas where incomes are often higher.

“The decline in food animal veterinarians in rural areas heightens concerns for a number of risks, including food safety threats, animal disease outbreaks, the potential passing of animal diseases to human populations, and decreasing rural economic growth,” Dr. Clinton Neill said. “In essence, veterinarians protect the whole of the human and animal population, so it is critical that we have a strong pipeline of practitioners to work in rural areas.”

Without enough food animal veterinarians and reliable access to the services they provide, 3.7 million livestock jobs are at stake, according to the report. Veterinary shortages apply to both the private sector, where practitioners work with individual farming businesses, as well as the public sector, where veterinarians are needed for animal disease surveillance, food safety inspection, and ensuring animal welfare. Many U.S. government agencies employ veterinarians, but high levels of debt, as compared to potential income, are a major barrier for new graduates as they consider entering the field.

The report highlights a number of solutions that the U.S. government could deploy to improve the long-term sustainability of the rural veterinary workforce. These solutions include:

● Strengthening existing debt repayment programs. This should include expanding funding for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and overhauling its application criteria to enable more veterinarians to participate.
● Expanding programs that offer business support. This should include increasing the funding and scope of the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP), and establishing low-interest business loans for food animal private practices.
● Funding and establishing programs to support a strong pipeline of veterinary students. This could include support for schools to enhance training opportunities and recruit more students from rural backgrounds, and targeting students in post-secondary education to increase retention.

“Veterinarians are a critical part of our agricultural supply chain, helping to keep our food system safe and protect public health,” said Tricia Beal, Chief Executive Officer of Farm Journal Foundation. “This report makes critical recommendations for how to solve this pressing issue and create a stronger, more sustainable veterinary workforce to serve rural communities.”

To launch this report, Farm Journal Foundation is hosting a reception at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Senate Agriculture Committee Room, 328A Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. The event will include remarks from U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Dr. Clinton Neill, and other invited speakers.

About Farm Journal Foundation
Farm Journal Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving global food security by sustaining modern agriculture’s leadership role and ability to meet the vital needs of a growing population. The organization works to advance this mission through key issue areas, including global food security, agricultural research and development, nutrition, and conservation agriculture. For media inquiries, contact Whitney McFerron at wmcferron@farmjournalfoundation.org.

Use Emotional Intelligence to Tackle The Tough Stuff

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 16:04:57 GMT

As a leader, you are looked to for your reaction in many tough situations. And your reaction sets the tone for how the rest of the team will proceed through the situation themselves.

During the 2021 Top Producer Summit Dr. JP Pawliw-Fry, co-founder of Institute for Health and Human Potential and NY Times best-selling author, gives tips on how to reframe hard situations so they aren’t happening to you but rather happening for you.

Pawliw-Fry has worked with the NFL, NBA, Navy Seals and Olympic athletes. He says the most common barrier to success is our reaction to challenges, which can be managed through using emotional intelligence.

He shares in hard to have conversations, hard to make decisions and hard to do tasks, people can easily navigate the first 92%, but it’s the final 8% of completing one of those three that falls victim to one of two predictable behaviors—avoidance or making a mess of it.

“If you can manage these moments, the world is yours,” he says. “By our data, most people are avoiders, and if you know your patterns, you can manage around it.”

He shares there are two risks to not completing that final 8%. There can be a loss of external reputation from your team, and there’s also a loss of internal reputation within yourself.

“When we choose to avoid a situation, or take an off-ramp or make a mess of something, it effects how we are seen and how we view ourselves,” he says. “If you manage through that last 8% it means you don’t burn up energy in anxiety, you’re managing intentions, and you stay in relationship with those who are you having the tough conversation.”

Our brains our designed to make us feel before we think. If you can hijack that natural process to allow yourself to stay engaged in a challenge rather than react emotionally, you can chart a course for success.

As a tool to assess yourself, Pawliw-Fry shares these three ways to know when you are reacting on emotion:

How you feel physically. For example, heat in your face/head, tightness in your chest, or butterflies in your stomach.
Having a sense of certainty. This is when the world becomes very black/white or right/wrong. It results in being closed off from the conversation at hand.
Urgency. If you feel like an event demands action right now, it means you are overlooking the value of analyzing the situation.

As a tool to help leaders start their day with mindfulness, movement and mental training, he has a free podcast, The Last 8% Morning. Click here to learn more.

And you can see his full presentation, The Calm Person in The Boat: Leverage the Power Of Emotional Intelligence, from the 2021 Top Producer Summit. You can still register for access to the full event’s presentations through March 31. Use the code “ONDEMAND” to take $25 off your registration fee.

Read more coverage of the Top Producer Summit

After 100-Year Drought, Texas Breaks Ground on New Vet School

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:51:39 GMT

Weston Cleveland isn’t a complacent college student on some journey to fulfill a dream. After a couple years into his college stint, he realized his major wasn’t a good fit.

“I was majoring in Animal Science with an emphasis in business, which is a lot of economics classes, there’s a lot of math involved in that,” said Cleveland, who is a senior at Texas Tech, majoring in Animal Science with an emphasis in pre-vet. “It’s not that I’m not good at math, I just don’t enjoy it.”

Cleveland is from East Texas, but ventured to the West Texas to major in animal science. He loved the animal sciences portion, just not the business emphasis, and decided to make a switch.

“I’ve been working at Texas Animal Feeders in South Texas for the past seven years or so, and just being able to sit on horseback everyday riding pins, checking calves, checking cattle, things like that, I enjoyed it,” he said.

Cleveland switched his emphasis to pre-vet, now cramming four years of coursework into two. It’s a switch that’s not uncommon today, as the interest in pre-vet is gaining momentum at Texas Tech.

“The number of pre-veterinary students in the building have more than doubled in the last four years,” said Guy Loneragan, dean of School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas Tech University.

That interest sparked a major change, with Texas Tech University accomplishing a feat that was first brought forth 50 years ago. Texas Tech University broke ground on a new School of Veterinary Medicine on Sept. 19 , the first time Texas has broken ground on a new vet school in a century.

“It’s been in the works for five decades,” said Loneragan. “It’s a huge honor, but it’s also an awesome responsibility.”

That responsibility is growing, as Loneragan will be the dean of Texas Tech’s first School of Veterinary Medicine.

“We have a growing demand for veterinarians,” he said. “We have over employment of veterinarians in Texas, and so we’re bringing in the vast majority of our workforce every year to the state. And we need to correct that.”

Loneragan says Texas licenses 500 to 550 veterinarians every year in the state, and the current sole vet school, Texas A&M, only produces 130 graduates each year.

Loneragan says that means the current sole program in the state only meets 25% of the current demand. It’s not just the over-employment situation; there are also more students who aspire to be veterinarians. One of those students is Cleveland.

“Right now, the plan is to apply to Texas A&M and then, for peace of mind, I’m going to apply it to Colorado State, Oklahoma State and University of Florida.”

Cleveland says the issue for him is the cost of out-of-state tuition.

Today, a Texas resident who goes into Texas A&M’s School of Veterinary Medicine will pay $25,000 a year. If a student goes out of state, the cost more than doubles.

The financial strain, along with the growing need for rural veterinarians in Texas, helped Texas Tech build its case to the State Legislature.

“We put our case forward, and we demonstrated the need,” said Loneragan. “The legislature saw that and appropriated the startup funds that we requested, they provided some language that directed us to do what we need to do to start the program. So, we have firmly moved from planning and development into implementation.”

The implementation started this week, as Texas Tech broke ground on the new School of Veterinary Medicine, which will call Amarillo, TX home.

“We are working very hard to welcome the first class in the fall of 2021,” said Loneragan.

A historic moment that can’t come soon enough for impassioned future veterinarians, like Cleveland.

“The second Texas Tech’s application opens, I think I’m going to send it within the first 30 minutes,” said Cleveland.

Cleveland wants to find work in a rural area, which is an area Texas Tech plans to cater its curriculum and training.

“It really is a liberating to understand and know that we can have a much narrower focus being the second program in the state, and our focus is small agricultural and regional communities all across Texas,” said Loneragan.

Having the freedom to adjust its curriculum will allow Texas Tech to rethink the students and programs it attracts.

“The curriculum that we’re designing for the students, and all of the stakeholders that we’re engaging, is a more narrowly focused program from start to finish,” he said.

For Cleveland, taking part in such a historic moment in Texas would be monumental.

“It’d be absolutely groundbreaking to be the very first class,” he said. “We’ve been anticipating this Vet School, we’ve needed this school, and just to know how much change it’s going to bring to west Texas and rural communities, and how much is going to help farmers and ranchers all over, is amazing.”

The new venture could open doors to address a growing need for more veterinarians in the rural landscape across the Lone-Star state.

“I think you can’t even put into words how symbolic it’s going to be,” said Cleveland. “To see how much good it’s going to do. I think that’s priceless. You can’t label it. You can’t kind of anticipate how much success is going to come from it.”

Prepare Now for Livestock Disasters and Emergencies

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:13:58 GMT

Whether it is a wildfire, flood, tornado or an overturned truck, when disasters strike cattle operations, it can be difficult to see any “silver linings.” Beyond the bad news though, we find a couple positive outcomes. First, neighbors, friends, professional colleagues and even total strangers invariably join forces to help in any ways they can. Next, we can all learn from the experience, either directly or indirectly, and apply that knowledge to minimize the damage next time a disaster strikes.

With those outcomes in mind, a group of veterinarians and industry professionals, all with experience in livestock disasters and emergencies, joined forces to compile “ Responding to Natural Disasters and Emergencies in Beef Production ,” a 13-chapter guide published in the July 2018 issue of Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice.

The project began after the March 2017 Starbuck Wildfire along the Kansas and Oklahoma border burned over 800,000 acres, destroying homes, fences and other facilities, killing thousands of cattle and displacing thousands more. Veterinarians Dan Thomson, at Kansas State University, Bob Smith, a consultant from Oklahoma and Christine Navarre at Louisiana State University planned the guide and identified veterinarians and industry professionals from around the country, all with direct experience in livestock disasters ranging from fires and hurricanes to blizzards and highway accidents. Dr. Smith served as consulting editor, and Drs. Thomson and Navarre served as editors and wrote the guide’s introduction.

“As we made our list of topics, we thought about our colleagues, friends, producers, and people who had expertise in these areas from firsthand experience to extensive training in food animal rescue and medicine,” Navarre and Thomson write. “Each article partners veterinarians from private practice, academia, and government organizations to bring practical, straightforward guidance on natural disasters. We are thankful for the great response and expertise that volunteered to complete this issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice.”

Chapters and authors include:

Preface: Responding to Natural Disasters and Emergencies in Beef Production: Dan Thomson and Christine Navarre
Communication and Working with Authorities During Natural Disasters: Dee Ellis, Rebecca McConnico, and Jimmy Tickel
Cattle Assessment On-Site During Emergencies: Arthur Lee Jones, Renée Dawn Dewell, and Joanna Davis
Feeding and Watering Beef Cattle During Disasters: Justin W. Waggoner and K.C. Olson
Tornado Preparation and Response in Feedlot Cattle: Samantha L. Boyajian, Nels N. Lindberg, and David P. Gnad
Blizzards and Range Cattle: Management Before, During, and After the Storm: Russ Daly and Cynthia Marshall Faux
Management of Confined Cattle in Blizzard Conditions: David B. Sjeklocha
Wildfire Response in Range Cattle: David N. Rethorst, Randall K. Spare, and John L. Kellenberger
Preparation and Response to Truck Accidents on Highways Involving Cattle: Lisa Pederson, Jerry Yates, and Audry Wieman
Preparation and Response for Flooding Events in Beef Cattle: Wesley Bissett Jr, Carla Huston, and Christine B. Navarre
Managing Heat Stress Episodes in Confined Cattle: Kevin F. Sullivan and Terry L. Mader
Foreign Animal Disease Outbreaks: Danelle A. Bickett-Weddle, Michael W. Sanderson, and Elizabeth J. Parker
Humane Euthanasia and Carcass Disposal: Jan K. Shearer, Dee Griffin, and Scott E. Cotton
Mental Health During Environmental Crisis and Mass Incident Disasters: Erin Wasson and Audry Wieman

In Livestock Disasters and Emergencies, quick decisions, coordination and teamwork are critical. This guide draws on first-hand experiences of the contributing authors, along with their expertise in veterinary medicine, cattle management and animal welfare to enhance preparation, response and overall outcomes.

Learn more or subscribe for access from Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice .

New World Screwworm: Latest Update from USDA-APHIS

On Nov. 25, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) held a meeting to discuss the U.S. response to the news of a single case of New World Screwworm (NWS) found in a cow in Chiapas, Mexico. U.S. and Mexican officials are working closely together, but the border has been temporarily closed to live cattle imports.

“Our priority is to ensure there is no risk to our domestic industry, followed by the goal of reopening the border as soon as possible,” says Dr. Michael Watson, administrator of USDA’s APHIS.

In September, work had already begun on protocols in the event NWS was found in Mexico. Those protocols have been reviewed with Mexico for their understanding and will be made public once finalized.

Points of Protocol
Dr. Burke Healey, senior leader for policy and operations for APHIS, shared protocol will likely include pre-export inspections by Mexican veterinarians overseen by SENASICA, the equivalent to APHIS, before allowing cattle imports to resume. The inspections will make sure:

appropriate logs accompany animals coming into and leaving the facility
cattle are treated with ivermectin
there’s a seven-day quarantine period

Upon passing inspection, cattle will again be inspected by U.S. officials, along with additional inspections for tuberculosis and ticks. The cattle will be dipped, and then presented to cross the border. Healey says federal inspection sites will focus on ports in Chihuahua and Sonora.

“Those five ports are on the Mexican side, so those inspections and all of that protocol are taking place in Mexico and not on U.S. soil,” he explains.

The ports in Texas will be considered for reopening once the protocol details have been finalized and are working as expected, he adds.

Cristobal Zepeda, regional manager for North America for APHIS, says U.S. and Mexican officials maintain a close working relationship and that communication is key in this situation. Mexico had previously instituted three federal inspection points at strategic locations where cattle come into the country near the border with Guatemala and other areas.

“All animals are downloaded and inspected for wounds visually and through detector dogs,” Zepeda says. “They’re sprayed with an insecticide and receive ivermectin. The system works. That’s how it was picked up.”

Mexico has not completed its investigation but acknowledges the infested cow might have been imported from Guatemala.

While the timeline for reopening trade is tentatively estimated to be at least three weeks, it quite possibly could extend into January as Mexico typically closes ports for two weeks during Christmas and New Year’s, Healey says.

Control the Spread
The discussion also covered the potential impact on the livestock industry, which could be in the billions if NWS reaches the U.S., and the importance of sterile fly production.

The U.S. imports 1 million to 1.1 million cattle from Mexico annually. All Mexican cattle are required to have a Mexican origin ear tag and documentation of the herd of origin, TB test of that herd of origin and a TB test of the specific animals being presented for export. These requirements will remain in place.

Sterile flies from a Panama facility will be sent to Mexico to help control the spread of NWS further south and into Central America. Capacity from that facility is around 95 million per week. Mexico is also looking at retrofitting fruit fly plants to produce about 60 million sterile files a week.

The APHIS website will provide NWS updates .

Be On the Lookout
Adult screwworm flies are about the size of a common housefly (or slightly larger). They have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes along their backs.

If you see mammals and birds with the following signs, report them to your state veterinarian:

Irritated behavior
Head shaking
Smell of decay
Evidence of fly strike
Presence of fly larvae (maggots) in wounds

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