Operators To OWNERS

You can find a complete summary and link to this episodes research article at otovets.com/cuttingedge!

Study Title: Evaluation of 2 different treatment procedures after calving to improve harvesting of high-quantity and high-quality colostrum

Authors: Sutter, Borchardt, Schuenemann, Rauch, Erhard, Heuwieser

Objective: Evaluate 2 different treatment procedures at the first milking after calving to increase colostrum quantity and to improve colostrum quality in dairy cows.

Hypothesis: That either exogenous treatment with oxytocin or the presence of the calf at first milking would lead to higher colostrum quantity and higher IgG concentration.

Location: The study was conducted from October to December 2017 on a commercial dairy farm in Germany.

Methods: A total of 567 cows at the time of calving were enrolled, but for the final analyses only 521 animals were considered. The cows were randomly assigned on a daily basis into 1 of 3 groups: (1) control group (n = 177), (2) application of 20 IU of oxytocin i.m. (OXY; n = 163), and (3) presence of the calf (CA; n = 181) before and during milking. Cows in the control and oxytocin group had no contact with their calves after calving and were milked in a separate milking parlor. Cows in the oxytocin group were injected with 20 IU of oxytocin i.m. 3 min before manual stimulation. For cows in the third group, the calf was placed into a calf cart and located in front of the cow 3 min before manipulation of the cow. Colostrum quantity was determined by a digital hanging scale. The colostrum quality was assessed with digital Brix refractometry and ELISA. To evaluate the effect of 2 different treatment procedures, a generalized linear mixed model was constructed using SPSS (SPSS Inc., IBM, Ehningen, Germany).

For more information about this research or it's results as well as other Cutting Edge episodes please visit the OTO website at otovets.com/cuttingedge or enjoy the relevant podcast episode at otovets.com/podcast!

Every year January 1st rolls around and people begin the new year with resolutions or goals to change themselves, their circumstances or their situation. By February 1st less than 50% of these goals still exist. So what goes wrong?

The reason so man people lack the ability to have achievable goals is because they lack clarity. They don’t understand who they were in the past weeks, months and years and how this will have to change to become who they want to be.

Today’s episode is going to focus how we can use routine personal reflection techniques to remain clear on where we winning, what our challenges are and how to set goals that challenge and stretch us to become who we want to be.

Welcome to a new Operators to Owners segment called The Cutting Edge.  This segment has been created to expose you to research that you may not have otherwise been exposed too.  Here OTO will present peer reviewed articles ranging from business to client interaction, marketing to metabolic disease.  This selected content will aim to make you a well-rounded clinician and business owner.  

This episode will discuss why I decided to start a new podcast segment and what The Cutting Edge will provide listeners.  Be sure to tune back for future episodes where we will begin reviewing scientific content!