Herd Health

Veterinarian visits cost money.  Now its not as expensive for a vet to work on a cow as it is a dog or cat.  While vet costs have gone up, they have not kept pace with human health costs.  Nevertheless, vet costs can be avoided if not now then in the future.

You can do-it-yourself.  In fact, there is much that you should do for yourself.  Cattle should be vaccinated for the diseases to which they will be exposed.  This includes what young calves will encounter as well as their mothers.  Typically, two types are given: clostridials and those related to pneumonia.  Heifers are vaccinated for brucelosis.  Ted Turner's buffaloes were infected with this one..  Only vets may innoculate for brucelosis.

You might even learn to do those things that are associated with pregnancy.  You could learn to preg check for yourself, but in my home state only vets are allowed to diagnose pregnancy.  It involves inserting your hand rectally and palpating the cervix and uterus from the rectum.  A similar maneuver is required for artificial insemination.

Cows will have trouble giving birth, including:

• calves too big for the birth canal
• one front leg slightly back (hold up your hand but leave your elbow at your side to get the idea)
• one or both front legs all the way bac
• head turned back
• reverse (hind legs first)
• breach (butt first).

I'm sure anybody can learn to handle the first three, but the last two must be quick since the umbilical cord will be torn before the head gets to open air.  The fourth one can mean you stick your arm in all the way to the shoulder in order to get the head out.  If the calf is way too big, then Caesarian is called for.  Let the vet handle it.

Birthing complications are inevitable, but they can be minimized by selection of cow and bull.  When we first got started our calves averaged 90 pounds at birth.  Then I started emphasizing the lower birth weight EPD, and now our average is 75 pounds.  In twelve years:

• I averaged helping 3 births per year (100+ cow herd)
• One Caesarian
• Two uterine prolapses
• One vaginal prolapse
• Vet helped on three calf births.

This is because I cut back on calf birth weight by genetic selection.

One practice that I developed was to sell cows and heifer calves after weaning that got sick.  The fact that they got sick is an indication that there was some problem with the cow that prevented her from being productive in my pastures or with what I fed them in the winter.  Many cattlemen spend time doctoring calves in the spring, and the antibiotics are not cheap.  In my case, I keep the antibiotics on hand just in case, but the bottles usually expire before they are used.  In the last 8 years I have bought two bottles of penicillin and two bottles of a more stringent antibiotic.  All four bottles expired.  Every time you doctor a calf you place yourself at risk with the mother's protective instincts.

Engineering managers must perform similar kinds of functions for their organizations.  Like machinery, they require preventative maintenance.  This can take many forms, but may include continuing education, celebration upon achieving some significant milestone, or involving some in a team sport (golf, softball, basketball, volleyball).  Perhaps the best is complementing individuals for well done aspects of their assignments.  Criticism rarely works positive, long term results.  You must find some genuine aspect for which to complement each individual.  Not only is this preventative maintenance, but its also performance enhancement.

You will have corrective maintenance.  Some people will not succeed with some aspect of your program.  It will pay you to find a place in which they can excel.  It may be a different role in your organization.  It may be outside of your organization.  When the situation allows, then take the time to find the right kind of place for them.  It may be that the work you have simply does not challenge them.  Don't put it off.  It will pay dividends even years later.  Termination should be the last alternative for an under-performing individual.