Have You Herd? is brought to you by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, an international association of cattle veterinarians and veterinary students dedicated to the health, productivity and welfare of cattle.
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June 15, 202618 min
Epi. 296 – First AABP Emerging and Evolving Diseases Conference
AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich discusses the upcoming AABP Emerging and Evolving Diseases Conference. This conference will be held virtually on June 24-25, 2026 and is available to all current AABP members for a registration fee of $175. The conference is approved for 11 hours of continuing education in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval. The conference will have presentations on Influenza A H5N1 virus, Foot and Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease, New World Screwworm, Tuberculosis and Theileria. Attendees will be able to participate in speaker question and answer periods and will have access to recorded presentations immediately prior to their release on the CE portal for members. Once a member is registered for the conference, they will see the Zoom meeting links on the schedule page. Please note the conference will be live streamed in Eastern time so adjust accordingly to your time zone. To pay your AABP dues, visit this link. The schedule for the conference can be viewed at this page under the Continuing Education menu of the AABP website. Members can register for the conference at this link.
June 15, 202641 min
Epi. 295 – New World Screwworm Update
AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich provides an update on the current incursions of New World Screwworm across the southern border of the United States. The discussion includes of the movement of the fly across the Darien Gap into central America and then its movement into Mexico. Gingrich also discusses the lifecycle of the fly, how it infects animals, and current prevention measurements using sterile male flies. He also provides information about the current challenges with fly capacity and the efforts to alleviate this issue. The response effort will rely on the success of daily inspection of animals and reporting all suspected cases. Reporting cases will provide information to state and federal animal health officials to know where to institute prevention measures such as sterile fly dispersals, traps and ground release of flies. Veterinarians should train clients how to identify cases and develop protocols for treatment and prevention. This training should include discussions on at-risk animal groups as well as delaying wound-causing procedures or developing prevention protocols when wounds are caused by a procedure. The FDA has evaluated several products for treatment and prevention of New World Screwworm and Gingrich discusses this authorization process as well as which products have been approved for cattle. Gingrich also encourages all veterinarians to educate themselves using the available resources and to communicate to members in their communities the facts about this fly with reliable resources and information. AABP New World Screwworm page - https://aabp.org/resources/screw_worm/ USDA New World Screwworm landing page - https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm USDA New World Screwworm new detections dashboard - https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/current-status/us-confirmed-cases-new-world FDA New World Screwworm page - https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/new-world-screwworm-information-veterinarians
June 8, 202633 min
Epi. 294 – Using Data to Elevate Udder Health – Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich discusses using data to elevate udder health in this episode sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. Our guests are Dr. Quinn Kolar from the ProDairy team at the Cornell University Dairy Fellows Program, and Dr. Caitlin Jeffrey, professional services veterinarian at Boehringer Ingelheim. This episode explores how bovine veterinarians can use on-farm data to guide smarter mastitis prevention and treatment decisions. From tracking meaningful metrics like relapse rates and somatic cell count trends to leveraging pathogen-based culturing, the conversation focuses on turning data into action. When veterinarians lead with data, they can help improve treatment precision, reduce recurrence and elevate overall herd performance. For questions on mastitis prevention and management options, talk to your Boehringer Ingelheim Professional Services Veterinarian or visit www.choose360coverage.com. You can also find AABP Milk Quality and Udder Health resources under the Committee Resources page. Recently added documents include KPIs for clinical and subclinical mastitis as well as records and data needed to assess milk quality.
June 1, 202627 min
Epi. 293 – What do Veterinarian’s Need to Know about Compounding? – Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Michelle Buckley, Director of Quality Milk Production Services in Warsaw, N.Y. Buckley is also a member of the AABP Committee on Pharmaceutical and Biologic Issues (CPBI) who developed this podcast topic. This episode is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and the Choose360coverage.com mastitis portfolio. The dairy health portfolio that rises to the challenge is Mastitis 360 by Boehringer Ingelheim. It offers powerful solutions for lactation through dry-off. So, manage udder health with the ultimate tools at your disposal. Because you’re more than a veterinarian. You’re... a hero of the herd. Visit Choose360Coverage.com today. There are two types of compounding that we discuss. This includes compounding from FDA approved products, such as mixing two anesthetic drugs in the same syringe, or compounding from bulk products, such as having a drug made from the raw active pharmaceutical ingredient or from unapproved FDA drugs. Compounding from bulk products for food animals is prohibited in federal statute found at this link. FDA further explains their position on compounding from bulk substances for food animals in GFI# 256 that states that FDA generally does not intend to take enforcement action in cases of compounding from bulk substances to produce antidotes for treating toxicoses in food animals or use as sedatives/anesthetics in free-ranging wildlife species. Buckley also discusses the differences between compounded products and generic animal drugs and the federal regulations on extralabel drug use. It is important for veterinarians to understand the legal allowances for compounding, extralabel drug use. Veterinarians should use the resources provided by the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) for assistance with withdrawal intervals when using extralabel drug use or compounded products. If you are interested in this topic, consider joining the AABP Committee on Pharmaceutical and Biologic Issues. Find AABP committee resources on this page.
May 25, 202633 min
Epi. 292 – Managing Spring Disease Risk in Beef Cattle – Sponsored by Elanco Animal Health
AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Brett Terhaar, technical services veterinarian with Elanco Animal Health. This episode of Have You Herd is sponsored by Elanco Animal Health, manufacturers of Nuplura PH+5 vaccines. Managing risk of disease in the spring for newborn calves is an important part of consulting for our beef cattle clients. Terhaar suggests that we must first manage husbandry, nutrition and colostrum programs to ensure calves have the best immune system and health to prevent disease. Timing of vaccines is also an important component of managing disease risk in the spring. Veterinarians should consult with producers to evaluate their vaccination protocols and pay attention to timing and the number of antigens presented to the calf. Immune response to vaccinations requires a significant amount of energy from the calf. Veterinarians should also be aware of endotoxin load when designing vaccine protocols for producers. Endotoxin can have a negative effect on the health of the calf and its ability to appropriately respond to vaccines during a disease challenge. Terhaar reviews how this can impact calf health and management of disease. Find out more information from Elanco Animal Health by visiting this link. Information about Nuplura PH+5 can be found here or contact your Elanco representative.
May 18, 20261 hr 7 min
Epi. 291 – Parental Leave for Veterinarians - Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Emily Singler, Veterinary Content Specialist for the American Animal Hospital Association and Certified Parental Leave Coach. This episode is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and the Choose360coverage.com mastitis portfolio. The dairy health portfolio that rises to the challenge is Mastitis 360 by Boehringer Ingelheim. It offers powerful solutions for lactation through dry-off. So, manage udder health with the ultimate tools at your disposal. Because you’re more than a veterinarian. You’re... a hero of the herd. Visit Choose360Coverage.com today. Communication is important for veterinary practice owners and managers and parental leave is no exception. Singler discusses important considerations for parental leave and that policies should be gender neutral to address all family situations. We also discuss physical and mental health for expectant mothers and partners or spouses. Food animal veterinarians also have circumstances that may be different than companion animal veterinarians regarding medications used and dangers of working with large animals for expectant mothers. Other considerations include navigating fertility or pregnancy loss, adoption, and returning to work after parental leave. Singler also is one of the investigators conducting a survey on parental leave in independently owned/non-corporate veterinary practices to determine the state of parental leave in veterinary practices. The survey is anonymous and secure. We encourage our listeners to participate in the survey to make sure large and mixed animal veterinarians are included in the data. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete and can be found at this link. Find Dr. Singler’s book “Pregnancy and Postpartum Considerations for the Veterinary Team” on her website.
May 11, 202648 min
Epi. 290 – Disbudding Dairy Calves – How does the Method Influence Pain and Wound Healing
AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Cassandra Tucker, professor at the University of California-Davis. Tucker discusses that there have been changes over the past decade with how disbudding is done with caustic paste becoming more common vs. cautery methods that were previously more common. There is also the belief that caustic paste does not cause pain. The AABP guideline on disbudding and dehorning calves states that all methods of disbudding and dehorning cause pain, and providing analgesia is the standard of care. The misperception is that caustic paste causes less pain because the onset of pain is delayed vs. the immediate reaction of the burn from a cautery iron. Veterinarians should provide protocols and training for providing analgesia for disbudding that includes both local anesthesia and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID). Tucker discusses the failure rate of a cornual nerve block and methods to decrease failure rate and check the block before applying the iron or paste. The block provides loss of sensation for 1-2 hours, and therefore, an NSAID should be provided. We also discuss providing more than one dose of an NSAID. Wound healing is also a critical part of evaluating a disbudding method. Tucker discusses a research trial where it showed that cautery iron wounds heal in 6-7 weeks while paste wounds take 14-18 weeks. Wound size and healing for paste was dependent on dose of the paste and shaving or not shaving the horn bud prior to application. Tucker walks through a summary of comparing cautery iron vs. caustic paste method of dehorning on the ability to control pain, wound healing, regrowth rates, damage to non-target tissue, and applicability to social or group housing. Veterinarians should consider these variables when developing a method of disbudding and an analgesic protocol for farms. Veterinarians should also provide training for caregivers to perform these procedures under proper local anesthesia and NSAIDs. Tucker also mentions an organization she co-founded that focuses on research, grants and training for elevating the welfare of animals in food production. Find more information about Kinder Ground at this link. The history and future of the cornual nerve block for calf disbuddingDavid B. Sheedy, Sharif S. Aly, Cassandra B. Tucker, Terry W. LehenbauerJDS Comm, July 2024, https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2023-0506 Wound characteristics after disbudding: Part I - Effects of caustic paste dose and presence of hairAlycia M. Drwencke, Sarah J.J. Adcock, Cassandra B. TuckerJ Dairy Sci , October 2025, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-26688 Wound characteristics after disbudding: Part II – Comparing cautery and caustic paste methodsAlycia M. Drwencke, Sarah J.J. Adcock, Cassandra B. TuckerJ Dairy Sci, October 2025, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-26687
May 4, 202642 min
Epi. 289 – Beef Heifer Development Strategies for Reproductive Success and Lifetime Productivity – Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim
AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Nicky Oothuizen, Reproductive Specialist and District Sales Manager for ABS Global, and Dr. Lee Jones, Cattle Professional Services Veterinarian for Boehringer Ingelheim. Heifer retention and reproductive longevity are increasingly top-of-mind for beef producers; veterinarians play a central role in shaping development programs that set heifers up for long-term success. This episode will explore how early-life management decisions, disease prevention and parasite control influence reproductive timelines, calving distribution and lifetime herd performance. Our guests discuss important factors to evaluate to ensure heifers are ready for the first breeding season. This can include an adequate body weight and body condition score, appropriate vaccination programs, managing parasites with a sustainable parasite management program, and ensuring heifers are cycling prior to the first breeding season. Delayed puberty and low reproductive tract scores can result in later breeding and first calving which will put heifers behind for future breeding seasons. It is not only important that retained heifers get pregnant, but that they conceive at the start of the breeding season to allow for growth during the first lactation cycle and success for the second breeding season. Preventing reproductive diseases is an important part of a reproduction program. Veterinarians should discuss biosecurity, especially if purchasing pregnant heifers, and also review the vaccine program to determine where a modified live or a killed virus vaccine should be incorporated. For more information about the Boehringer-Ingelheim portfolio of products, including vaccines and anthelmintics, visit www.cattlefirst.com
April 20, 202626 min
Epi. 288 – ICR Change Ruler
AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Monika McConkey who is a counselor in Minnesota providing mental health services with a focus on rural agricultural communities. McConkey grew up on a 5th generation farm in Minnesota. This podcast was developed by the AABP Mental Health and Well-Being Committee. If you are interested in the work of this committee, please consider joining to provide resources on this topic to AABP members. Find the committee page at this link. McConkey discusses some of the unique challenges with mental health services in rural communities including access to care, access to a virtual mental health counselor, financial barriers, and the barrier of the stigma especially in small rural areas where anonymity is lacking. The AABP Mental Health and Well-Being Committee strives to remove the stigma associated with mental health by bringing the conversation to the forefront and providing resources to our members. The ICR Change Ruler comes out of motivational interviewing techniques as a behavioral health tool to help clients make change happen and identify why change is not happening. ICR stands for importance, confidence and readiness. McConkey discusses how veterinarians can use this tool to help clients accept change based on veterinarian recommendations. McConkey reviews some of the reasons change is difficult for many people and how we can help them accept change. McConkey reviews some questions that veterinarians can ask clients to help them through a change. This can include asking them what they are looking forward to, how they think change could work for them and what do they need to do to make change happen. Asking questions that target the disadvantages of not changing and maintaining the status quo is another method to encourage change based on your recommendations. McConkey also recommends prioritizing a list of stages and steps vs. overwhelming clients with many suggestions can result in small positive changes steps to help clients achieve a goal. We close the podcast with a discussion about how veterinarians can apply the ICR Change Ruler to take steps to apply change to our own life. Identifying the change needed, understanding its importance, being confident you can be successful with change and being ready for the change can have a positive impact on our own mental and physical health.
April 13, 202641 min
Epi. 287 – The Veterinarian’s Role in Special Needs Pens for Feedlots
AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Brian Warr, veterinarian with Telus Cattle Professional Services in the Animal Health Module based in Alberta, Canada. The discussion for today is the role of the veterinarian in overseeing and providing guidance for feedlot cattle in special needs pens. Warr begins by describing the routine health care provided on feedlots to ensure that each individual animal is observed daily and interventions based on the treatment protocol provided by the veterinarian are administered. After an animal is treated, options may include moving back to the home pen or moving to a special needs pen. Warr reviews the care that should be provided by the caregivers for each special needs pen. This can include the treatment or hospital pen, where animals are given daily treatments before returning to the home pen. The hospital pen may also include animals that need daily close observation or that may need separated from the home pen while recovering. Warr also provides some guidelines for managing the chronic pen and railer pen to ensure that welfare is not compromised for animals that may not be able to return to the home pen or achieve the finishing weight goal. He suggests moving these animals through the treatment area once a week to assess their condition and record a weight with a general goal of 1 pound of gain per day for 30 days before returning to the home pen. Warr also cautions that veterinarians should be realistic when assessing the welfare needs of special needs animals. Veterinarians should provide humane euthanasia protocols and provide the oversight to ensure that animals that do not meet the guidelines for continuing in the feedlot are humanely euthanized. We also discuss some of the general needs for biocontainment of infectious diseases on feedlots and nutritional and pen requirements for special needs animals. Watch Warr's presentation from the 2026 Recent Graduate conference by going to this link. TAYLOR L, BOOKER C, JIM G, GUICHON, P. Epidemiological investigation of the buller steer syndrome (riding behaviour) in a western Canadian feedlot. Aus Vet J. 1997;75: 45-51. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1997.tb13830.x Pollock CM, Campbell JR, Janzen ED, West K. Descriptive epidemiology of chronic disease of calves in a Western Canadian feedlot. Proceedings of the 33rd AABP Annual Conference. 2000. https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20005394 Sundman E, Millman S, Erickson S, Silva G, Thomson D, Johnson A, Schwartzkopf-Genswein K, Dewell R, Dewell G. Are there opportunities to strengthen animal welfare through improved management of feedlot chronic pens? Proceedings of the 56th AABP Annual Conference. 2023. https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20238907
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