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This month we are testing out a new type of episode where we will sit down with a veterinarian and one of their exceptional producers to dig into how their relationship benefits the livestock they care for. Our first guests are Dr. Linda Detwiler and her veterinarian, Dr. Jon Higgins from New Jersey. Linda raises Suffolk sheep for breeding stock and is also a veterinarian working on the USDA APHIS scrapie program. She targets her breeding program to produce sheep that will perform well for owners who are new to sheep production as well as research groups who are studying scrapie management. Dr. Higgins highlights Linda's willingness to call for help early and her meticulous animal care records as two of the many reasons that she is such an exceptional producer to work with. Despite being a licensed veterinarian who works with sheep frequently in a regulatory capacity, Linda finds Dr. Higgins' expertise as a practitioner to be invaluable, especially his interest in staying up-to-date on the cutting edge treatment and preventative recommendations for her animals. She also cites her strict biosecurity practices and solid nutrition plan as keys to her success in over 20 years of raising Suffolk sheep.

Resources discussed in this episode:

American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners - Veterinarians and vet students join today!

https://aasrp.org/Main/Main/Membership/Join-AASRP.aspx?hkey=6878474f-d347-4a79-bdbe-5a1896781821

American Association of Bovine Practitioners - Veterinarians & vet students join today! https://www.aabp.org/dues/

AASRP Biosecurity toolkit: https://aasrp.org/Main/Main/Resources/AASRP-Biosecurity-Tool-Kit-Resources.aspx?hkey=63a00c1e-31c3-4b94-b5c4-8050b9e7b6dd

AABP Podcast - Have You Herd? https://www.buzzsprout.com/814177/

The American Sheep Industry Research Update Podcast with Dr. Robert VanSaun: https://soundcloud.com/user-637754734

If you or your organization would like to sponsor an episode of Baas and Bleats, please contact office@aasrp.org to learn more.

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Join us for a discussion about doe and kid survival metrics based on different sedation and anesthesia protocols with Dr. George Elane, Assistant Professor of Equine Soft Tissue Surgery at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

In this episode, Dr. Elane discusses the decision-making process for choosing between sedation and general anesthesia for goat c-sections. He also covers the risks and benefits to does and kids when considering both options. Other topics discussed include analgesia protocol options and post-operative antibiotic selection.

More information about Dr. Elane's work can be found here: https://vetmed.tamu.edu/elane-lab/team/

The article discussed in today's episode is titled "Sedated cesarean sections are associated with increased kid survival compared to general anesthesia in goats: retrospective cohort of 45 cases (2011–2021)" and can be found here: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/261/3/javma.22.10.0466.xml

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email Office@AASRP.org

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Join us for a discussion about options for euthanasia techniques and aftercare in small ruminants and other livestock species with Dr. Warren Hess, the assistant director of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)'s Division of Animal and Public Health and AVMA's Disaster Coordinator.

In this episode, Dr. Hess discusses the results of a survey investigating veterinary knowledge surrounding safe carcass disposal after pentobarbital euthanasia. Dr. Hess highlights the concerns regarding pentobarbital use in livestock as it severely limits the disposal options that clients have. Animals that are euthanized using this very commonly used substance may not be used for rendering and burial may result in contamination of groundwater with this toxic compound. The AVMA and AASRP are working to expand veterinarians' understanding of alternative humane euthanasia techniques including gunshot or captive bolt (followed by secondary method) or magnesium sulfate injection. While intrathecal lidocane injection is not currently an approved method of euthanasia by AVMA, it is becoming more widely practiced by equine and food animal practitioners.

The publication describing the survey which is the focus of today's episode can be found here:

https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/261/11/javma.23.03.0161.xml

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email Office@AASRP.org