A qualitative study exploring the perceived effects of veterinarians' mental health on provision of care.

Introduction: Veterinary medicine is a rewarding, yet demanding profession with a myriad of occupational stressors that can impact the mental health of veterinarians. Stress, mental health outcomes, and associated risk factors amongst veterinarians have been well-researched. Much less research has investigated how high stress and/or poor mental health can impact veterinarians' provision of care.

Validation of a Novel Ultrasound Simulation Model for Teaching Foundation-Level Ultrasonography Skills to Veterinary Students.

Veterinary ultrasonography is a complex, advanced skill requiring repetitive exposure and supervision to gain competence. Consequently, newly graduated veterinarians are underprepared and lack the resources to achieve basic ultrasound proficiency upon graduation. Ultrasound simulation has been proposed as an adjunct educational tool for teaching entry-level ultrasound skills to student veterinarians.

Comparison of food-animal veterinarians' and producers' perceptions of producer-centered communication following on-farm interactions.

Background: Human medicine has demonstrated that a patient-centered physician-patient relationship is more effective than the traditional physician-centered model. Objectives were to explore food-animal veterinarians' and producers' perceptions of producer-centered communication (VPPC and PPPC), during on-farm interactions and examine associated factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of food-animal veterinarians and their clients were recruited in Ontario, Canada.

Factors associated with food-animal producer visit-specific satisfaction following on-farm interaction with a veterinarian.

Background: Effective communication has been found to have positive associations with client satisfaction, client adherence and veterinarian satisfaction in companion animal medicine. Better understanding the role of communication on these outcomes, specifically producer satisfaction, is likely to benefit food-animal medicine. Objectives were to identify factors associated with producer visit-specific satisfaction following on-farm veterinarian-producer interactions and evaluate the validity of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire for use in food-animal medicine.

Effects of and on Daily Milk Production in Dairy Cows on Commercial Smallholder Farms in Kenya.

There is a growing interest in protein supplementation of dairy-cow diets using leguminous shrubs. The study objective was to ascertain the association between diet supplementation with and and milk production in dairy cattle on commercial smallholder farms. This trial involved 235 cows from 80 smallholder dairy farms in Kenya randomly allocated to 4 intervention groups: (1) receiving and and nutritional advice; (2) receiving reproductive medicines and advice; (3) receiving both group 1 and 2 interventions; and (4) receiving neither intervention.

Effects of Calliandra and Sesbania supplementation on weight gain in dairy calves on smallholder farms in Kenya.

The growth rate of female calves on dairy farms is one of the crucial factors which influence age at first calving, affecting lifetime lactation productivity of a dairy cow. Diets with adequate crude protein are necessary to support calf growth. The study objective was to determine the effects of nutritional advice and diet supplementation with Calliandra calothyrsus and Sesbania sesban on average daily weight gain in dairy calves on semi-commercial smallholder dairy farms in Kenya.

Evaluation of the Precision Xtra meter for monitoring blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in late-gestation ewes.

Blood samples were collected from late-gestation ewes to determine the agreement of a point-of-care (POC) Precision Xtra meter and a standard laboratory test for β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA). Fresh whole blood samples were immediately tested with the POC instrument, and serum samples were analyzed with a standard commercial biochemical analyzer. Ewes were classified as having ketonemia if their BHBA concentrations were ≥800 µmol/L.

Animal and management factors associated with weight gain in dairy calves and heifers on smallholder dairy farms in Kenya.

Calf growth is an important determinant of dairy herd productivity, particularly in countries where the dairy industry is expanding, such as Kenya. Our objective was to determine factors associated with weight gain in randomly selected dairy calves and heifers in smallholder dairy farms (SDF) in Kenya. A cross-sectional study on a census of 321 calves and heifers (dairy calves and heifers up to 36 months of age), sampled from 200 randomly selected SDF in Naari, Kenya, formed the study population.

The association of serum β-hydroxybutyrate concentration with fetal number and health indicators in late-gestation ewes in commercial meat flocks in Prince Edward Island.

Late-gestation ewes are susceptible to ketonemia resulting from high energy requirement for fetal growth during the last few weeks of pregnancy. High lamb mortality is a possible consequence of effects of ketonemia on both ewes and lambs. Determining risk factors to ketonemia is a fundamental step to identify ewes at risk, in order to avoid losses caused by ketonemia.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidia, Eimeria, Giardia, and Strongyloides in pre-weaned calves on smallholder dairy farms in Mukurwe-ini district, Kenya.

Aim: Gastrointestinal diseases are among the leading causes of calf morbidity and mortality in Kenya and elsewhere. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidia, Eimeria, Giardia, and Strongyloides in calves on smallholder dairy farms (SDF) in Mukurwe-ini District, Nyeri County, Kenya. These infections have been associated with economic losses by decreased growth rates, decreased productivity, and increased susceptibility to other diseases.

Randomized controlled trial on impacts of dairy meal feeding interventions on early lactation milk production in smallholder dairy farms of Central Kenya.

There is limited field-based research and recommendations on the effect of cattle feeding management practices on smallholder dairy farms (SDF) for the growing dairy industry in Kenya. This controlled trial aimed to determine the effect of feeding locally produced dairy meal (DM) on early lactation daily milk production (DMP) on Kenyan SDF, controlling for other factors associated with DMP. Privately owned, recently calved cows (n=111) were randomly assigned to one of three groups of feeding recommendations for DM (meeting predicted DM requirements by: (1) 100%; (2) 50%; or (3) feeding by the farmer's discretion).

Relationships between equine airway reactivity measured by flowmetric plethysmography and specific indicators of airway inflammation in horses with suspected inflammatory airway disease.

Reasons For Performing Study: Agreement between airway reactivity measured by flowmetric plethysmography and histamine bronchoprovocation, and lower airway inflammation measured by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology, has not been studied in horses with suspected inflammatory airway disease (IAD).

Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that airway reactivity is associated with BAL cytology in horses presenting for unexplained poor performance and/or chronic cough.

Study Design: Prospective clinical study.

Associations of farm management practices with annual milk sales on smallholder dairy farms in Kenya.

Aim: Cows on smallholder dairy farms (SDF) in developing countries such as Kenya typically produce volumes of milk that are well below their genetic potential. An epidemiological study was conducted to determine reasons for this low milk production, including limited use of best management practices, such as suboptimal nutritional management.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study of 111 SDF was performed in Nyeri County, Kenya in June of 2013 determining the effect of cow factors, farmer demographics and farm management practices on the volume of milk sold per cow per year (kg milk sold/cow).

Effects of selenium source on measures of selenium status and immune function in horses.

The effects of selenium (Se) supplementation and source on equine immune function have not been extensively studied. This study examined the effects of oral Se supplementation and Se source on aspects of innate and adaptive immunity in horses. Fifteen horses were assigned to 1 of 3 groups (5 horses/group): control, inorganic Se (sodium selenite), organic Se (Se yeast).

Bulk tank milk selenium and its association with milk production parameters in Canadian dairy herds.

An observational study was conducted in 63 Canadian dairy farms to evaluate the association of bulk tank milk selenium (Se) concentration (BTSe) with average daily milk yield, milk fat and milk protein, bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC), and the probability of being a Staphylococcus aureus-positive herd. Bulk tank milk samples collected between March 2007 and February 2008 were evaluated for BTSCC, S. aureus culture status, and BTSe.

Management, productivity and livelihood effects on Kenyan smallholder dairy farms from interventions addressing animal health and nutrition and milk quality.

We aimed to describe the management and productivity of this group of smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya at the beginning of an intervention program and to document relevant observed changes in the 3rd year of the intervention. A 3-year intervention program, focused on management of animal health and nutrition, and milk quality, was implemented by one Kenyan and two Canadian non-governmental organizations (one university based) to help improve the milk production and livelihoods of Kenyan smallholder dairy farmers (primarily women). Thirty farmers were enrolled and completed questionnaires at the start and end of the project.

The selenium and vitamin E status of horses in Prince Edward Island.

Serum selenium (Se), vitamin E, and resting thyroid hormone concentrations were measured in 201 horses in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Selenium concentrations were either marginal (0.0053 to 0.

Milk selenium concentration and its association with udder health in Atlantic Canadian dairy herds.

Soils and plants in Atlantic Canadian provinces are known to contain low concentrations of selenium (Se). Earlier studies have indicated that dairy producers in Atlantic Canada are providing insufficient supplementary Se in the ration to meet the Se requirements of dairy cattle, as measured by herd-level milk Se concentration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between milk Se concentration and somatic cell count (SCC) and the risk of new intramammary infection (IMI) in the dry period, in Atlantic Canadian dairy cows.

The effect of selenium supplementation before calving on early-lactation udder health in pastured dairy heifers.

Selenium (Se) deficiency has been associated with lowered resistance to mastitis in dairy cattle. However, little published data exists on the effect of Se supplementation before calving on udder health of pastured dairy heifers. Further, the relative efficacy of injectable barium selenate and oral organic Se for improving udder health in cows has not previously been tested.

The association between bulk tank milk analysis for raw milk quality and on-farm management practices.

Our objective was to determine the risk factors associated with bacteriological quality of bulk tank milk. Bulk tank milk samples were collected from all Prince Edward Island dairy herds (n=235) from March 2005 to March 2007. Biweekly total bacterial, preliminary incubation, laboratory pasteurization, and coliform counts were conducted using a Petrifilm culture system.

Barium selenate supplementation and its effect on intramammary infection in pasture-based dairy cows.

A significant proportion of cattle receive inadequate dietary Se because of its low content in soils and pastures of various regions of the world. Several economically important diseases in dairy cows, such as mastitis, have been associated with Se deficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single injection of a long-acting form of Se at drying off on the risk and incidence rate of new intramammary infections and on milk somatic cell count in the subsequent lactation in pasture-based dairy cows.

The effect of age on the immune response of horses to vaccination.

Few studies have investigated immunosenescence in the horse, but it is accepted that the primary and secondary (anamnestic) immune responses may differ between aged and younger horses. The aim of the present study was to determine whether aged horses have a protective immune response post-vaccination. Thirty-four aged healthy horses (> or =20 years) and 29 younger adult horses (4-12 years) of various breeds were vaccinated with commercially produced killed rabies and influenza vaccines.