American Association of Bovine Practitioners Conference Proceedings

2024-05-09T17:37:29+00:00

Table of contents.

Proceedings of the Seventh Recent Graduate Conference (2024). Front Matter

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Front matter. AABP Officers and Directors.

Back Matter and Conference Newsletter

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Conference newsletter

Communication for a performance evaluation

2024-05-10T14:49:23+00:00

Annual performance reviews are often met with a lot of stress and anxiety. When the process is unstructured, it can intensify these feelings even more. Mastering communication skills, learning how to take feedback in an objective way and partnering with your manager is a recipe for success to co-create your professional development plan and take the fear and frustration out of performance reviews.

When doc becomes doc and mom

2024-05-10T14:51:54+00:00

As the proportion of women entering the veterinary workforce continues to grow, young veterinarians are demonstrating an increasing need for guidance in navigating pregnancy and motherhood while maintaining their role as a veterinarian. As a relatively new issue for many rural practices, the profession lacks a consistent and distinct precedent for maternity leave and what can be expected during pregnancy. One veterinarian’s experience cannot begin to cover what can be expected for everyone, but can provide tips and insight onto navigating these concerns for other new graduates and practice owners. Following the obvious challenges of pregnancy and then maternity leave comes the more difficult task of juggling on-call, daycare schedules and sick kids with a busy and unpredictable veterinary schedule. Finding a balance is not always easy but can be incredibly rewarding with the right mindset.

Human resources lessons learned

2024-05-10T14:54:34+00:00

Human resources may not be the most enjoyable topic for bovine veterinarians. However, human resource knowledge is important for building a cohesive team of veterinarians, veterinary technicians and office staff members who can work together effectively. The goal of this presentation is to share some lessons learned as a new practice owner in our clinic that can hopefully be beneficial to other practice owners, as well as to future practice owners. People management is difficult, and it is even more difficult if there is no structure, mentorship or effective communication.

Understanding financial statements

2024-05-10T14:57:08+00:00

Financial statements are used to show the financial performance and status of businesses of all types. These statements can be used to analyze, manage and improve the performance of a business. It is important for a veterinary business owner or manager to understand what each of the business statements measures within their business. Further, it is important to learn how to use the information presented in the statements to help them manage both the daily business and assist in long term planning for the business. This presentation explains the financial statements and how to use them to make better business decisions in a veterinary practice and other businesses or organizations a veterinarian may be associated with.

Practice ownership – is it the right path for you?

2024-05-10T14:59:27+00:00

Practice ownership has long been an expectation in large animal medicine. However, with student debt loads, increasingly high ownership is something that new graduates are giving serious thought to prior to moving forward toward ownership. As animal agriculture continues to grow and evolve, young veterinarians need to consider their own ambitions in ownership, personal goals in both veterinary medicine and business, as well as if the practice they are looking to purchase aligns with these ambitions. Careful evaluation of a business’s culture, atmosphere and leadership can aid in making the decision if ownership is the right path for you. While the financial considerations are substantial and important, taking the time to have the right conversations regarding the future of the business and partner goals is just as important in creating a successful partnership and long-term practice ownership.

Making a decision to go solo

2024-05-10T15:01:46+00:00

Many veterinarians find happiness following traditional routes in their careers. These routes include academia, research, employment as an associate, buying into practices or building booming, multi-doctor practices. But what about the rest of us? Some of us don’t feel fulfilled from working the same hours in the same place every day. Some of us, like myself, find our calling driving around the countryside with our dogs, visiting a few clients per day, and not really having anyone else to answer to. However, making the leap of quitting a stable job that supplies steady paychecks, a shared workload, and a regular schedule is a truly terrifying thing to do. Will your business be successful? Will you be able to pay your bills? What if it’s too much work? What if no one ever even calls? Starting your own practice comes with these questions and more, but if it is your calling, it is so worth it in the long run. Everyone’s story, reasons, and process will be different. In this presentation, I will describe what going solo has been like for me, in the hopes of helping any other veterinarian who is considering it decide if it is right for them.

Partial budgets

2024-05-10T15:03:50+00:00

Utilizing partial budgets can assist veterinarians in making business decisions. It is important for the financial health of a veterinary practice to look at expanding services and thinking critically when purchasing equipment.

This presentation aims to equip veterinarians with the knowledge on how to create a partial budget, calculate a break-even point, develop a timeline for implementing a new service, and how to conduct a sensitivity analysis to assess risk.

Pig cesarean section, surgeries and feet work

2024-05-10T14:33:24+00:00

In this session, we will discuss methods for bovine veterinarians to expand their services and offer surgical services to area show pig clients. The most common procedure will be a cesarean section on first parity females due to a decreased pelvic opening size or large fetal size or combination of both. The author will share our unique approach to anesthesia induction with TKX injectable and maintenance on isoflurane.

Camelid anesthesia, castration and dentistry

2024-05-10T14:35:26+00:00

This presentation offers a comprehensive overview of essential veterinary procedures in camelids, including anesthesia protocols, castration techniques and dental care. With a focus on field anesthesia, step-by-step guidance on castration, and common dental issues and solutions, attendees will gain valuable insights into the practical aspects of camelid healthcare.

Emphasizing safety, effectiveness, and animal welfare, this session is designed to enhance the practitioner’s knowledge and skills in managing these unique and important aspects of camelid veterinary care.

Camelid care essentials: Managing common diseases and disorders

2024-05-10T14:37:49+00:00

This presentation aims to highlight crucial aspects of managing common diseases and disorders in camelids, focusing on llamas and alpacas. With their unique physiological traits and health requirements, camelids present a distinct set of challenges in veterinary care. By understanding and addressing these challenges, veterinarians can improve the health and welfare of these animals. The conditions covered include Munge, tooth root abscesses, neurological diseases, choke, arthritis, GI obstructions, mites, and intestinal parasites.

OB tips and tricks

2024-05-10T14:40:55+00:00

Dystocias can be one of the more frustrating technical skills to learn. Each dystocia is a little different and it’s difficult to truly get much experience “under the belt” prior to graduation. That being said, there are a few tips that can be used to help increase confidence in the new practitioner.

Practical guide to the bovine necropsy

2024-05-10T14:43:01+00:00

Food animal veterinarians often have the opportunity to determine the cause of death of bovine patients based on grossly visible pathological changes alone, without the need for additional diagnostic testing. In some production systems (e.g., feedlot, stocker, and some cow-calf operations), a field necropsy is performed for almost every mortality; however, for one reason or another, some veterinarians and producers are reluctant to consistently take advantage of performing this procedure. The information collected from postmortem necropsies facilitates ongoing monitoring of disease rates in populations, feeds back into various animal health protocols, and guides decisions pertaining to disease outbreaks. Developing a standardized procedure and employing the appropriate equipment can usually produce a diagnosis very quickly. Furthermore, with the implementation of commonly used technologies, the same principles can be utilized to assist with expanding the geographic area in which diagnoses are made.

Restraint with ropes, especially foot exams

2024-05-10T14:45:03+00:00

As a recent graduate, one of the more daunting as well as rewarding on farm veterinary procedures is examining lame cows. The biggest challenge, however, is to be able to raise a cow’s leg and immobilize it enough to perform an examination and corrective procedures, while ensuring both safety for the animal and one’s own safety and welfare during the examination. Employing a few simple techniques with relatively common and inexpensive materials will help to contribute to your professional satisfaction and your clients’ confidence in your competence. Using ropes to your advantage should be an integral part of your professional toolkit. Adequate and firm restraint is a highly important component of lameness work.

Medical and surgical treatment of bloat in feedlot cattle

2024-05-10T14:47:06+00:00

Feedlot cattle can be affected by either free-gas of frothy bloat. The etiology of these 2 disease processes is distinctly different, but both can result in death by asphyxiation if not identified and managed appropriately. Initially, medical management of bloat is recommended. However, if the condition persists over multiple days or occurrences, surgical management of the condition may be warranted.

Double trouble: Implications and management of twinning in lactating dairy cows

2024-05-10T14:12:10+00:00

Over the past 4 decades, twinning increased concurrently with milk production in dairy cattle, but recently appears to have plateaued, likely from the adoption of hormonal synchronization protocols. Approximately 95% of Holstein twins are dizygotic, making double ovulations the primary mechanism for twinning. Decreased progesterone (P4) concentrations during preovulatory follicle growth increases double ovulations. Increased hepatic catabolism of P4 because of increased feed intake associated with increased milk production provides a physiological mechanism for decreased P4 concentrations and increased double ovulations. Cows with unilateral twins have more pregnancy losses than cows with bilateral twins which were similar to cows with singletons. Selective embryo reduction followed by P4 treatment did not increase the risk of pregnancy loss for cows with unilateral twins, but increased the risk of loss for cows with bilateral twins. Twinning will likely increase concurrently with milk production over time but can be decreased using 2 approaches: 1) submitting cows to hormonal synchronization protocols that increase P4 during growth of the preovulatory follicle before timed AI; and 2) identifying twins by laterality and allowing cows with bilateral twins to continue through gestation with extra assistance at calving, while selective reduction can be attempted for cows with unilateral twins.

The revolution and future frontiers of reproductive management of dairy cattle

2024-05-10T14:15:23+00:00

The 21-d pregnancy rate is determined by an interaction between the AI service rate and pregnancies per AI (P/AI) and is a key performance indicator for the reproductive efficiency of dairy farms. Over the past 2 decades, the reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows increased. A greater understanding of endocrinology and the physiology of lactating dairy cows generated fertility programs (the Presynch-Ovsynch and Double Ovsynch protocols for TAI) that increase the service rate and P/AI compared with detection of estrus. Previously, synchronization of ovulation in heifers was associated with poor reproductive performance compared with detection of estrus. Several modifications determined through randomized-controlled studies gave rise to the 5-d CIDR-Synch protocol that has similar and more P/AI when heifers are inseminated with conventional and sexed semen, respectively, compared with detection of estrus. A hierarchy of reproductive needs exists for dairy farms that require fulfillment before a new need can emerge. Dairy farms must have a high 21-d pregnancy rate and good heifer management before adopting other advanced reproductive technologies such as genomic selection, sexed and beef semen, and in vitro-produced embryos. Adopting these advanced reproductive technologies benefits dairy farms, however, challenges still exist that need further investigation through randomized-controlled experiments to maximize the benefits

Beef on dairy and sexed semen strategies

2024-05-10T14:18:50+00:00

The use of sexed dairy semen and beef semen on dairies as tools to generate genetic progress and expand revenue has evolved tremendously over the past decade to the point these tools have become integrated as part of a finely managed process often referred to as the “sexed and beef” model. Continued improvements in gender-sorting techniques and increased fertility of resulting products have enabled this model to evolve to become standard operating procedure for the bulk of commercial dairies. Planned use of gender-sorted semen allows for controlled and targeted creation of an ideal number of heifers from a specific genetic source. Reproductive programs that improve fertility of these matings in conjunction with gender sorted product that leads to high dairy heifer ratios leads to the opportunity to utilize beef semen to expand revenue potential of crossbred beef x dairy calves above that of a dairy counterpart. This talk will cover programmatic considerations to drive success of “sexed and beef” programs on dairies utilizing these tools to a) accurately calculate and plan to create heifer needs; b) optimize genetic progress and revenue generation; and c) enlarge the value of beef x dairy crossbred sire selection..

Dairy data Duolingo: The veterinarian’s critical role in translating farm data to real change

2024-05-10T14:21:31+00:00

Most veterinarians don’t enter the field because they love all things data; however, they are uniquely positioned to serve the critical needs of dairy farmers by translating their herd data into meaningful stories. While it can be overwhelming to see the amount of data generated on dairy farms, it is essential to take the time to learn everything you can about your client’s business. Practice working through farm data the same way you would learn another language: speaking a little bit every day and making it relevant. Each client is unique in their data needs, but all clients want to feel comfortable with their business.

Calf autofeeders: Consulting opportunities can help prevent health disasters

2024-05-10T14:23:34+00:00

Recent graduate veterinarians are often seeking consulting opportunities on farms. Regular reproductive herd work and other adult herd consulting opportunities may already be captured by other veterinarians within the practice. Calf health consulting is an excellent area for recent graduate veterinarians to begin gaining consulting confidence while providing tremendous value to the farm. Regardless of the calf housing system, veterinarians can rely on many of the same management principles and health recommendations to maximize calf growth and health. Opportunities to improve respiratory health by colostrum management, monitoring sanitation, vaccination protocols, ventilation and lung ultrasound are some of the ways for veterinarians to be intricately involved in ensuring that the next generation of dairy cows reach their maximum potential. Autofeeders provide a unique opportunity for veterinary involvement in these areas.

Calf diarrhea diagnostics

2024-05-10T14:26:30+00:00

The decision to submit calf diarrhea samples to a veterinary diagnostic lab can often be challenging. Balancing the value of the information with the ability to promote positive management changes is the conundrum the veterinarian often finds themself in. It is important for veterinarians to understand the available tests, interpret results properly, and convey those results in a manner that promotes improvements in calf health.

Advanced repro start-up

2024-05-10T14:28:54+00:00

Advanced reproductive technologies (ART) and their respective services have been part of my repertoire since my childhood days. Flushing cows (in vivo collections) has been routinely performed on my family’s farm for decades. In more recent years, in vitro embryo production has become more prominently utilized by my farm as well as by my clients. Since purchasing Midwest Embryo Transfer Service in 2016, we have expanded the services offered to include: in vivo collections, ovum pick-up (OPU) for in vitro fertilization, fresh and frozen in vivo and in vitro embryo transfers, cryopreservation of both in vivo and in vitro embryos, and export services.

AABP Guidelines for the Humane Euthanasia of Cattle

2024-05-10T14:30:51+00:00

For stockman, farmers, veterinarians and animal caretakers who choose to work with cattle there are many rewards, but there is also the responsibility to provide the animals in their care with a good a life, and when that is no longer possible, to alleviating the suffering of a slow and painful death. This is not just between farmers and their cattle it is also part of the social compact farmers have with consumers to produce the food that consumers purchase for their families in a way that is ethical. The requirements for humane euthanasia are also codified in industry animal welfare standards. But in reviewing recent studies on the number of cows and calves that die unassisted or were shipped to slaughter with serious ailments, the realities on farm do not always live up to this expectation. To help to address this the AABP has developed and recently updated the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Guidelines for the Humane Euthanasia of Cattle as a tool to help bovine practitioners and farmers provide timely and humane euthanasia for the cattle to prevent needless pain and suffering.

Working with nutritionists

2024-05-09T19:53:17+00:00

Veterinarians and nutritionists both are advisors to help feedlots develop protocols, execute and monitor protocols, train of personnel, and identify new technologies. Nutritionists are responsible for supplement and ration formulation, feed additive recommendations, growth promotants management, bunk management, overseeing quality control, and monitoring protocol adherence. Veterinarians are responsible for arrival protocols, treatment protocols, training crews on case definitions of sick animals, and monitoring morbidity and mortality. Nutritionists are judged on ADG, F:G, cost of gain, and metabolic disorders/mortality rates. Veterinarians are judged on pull rate and death loss outcomes, as well as costs of pharmaceutical usage. There are many opportunities for nutritionists and veterinarians to collaborate. It is important for each party to understand the general recommendations the other has in place, and where things could be tweaked to optimize efficiencies to help feedlot crew teams to execute these protocols. When challenging one another, it is important to stay professional. It is also important that many of the disagreements could be alleviated with understanding why current protocols are in place, and to determine if there are opportunities to adjust the timing of events to compromise what makes most sense to the animal and the operation. As technology continues to improve through monitoring tools, data collection, new products and research, opportunities for collaboration between professionals will continue to exist. Clear expectations and communication from all 3 parties (feedlot, veterinarian and nutritionist) are required for success.

The “how and why” of assessing micronutrient levels in beef cow-calf systems

2024-05-09T19:56:07+00:00

Matching the nutritional resources of protein, energy, minerals, trace minerals and vitamins to requirements of the beef cow at various times of the year is likely the most challenging aspect of meeting the production goals in a cow-calf production system. While each system will have different goals, commonly accepted goals are 95% of females pregnant in 60 days, 65% of the cows calving in the first 21 days, and a 90 % weaned calf crop based on number of cows exposed.18 If goals are not being met, the obvious question is “why?” and a careful evaluation of the entire system should be undertaken as many times these problems are multifactorial. It is not uncommon to find nutrition playing a significant role in these problems whether they be reproductive, neonatal health or weaning health (Figure 1).

Managing Veterinary Feed Directive requests

2024-05-09T19:58:28+00:00

Navigating the intricacies of veterinary feed directives can be an intimidating part of practicing veterinary medicine. It is important to guide clients in this important regulatory compliance process and antimicrobial stewardship tool. By using effective communication when doing so, you will find success.

Evaluating data for beef cattle enterprises

2024-05-10T13:58:50+00:00

Establishing a data-based decision-making process is an important component of veterinary medicine, cattle production, and the interface of these 2 enterprises. There are various methods that can be utilized for the decision-making process, with evidence-based decision-making being a very common method. The backbone of data-based decision making is the appropriate collection, databasing and evaluation/interpretation of the data collected.

The keys to success of bull breeding soundness exams

2024-05-10T14:02:08+00:00

Bull breeding soundness exams are one of the most important tasks that we perform as bovine veterinarians. This exam is designed to identify subfertile and infertile bulls which if used in a breeding scenario can result in loss of dollars for the producer. This loss of income comes from reduction in calves hitting the ground, a longer calving season, and in total less pounds of calf at the time of weaning.

Synchronization of the bovine estrous cycle: Current and emerging opportunities

2024-05-10T14:04:32+00:00

Controlling the bovine estrous cycle is a necessity if performing fixed-time artificial insemination or embryo transfer. Additionally, irrespective of the genetic objectives driving the decision to use reproductive technologies, the use of synchronization protocols often has beneficial effects on the overall reproductive performance and commercial production output of a beef cattle operation. This proceedings paper provides a general review of the conceptual goals and challenges associated with synchronization of estrus, and directs readers to resources on current protocols and emerging opportunities in the field.

Vaccines for all stages

2024-05-10T14:07:50+00:00

There are many vaccines to select from when developing protocols for beef cattle operations, and no single vaccine protocol is appropriate for all operations. Thus, vaccine protocol development requires understanding of the management of each operation. Unfortunately, current field trials confirming efficacy of vaccines to prevent disease in “real life” settings are not common, and not all protocols have been tested. Thus, development of protocols for farm or ranch use often relies on experimental challenge studies or expert opinion. When vaccination of calves in the first 3 to 4 months of life is possible, vaccines for clostridial infections and respiratory viral infections are most likely to be used to limit preweaning disease. On some operations, preweaning vaccination may be delayed until close to weaning if the aim is to limit postweaning disease. Vaccines likely appropriate to limit postweaning disease include those for clostridial agents, agents that cause bovine respiratory disease, and agents likely to impact fertility in replacement heifers. Other vaccines may be appropriate on a case-by-case basis. Health records including vaccine timing and occurrence of disease in vaccinated animals can be a major help to confirm efficacy of vaccine protocols. Veterinarians should periodically check for new systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or randomized controlled field trials testing vaccines they used, to have the best information to use when planning vaccination protocols.

Spaying/castration: How, complications, pain management

2024-05-10T14:10:00+00:00

Before establishing a business of spaying heifers, you must first be able to understand and explain/sell the benefits of the procedure to your potential clientele. It is a good procedure to add to an existing practice, especially if you are a new grad trying to add value or it can be a solo career opportunity as this skill is one that is currently in short supply. Spaying heifers is a labor-intensive procedure that requires learned skill and technique. It is not for the faint of heart. It is very physically and emotionally taxing when you are first starting out. The learning curve is steep and could potentially be expensive early on.

Improving large animal practice efficiency with credentialed veterinary technicians

2024-05-09T19:39:56+00:00

Large animal veterinary practice faces many challenges, including competitive markets, labor shortages, increasing costs of goods, and more. One major concern that our profession currently recognizes is a decrease in the total number of large animal veterinarians available to service producers despite increased demand for large animal veterinary care in many regions.1,2,3 Recent data from the AVMA states that less than 4% of veterinarians are employed in food-animal practice.1 There has also been a 15% decline in the total number of veterinarians who practice food animal or mixed animal medicine.1,3 This makes it extremely difficult for livestock to get adequate veterinary care to keep herds and flocks healthy. The lack of veterinary care and oversight creates a significant concern for animal welfare and food safety. As this shortage continues, the scarcity of large animal veterinarians for foreign animal disease surveillance becomes a significant concern in securing the business continuity of our food supply.

Understanding experiences: A key element in the retention of cattle veterinarians

2024-05-09T19:42:34+00:00

A key element in understanding the concerning trend of attrition in rural veterinary practice is to appreciate the potential factors driving this behavior. Recent graduates in rural veterinary practice face numerous challenges derived from a variety of experiences. In this session, thought will be given to the challenges and opportunities encountered in rural practice, which were identified through in-depth interviews of recent graduates.

Practical fluid therapy in ambulatory practice

2024-05-09T19:44:53+00:00

Large animal practitioners are faced with varying levels of dehydration in both mature and neonatal cattle. The goal of this talk will be to describe and formulate fluid therapy plans in varying circumstances in an ambulatory setting. Determining dehydration, acid-base status, and electrolyte abnormalities will be reviewed. Following this presentation, the practitioner will be able to identify the proper use of oral and intravenous fluid in clinical cases and appropriate volume to be administered. Homemade fluid recipes will be discussed including pros and cons compared to commercially available products.

Clinical pharmacology - navigation tools for a world filled with generic options

2024-05-09T19:47:55+00:00

Understanding the basic types of drug product approval applications can be helpful when selecting products to recommend for use within a particular livestock system. Products that do not have an NADA or ANADA number have not been through any type of FDA approval process. Products with an ANADA, commonly referred to as “generics”, have an abbreviated approval process through the FDA. Many products necessary for daily practice are listed in the FDA’s Green Book. This document gives several examples of specific approval types, and how that relates to the effectiveness evidence for the product in the bottle. Both a solid understanding of the effectiveness evidence generated by the approval process, as well as the context within which the product will be used is necessary to make recommendations for use of these products within livestock systems.

Consulting through crisis

2024-05-09T19:50:37+00:00

Veterinarians play a vital role in the VCPR for many reasons, but during times of true crisis when so many variables are outside of any one person’s control, we often are leaned on heavily. This is not a skill we are necessarily equipped with in our formal training. This presentation will focus on addressing theses situations beyond our control that impact the well-being of our livestock and those responsible for their care, while also giving insight into protecting the overall health of the entire industry by connecting with consumers who may have concerns about certain crisis in animal agriculture that they may be exposed to by the media.

Good husbandry of the cow vet

2024-05-09T19:36:34+00:00

As a new graduate, we often think that honing our technical skills is the number one priority. While being a technically-skilled veterinarian is incredibly important for serving our clients and animals, we also need to develop the skills to take care of ourselves. We can assess our mental and physical states as cattle veterinarians through the lens of the 5 Freedoms and 5 Domains of Animal Welfare. We will discuss how goal setting is a habit of highly successful people and how we often overlook the value of intention setting. As cattle veterinarians, we can combat imposter syndrome through setting boundaries, recognizing burnout and investing in relationships. Cattle veterinarians, like our bovine patients, are herd animals too.