Maybe you've landed your unicorn associate...

Or maybe it's that dreaded time of the year for associate contract renewal...

Either way you're nervous if you will be able to retain your talent this year.

How can we go about reducing this problem?  How can we improve our likelihood to retain our clinic's talent?

Today we will talk about my THREE steps for improved employee retention.  These are the very steps that have kept turnover low at our clinic, enticed me to remain here for the long term and have fostered a work environment that is enjoyable and rewarding.

Join us today to learn these three steps that I believe will help your clinic get on the right path!

Short communication: Economic impact among 7 reproductive programs for lactating dairy cows, including a sensitivity analysis of the cost of hormonal treatments

Find the Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(20)30275-7/fulltext

Big Take Away #1: Improving fertility and breeding efficiency of our dairies can be accomplished via three methods; improved detection of estrus, synchronization of estrus and synchronization of ovulation and timed AI as proven by many different authors.

Big Take Away #2:  To prove their work the authors used the DairyRepro$ tool form UW-Cornell. Available online after a simple search you can do the same analysis with your own numbers they did!

This tool allows you to input all your operations reproductive parameters, drugs costs, labor costs and any other reproductive inputs you could imagine.

Big Take Away #3 Ricci found that using Double-Ovsynch over these other Presynch programs it would obtain a $42 dollar greater profit per cow per year than a baseline Presynch-Ovsynch with 35% conception rate and no cherry picking.

The next closest program used the automated heat detection system in conjunction with Presynch and that came in at more than 50% less profit than Double-Ovsynch with PGF.

Ultimate Message: All that said OTO’er ultimately it comes down to this….can you get a big enough conception rate bump to justify the switch? Many times, the only change to reproduction a dairy will make will be the first breeding program; so use this DairyRepro$ tool to facilitate this discussion. This is the true reason I brought you this article.

Objective: This study had 2 major objectives: (1) to analyze the profitability of an intensive reproductive program involving more injections (i.e., Double Ovsynch) compared with less intensive ones (Presynch-Ovsynch) in different geographic areas (i.e., the United States and Europe) depending on variation of hormonal treatment costs, and (2) to estimate how high the cost of hormonal treatments would have to be to render intensive synchronization programs unprofitable.

Location: University of Torino and University of Wisconsin-Madison

Methods: A reproductive economic analysis simulation model was used to compare the economic impact of pairs of reproductive management programs. We simulated sets of scenarios for 2 analyses. In the first analysis, we calculated the economic impact of switching from a Presynch-Ovsynch program to a Double-Ovsynch program that included a second PGF2α treatment during the Breeding-Ovsynch portion of the program (Double-Ovsynch+PGF). In the second analysis, we conducted a break-even analysis in which the cost of hormonal treatments was incrementally increased within various reproductive management programs.

Landed that precious interview for your associate opening?

Maybe you have an interview at your dream clinic?

Either way what should you do or expect to experience at the Interview?

Today we will talk about the techniques I use when evaluating potential associates and students at our practice.  We will discuss how you can turn the interview process into a two way street and use it as a vital way to evaluate the candidate's skills and personality.  Finally, we will discuss how many owners reluctance to continue to negotiate after a potential candidate says NO, holds them and their practice back!

Symposium review: Decomposing efficiency of milk production and maximizing profit

Find the Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(19)31086-0/fulltext

Big Take Away #1: Once maintenance requirements are met by a lactating animal all energy consumed above that maintenance value DOESN’T return a 1 to 1 ratio of additional milk.

This is due to an increase in the metabolic machinery, and therefore calories, partitioned off to supply that increased milk supply.

Big Take Away #2:  While current genetic indices allow us to select for feed efficiency (FE) via our mating’s; our current understanding suggests we CANNOT select only for FE because it would result in an INCREASED negative energy balance in early lactation and subsequent negative impacts.

This relationship between phenotype and feed efficiency was just proven in 2018 by Hurley.

Big Take Away #3 The authors showed that the while feeding at a herd level for more milk was possible and would improve feed efficiency overall it would not improve income over feed cost (IOFC).

This was due to the large number of marginal/average cows that would turn that extra feed into weight or growth vs milk reducing overall IOFC.

Ultimate Message: When attempting to maximize the efficiency of milk production (EMP) many factors must be considered. While feed quality, cost and volume play a large role in this there are many other marginal factors that can incrementally improve EMP and result in increased profits for any operation. The advisement of and counseling in these areas can prove rewarding for the ambulatory practitioner and the dairies consultant team.

Symposium review: Decomposing efficiency of milk production and maximizing profit

Objective: In this symposium review the authors wanted to review each of the factors that can play into milking efficiency and profit maximization. The goal was to lay bare the cause of improved milking efficiency, known as efficiency of milk production, and the areas that cause marginal milk to result in maximum profit.

Location:  This is a little different article review than we normally do. It is a review of current literature and understanding and thus was not conducted in the field but was rather compiled by the authors who were based in Catalonia, Spain

Methods: The dairy industry has focused on maximizing milk yield, as it is believed that this maximizes profit mainly through dilution of maintenance costs. Efficiency of milk production has received, until recently, considerably less attention. The most common method to determine biological efficiency of milk production is feed efficiency (FE), which is defined as the amount of milk produced relative to the amount of nutrients consumed. Economic efficiency is best measured as income over feed cost or gross margin obtained from feed investments. Feed efficiency is affected by a myriad of factors, but overall they could be clustered as follows: (1) physiological status of the cow (e.g., age, state of lactation, health, level of production, environmental conditions), (2) digestive function (e.g., feeding behavior, passage rate, rumen fermentation, rumen and hindgut microbiome), (3) metabolic partitioning (e.g., homeorhesis, insulin sensitivity, hormonal profile), (4) genetics (ultimately dictating the 2 previous aspects), and (5) nutrition (e.g., ration formulation, nutrient balance).

Wondering why you can't find your  "unicorn" associate?

Wondering how to find your ideal practice?

Today's episode focuses in on how you develop a feeder system that will provide you vet and vet tech prospect for years to come.

Discover a key statistic that we as owners can leverage in our search for ideal candidates.

Understand what you as an associate could look for in an ideal practice.

Join Operators to Owners as we begin our journey into a broad discussion about finding, evaluating, training and growing future veterinary associates.

Pre- and postnatal heat stress abatement affects dairy calf thermoregulation and performance

Find the Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(20)30165-X/fulltext

See the referenced research graphs by joining OTO at otovets.com/facebook

Big Take Away #1: Prenatal cooling had no effect on ad lib milk replacer and concentrate intakes BUT postnatal cooling significantly increased overall DMI.

This came in the form of both MR and concentrate week 3 to 8 over non-cooled calves.

Big Take Away #2:  Postnatal cooling tended to reduce medication events for fever and infection.

Prenatal cooling tended to reduce the number of esophageal tube feedings required due to low milk ingestion.

Big Take Away #3: Postnatal HS calves had a statistically significant increased ADGs over the other groups weeks 2-3 with calves experiencing both pre and postnatal heat stress being the only ones to have a negative ADG during weaning.

Prenatally cooled calves were born 5.3 lb heavier than their peers and had a tendency for better ¼ lb better ADG.

Ultimate Message: Ultimately, what we can all agree on is that cooling your dry cows is a REALLY good idea and that cooling your calves TENDS TO HAVE have health and welfare benefits BUT may sacrifice feed efficiency. We are simply trying to understand millennium of complex evolutionary and physiologic biology a handful of baby calves. Realistically, only time and more research will tell the net outcome of these combined variables.

Pre- and postnatal heat stress abatement affects dairy calf thermoregulation and performance

Published by B. Dado-Senn, L. Vega Acosta, M. Torres Rivera, S.L. Field, M.G. Marrero, B.D. Davidson, S. Tao, T.F. Fabris, G. Ortiz-Colón, G.E. Dahl, J. Laporta

Location: University of Florida

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether prenatal heat stress or heat stress abatement would affect short-term thermoregulatory and productive responses in similar or opposing postnatal environments.

Short...simple...and to the point.  Today's episode is a thank you to the OTO community for joining me for 50! episodes of Thoughts from the Truck.  

Thank you for being willing to help one another.

Thank you for filling my cup.

Thank you for choosing to work on yourselves, your business and your career!

Here's to another 50 OTO'ers!

Association of transient, persistent, or delayed subclinical hypocalcemia with early lactation disease, removal, and milk yield in Holstein cows

Find the Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(19)30971-3/fulltext

See the referenced research graphs by joining OTO at otovets.com/facebook

Big Take Away #1: The subclinical hypocalcemic (SCH) state of the post-paturm cow is better described by four states; normal calcemic, transient, persistent and delayed. Each state represents a different metabolic response to the demands of lactation and an increase or decrease in disease and removal incidence as well as production outcome.

Big Take Away #2:  Primiparous dams undergoing a persistent SCH state were 4x more likely to undergo a health or removal event vs normal calcemic while multiparous dams were almost 2x more likely.

Similarly, primiparous dams undergoing a delayed SCH state were 3x more likely to undergo a health or removal event vs normal calcemic dams while multiparous dams were again 2x more likely.

Big Take Away #3: The transient SCH state is associated with 5.5 more lbs per day of milk production in first lactation animals and 12.1 more lbs per day of milk production in second and greater animals.

This state represents a cow that is metabolically well adapted and is experiencing a natural calcium suppression due to production demands that the body responds too.

Ultimate Message: This study expands our understanding of SCH and it’s different states. By understanding that there is a subpopulation of cows that naturally undergo this state but can still produce above their peers we are better able to create targeted therapies and better identify cows that could be potential problems down the road.

Association of transient, persistent, or delayed subclinical hypocalcemia with early lactation disease, removal, and milk yield in Holstein cows

Published by J. A. A. Mc Art, R. C. Neves

Location: New York, researchers form Cornell and Purdue

Objective: Our objective was to assess the association of early postpartum Ca status group, classified as normocalcemia (NC), transient SCH (tSCH), persistent SCH (pSCH), or delayed SCH (dSCH), with early lactation disease diagnosis, culling, and milk yield. A secondary objective was to assess changes in blood BHB and plasma fatty acid concentrations in the first 10 DIM between cows in different early postpartum Ca status groups.

My 30 ways in 30 days series will provide an extensive list of 30 different consulting opportunities any new student, associate or owner can learn, frame out and implement in 30 days.

Today's podcast continues our dive into these 30 consulting topics.

Just like last week, today's dive will also drill down on three of my favorite consulting opportunities.

Remember, these are areas I feel have great potential to develop into key consulting areas in the future, are easy for new vets to uptake or are currently under-served.

BUT before we begin I want to issue you a challenge…

My challenge to you OTO’ers in the next week review and select one of these categories and begin to create a plan for implementing it! Refrain from just listening to this podcast and going about your day and instead engage in ACTIVE growth by taking 10-15 minutes to think about your favorite category and just how you would begin to implement it in your life

For as author and mastermind coach Tobe Brockner once said, “Ideas, even great ideas, are a dime a dozen. Without implementation-without action-those ideas are ultimately worthless.”

That said lets get right into this weeks consulting areas!

This week we will cover consulting areas 21-30:

21) Networking/Tours

22) Farmer Masterminds*

23) Management Training's

24) Farmer Leadership

25) Pest Management

26) Protocol Updates/Audits/Standardization

27) Drug Representative Management

28) Drug Usage Audit*

29) Inventory Management*

30) Goal Setting for 5/10/15 Planning

*One of my Big 3 favorite consulting opportunities!

Enjoy the episode OTO'ers!

Consensus recommendations on calf- and herd-level passive immunity in dairy calves in the United States

Find the Big 3 Infographic at otovets.com/cuttingedge

Find the full article at: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(20)30383-0/fulltext

See the referenced research graphs by joining OTO at otovets.com/facebook

Big Take Away #1: The proposed model showed statistically significant decreases in morbidity between the poor and fair categories was observed with 10% reductions in morbidity and 5.7% percent reductions between the good and excellent categories.

This herd level model also showed mortality differences between the poor and fair groups and between the fair and good groups, totaling a 50% reduction in mortality between these groups

Big Take Away #2:  Animals with elevated IgG concentrations greater than 24 g/L had significant decreases in morbidity.

This model suggests a drop from 46.1% morbidity to 28.5% if you go between the poor and excellent groups.

Big Take Away #3: Calves that were administered colostrum in one of two ways; #1 a single feeding of ~3.3L of colostrum 2 hours after birth OR #2 a multi-feeding system with the first feeding of ~2.7 L at ~2.8 hours of age and another feeding bringing the total to ~5.3L could would achieve the excellent IgG grouping.

This was determined from the NAHMS data which showed the average colostrum treatment required to achieve the "excellent" benchmark.

Ultimate Message: It is time to revisit the classic dichotomous scale of PASS or FAIL for transfer of passive immunity. This study seeks to break the stereotype that an animal with less than 2 tenths of a point of Total Protein difference is somehow more protected than one 2 tenths of a point higher. The proposed method by which herd-level passive immunity competency can be assessed and improved breaks down into excellent, good, fair and poor classifications and seeks to address normal variation within herd wide populations while properly conveying the risk associated with that variation.

Consensus recommendations on calf- and herd-level passive immunity in dairy calves in the United States

Published by J. Lombard, N. Urie, F. Garry, S. Godden, J. Quigley, T. Earleywine, S. McGuirk, D. Moore, M. Branan, M. Chamorro, G. Smith, C. Shivley, D. Catherman, D. Haines, A.J. Heinrichs, R. James, J. Maas, K. Sterner

Location: United States

Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate different threshold values for TPI and their relationship to mortality and morbidity using available data and come to consensus on a calf- and herd-level TPI standard. A secondary objective was to provide colostral management recommendations to meet the consensus standards.