Operators To OWNERS

Estimates of calf starter energy affected by consumption of nutrients. 2. Evaluation of models to predict changing digestion on energy content in calf starters

Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(19)30082-7/fulltext

Big Take Away #1 Let’s open with a great quote, “Estimates of energy in CS in young calves should consider rumen development and changing digestion with advancing GI maturity.”

When we calculate daily DE or ME in calves we use an NRC model for CS that accounts for adult digestion NOT neonatal immature digestive tracts. And as you would expect these immature tracts are not really ready to using energy in the CS form.

Big Take Away #2: The big key the researchers did find was that the MEratio, or when ME of CS in the calf over ME of the NRC estimate came close to 1, was usually reached when 15 kg of NFC were consumed and MEnrc actually overestimated ME until this occurred.

This ratio persisted in weaned calves fed starter and 5% forage as well suggesting accurate predictions of ME even in TMR calves.

Big Take Away #3: When the researchers looked for an average age at which this 15kg of NFC was reached they found a range from 51 days of age up to 63 days of age in trial calves. This clearly disputes the industry norm of weaning at a specific age.

Also, the current industry recommendation for weaning at a specific intake volume of CS, such as 1kg CS/day, does not mean that that amount of feed can be used by the calf’s GI tract if the 15kg NFC limit has not been reached.

Estimates of calf starter energy affected by consumption of nutrients. 2. Evaluation of models to predict changing digestion on energy content in calf starters

Published by J. Quigley, W. Hu, J. Knapp, T. Dennis, F. Suarez-Mena, T. Hill,  Jan 2019

Location: Cargill Animal Nurition, Brookville, Ohio

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate methods to calculate energy values of dry feeds (NRC, 2001) fed to young calves during the first 4 mo of life utilizing estimates of total-tract nutrient digestion.

There is no "right" answer to this question, only clarity to be gained by asking yourself it.

When we think about how we do what we do for a living we can begin to classify it into 3 different categories.

We can either be the 1/3 of Americans that have what they would define as a Job.

We can be the 1/3 of Americans that have what would be defined as a Career.

Or

You could be the 1/3 of Americans that say they have a Calling.

How you see your veterinary job will affect the lengths you go within it as well as your personal relationships outside of it.  Understanding what you want this work to be, whether that is a job/career/calling, will help you understand and evaluate what you will need to do at work and at home to succeed in the long run.

So tune in today as we discuss what a job, career, or calling means for your working future.

Symposium Review: Precision Technologies for Dairy Calves and Management Applications

Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(20)30554-3/fulltext

Big Take Away #1 The authors concluded that disease affects activity in calves, but the differences in greater or lesser activity are more likely attributed to how the calf responds to illness.

Many studies have mapped increases in lying bouts and/or times with accelerometers in calves, but these signs appear variable between different disease processes such as diarrhea, respiratory or navel diseases.

Big Take Away #2:  The authors noted that milk flow and meal size at an autofeeder can play a large role on feeding behavior for calves.

Altering these parameters can change social-group behaviors in calves, total milk intakes and potentially impact other hunger-based behaviors in calves.

Big Take Away #3: The authors also proposed using “optical flow” patterns to detect changes in social dynamics in calf groups prior to diseases outbreaks.

Similar technologies using real-time localization systems could be used to detect social isolation of a sick herd member OR monitor herd behavior for ventilation, cooling, sunlight or other responses to environmental factors.

Symposium Review: Precision Technologies for Dairy Calves and Management Applications

Published by J. Costa, M Cantor, H Neave

Location: University of Kentucky Dairy Science and AgResearch Ltd Hamilton New Zealand

Objective: The objective of this study was to critically review literature on the use of precision dairy technology devices with a focus on accelerometers, automated feeding systems and systems measuring physiological or physical attributes.

Today we ask the hard question. Can your boss be your mentor?

Many Boss-Employee relationships evolve naturally to a Boss-Mentee relationship due to the continuous positive and negative feedback needed in the modern workplace. But is this healthy and how can you seek to establish a healthy Boss-Mentee relationship?

This question and more are answered in this weeks Thoughts from the Truck podcast.

The effect of feeding Levucell SC™ rumen specific live yeast on feed intake and weight gain performance of calves during weaning

Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Link: https://www.wageningenacademic.com/pb-assets/wagen/files/JAAN/JAAN_back_issues/S2049257X17000018a.pdf

Big Take Away #1 Even in the face of a moderately aggressive milk limiting ration, improvements were seen at weaning using a yeast type rumen development “supplement.”

Many of these milk limiting rations are thought to better develop the rumen than high milk rations and therefore producers ignore supplementing them via other means.

Big Take Away #2:  Once again researchers showed that adding “pro-biotics,” even rumen specific yeasts did not improve weight gain in wet calves.

The positive benefit of probiotics in the normally functioning animal “monogastric” ruminant still remains hazy at best.

Big Take Away #3: Once again researchers have found that the addition of pro-rumen development products improved or maintained rate of gain through the transition period but not into the period beyond the first week.

Researchers in this study found that during the week of weaning animals on the yeast supplement gained almost 1.5x as much per day as non-supplement animals.

Published by A. Turney, A. Clay, and L. Waldron

Location: Lallemand Nz, LWT Animal Nutrition à Industry funded by Lallemand Nurtition NZ Ltd and a Calloghan Innovation grant

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding a rumen specific live yeast (Levucell SC™) on feed intakes and body weights of calves at weaning

Did you know in the modern workplace?...

Did you know in the modern veterinary practice?...

Statistics like these are why your business MUST have a mentorship program in place. 

But what does it take to become a "AAA" mentor?

How can you improve your mentorship?

Effects of employer management on employee recruitment, satisfaction, engagement, and retention on large US dairy farms

Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(20)30499-9/fulltext

Big Take Away #1: Durst in 2018 identified 6 common management failure areas on a dairy; specified goals, employee input, inter-employee problems, communication, training and positive feedback.

This is unsurprising as the majority of owners, much less mid-managers, on a dairy have had little to no management or HR training.

Big Take Away #2:  The relationship between an employee and their immediate supervisor was the strongest indicator of job satisfaction.

Even on farms with low scores in other management areas if the relationship was strong between employee and supervisor they outscored other farms with better management scores.

Big Take Away #3: “Good” current employees were only likely to recommend other good employees who were hard workers, had experience and would do the job right aka “The right fit.”

Ultimately, they would only recommend the farm to others who they believed would be committed to is success as well.

Ultimate Message: As we already know management is key to employee success and satisfaction. Improving engagement can be multifactorial but if a client is struggling with retention, engagement or satisfaction often they need to look no further than their mid-level managers to find the problem.

Objective: The objective of this study was to understand employee perceptions of HRM strengths and weaknesses and their influence on (1) employee satisfaction, (2) employee retention, (3) willingness of employees to recommend the farm as a place to work, and (4) level of employee engagement on the farm.

One of the #1 demands from new graduates and new hires is good mentorship.

Youth and adult public views of dairy calf housing options

Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(20)30496-3/fulltext

Big Take Away #1: It would be remiss of us as agricultural industry reps to ignore the power of public perception. BUT we DO NOT need to view it as wholly negative!

These new societal platforms present us with a unique way to get the word out as well as LEARN and adapt much sooner than previously possible.

Big Take Away #2:  Those who disagreed with individual housing did not like the lack of socialization, space for the calves, and the “unnatural” feel of the system.

This is something that will need to be addressed with future systems; whether that is adding true or perceived space for calves, improving socialization via pairing or grouping and/or more natural options such as outdoor access or “herd” lifestyles.

Big Take Away #3: In the youth survey population, those that used social media did not display a statistically significant propensity toward one specific housing option WHERE AS adults who did access social media had a propensity away from individual housing.

This could be due to the youth not being exposed to animal welfare campaigns against animal agriculture. Suggesting that with a more active approach this could be utilized to educate them in a positive manor

Ultimate Message: Preparing for consumer shifts in the coming decades their impact our clients and therefore the services can be difficult. BUT if we keep abreast of current consumer trends we can stay ahead in the game. Additionally, concentrating on current areas of concern when educating the public and specifically youth, could have lasting positive implications for the dairy industry.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore youth and adult public views of different calf housing options and reasons underlying preference or acceptance.

Location:  University of Minnesota

Methods: Participants 5 to 17 yr of age (n = 463) and 18 yr or older (n = 1,310) completed an in-person survey at the Minnesota State Fair (St. Paul, MN) in summer 2018. The survey was administered via Qualtrics survey software (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) using iPads (Apple, Cupertino, CA) and, in addition to collecting demographics, presented 3 images of calf housing options (individual, pair, or group) and asked participants to select their preferred option and indicate their reasoning for selection (youth), or acceptance for each option and reasoning for selection (adult). The PROC SURVEYFREQ of SAS (9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) was used for descriptive analysis. Rao-Scott chi-square tests (PROC SURVEYFREQ, SAS 9.4) were used to investigate relationships between demographics and housing preference or acceptance.