Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship

The Only Other Humans You See All Day: Why Producer-Veterinarian Relationships Matter

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:19:24 GMT

A production animal veterinarian finishes a farm call, climbs back into the truck and starts driving to the next stop. Depending on the day, the producer they just spoke with may have been the first real conversation they’ve had in hours — or the interaction that shapes the tone of the rest of the day.

That isolation is one of the unique realities of production animal medicine. Unlike many clinic settings, there often is no team gathered in a treatment area and no coworkers nearby between appointments. Much of the work happens alone, moving from farm to farm. As Andi Davison, positive change agent at Flourish Veterinary Consulting , put it, production medicine is often “just them, and the only other human that they talk to all day long is the producer.”

During Mental Health Awareness Month, conversations around veterinary well-being often focus on burnout, long hours, compassion fatigue or staffing shortages. Those issues are important, but another factor may deserve more attention: The quality of the everyday interactions veterinarians have with the people around them.

In production medicine, that frequently means producers.

More Than People Skills

Most veterinarians are not trying to become polished communicators or extroverts. They simply want smoother conversations, less tension, better collaboration and the feeling that everyone is working toward the same goal. Those interactions can carry more emotional weight than many people realize.

A productive relationship with a producer can make difficult herd health conversations easier, improve follow-through on recommendations and create a stronger sense of teamwork. A strained relationship can do the opposite — increasing frustration, emotional exhaustion and the feeling that recommendations are going nowhere.

As Davison explains: “We can make all the recommendations all day long, but if we don’t feel like we’re working together as a team, it doesn’t matter.”

Most veterinarians recognize the difference immediately. There are days when you leave a farm feeling productive and respected, and days when you replay the conversation all the way to the next call.

That emotional carryover can leave an impact.

Why Positive Interactions Matter

Research in psychology and workplace well-being has shown even brief positive interactions with other people can influence how individuals experience their work. These high-quality connections are associated with greater trust, collaboration, engagement and a stronger sense of purpose.

Importantly, those interactions do not have to be dramatic or deeply personal to matter. Even short, repeated moments of positive communication can influence workplace relationships and resilience over time. For veterinarians, that sense of connection is often tied directly to the reason they entered the profession in the first place.

At the core of those conversations is a shared goal: We all want to do better for the animals.

That shared purpose may be one of the biggest strengths in veterinary medicine and agriculture. Even when producers and veterinarians disagree on management decisions, timing or finances, there is usually still a common goal underneath the conversation — healthier animals and stronger operations.

“When we are able to cultivate productive communication between the humans of veterinary medicine, we are building trust, motivation and self-efficacy, which then supports the animals of our industry to receive the quality care they deserve. In other words, when we know we matter and the work that we are doing matters, we are much more motivated to do that work well,” Davison says.

Keeping that shared goal in mind can help shift conversations from adversarial to collaborative.

Small Changes That Build Trust

Of course, knowing communication matters and feeling naturally comfortable with it are two very different things.

Many veterinary professionals describe themselves as introverted or socially drained, especially after long days and emotionally difficult cases. Building stronger relationships does not always come naturally, and small talk can feel forced or awkward.

But communication is not necessarily about charisma. Often, small intentional shifts can noticeably change the tone of an interaction over time.

Communication Tips for Veterinary Professionals

Not quite sure where to get started on improving your interactions with producers? Try these small things out during your next farm visit.

Use names and eye contact

Small signals of recognition can help interactions feel more personal and collaborative.

Ask broader questions

Instead of: “How was your weekend?”

Try: “What’s something good that happened this weekend?”

Questions like that give people something real to respond to instead of an automatic one-word answer.

Get curious

Ask open-ended questions about challenges, goals or concerns on the farm before jumping straight to solutions.

Share appropriately

Small personal details can make conversations feel more human and less transactional.

Listen for understanding

Focus less on preparing the next response and more on understanding the producer’s perspective.

Reinforce strengths

Point out what is going well, not just what needs to improve.

None of those things require a dramatic personality change. But over time, they can help build trust — and trust is often what turns difficult conversations into productive ones.

The Human Side of Production Animal Medicine

Better communication will not solve every challenge facing veterinary medicine. It will not eliminate stress, staffing shortages, financial pressures or difficult cases. But when you spend much of the day working alone, stronger human connections can make difficult work feel less isolating and more purposeful.

In a profession built around problem-solving and animal care, feeling connected to the people involved in that work may shape well-being more than many veterinarians realize. The other humans you see during your day may matter more than you think.

The Veterinarian Who Wants Everyone at the Table

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:57:11 GMT

The air in the farm office is thick with the scent of antiseptic and damp earth. Outside on a folding plastic table, slippery, pink reproductive tracts are laid out like a strange anatomy lesson.

This isn’t the sterile, hurried vet visit most expect. There is no rush to finish, no ticking clock. Instead, a crowd gathers. Workers, owners and managers lean in, drawn by a curiosity that usually gets buried under the weight of a daily chore list.

Michelle Schack doesn’t start by lecturing; she starts by inviting.

“We did a little in-the-office training where we talked about why what we were doing was important, and then we went outside. I had repro tracts and their AI guns, and they practiced,” Schack recalls. “I had three repro tracts, and I cut one open for us to look at. I explained to them the structure of the cervix.”

In moments like this, the hierarchy of the farm dissolves. Schack isn’t positioned as the untouchable expert at the center of the room. She is a facilitator, a guide and — crucially — a student.

“They were so excited to do this, and they had a lot of questions, really good questions,” Schack says. “We were all talking together. We were sharing things. I learned things. The breeders learned things. The owner learned things. We all were learning together.”

(Photos provided by Michelle Schack)

The Silicon Valley Roots of a Cow Vet

Schack’s journey to the dairy barn began in an unlikely place: the Bay Area of California. Growing up in the Silicon Valley, her world was surrounded by tech companies and not a lot of agriculture.

Her first connection to animals wasn’t through livestock but rather through a suburban 4-H group where she raised nine guide dog puppies for the blind. It was here, starting in the second grade, that she inadvertently began training for her future career — not just in animal care but also in the art of public advocacy.

When she reached the University of California, Davis, for her undergraduate degree, she assumed being a small animal vet was the only path. But after shadowing a practitioner, she realized she felt restricted by the 15-minute appointment model and the sterile walls of a clinic. She began to look for something that allowed for more space, more complexity and a deeper connection to the food system.

“I started exploring — asking, ‘Well, what else is there?’ I realized that there were all different kinds of vets, and I could do all different kinds of things,” she recalls. “I really just kept coming back to the cows. The cows were my favorite the whole time.”

By her third year of veterinary school, her choice was clear, though she was in the extreme minority. Out of her graduating class of 140, there were four students who tracked food animal medicine.

The High Cost of the Telephone Game

This instinct to pull people toward the table comes from seeing what happens when communication breaks down. In the dairy industry, the real problem is often a lack of communication — a high-stakes game of telephone that breaks down as the message gets passed further along the line.

“I think very often we speak to the farmers and then the farmers speak to their employees. But along the way, some of the messages are lost, especially as our farms get bigger,” Schack explains.

She doesn’t see this as a lack of effort but rather as a reality of the grueling environment.

“The employee on the farm has a very challenging job. Typically it’s very repetitive, very physical, in all weather, and it’s very common for them to just get stuck in a routine,” Schack says.

When employees are stuck in a routine without understanding the biological “why” behind their tasks , the animals are the ones who pay the price. Her response is simple: Change how the message is shared. It has become one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

“When I get to work with the people and the owner and the manager, and I can see them all connect, that’s a day that I’m very excited for. That’s my favorite part of my job,” Schack explains.

(Photos provided by Michelle Schack)

The Missed Piece: Collaborative Medicine

This experience shaped a simple belief: A veterinarian who only talks to cows is only doing half the job. In Schack’s view, the vet is just one piece of a massive, integrated team.

“It is common for cattle veterinarians to show up, check cows and go home. When you don’t make the time for the rest of the team, then you’re going to get left out of certain conversations,” she notes. “Producers are working with a whole team of people. When we all work together, we can do so much more.”

She defines that team broadly, including the nutritionist, the slaughterhouse, the semen sales rep and even the person who installed the fans and misters. This teamwork requires a specific kind of humility: the ability to recognize that the person delivering 40 calves a day might know more than the person with the medical degree.

“There are maternity workers that have been working in maternity for 40 years, and all they do all day is deliver calves. They are experts, and to pretend that they aren’t or to overpower them is not smart. They know a lot, and we should be listening to what they have to say,” Schack says.

Starting Earlier: Bridging the ‘Milk Gap’

Schack’s passion for education eventually led her to look even further back in the chain of understanding: to the children in her own community. After visiting her children’s kindergarten class to talk about her job, she was struck by a profound realization.

“None of them knew how milk gets from the cow to the grocery store. They don’t understand that there’s processing,” she says. “I think most people think cows come in to get milked, it goes in a bottle and then goes to the grocery store. But there are so many steps in between, and I don’t think it’s shared very well.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dairy Vet Dr. Michelle (@dairy.doc)

She saw the same disconnect reflected in posts and comments on her social media, where she shares about dairy farming as the “ Dairy Doc .” Concerned that others were filling that knowledge gap with information that may not reflect reality, Schack decided to take action.

“I wrote a children’s book,” Schack says. “Kids are sponges, and they want to know the right answer. So, I wrote a book that’s specifically geared at their level that explains milk processing in a simple way so they can actually see what happens.”

The book, “Milk From Cow to Carton,” is set to release in June. She hopes to get it into the hands of teachers so they have a factual, accessible resource for their classrooms.

(Photos provided by Michelle Schack)

Building Something That Scales

When training demands began to outpace her schedule, Schack and her partners at her veterinary practice looked for a way to scale and maintain that connection.

“We started creating videos for our clients, and they were so well received that pretty soon we had the whole co-op interested in using our training,” she says.

These training videos eventually grew into DairyKind , a national training platform that fills the gaps in on-farm education. The platform offers modules on everything from special needs cow care to calf weaning, ensuring that the “why” is never lost in the shuffle of farm growth.

This work has clarified her own identity. For years, Schack thought her value was her knowledge of the animal. Now, she realizes her value is her ability to connect the people who care for them.

“I thought that I was an animal person. Over the years I’ve learned that I’m not really an animal person, I’m a people person,” she reflects. “My nature is to work with other people and that makes me happy.”

At the end of the day, the work still looks like that first moment in the farm office: a group of people gathered around a table. Schack is there, not just to provide the answers but also to ensure that everyone — from the veteran maternity worker to the kindergarten student — is part of the conversation.

She knows that if you want to improve outcomes for cows, you have to start with the people.

How to Manage Uterine and Rectal Prolapses in Cattle

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:49:27 GMT

Finding a cow with a prolapse is the kind of situation that raises urgency immediately. You call your veterinarian, but they may be 30 to 60 minutes away. What you do during that window can influence how straightforward the case will be once they arrive.

The goal is not to fix the prolapse yourself but rather to stabilize the situation and prevent it from getting worse. Erika Nagorske , a large-animal veterinarian with 4 Star Veterinary Service, shares the following advice for producers while they wait for their vet to arrive and address a prolapse.

Confine the Animal to Control Movement

The most important first step is containment. A prolapse becomes more difficult to manage when the animal is moving, circling or slipping. Movement increases contamination, swelling and the risk of further damage.

“Every situation’s different, but if her entire uterus is prolapsed after she’s calved, there are really big blood vessels attached to that,” Nagorske says. “If she’s running around like crazy and not confined, those blood vessels can tear.”

Keeping the animal calm and contained is the most effective way to protect both the tissue and the outcome.

Nagorske recommends, without working the animal too much, getting it in a small space or in the chute. Even a tight alley can work. The goal is to limit the animal’s ability to turn quickly or move excessively.

Good footing is also important, as slipping can worsen the situation quickly.

(Provided Photo)

Uterine Prolapse: Protect the Tissue

With a uterine prolapse, the focus is on protecting exposed tissue until the veterinarian arrives.

Keep the uterus as clean as possible and avoid unnecessary handling. If feasible, try to keep it off the ground using clean towels, plastic or bedding. Even small efforts to reduce contamination can make a difference.

Avoid repeatedly trying to reposition or push the uterus back in. That can increase irritation and swelling, making the veterinarian’s job more difficult.

Think of this stage as preservation; the less trauma and contamination, the better the chances of a smooth replacement.

Rectal Prolapse: Reduce Swelling Early

Rectal prolapses present a slightly different challenge. Swelling can increase quickly, which makes replacement more difficult over time.

“Throw table sugar on it to help it shrink up so by the time I get there, it’s not twice the size it was when you first called,” Nagorske says.

Applying granulated sugar directly to the prolapsed tissue helps draw out fluid and reduce swelling. This is a simple, safe step that can improve the likelihood of a successful correction.

As with uterine prolapses, avoid aggressive handling or repeated attempts to push the tissue back in.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Cattle Prolapses

In both situations, a few common missteps can make things worse:

Do not let the animal roam freely.
Do not repeatedly handle or push the tissue.
Do not delay calling the veterinarian.

Stabilize, Then Step Back

The time before the veterinarian arrives is about control, not correction. Keeping the animal contained, protecting exposed tissue and taking simple, targeted steps can make a significant difference in how the case progresses.

A calm, controlled approach sets the veterinarian up for success and gives the animal the best chance for a positive outcome.

Train for the Why: How Understanding Reduces Treatment Errors on Dairy Farms

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:37:19 GMT

Most dairy farms are training their teams.

They’re holding sessions, reviewing protocols and preparing for audits. On paper, the boxes are checked. On the ground, the same issues persist: missed steps, inconsistent execution, repeated corrective actions.

The problem isn’t a lack of training. It’s a lack of understanding.

“When timing is tight, which it usually is on a dairy farm, training becomes about getting through the steps of the job, not building understanding, and it often happens too late or too far apart to really stick,” says Michelle Schack , dairy cow veterinarian and founder of DairyKind , a training resource for dairies.

Across many operations, training is built around urgency. The audit is coming. The team needs a refresher. Protocols are reviewed quickly, often in a single session, with a focus on what to do and what not to do.

This approach creates a necessary foundation but also leaves a critical gap. Employees may know the steps, but they don’t always know why they’re being asked to perform them.

From Compliance to Understanding

“Dip the navel.”
“Don’t stress cows.”
“Give the shot here.”

These instructions are clear, repeatable and easy to audit. But without context, they are also easy to forget, misapply or ignore under pressure.

Training that focuses only on protocols asks employees to memorize. Training that includes the “why” asks them to understand.

“This isn’t a motivation problem. People generally want to do the right thing for the animals they are caring for. This is an understanding problem. We often assume knowledge that was never actually taught,” Schack explains.

When employees understand the biological or physiological reason behind a task, compliance becomes more consistent. Decision-making improves in situations that fall outside strict protocols. The work itself becomes more purposeful. Without that understanding, the same issues repeat.

The result is a cycle many veterinarians and producers recognize: retraining without resolution.

Where Training Breaks Down — and How to Fix It

The gap between protocol and understanding shows up in everyday tasks on dairy farms. In each case, the issue is not the protocol itself. It is what is missing behind it.

Here are some examples of everyday tasks performed on the farm, how they’re trained and improvements that could be made to the training to increase worker understanding and engagement.

Navel Dipping in Calves

Standard training: Dip the navel.
What’s missing: The umbilicus is a direct pathway into the calf’s body. Without proper disinfection, bacteria can enter and lead to systemic infection.
What changes when the “why” is explained: Employees recognize the procedure as a disease prevention step rather than a routine task and consistency improves.

If she happens to be performing a necropsy, Schack will show workers the internal structures to help them better understand why navels need to be dipped.

“You can tell someone to dip navels to prevent infection, but when they see for themselves that the navel connects directly to the liver, it changes how seriously they take that step,” she explains.

Broken Tails in Dairy Cattle

Standard training: Don’t pull tails.
What’s missing: The tail is an extension of the spine, made up of bones and joints. Excessive force can cause permanent injury.
Key issue: Many employees are unaware tails can be broken. Broken tails cannot be corrected after the fact. Prevention depends on handling practices.

“I’ve had conversations with employees that were using a calf’s tail to move the calf who were genuinely surprised to learn that tails can be broken. That moment of realization shifts how they handle calves and cows moving forward,” Schack says.

What changes when the “why” is explained: Handling behavior shifts because the risk becomes concrete rather than abstract.

Stockmanship and Milk Letdown

Standard training: Don’t stress the cows.
What’s missing: Stress activates physiological pathways that inhibit milk letdown. This slows milking and reduces parlor efficiency.
What changes when the “why” is explained: Calm handling becomes directly tied to workflow, time and performance in the parlor.

“Employees recognize that a cow that balks slows down the workflow, but they don’t always connect that to stress. When you make that link, animal well-being stops being abstract and starts being something that not only helps the cows but also makes their job easier,” Schack explains.

Injection Technique (SQ vs IM)

Standard training: Give the shot here.
What’s missing: Route of administration affects drug absorption, tissue damage and treatment effectiveness.
Key issue: Employees may not understand the difference between subcutaneous and intramuscular injections.
What changes when the “why” is explained: Accuracy improves, particularly in fast-paced situations where shortcuts are more likely.

“In a fast-paced environment, people default to what’s easiest, unless they understand why it matters. That’s what keeps accuracy from slipping,” Schack explains.

The Veterinarian’s Role in Making Training Stick

Veterinarians are positioned to translate biology into practical, actionable knowledge. Even short explanations can shift how employees approach routine tasks. However, training is not always viewed as part of the veterinary role. Time is limited. Priorities compete.

Producers also influence how training is delivered.

When farms involve veterinarians in training conversations, not just for protocols but for explanation, the information is more likely to be applied. The reasoning carries weight when it is grounded in biology and delivered by a trusted source.

For producers, that may mean asking a simple question during the next visit: Can you help explain the “why” behind this protocol to our team?

Even brief moments of explanation from a veterinarian during a routine visit can have lasting impact. When the biology is clear, the protocol becomes logical rather than arbitrary.

From One-Time Training to Continuous Learning

That shared effort between veterinarians and producers also requires rethinking when and how training happens. Training is often treated as a one-time event. In practice, it functions as an ongoing system.

One-time, in-person sessions cannot reach every employee.

“Between turnover, schedules and time constraints, there is no way one training reaches everyone, so it has to be something people can come back and build on,” Schack says.

No single format is sufficient on its own. In-person training creates engagement. Digital tools provide accessibility. Language accessibility ensures the message is understood. Repetition reinforces it over time.

Every training instance should include:
● What to do and what not to do (addressing common shortcuts/mistakes)
● Why it matters (biological/physiological context)
● What happens if it’s done incorrectly
● Instilling pride in the importance of this task or their job

“When training is consistent and covers why the work matters and the impact of getting it right or wrong, the work becomes something they take pride in, not just something they complete.” Schack says.

Training will always be part of dairy operations. If the goal is lasting change, it cannot stop at protocols.

Protocols create consistency. Understanding creates ownership.

More Than Medicine: How Relationships Fuel Dr. Erika Nagorske's Career

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:13:08 GMT

Dr. Erika Nagorske’s third baby was born with a head of very curly hair — a surprise, given that none of her other children had a single curl. To a stranger, it is a quirk of genetics. To one of her favorite clients, a producer named Keith, it is a badge of shared history.

When Nagorske was eight months pregnant, she and Keith were backing up a side-by-side in his barn. In the hustle of the day’s work, neither realized the garage door behind them was closed until they hit it with a significant, metal-jarring jolt. Keith was mortified, terrified for the pregnant veterinarian. Nagorske, however, just laughed it off.

“To this day, he’s like, ‘It’s my fault he has curly hair because I jostled him so bad when you were pregnant. I’ll never forgive myself’. We just laugh really, really hard about that,” Nagorske shares.

(Photos provided by Dr. Erika Nagorske)

It is these unplanned, profoundly human moments that keep Nagorske coming back to large animal veterinary medicine day after day. While the medicine is the technical engine of her career, the fuel is the people. In a field often defined by its physical demands and technical complexities, Nagorske has found the most vital tool in her kit isn’t a stethoscope or a thermometer — it’s the long-term trust built through repetition. For her, that depth of relationship is now central to how she defines her work.

“The part of that that I’ve surprisingly come to really love and enjoy is the relationships. Large animal is very different — you see these people every other week or sometimes every week, depending on the operation. So you really get to know them,” Nagorske says. “They know my kids’ names. I know their birthdays. I know when they have their 50^th wedding anniversary. I’m invited to the granddaughter’s wedding who was 10 when I started.”

That kind of connection doesn’t happen overnight. It is built slowly through repeated visits, routine herd work, and moments of urgency when things go wrong. Over time, familiarity turns into trust, and professional interactions begin to take on a more personal dimension.

From City Roots to Cattle Country

This deep connection was not always the expectation. Nagorske grew up in Madison, Wis., far from the day-to-day realities of production agriculture. Raised by a single mother alongside her older brother, her understanding of the world was suburban and city-centered. Like many veterinarians, she knew as early as six years old that she wanted to work with animals, but her understanding of the profession was shaped by what she could see around her.

“My understanding of a veterinarian was very much small animal focused,” Nagorske explains. “We had dogs, cats — she let me get all the hamsters and pocket pets, but I really just wanted a horse and a goat.”

Her early exposure to animals came through these pets and horseback riding camps, not through farms or livestock operations. There was no built-in familiarity with cattle and no lived experience with the systems that define production agriculture. In a world of large animal medicine where many practitioners are born into the lifestyle, this absence of background could have been a barrier. Instead, it became a starting point.

The turning point came not in a classroom, but in a clinic setting that exposed her to a different side of veterinary medicine. While shadowing at a local small animal clinic, she was encouraged to visit a mixed animal practice outside of Madison. There, Nagorske encountered veterinarians whose work extended far beyond the clinic walls. Their day did not revolve around scheduled appointments in exam rooms, but around responding to the needs of farms and producers in real time. This was her first exposure to cattle medicine.

“There were two veterinarians there that did mostly cattle work. And every time they walked in the door to grab supplies, I was like, ‘Where are you going?’ What are you doing?’ Because it just seemed so cool to get your stuff, go out on farm, help the animal and help the producer in an uncontrolled setting,” Nagorske explains.

That experience reframed what veterinary medicine could look like. The work was less predictable, more hands-on and closely tied to the realities of production systems. It introduced a level of complexity and independence that she found compelling.

(Photos provided by Dr. Erika Nagorske)

Learn by Doing

This initial interest quickly translated into action. During a winter break in college, Nagorske took a job on a dairy farm outside Madison. The work was physical, repetitive and unfamiliar. It required learning basic tasks from the ground up while adapting to the pace and expectations of a working operation.

“I started milking cows and feeding calves at a farm outside of Madison and absolutely fell in love with it. And then from there, it really just spiraled into any cattle thing I could get my hands on,” she says.

What began as a temporary job became a defining experience. It gave her the confidence to pursue more opportunities in cattle medicine and reinforced that this was not just an interest, but a viable career path. She eventually pursued the Veterinary Food Animal Scholars Track (VetFAST) at the University of Minnesota, an early-admit program designed to address the shortage of food animal veterinarians.

Entering the field without an agricultural background came with a learning curve that extended beyond technical skills. It involved a psychological hurdle: The fear of being seen as an outsider.

“When I first started, I was so scared to tell people that because I felt like it would just ruin any street cred I had (which was already nothing as a new grad). But now I love to shout that story from the rooftops. If there’s anyone out there that’s wondering if they could do it too, you totally can. You just need the right mentors,” Nagorske says.

Over time, that initial hesitation shifted into a different perspective. Instead of viewing her background as a limitation, she began to see the advantages it offered. Approaching operations without preconceived assumptions allowed her to evaluate problems based on what was in front of her, rather than how things had always been done.

“I think my background almost makes me more flexible. I don’t have any bad habits or preconceived bias to how things should be done, so I’m really able to look at something and decide what actually makes sense,” Nagorske says.

The Realities of Veterinary Practice

As she transitioned into practice — eventually moving to southwest Minnesota with her crop-farmer husband — Nagorske encountered challenges that extended beyond clinical decision-making. In a field that has historically been male-dominated, she often had to navigate the perceptions of those less accustomed to seeing women in large animal roles.

“I had comments about my fingernails being painted, what my husband thinks of my job. Just things that you would never get asked if you’re a man,” she says.

She recalls a moment at a chute when an older male veterinarian questioned if she could handle a thermometer with painted nails. These moments reflected broader perceptions within the field. While frustrating, they became part of the environment she learned to navigate.

“You’ve got to let it roll off your back, because regardless of sexist comments or not, there’s always going to be someone to say something about what you’re doing. Just keep doing your job,” Nagorske advises.

Consistency, competence and reliability ultimately shaped how she was perceived. Over time, those qualities carried more weight than initial assumptions. When she was physically struggling with pregnancy, the producers she served didn’t see her as a liability; they saw her as a partner. She recalls a moment when she was struggling to fix a prolapse while heavily pregnant, and a producer went into his house to bring out a pillow to slide under her belly to help her stay comfortable in the dirt. These acts of kindness proved she was no longer just ‘the vet’; she was an integrated part of their operation’s support network.

(Photos provided by Dr. Erika Nagorske)

Where the Work Becomes Personal

Large animal veterinary practice is built on repetition. Nagorske now spends much of her time consulting on dairy-beef crosses — calves she calls “little pipsqueaks” when they arrive at 250 lb. — and seeing them through until they are finished a year later.

That repetition creates familiarity, and familiarity builds trust. As relationships develop, interactions extend beyond individual cases. Conversations shift from strictly clinical to more personal, reflecting a shared investment in the long-term success of the operation. Nagorske’s role becomes integrated into that system. She is not only responding to problems as they arise, but contributing to ongoing management decisions.

In that context, the veterinarian becomes more than a service provider. These shared experiences, both routine and unexpected, contribute to the sense of connection that defines the role. They highlight a dynamic that is difficult to replicate in more transactional forms of practice.

Pass it Forward

That same emphasis on connection carries into how Nagorske approaches mentorship. She regularly brings veterinary students along on calls, acting as their personal paparazzi to capture photos of them getting bloody to send home to their families.

“I love having students ride with me,” she says. “They ask so many good questions … They’ll ask ‘Why did you do that?’ Instead of saying ‘Well, that’s how I’ve always done it’, it makes you walk back through your decision making and get down to the nitty gritty of the science and the medicine and explain it.”

Working with students reinforces the importance of staying engaged with both the practical and conceptual aspects of the job. One of her biggest priorities is helping students find what a professor at Minnesota called a “safe place to fail.” In a profession of Type A perfectionists, she believes having a support system that allows for mistakes is vital for mental health and growth.

Nagorske has also fostered a large social media presence , using her platform to teach both vet students and producers about the common and unique cases she comes across in the field.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dr. Erika Nagorske (@docnagorske)

A Career You Build Yourself

Nagorske’s path into large animal medicine developed through a series of experiences that gradually shaped her interests and priorities. It is a career built one relationship at a time.

“Veterinary medicine is so incredible because it totally is what you make it. There are so many opportunities out there,” she says. “If you just feel like something isn’t right, just change. You’re not a tree — you’re not stuck.”

That perspective reflects a broader understanding of the profession. Veterinary medicine offers a range of paths, and individual experiences can vary widely depending on the choices made along the way. In large animal practice, those choices often extend beyond clinical focus to include the type of relationships a veterinarian builds with the people they serve.

For Nagorske, those relationships are not secondary to the work. They are the work.

Genomics and the Evolving Role of the Bovine Veterinarian

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:41:40 GMT

Genomic testing is gaining traction in the beef industry, but for many producers, adoption still feels out of reach. The tools are available and the data is powerful, but the starting point is often unclear.

Increasingly, producers are looking to their veterinarians for guidance. The challenge is that many veterinarians are still defining what their role in genomics should look like.

Insights from Dr. Kirk Ramsey, professional services veterinarian, and Kelsey Luebbe, genomics technical services scientist, both with Neogen, highlight both the opportunity and the uncertainty shaping this shift.

An Expanding Role for a Trusted Voice

Producers have no shortage of information about genomics. Industry media, technical specialists and webinars all contribute to awareness, but when it comes time to make decisions, veterinarians remain a trusted source.

That trust is rooted less in genomics expertise and more in long-standing relationships and a deep understanding of herd performance. Veterinarians already play a central role in decision-making on many operations. Genomics is simply extending that role into new territory.

For many practitioners, genomics aligns closely with work they are already doing.

Veterinarians advise on heifer selection, evaluate bulls and track reproductive performance over time. They understand how cattle perform within a specific environment and how past decisions continue to influence current outcomes. This perspective is increasingly valuable as genomic data becomes part of the conversation.

“We have to be very diligent about looking for opportunities to expand our consulting realm because we have to maintain a capacity to provide value to our customers, especially as technology comes on and is moving forward,” Ramsey says.

Rather than focusing solely on treatment and prevention, veterinarians are being pulled into more strategic discussions, helping producers evaluate trade-offs and set long-term direction.

“We have to be on top of understanding what’s out there, understanding how we can provide value, and then at the same time, trying to be more than just the traditional veterinarian that we have always been. Maybe dive in a little bit more and leverage our capacity to understand the production systems and new technologies, helping our customers be progressive.” Ramsey adds.

This adjustment does not replace traditional services, but builds on them.

The Confidence Gap

Despite this opportunity, many veterinarians do not feel fully prepared to lead genomic discussions.

“As a veterinarian, I had no idea that my producers were looking to me for genetic advice. I knew they were looking to me for treatment advice, vaccination protocols or maybe even general production type questions, but I didn’t realize I actually had that much influence over whether they would even look in the genomic direction,” Ramsey says.

There is a growing awareness that expectations have changed, even if training has not fully kept pace.

“We don’t have a ton of training as veterinarians on genomics,” Ramsey begins. “It was a class we took at 6:30 a.m. back in undergrad, but I don’t feel like I learned a lot more in the DVM program.”

At the same time, industry organizations and companies are beginning to expand continuing education and develop resources to support veterinarians in this space.

The knowledge gap exists, but it is narrowing.

(Vernon Bewley - Neogen)

A Practical Entry Point

For veterinarians, stepping into genomics does not require mastering every detail of the technology. It starts with approaching it the same way they approach other herd-level decisions.

“If somebody comes and says, ‘Hey, I want to start testing,’ the first thing is to establish the goals. What are you trying to accomplish? Where are we headed? What are the things that we can help you identify? Where are the hurdles that you currently are facing and how can we help you move past them?” Ramsey says.

1. Start with herd goals, not genomic tests

Genomics is most useful when it is tied to a defined objective. Without that context, even strong data has limited value.

“Sometimes that conversation stalls because ‘What are your goals?’ is such a huge, open-ended question. So we reframe it: Where are you making money? Where are you losing money? Or, where does it really bother you that you’re losing money? That’s where we start,” Luebbe says.

Framing the conversation around economics makes it more actionable.

2. Use what you already know about the herd

Veterinarians bring years of observation and data to the table. Genomics adds another layer, helping explain patterns and refine decisions rather than replacing existing knowledge.

3. Lean on available resources

While genomics-specific training for veterinarians is still developing, practical information is available through industry partners, genomic companies and professional organizations.

4. Focus on interpretation, not promotion

The veterinarian’s value lies in helping producers understand and apply results, not in selling a specific test.

5. Integrate genomics into existing decision points

Genomics fits naturally into decisions already being made, including replacement selection, breeding strategies and long-term planning.

What Getting Started Looks Like for Producers

For producers, the biggest barrier to adoption is often uncertainty, not resistance.

A practical starting point is to focus on a defined group of animals tied to an immediate decision, such as replacement heifers. This allows genomic data to be applied directly without overcomplicating the process. Luebbe suggests making the process fun can be a good entry point.

“Test the animals that you’re arguing about with your brother,” Luebbe says. “Whether it’s the whole bunch, the bottom 50% or the top 25%. Do it so that you can gain some additional information to help you make better decisions.”

Optimally, testing should represent the whole group being evaluated rather than a small subset of top-performing animals, ensuring the results provide a meaningful picture.

Genomics works best alongside visual assessment and experience. It adds insight into differences that are not always visible but does not replace practical knowledge.

The Growing Intersection of Genetics and Health

While genomics has traditionally focused on production and maternal traits, its role is expanding into health.

“We’re starting to bring more health-driven traits to the table. Using genomics to understand the capacity of the immune system for the animal and their genetic risk of developing bovine respiratory disease or congestive heart failure. We’re starting to see this change in the industry and leveraging genomics to understand what health concerns our cattle might be having,” Ramsey says.

This shift strengthens the connection between genomics and veterinary expertise, creating new opportunities to improve herd resilience and reduce disease risk through selection. As these tools evolve, veterinarians will play a key role in helping producers interpret and apply this information effectively.

A Shift Already Underway

Genomics is no longer a future concept. It is a tool that is steadily becoming part of everyday decision making.

“Genomics will never replace a producer’s understanding of their cattle,” Ramsey says. “But what it can do is uncover that layer hidden underneath the skin and identify the genetic capacity that they’re actually bringing.”

For veterinarians, the shift is already happening. Producers are asking questions, expectations are evolving and data is becoming part of routine conversations. The opportunity is not to become an expert in every aspect of genomics, but to build on the role veterinarians already hold.

Getting started does not require having all the answers. It requires stepping into the conversation and helping move it forward.

How to Handle Uncomfortable Moments in Veterinary Practice

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:00:56 GMT

Veterinary medicine rarely unfolds exactly as planned. A routine appointment can suddenly feel tense, or a conversation with a client takes an unexpected turn. Walking back to the truck or the clinic, you may find yourself replaying an interaction and wondering what could have gone differently.

These moments are uncomfortable, but they are also common. While they may not feel productive as they’re happening, they can become some of the most valuable learning experiences in your career. Dr. Tera Barnhardt, a large animal veterinarian in Kansas, outlines how to navigate conflict and professional growth in veterinary medicine.

1. Recognize the Complexity of Veterinary Practice

Veterinary medicine operates in a high-stakes environment where medical uncertainty, emotions and financial considerations all intersect. Difficult moments do not always have a single cause. You spend years training to diagnose disease, but the human side involves expectations and time constraints that don’t always align neatly.

As Barnhardt explains: “Things get expensive very quickly. The stakes are high. Nobody really has everything under control or knows exactly what they’re doing all the time.”

Recognizing this shared uncertainty can help you approach difficult moments with much-needed perspective.

2. Pause Before Reacting to Conflict

When situations become uncomfortable, the instinct can be to move on quickly, dismiss the conflict or immediately defend a decision. However, taking a moment to pause can help keep the conversation constructive and prevent the interaction from escalating.

Barnhardt encourages colleagues to approach these situations with curiosity.

“I have to handle it with integrity and understanding. I have to come from a space where I want to learn more. I want to figure out why you’re mad,” she explains.

That pause allows for a shift in mindset. Instead of focusing on who was right or wrong, the question becomes what might be learned from the experience.

3. Focus on Understanding the Client’s Concern

Sometimes frustration stems from a misunderstanding, unmet expectations or fear about an animal’s outcome. Asking clarifying questions can help uncover what is actually driving the tension.

“If those people are mad and the reason is correct and real, that’s worth digging into. We’re not perfect. Sometimes there really is something we need to look at,” Barnhardt says.

Approaching the situation with that perspective allows you to examine whether something about the interaction could be handled differently in the future without assigning blame.

4. Acknowledge the Client’s Perspective

Even when there is disagreement, recognizing a client is worried or overwhelmed can help deescalate tension. In well-run practices with strong relationships, tension can still arise because every case involves more than medicine alone.

By meeting the client where they are emotionally, you keep the conversation productive. Barnhardt emphasizes the importance of this connection.

“Really be vulnerable with yourself about what went wrong. Why are they upset? Meet them in the middle,” she says.

5. Reflect on the Interaction Afterward

Once the moment has passed, taking time to think about what happened ensures the experience isn’t wasted. Was there a communication gap? Were expectations clear?

Self-reflection can be uncomfortable and requires asking difficult questions, but it is part of the ongoing process of becoming a more effective communicator.

“Be honest with yourself about what happened in those moments. That’s where the growth comes from,” Barnhardt says.

Small insights gained during a quiet moment of reflection can significantly improve future conversations and build deeper trust with the people you serve.

6. Use the Experience as a Learning Opportunity

Every veterinary career includes moments that feel frustrating — a difficult conversation, a misunderstanding or a case that doesn’t unfold as expected. However, these are the experiences that help veterinarians grow into the profession.

While uncomfortable moments rarely feel productive when they happen, they offer the most valuable insights into how communication, expectations and decision-making intersect in the real world. Over time, those reflections shape how you navigate the complexities of practice with confidence.

From Good to Best: Record Keeping That Actually Gets Used

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:15:12 GMT

Most farms are not short on data. They are short on recorded, usable data.

Some have spreadsheets, some use software, some have their treatment sheets printed. But unless the numbers are prioritized, cleaned up and reviewed, they rarely change management decisions.

As Bethany Dado-Senn, calf and heifer technical specialist with Vita Plus, puts it: “The cows don’t lie. They’re trying to tell us all the time what is going on. But if we don’t have any way to measure their outputs and the results, then we can’t do anything about it.”

The real challenge is not collecting everything, but collecting what matters and building a system veterinarians and producers can sustain together.

A practical framework helps: prioritize, essentialize and systemize.

1. Prioritize: Decide What Actually Matters

Before adding another metric or installing another program, start with focus.

“We need to start small. We need to identify what our top priority is to start,” says Kelly Sporer, farm data consultant with Cornerstone Ag Management. “We can’t look at everything and say ‘We’re just going to start, we’re going to dive in, we’re going to do it all.’”

Trying to track everything almost guarantees that nothing will be done well.

Instead, identify the two or three numbers that will move the herd forward right now. Those priorities will differ by farm.

“Everything that we do, we have to think about that customer, that relationship or that client, and what they’re trying to do and where they are now,” Dado-Senn says.

For example, a veterinarian might help a producer prioritize:

Fresh cow losses
Calf morbidity trends
Pregnancy rate
Early-lactation culling

The goal is focus, not complexity. Once priorities are clear, progress becomes measurable.

2. Essentialize: Remove What Gets in the Way

“A lot of the dairies we work with are not collecting completely comprehensive data,” Sporer says.

Even when farms try to track data, the system often breaks down. When records are entered inconsistently, the story they tell can be misleading.

Dado-Senn recalls once reviewing records that appeared to show catastrophic losses: “I’ll look back and it’ll look like we had a mass die-off one month, but it was really just the one month they finally cleaned their records up.”

Incomplete data makes analysis nearly impossible.

“If we have incomplete and inaccurate data, I can do a whole lot for you as far as data analysis, but we can’t do very much in ways of recommendations or changing anything in management,” Dado-Senn says.

And if the data is never reviewed with the intention of making changes, motivation disappears.

“If nobody is looking at it, that data is completely useless to the farm that’s spending valuable time collecting it,” Sporer says.

Essentializing can help with this by removing friction.

That might involve:

Standardizing health event terms
Assigning one person responsible for data entry
Recording events the day they happen
Simplifying treatment sheets
Reviewing numbers regularly with the herd team

The veterinarian plays an important role here, helping define case definitions, treatment thresholds and consistent terminology so the records reflect real clinical events.

3. Systemize: Move From Good to Better to Best

Record keeping does not need to be perfect. The key is building a system that improves over time.

“This is not about being super robust. It’s about starting somewhere,” Sporer reminds.

GOOD — The basics are written down

Deaths recorded somewhere
Pregnancy checks entered
Treatments written down

BETTER — Records become organized

Health events recorded consistently
Reasons for death or culling included
Data entered into herd software

BEST — Data drives decisions

Trends reviewed by age or stage of lactation
Protocol changes evaluated before and after
Health and reproduction trends analyzed over time

The goal is simple: When management changes, records help answer one question: Did it work?

That is when records stop being paperwork and start becoming management tools.

Importantly, not every farm needs to operate at “best” immediately. Progress from inconsistent notes to reliable digital entry is already a major improvement.

5 Record-Keeping Mistakes That Make Data Useless

Collecting data takes time. But when records are incomplete or inconsistent, the information becomes nearly impossible to use.

Recording data months later
Events should be recorded as close to real time as possible.
Using vague or inconsistent health terms
Different staff describing the same condition differently makes data nearly impossible to analyze.
Collecting data no one reviews
Review meetings reinforce why records matter.
Incomplete herd inventory
Animals still listed in the system long after leaving the herd distort nearly every performance report.
Trying to track everything at once
Strong record systems develop step by step.

Partnership Turns Numbers Into Action

Record keeping works best when it is collaborative.

“When everybody is working toward the same goal, which is the success of the farm, there’s no room for pointing fingers,” Dado-Senn says.

The veterinarian–producer partnership is central to building that culture.

Veterinarians translate trends into management insights. Producers provide the operational context that explains what is happening in the barn.

Together they decide what to track, how to track it and when to review it.

Without that collaboration, records sit unused. With it, they guide decisions from calf to cow.

When farms prioritize what matters, remove unnecessary barriers and build simple systems together, record keeping moves from good to better to best. That’s when the numbers start working for the herd.

Low-Stress Handling Isn’t Just for Livestock

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:59:40 GMT

We spend years learning how to move cattle properly.

We study flight zones. We talk about pressure and release. We redesign facilities so animals can flow instead of fight. We debate crowd tubs like they’re moral issues.

Then we walk into the clinic and bark at a technician before coffee.

Ashley Nicholls, founder of Reach Agriculture Strategies, has a way of making a room laugh before he makes it uncomfortable. When speaking on low-stress handling, he starts in familiar territory: prey behavior, blind spots, comfort zones. But he doesn’t stay there.

“We understand [cattle] are prey animals,” Nicholls says. “They have blind spots. They have a flight zone. They hide pain. And their priority is survival.”

Then he pivots.

“Employees. Team members. Colleagues. They have blind spots. They have a flight zone. They hide pain. And at the end of the day, their priority is survival — it’s just workplace survival,” he says.

The room got a little bit quieter after that.

Flight Zones Aren’t Just Physical

In livestock handling, we read the pen before we apply pressure. We look for heads up, animals bunching, tension in the group. We understand what looks calm may only be a snapshot.

Nicholls reminds us this is the same with people: we may only ever get a snapshot. We don’t see what’s happening off screen — exhaustion, financial stress, family strain, imposter syndrome. Yet we respond as if the visible moment is the whole story.

Even simple gestures can make a big difference.

“Something as simple as starting with ‘good morning’ just opens a channel of communication,” he says.

In barns, we know better than to storm in loudly. The same applies for spaces with coworkers.

Communication: It’s Not the Words

Nicholls references the 55-38-7 rule of communication: 55% body language, 38% tone and pitch and 7% actual words.

“In other words, 93% of what we’re doing is completely non-verbal,” he explains.

This is an important consideration. You can ask a perfectly reasonable question and still raise the stress in a room if your arms are crossed, your voice is clipped, you’re standing too close or you’re not making eye contact. The words may be neutral, but it’s all in the delivery.

Nicholls points out cattle feel pressure long before they process anything else. Humans do, too. We scan posture, pace and tone for signals of safety.

“If I climb over the fence and I land in the pen and I’m big and loud,” he says, “All of a sudden the cattle are holding up on the backside of the pen — I probably did that.”

If the room feels tense, it’s worth assessing the energy you brought in with you.

Pressure and Release

Low-stress handling depends on timing. Apply pressure, get movement. Release pressure, allow the animal to settle. Teams are no different.

Nichols demonstrates this with a deceptively simple exercise: A group is asked to lower a lightweight pole to the ground while each person keeps two fingers supporting it. What should be easy becomes surprisingly difficult. The harder individuals try to correct it on their own touch, the higher the pole floats.

When communication is inconsistent or unclear, people push against each other instead of working together. Pressure escalates, frustration builds and the task stalls.

In livestock handling, we’d change our angle or soften the cue. In workplaces, we tend to repeat ourselves louder.

Are You Crowding the Tub?

Nicholls calls the crowd tub “the most poorly named piece of equipment in beef.”

The mistake? We crowd it.

Cattle need room to circle back toward the exit. If you pack the tub tight, they can’t move their feet. They can’t think. They lock up.

“If we take away their ability to make decisions, they also don’t have the ability to improve,” Nicholls explains.

Micromanagement works the same way.

Hover long enough and people stop taking initiative. Correct every move and they stop experimenting. Remove decision-making and growth stalls.

In livestock systems, we intentionally design spaces that allow movement. In workplaces, we sometimes build invisible walls.

Space to Mess Up

Nicholls is blunt about this part. Teams need space to mess up — and space to fix it.

Agriculture often sends mixed signals. We say we want initiative. We say we want ownership. Then we add, “Check with me first.”

He jokes about “seagull leaders” — the ones who hover overhead, swoop in to criticize or “steal your chips,” then disappear.

That approach creates anxiety, not development.

In ranching, you set the gate before you ride out. You create the conditions for success before you ask for performance. The same principle applies to onboarding staff, explaining expectations and clarifying the why.

Clarity reduces stress, autonomy builds confidence and release allows learning.

Low Stress Shouldn’t Stop at the Gate

Low-stress livestock handling changed how we think about welfare and productivity. It works because it respects biology and behavior. It acknowledges that fear blocks learning and pressure without relief creates chaos.

Humans operate under the same principles.

The uncomfortable question Nichols leaves behind is simple: if we’re willing to treat livestock with patience, intentional movement and respect for their stress thresholds, why wouldn’t we treat our teams the same way?

Low-stress handling shouldn’t stop at the gate.

Building Influence on a Farm As a Veterinarian

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:11:20 GMT

Veterinarians are trained to diagnose quickly and recommend confidently. Producers, however, are not wired to accept change simply because it is correct. According to Dr. Mark Hilton, beef cow-calf consulting veterinarian, influence on a farm is rarely about having the best answer. It is about how you guide someone to it.

Buy-in does not begin with the recommendation. It begins with the conversation.

Start With Questions, Not Solutions

Hilton admits the instinct to fix is strong.

“When I have a producer ask me a question, the chances that he or she has given me enough information to answer that question adequately are almost zero,” he says. “The key is to ask more open-ended questions.”

That restraint does not come naturally to most veterinarians. The training pushes toward efficiency: identify the problem, choose the protocol and move on. But Hilton has learned speed can undermine influence.

Instead of reacting immediately, he deliberately slows the interaction with open-ended prompts:

Tell me about the health program.
Tell me about the nutrition.
Tell me about the records.

He listens longer than feels comfortable. He allows silence and resists the urge to interrupt.

Why? Because, as he explains: “When you ask an open-ended question, generally, people lead with the stuff that’s the most important to them.”

That first answer often reveals the true issue — or at least the producer’s perception of it. Their perception is important. If a veterinarian addresses a problem the producer does not believe exists, the recommendation will stall.

The goal of the first phase of conversation is not correction. It is clarity.

Get 3 “Yes” Answers

Once the problem is better defined, Hilton begins building agreement. He poses three questions. For example:

Is this frustrating?
Has this been costing you money?
Would you like to see it improve?

“All those questions, the owner is going to answer with the word ‘yes.’ When somebody answers two or three questions in a row with the answer ‘yes,’ research shows that person’s brain is more open to a new idea,” Hilton says.

He does not frame this as manipulation. He frames it as sequencing.

If a veterinarian walks onto a farm and says: “You need to change this,” the producer’s reflex may be to defend the current system. Pride, habit and sunk cost all push toward resistance.

But if the conversation starts with alignment, by the third yes, the producer is no longer protecting the status quo. They are acknowledging dissatisfaction and the emotional tone shifts from defense to possibility.

Only then does Hilton advise to introduce an alternative so the change feels connected to a goal they already agreed upon.

Make It Feel Like Theirs

Hilton’s most direct observation may also be his most practical:

“If it’s your idea, it’s not a great idea. But if it’s their idea, it’s a really good idea.”

Producers operate in environments where independence matters. Many have built systems over decades, and recommendations that sound like criticism can quickly harden into resistance.

To help illustrate this, Hilton described a situation he experienced with a feedlot client.

The producer routinely purchased high-risk calves from multiple sources at local sale barns. The first year Hilton worked with the operation, the 350-calf group required repeated treatment for bovine respiratory disease.

Hilton could have focused on adjusting drug protocols or metaphylaxis timing. Instead, he steered the discussion upstream.

Was the treatment volume frustrating? Yes.
Was it expensive? Yes.
Did the producer want a different outcome? Yes.

After building that agreement, Hilton made his position clear. He would stay involved only if the producer purchased preconditioned calves from a single source.

The next year, the producer bought 350 preconditioned calves from one ranch.

How many required treatment for pneumonia? Two.

The medical tools had not changed dramatically. What changed was alignment around the source of risk.

The producer paid more up front, but he made more money in the end. That shift happened because the idea felt like the logical extension of a problem he already acknowledged.

Rather than declaring: “Your purchasing strategy is creating disease pressure,” Hilton constructed a trail of questions allowing the producer to see the insight as their own.

A solution that feels discovered is far more likely to be implemented than one that feels assigned. From the outside, it can look tactical. In reality, it is conversational discipline.

Influence Is Built on Trust

Structured questions and sequential agreement can sound calculated. Hilton does not deny the strategy, but he is clear about the motivation behind it.

“I want to do everything I can to build that trust between myself and the owner so that I can help the animal,” he says.

The communication style is rooted in respect. It protects the producer’s dignity and invites participation rather than compliance.

“At the end of the day, that’s my goal. Help the animal, help the herd, help the financial. Whatever. I want to be a helper,” Hilton says.

That clarity shapes how he speaks. The veterinarian is not trying to win a debate, they’re trying to move an operation forward.

Influence Happens Before the Recommendation

Technical knowledge earns a seat at the table, but communication determines whether anyone listens. The veterinarian who jumps straight to the answer may be correct, but ignored. The veterinarian who slows down, asks better questions and builds agreement step by step is far more likely to see meaningful change.

Buy-in does not happen in a single bold directive. It builds through curiosity, affirmation and shared goals.

Three “yes” responses. A reframed problem. An idea that feels like theirs.

The smartest recommendation fails without buy-in.

How Vet Visits and Biosecurity Shape Producers’ Views on Disease Preparedness

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:45:58 GMT

When it comes to animal health, what beef producers believe about disease risk can shape what they do about prevention. A recent study by Dr. Csaba Varga and his colleagues at the University of Illinois explored what influences how beef cattle producers in Illinois think about biosecurity, prevention and the threat of foreign animal diseases (FADs). The findings point to a simple, but powerful, truth: meaningful engagement with veterinarians and structured biosecurity evaluations can dramatically improve producer outlooks on disease preparedness.

The Survey

Between June and August 2022, researchers surveyed more than 500 beef producers across Illinois. They wanted to know how producers viewed disease prevention and the risk of FADs, and what factors might shape those views.

The team focused on three things:

Whether the farm had a biosecurity evaluation
Whether a veterinarian visited the farm
Whether the producer was willing to invest money in prevention measures

These factors were then compared to producers’ attitudes about disease risk and preparedness.

While the majority of respondents recognized infectious diseases could threaten their operations, attitudes toward the likelihood of an outbreak and the value of prevention varied widely.

Veterinarians Make a Clear Difference

The results showed producers who had regular veterinary visits were far more likely to think positively about disease prevention and awareness. That means simply having a vet stop by, even for routine herd checks, can strengthen a producer’s understanding of disease risk and increase confidence in prevention measures.

For veterinarians, this highlights the value of staying engaged with beef clients — not just for treatments or emergencies, but as trusted advisers on herd health and biosecurity. Every visit is a chance to start a conversation on prevention.

“Veterinarians should engage in proactive, ongoing communication with producers about the importance of biosecurity and disease prevention strategies,” Varga encourages. “Emphasizing the potential negative economic and herd health consequences of an FAD outbreak is also important to show producers the long-term benefits of investing in prevention measures. Biosecurity assessments and educating producers on how to assess their farm’s biosecurity vulnerabilities and recommend specific actions to address these gaps are also important, which were associated with better preparedness in our study.”

The Power of Biosecurity Evaluations

The same was true for producers who had a formal biosecurity evaluation. These producers were more likely to see prevention as worthwhile and to feel ready for a potential disease outbreak.

Biosecurity reviews help turn vague ideas into practical action. They pinpoint areas that need improvement, like managing visitors, animal movement, or feed deliveries, and make prevention feel achievable — rather than overwhelming.

For vets, helping producers complete or interpret these evaluations can be a simple way to boost awareness and strengthen farm-level protection.

Willingness to Invest Reflects Awareness

Producers who said they were willing to spend more money on prevention, whether through new equipment, facility upgrades or herd health programs, also tended to have stronger positive views on disease preparedness. Those same producers were also more likely to believe FAD outbreaks could happen in the U.S.. Awareness of risk seems to motivate action.

This suggests that honest, evidence-based conversations about disease threats can encourage producers to invest in prevention. When the risk feels real and relevant, preparation feels worthwhile.

Practical Takeaways for Vets and Producers

The message from this study is straightforward: regular veterinary engagement and structured biosecurity evaluations work. They improve understanding, confidence and readiness across beef operations.

For veterinarians and industry educators, practical steps could include:

Adding quick biosecurity check-ins to routine herd visits
Encouraging producers to join state or industry biosecurity programs
Showing how prevention pays off by reducing the cost and stress of disease events
Using real examples of outbreaks to make the importance of preparedness clear

Even small efforts can have lasting impacts when they come from a trusted voice.

While this study focused on Illinois, the lessons apply anywhere beef cattle are raised. With foreign animal diseases, such as lumpy skin disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza , posing threats, preparedness is a shared responsibility.

The more producers understand about prevention, and the more veterinarians engage them in those conversations, the stronger the industry becomes. Varga’s team has also developed an educational website where producers can access information on disease prevention, biosecurity best practices and FAD risks.

“Disease prevention is a shared responsibility,” Varga says. “For veterinarians, it means taking a proactive role in engaging producers through regular farm visits, biosecurity evaluations and education on emerging disease risks. For producers, it means recognizing that investing in prevention — whether through improved biosecurity, veterinary partnerships, or ongoing education — is more cost-effective than responding to an outbreak after it occurs.”

Ultimately, prevention isn’t just about protecting a single herd. It’s about building resilience across the entire beef community. That starts with everyday conversations between producers and vets.

Communication, Trust and Teamwork: What Strengthens Vet-Producer Relationships

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:48:02 GMT

Both the beef and dairy industry continue to evolve under the pressure of rising costs, emerging disease threats and increasing public scrutiny of animal welfare. In this environment, the veterinarian’s role is shifting. No longer seen solely as an emergency responder, many producers view their veterinarians as strategic partners who help shape the long-term success of their operations.

During the American Association of Veterinary Practitioners meeting in Omaha, Neb., beef producer Lydia Grant spoke on what producers value most with their veterinary partners and what veterinarians can do to better meet expectations. Her information was based on a survey fielded to 20 producers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lydia Grant (@lydiagrant_whiteoakfarms)

Communication as a Foundation

Producers consistently emphasize the importance of effective communication. They want veterinarians who are approachable, respond quickly and show genuine empathy for both cattle and the people who care for them.

“What does effective communication look like to your producer? Approachability,” Grant says. “We as producers want to feel comfortable asking questions — even the silly ones.”

A vet who listens carefully, adjusts their communication style to match the producer’s preferences and follows up after visits signals respect and builds confidence. Good communication isn’t just about delivering technical information, it’s about building a relationship of trust.

Building Trust Beyond Emergencies

Trust develops when veterinarians are present not only during crises, but also during the farm’s long-term planning. Producers want their vets to know their operation — its management style, constraints and goals — so advice is grounded in reality.

“In the survey, one producer mentioned the best thing their veterinarian ever did was take a tour of their operation to better understand their values and goals. This is taking those relationships to partnerships,” Grant says. “You’re setting aside time to look deeper into what your producer wants to focus on.”

Grant also emphasizes some producers may not know the extent to which their veterinarian can help.

“I remember the first time my vet reached out and asked to put together a yearly vaccine plan,” she recalls. “I didn’t know that was an option. I didn’t know they would be willing to sit down and write out a plan for every group of animals. Do your clients know you’re willing to do that?”

When vets are seen as partners, rather than service providers, producers are more likely to bring them into conversations early — before issues escalate.

Teaching as a Part of Service

Another consistent message from producers is the desire for veterinarians to teach. While producers value veterinary expertise, they also want to develop their own skills so they can handle smaller health concerns and recognize problems before they become major losses.

“Taking the time to help teach the basics to your producers helps with your time and our costs. Simple tasks, such as treating pink eye and draining and treating an abscess, are basic cattleman-type care,” Grant says.

Education doesn’t always require formal training; short conversations during herd checks, on-farm demonstrations or simple printed guides all strengthen the knowledge base of the operation and reduce long-term costs.

Be a Producer’s First Call

Grant highlights several concrete steps veterinarians could take to strengthen their relationships with producers and become the first call in any situation:

Know the operation and the people. Learn each farm’s unique goals, challenges and decision making processes. Make your advice personal.
Be available when it matters. Producers need reliability, not just in emergencies, but also for routine questions and decisions that prevent future problems.
Discuss economics openly. Frame recommendations in terms of cost, alternatives and return on investment to help producers balance herd health and profitability.
Offer preventative strategies. Go beyond treatment by helping producers establish proactive herd health plans, including vaccination, nutrition and biosecurity.
Listen first. Producers know their cattle. Respecting their observations and incorporating them into veterinary decision-making ensures practical solutions.

Strong vet-producer relationships improve herd health and profitability. When communication is open and veterinarians are seen as partners, problems are caught earlier and preventative strategies are more likely to be adopted.

Grant proposes these thought-provoking questions for bovine practitioners: “Are you the reactive veterinarian or the proactive? Planning, prevention and long term herd health are priorities. Are you building relationships? Are they turning into partnerships? Are you the emergency call or a valuable asset to the operation, a vital part of the team contributing to the overall success and sustainability of the herd?”

Successful collaboration doesn’t just improve outcomes for individual farms; it strengthens the resilience of the entire beef and dairy industries.

Your Next Read: Generic vs. Pioneer Drugs for Cattle: Should You Care?

Your Veterinarian: A Critical Partner for Success

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:24:16 GMT

When it comes to livestock production — whether beef, dairy or swine — a knowledgeable large-animal veterinarian is a critical resource for producers.

The veterinarian’s duties have grown through the years from emergency calls and service to now include consultation and planning to improve cattle and dairy herds as well as swine operations.

Craig Bieber of Bieber Red Angus in Leola, S.D., says working with a vet is essential to his herd’s success.

“I don’t know how people do it without a relationship with their vet,” Bieber says. “A good working relationship is so important. As producers, we can’t be on top of every animal disease or problem there is.”

Bieber says he is lucky to have a comprehensive clinic with five veterinarians near his ranch. He meets with his team of veterinarians three or four times per year to discuss health strategies.

“Our diversified livestock operation uses a team of veterinarians for the health and well-being of our cattle, swine and sheep plus our livestock guardian dogs and family pets,” says Sarah Jones of Red Hill Farms in Lafayette, Tenn.

The Jones family works with its primary veterinarian, Roger Thomas of Thomas & England Veterinary Services in Smiths Grove, Ky.

“Dr. Thomas is essential to our operation,” Jones says. “Without our team of veterinarians, we couldn’t provide the very best care for our livestock. Dr. Thomas is our first call for issues we are not comfortable treating without consultation. Our operation also uses additional veterinarians for pregnancy ultrasound, cattle embryo transfer, sheep artificial insemination, sheep embryo transfer and swine consulting.”

In an unscientific survey, Drovers asked its Facebook followers, “How important is your veterinarian to the success of your operation?”

One follower wrote, “Essential. Having our veterinarian of a little over 40 years, we have created herd health programs for pre-breeding and pre-calving, as well as vaccination programs for calves at birth and weaning. We review these programs every year.”

Another said, “Our vet from Vale Veterinary Clinic is key to the success of our program through integrated research and herd health management our vet is priceless!”

Unfortunately, a few respondents noted they don’t have a close large-animal veterinarian near them or that they must take individual animals to an equine veterinarian for consultation, affirming the need for more large animal vets.

(Farm Journal)

The evolving role of dairy veterinarians

Traditionally seen as the guardians of animal health, focused primarily on treating sick individual animals, today’s dairy veterinarians are expanding their roles.

Scott Bohnert of Bohnert Jerseys in East Moline, Ill., exemplifies the modern dairy farmer’s reliance on veterinary expertise. At his dairy, home to 700 Jersey cows and an equal number of replacements, Bohnert leans heavily on his long-time veterinarian, Ryan Schaefer of Blue Grass, Iowa. Their working partnership of more than 15 years highlights the evolving importance of veterinarians in dairy.

Schaefer collaborates closely with Bohnert, conducting routine herd health and pregnancy checks twice a month — but their relationship goes far beyond basic animal care.

With a deep understanding of the dairy industry’s challenges, Schaefer consults closely with Bohnert on various critical topics. This trusted advice plays a pivotal role in helping Bohnert and his team drive their dairy operation forward.

“Ryan and I work very well together,” Bohnert says, acknowledging how Schaefer’s insights into disease prevention, vaccine management and industry trends keep his farm thriving in a competitive market.

This collaboration reflects a broader trend in agriculture where veterinarians serve as essential consultants instead of just animal doctors. Their role extends to strategic decision-making, helping farms navigate through diverse challenges like disease outbreaks, regulatory changes and economic pressures.

Swine veterinarian’s critical role

The swine producer and veterinarian relationship is critical in managing health issues in the swine herd.

“I can’t overstate how important our farm’s relationship is with our veterinarian,” says Mike Paustian, a swine producer from Wolcott, Iowa. “We treat that relationship as one of the key parts of our team that we’ve assembled to help advise our farm.”

Paustian, who is contact with his veterinarian every week, challenges the misconception that veterinary involvement is costly.

“I don’t see how you’re going to get a bigger bang for your buck than getting a veterinarian who knows your herd, to provide input into issues you’re having,” he says.

Paustian says he also appreciates a veterinarian who approaches work with a sense of curiosity and a desire to understand things better, which aligns with his own approach to constantly seek improvement.

Ben Barcovtch, a pig farmer from Berwick, Pa., says a strong veterinarian relationship is essential to the success of his pork operation.

“They support proactive herd health, help improve productivity, strengthen biosecurity and provide expert guidance during health challenges,” Barcovtch says. “The vet practice I work with is a key partner in maintaining animal well-being and our overall profitability.”

The veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is the basis for interaction among veterinarians, their clients and their patients, and it is critical to the health of animals.

“Our VCPR is a partnership that allows more proactive and long-term strategies instead of just responding to needs as they arise,” says Rob Brenneman, owner of Brenneman Pork in Washington, Iowa. “This allows both parties to focus on preventative care, optimized service offerings focused on system health and stability.”

Thank you

April 26 is World Veterinary Day . Observed annually on the last Saturday of April, the day aims to celebrate the contributions of veterinarians to the health of animals, people and the environment. “Animal health takes a team,” is this year’s theme and summarizes the collaboration between veterinarians and beef, dairy and swine producers.

“I believe that sincerely communicating appreciation is one of the most important things farmers and ranchers can do for their veterinarians,” says Jones of Red Hill Farms.

Veterinarians are considered trusted advisers with an integral role in the livestock industry. A recent survey released by Boehringer Ingelheim shows 94% of animal owners appreciate the work of veterinarians, compared to only 49% of veterinary professionals feeling who think the profession is appreciated.

The survey is part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s “Going Beyond” campaign, which seeks to spotlight aspects of veterinary work that too often remain unseen and underrecognized.

In support of World Veterinary Day, the “Going Beyond” campaign also released a video asking animal owners to guess what type of professional meets the description of a range of compelling job responsibilities and characteristics.

Your Next Read: Prevent Grass Tetany with These Essential Management Tips