February 2016
Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®
 
For your dairy...
 
REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES CAN BOOST a dairy's annual
monetary genetic gain. Investigating 72 different breeding schemes, researchers from Denmark and Austria found that partnering genomic selection of females with use of reproductive technologies increases annual monetary genetic gain more than a reference scheme without genomic selection in females. Their study also showed favorable interaction affects between the components of the breeder's equation-selection intensity, selection accuracy, generation interval-for the bull dam donor path, leading to higher annual monetary genetic gain. The researchers concluded, "For the major part of the investigated donor schemes, the investment in reproductive technologies is profitable in dairy cattle populations, even at high levels of costs for reproductive technologies." READ MORE.


Inflammation Negatively Impacts Reproduction. Researchers in Germany have found that cervical inflammation occurs independently of endometritis and is associated with poorer reproductive performance. While their work shows that days to first service were not affected by cervical inflammation, results did show that total conception and pregnancy rates decreased in cows with severe cervical inflammation. Number of days open in animals with cervical inflammation-but without endometritis tended to be lower than in cows with cervical inflammation plus endometritis (P=0.092). The number of days open relative to percentage of neutrophils (white blood cells) ≥ 5% was lower when the cervical mucus compared to the uterine mucus was affected (P< 0.05). Total conception and pregnancy rates of animals 200 days in milk decreased significantly in cows with severe cervical inflammation.   READ MORE. 
 
    
YOU MAY WANT TO THINK AGAIN ABOUT BANDAGING/WRAPPING A HOOF LESION or applying a topical med to treat lameness. A survey conducted by dairy cattle welfare expert Jan Shearer, DVM, Iowa State, found that 59% of veterinarians and 53% of hoof trimmers use topical medications on claw lesions.  Use of a bandage or wrap on claw lesions was a routine procedure for 53% of both veterinarians and hoof trimmers. "Of interest is that none of these treatment procedures are supported by information from the literature," Shearer states. "On the contrary, there are no scientific studies documenting a benefit or detriment, for that matter, for topical treatment. Based upon a Cornell study by White et al, bandages are unlikely to provide benefit and may even delay healing of claw lesions."  READ MORE.

 
NOT ALL ANIMALS THAT TEST POSITIVE FOR JOHNE'S DISEASE will have long-term production losses. That's the word from a group of U.S. researchers studying the effect of Mycobacteriumavium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection status and progression path on milk production. While the researchers found that low- and high-path animals produced more milk before their first positive test than always negative animals, especially high-path animals, low-path animals were shown to recover some productivity. High-path animals, however, continued to exhibit a decrease in milk production, especially after their first high-positive fecal culture. Milk production decreased significantly with each additional positive test. The researchers concluded, "Ultimately, production loss appeared to be a function of MAP infection progression." You can learn more about this study and its results online in the February 2016 issue of Journal of Dairy Science. READ MORE.


For your business mind...
 
WANT TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS and have valuable connections? Then belong to at least three business organizations, advises Curtis Picard, a leading business expert. Picard's choice of three business organizations include your local Chamber of Commerce or downtown business association, your specific industry trade association and a statewide association "because most legislation happens at state level, and you need eyes and ears looking out for your business."


ACTIONS AND BEHAVIORS, NOT A "SPECIFIC LOOK," define  the challenging passive-aggressive employee. Passive-aggressive employees can't be placed into one box. Instead, they come in various types: the backstage bellyacher, the perplexed pretender, the counter compliant, etc. Nicholas Phillips, CEO and president of HR Department Unlimited, points out that "dealing with passive negative expressions is possible through a deliberate and per-thought-out approach, non-aggressive counter actions, conscious and prudent resolve - and with a little patience." To address each category of passive-aggressive behaviors and improve workplace dynamics, Phillips offers these tips. READ MORE.
 

BECOME THE MASTER OF YOUR OWN TIME, rather than being pulled in multiple directions and being constantly interrupted. Franchise Performance Group's Jow Mathews, Don Debort and Deb Percival offer these tips for better managing your time: 1) Take five minutes before a call, addressing a worker and preforming a task to decide what result you want to attain.  Mathews, Debolt and Percival say, "This will help you know what success looks like before you start. And, it will also slow time down. "Another five minutes should be taken after the event to determine whether your desired result was achieved. If not, ask yourself, "What was missing? How do I put what's missing into my next call or activity?" 2) Practice not answering the phone just because it's ringing and e-mails just because they show up. Disconnect instant messaging. Don't instantly give people your attention unless it's absolutely crucial in your business to offer an immediate human response. Instead, schedule a time to answer email and return phone calls. But answer that email and return phone calls in a timely manner.  READ MORE.
 

12% SPIKE VS. 10% DROP IN PRODUCTIVITY. Financial incentives may not be enough to make for highly productive employees. Research by economists at the University of Warwick found that happiness led to a 12% spike in productivity while unhappy workers proved 10% less productive. "We find that human happiness has large and positive casual effects on productivity," notes Professor Andrew Oswald, one of the three researchers. Oswald adds the companies that invest in employee support and satisfaction tend to succeed in generating happier workers. One way to invest in employee support-and show that  you believe in them-is to send them to industry workshops and conferences.   READ MORE. 
 

YOU CAN SPEAK WITH POWER AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE and be engaging when you relax and speak from the heart. Anett Grant, president of Executive Speaking Inc., offers these five tips so you can demonstrate the power of your thinking during that sudden phone call, an unexpected meeting or other occasion when you have no time to prepare: 1) Give yourself a structure to start with.   Grant says, "One way to ensure a strong start is to incorporate the questions you're asked into the beginning of your answers. For example, if someone asks a 'Why?' question, start off by saying, "One of the reasons why is. . ."  2) Have a story or two in your back pocket, as a story can add clarity and color. 3) Don't try to be profound. Grant says a person can "advance a conversation merely by providing your perspective." 4) Make eye contact and maintain it. That doesn't mean stare. It's okay to look down intermittently. 5) Know you won't be perfect. Research shows a mistake in conversation occurs every 4.6 seconds. When you catch yourself saying something incorrect or you wish you had not said, apologize or simply correct yourself. READ MORE.
 

LOAD YOUR GROCERY CART with these 10 items if you want to boost your immune system. While the
calendar shows winter will soon turn to spring, winter colds and flu still lurk. Health writer James Schend and Peggy Pletcher, MS, RD, LD, CDE, urge individuals to "plan your meals to include the following 10 powerful immune system boosters and you may increase your family's chances of fending off those winter bugs before they get anyone sick." The 10 immune-booster foods include: 1) Citrus, as Vitamin C "is thought to increase the production of white bloods cells, and these are key to fighting infections"; 2) Red bell peppers, which is packed with Vitamin C; 3) Broccoli, that is packed with vitamins A, C and E, plus numerous antioxidants; 4) Garlic, whose immune-boosting properties come from a heavy concentration of sulfur-containing compounds; 5) Ginger, which can help prevent a cold from taking hold in the first place; 6) Spinach, rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants; 7 ) Yogurt, particularly the ones that have "live and active cultures" and are fortified with Vitamin D; 8) Almonds, packed with Vitamin E; 9) Tumeric, its high concentrations of curcumin help reduce inflammation and fever; and 10) Green tea, possesses levels of epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, another powerful antioxidant. READ MORE. 
 

Book Review

9 Elements of Family Business Success: A Proven Formula for Improving Leadership & Relationships in Family Business. Author Allan Fishman, founder and CEO of his family business, The Alternative Board, the world's largest business peer board and coaching franchise system, addresses the unique challenges of balancing familial and business roles that every family business faces at some time or another. While Fishman notes that family business relationships can be enriching, he adds that challenges can be awkward and difficult to manage. His book provides solutions to the problems unique to a family-run business and includes a handy checklist to ensure all angles are covered. You'll read detailed case studies of specific challenges faced by real family business owners and employees and how the owner or employee identified the problem and the steps taken to solve the problem. Topics covered include how to avoid family relationship tension regarding compensation, ensuring good results-drive family communication and dynamics, maintaining healthy spousal relations when you work together, recruiting and retaining non-family member employees and more.


 
Opportunities to learn...
 
2016 PDPW Business Conference: 48, 6, 23, 15, 3 AND 200-PLUS. These numbers weren't just pulled out of a hat. They reflect the 2016 PDPW Business Conference, March 16-17, 2016 in Madison, Wis. We welcome 48 speakers and panelists, six dynamic keynote speakers, 23 breakout and specialty sessions 15 learning lounge sessions, three hands-on learning labs and more than 200 companies showcasing products, services and new ideas in the Hall of Ideas and Equipment Show. 

 

Only the PDPW Business Conference gives you such a diverse, vigorous and inspiring group of nationally-recognized speakers, session topics and business partners who can't wait to help you, your employees, and your business succeed. READ MORE. 


ACE
ENGAGE. LEARN. KEEP RURAL AMERICA VIBRANT. I f  you're a  community leader, an elected official, work in conservation, raise livestock or simply want a stronger rural America, then attend one of two Agricultural Community Engagement (ACE) Regional Meetings: Tuesday, Feb. 16, Holiday Inn Eau Claire South, Eau Claire, Wis., or Wednesday, Feb. 17, Kalahari Resort, Suite H, Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Both meetings start at 9 a.m. and will conclude at 3:45 p.m. A joint effort of the Wisconsin Towns Association, the Wisconsin Counties Association and PDPW, these ACE Regional Meetings are where healthy discussions occur and where everyone learns from each other. Walk-ins are welcome but pre-registration helps us plan. To pre-register, call the Wisconsin Towns Association today: (715) 526-3157.   READ MORE.


NO FOOLING: WE WANT YOUR TEENAGERS FOR A WEEKEND. The  PDPW Youth Leadership Derby®, "Dive-in, Dissect and Discover Dairy," April 16-17, Brillion High School, Brillion, Wis. This hands-on learning experience, which includes an overnight lock-in, is for youth ages 15 to 18 years old, whom want excitement and fun, while exploring future career opportunities in agriculture. We're talking hands-on labs, interactive learning sessions, world-class featured speakers and a place to connect with like-minded peers from both rural and urban communities. The program begins Saturday, April 16 and ends mid-day on Sunday, April 17. If you know a high school student that has a passion for the dairy industry or who wants to learn more about career opportunities in the dairy industry, share the 2016 Youth Leadership Derby. Better yet: sponsor a student or send your son, daughter, niece, nephew, cousin, neighbor, or friend's child. READ MORE.
 

LEARN FROM THREE EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED FEED EXPERTS: J ohn Kappelman, Dr. Mike Hutjens and Dr. Randy Shaver during the March, April and May World Class Webinars. The 3-part webinar series for this spring, "Feed Quality to Ensure Production," will offer solutions and resources to best manage your feed supply in 2016. The first session, Wednesday, March 23: "Implementing Feed Strategies," will be led by former dairy farmer, John Kappelman. Wednesday, April 20, "Feed Additives on Tight Margins," will be led by Dr. Hutjens and Wednesday, May 18, "Managing Your Feed Inventories," will be led by Dr. Shaver. Each webinar will be presented live from noon to 1 p.m. CST, with fully recorded version available to those who pre-register. Don't forget the discount for registering for all three webinars. READ MORE.
 
A BIG Thank You...   
 
TO OUR PDPW SPONSORS who  support continuous improvement for the dairy industr y. T hey believe in producer leadership and place a high value on lifelong  education for those involved in the dairy industry. We deeply respect their commitment to PDPW and the members we have the honor to serve. It is by this partnership that we c ontinu e to build a strong industry filled with capable professionals. Click  HERE  to see a list of our sponsors. If you interact with any of these companies, please thank them for supporting PDPW! If you or a company you know is interested in participating as a sponsor, please contact our team member at [email protected] or call 800-947-7379.