Baa's and Bleat's - The AASRP Podcast

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This month we sat down with Dr. Isabelle Louge - Assistant Clinical Professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Dr. Louge discusses work from her residency at Cornell University where she investigated the efficacy of FAMACHA scoring to assess parasite burden in small ruminants. 
To find the peer reviewed paper discussed in today's episode, follow this link: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/264/3/javma.25.07.0510.xml
Learn more about Dr. Isabelle Louge and with questions about the contents of today's episode: https://vet.tufts.edu/people/faculty/isabelle-louge
To find an AASRP member near you, visit the AASRP "Find A Small Ruminant Veterinarian" page: https://www.aasrp.org/Main/Main/About/Find-A-Small-Ruminant-Veterinarian.aspx?hkey=e59ebdd0-6d57-493b-9ae2-e838323b9a38
If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email [email protected]

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This month, we sat down with Jessica Starcevich – a passionate entomologist and Chief Science Officer at Spalding Labs – to discuss Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biological fly control methods for sheep and goats. Jessica provides details about effective fly control methods for ruminant operations’ unique needs. She also dives into the science behind Fly Predators - beneficial insects that kill flies before they hatch - and provides resources to understand which fly control methods will be most effective for your farm's unique needs.
Learn more about biological fly control and Spalding Labs Fly Predators here:
https://info.spalding-labs.com

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This month we sat down with Dr. Emma Borkowski - Assistant Professor of Pathology at Ontario Veterinary College - to discuss her work surrounding parasite management in sheep and goats. Dr. Borkowski discusses a project that was funded by AASRP to help evaluate efficacy of various methods of storing fecal samples before analysis for fecal egg counting. She also shares insights that she has gained through her research on resistance and resilience to parasites along with future directions for her research.
Learn more about Dr. Borokowski's work here: https://ovc.uoguelph.ca/pathobiology/people/faculty/emma-borkowski/
Learn more about the AASRP research grant application process here: https://www.aasrp.org/Main/Main/Research/AASRP-Research-Grant.aspx?hkey=546d2e15-f2cd-4ce8-a837-a16cfd4f3790
To find an AASRP member near you, visit the AASRP "Find A Small Ruminant Veterinarian" page: https://www.aasrp.org/Main/Main/About/Find-A-Small-Ruminant-Veterinarian.aspx?hkey=e59ebdd0-6d57-493b-9ae2-e838323b9a38

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email [email protected]

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This month we sat down with Dr. Rosemary Sifford - Deputy Administrator and Chief Veterinary Officer for USDA-APHIS to discuss a zoonotic health threat that is creeping closer to the United States: New World Screwworm. Dr. Sifford explains what New World Screwworm is, why it is a threat to US livestock, and what veterinarians should do if they suspect they are dealing with an infected animal. Veterinarians play a key role in surveillance for diseases such as NWS and early reporting is imperative. 
*Note: There are no known cases of NWS in livestock in the US as of the publication of this podcast.*
To learn more about New World Screwworm, visit the USDA-APHIS website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm
For updates on the current outbreak in Mexico and Central America, visit the USDA website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm/outbreak-central-america
For veterinarians who need help identifying their State Animal Health Official, visit the US Animal Health Association website: https://usaha.org/saho/
To review the USDA fact sheet on NWS for veterinarians, follow this link: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/factsheet-nws-private-veterinarians.pdf
To complete the NWS module for veterinarians, visit the NAVP Training Module website and complete Module 41: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/nvap/training-modules#:~:text=Module%2041:%20New%20World%20Screwworm,not%20play%20on%20mobile%20devices
To watch the USDA webinar on NWS for veterinarians and animal health officials, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxPTfFPxlIk
For insights on treatment options (not prevention) visit the FDA website: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/new-world-screwworm-information-veterinarians

If your company or organization would like to sponsor an episode or if you have questions about today's show, please email [email protected]

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This month we sit down with Richard Marlar, a physician and president of the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association to talk about heritage livestock breeds - specifically the Navajo-Churro - which have been integral to the settlement and development of the US. Richard also discusses Split Upper Eyelid Disorder (SUED), a developmental disorder that affects four-horned sheep such as the Navajo-Churro. Dr. Marlar explains how he and his wife worked with their veterinarian as well as human physicians to develop a hypothesis about the cause of this disease based on similar diseases that affect humans. This collaboration also helped the Marlars devise a prevention plan by improving their animals' nutrition, especially around breeding and during gestation which has eliminated the incidence of SUED in their flock. Richard provides unique insight for producers and veterinarians about collaborating across medical specialties to develop hypotheses and carryout their own mini-research trials to address challenges that they face within their operation and beyond. This episode highlights the importance of a One Health approach to veterinary challenges and the important role that a veterinarian can play in advocating for their clients through collaboration with university connections, extension programs, and human medical experts when novel challenges are identified. 
Resources discussed in this episode:
American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners - Find a small ruminant veterinarian: https://aasrp.org/Main/Main/About/Find-A-Small-Ruminant-Veterinarian.aspx?hkey=e59ebdd0-6d57-493b-9ae2-e838323b9a38
The Livestock Conservancy: https://livestockconservancy.org/
Shave 'Em to Save 'Em: https://livestockconservancy.org/get-involved/shave-em-to-save-em/
Navajo-Churro Sheep Association: https://www.navajo-churrosheep.com/?doing_wp_cron=1757476384.7682878971099853515625
To access Dr. Marlar's article on his experiences with SUED email: [email protected]