Assistant Herd Manager Position

ASSISTANT HERD MANAGER (AHR)- YELLOW SPRINGS FARM --JOB DESCRIPTION:

AHR is the key position on the Farm for maintaining herd health and superior milk quality and production levels. In addition, AHR manages the part-time and volunteer helpers who assist with these tasks.

Good communication and recordkeeping skills are important. AHR must work both alone and with a team with similar ease of mind and productivity. Managing  work time and keeping expenses low are both important in day-to day practices, as YSF has finite resources.

AHR needs to see and think about  the Farm as a whole unit, and make plans and decisions that will benefit  quality of experience for Farm guest, cheese customers, nursery customers,  and overall Farm business profitability y and sustainability.

Weekly meetings about  near-term  and longer-term  goals, schedules, and plans are desired, but not always possible Meetings will happen no less than monthly.

Daily care for YSF goats—qty 25-30.  Feed, water, 2x per day; muck daily with evening touch-ups;  bed with straw and use lime for odor control.  Scrub water buckets as needed.  Keep area near gates dry. Do no dump water in traffic areas or on grass.

Daily cleanup of manure around hay racks, near driveway gate, and around trailer.

Daily manure pickup in driveway crossing and milk yard—inbox and outbox- except for major holiday or heavy rain days.

Changes fly traps in season. Cobweb barns regularly. Maintain fans or heat lamps , according to the  season.

Daily care for dry goats at Hollow Rd. Feed, water , muck, clean around hay racks. Cobweb and scrub buckets, as needed. Monitor fences and gates—repair as needed.  Medicate as needed for worms;  trim feet as needed.

Occasional visits to other sites where YSF goats are boarded—TBD to monitor health and status.

Milk 2x/day March- Nov, and 1x/day mid- Nov-Dec. AHR does at least  6 milk shifts per week, and assigns other milk shifts to part-time help. AHR supervises this performance, attendance and milk  quality of the milk helpers via direct training and supervision, and communication via phone, email , notes, etc. Perform doe-by-doe milk test for lab samples and measure volume three times/yr—late April/June/Sept.

AHR manages vaccinations and deworming for the herd and keeps accurate, timely written records of all such treatment. Where milkers are concerned, extra management of milk withdrawal periods is required when medication of any kind is given.

AHR performs CMT test on any doe with high Somatic cell count, or other questionable udder health.

AHR manages and provides herd supplements such as electrolytes, glucosamine, liquid calcium, probiotics, free choice minerals, and kelp, as needed.

AHR trims feet of all goats every 4-5 weeks, or as needed. Some goats require more frequent trimming. This is the time to check eye color for parasite management, and also trim udder hair on milkers.

Order grain, hay, straw,  lime, etc., as needed, and/or visit Ludwigs Hardware, Tractor Supply etc; and group items for online ordering  via text or email A YSF  business Mastercard is provided to AHR for this purpose.

Pickup hay and/or straw at local farms, as needed, with horse trailer. Monitor maintenance of trailer

Drive manure trailer to Charlestown Farm to dump every 7-10 days; plan ahead for wet/ bad weather; monitor maintenance of dump trailer.

Maintain buckets, gates, rails, lights,  etc.  Make minor repairs , as needed. Replace small items, as needed. Report larger maintenance issues.

Maintain supplies in feed room and hay room in clean, orderly way. Label all storage bins and unmarked containers. Note any items that are missing or broken. Bring trash up to garage daily, or as needed.

Overall Cleaning in  milk room – such  as walls, shelves, etc at least once per week. Also, dissemble inflations buckets, vacuum lines,  and all small parts for special cleaning at least once per week.

Assist with Farm sales events such as occasional Farmers Market off-site, PR event such as Earth day, and Open Farm Days at YSF in May , Sept, and December.

Assist with kidding—we will have about 30 goats kid between about March 1 and  April 1. Kid care includes bottle feeding,  weaning, feet trimming, etc.

Assist with breeding  Oct 1 thru Dec 22 or so each Fall. Keep  careful records of matings, dates, and monitor buck health carefully.

Coordinate visits with veterinarian, as needed with Catherine and Al/ Contact Vet directly.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOURS and SCHEDULE: AHR works  5-1/2 days per week during most of the year. During kidding season 6-7 day weeks are often required, and some overnight stays at YSF are necessary.  One or two  5-day weeks per month are scheduled July-December to balance Spring workload.

Normal work day is 10-12 hr day from 7:15 am to 5:30 pm, or if PM milk shift , then  8:30 am to 7 pm with 30 minute lunch break.

Stay overnight at YSF while the Renzis are away overnight during milking season—avg. 1-2 nights/ month May- Nov—not each month.

One week  50%  paid vacation during June-Aug,  with dates pre-arranged well in advance to allow for coverage.  Reduced hours with full pay last week of December  or another arranged week during holiday season.

SICK DAYS: No sick days are provided—due to the nature of animal care, it is difficult to miss work days. When absolute need arises, AHR shares responsibility to arrange sub help if sick days cannot be avoided.

HOLIDAYS: One day off each for New  Year, Thanksgiving, Christmas—either on holiday , or day before or day after—TBD.

Bank holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, Presidents Day, etc. are not Farm holidays—these are normal Farm workdays

COMPENSATION :  Salary is paid monthly as flat rate per month. AHR is covered by YSF Workers Comp policy. Health insurance coverage TBD, if desired. Salary is $2000 per month.  Housing can be included in place of partial cash salary, in some instances-- TBD

This position  begins in  Febraury 2014. We require a minimum  one-year commitment.

NCBA Accepting Applications for 2014 Cattle Industry Convention Internships

Check out this internship opportunity! 

WASHINGTON (Oct. 7, 2013) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) government affairs office in Washington, D.C., is accepting applications for internships during the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 3-7, 2014. The deadline to submit an application for this opportunity is October 27, 2013.
 
The Cattle Industry Convention is the oldest and largest convention for the cattle business. The 2014 event will be the 116th annual convention. The convention and trade show create a unique, fun environment for cattle industry members to come together to network and create policy for the industry.
 
“Our internship positions provide a unique opportunity for students to gain first-hand experience and to interact with leaders from every segment of the cattle and beef industry,” said NCBA Public Policy Analyst Mallory Gaines. “The convention internship program provides an excellent opportunity to network with people throughout the beef industry. NCBA strives to provide time for students to maximize their opportunities to network and learn during the upcoming convention in Nashville.”
 
The annual Cattle Industry Convention boasts over 5,500 attendees and a trade show with more than 250 booths. Interns are offered a unique, behind-the-scenes experience of setting up the trade show, manning the NCBA Political Action Committee (NCBA-PAC) booth, assisting with the NCBA-PAC auction, helping members vote on NCBA policy, working with the media and helping to guide cattlemen and cattlewomen to convention events.
 
To apply, interested college juniors, seniors or graduate students should submit the convention internship application, a college transcript, two letters of recommendation and a resume to internship@beef.org. More information and the internship application are available on NCBA’s website.

CANR Communications Team

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications Team is looking for students to be involved in their social media campaign. We are looking for CANR students who would participate in a committee where once a week they would come up with various ideas to be used for our college's social media handles. Members would contribute engaging ideas that students would like to see. We also are interested in posting about Ag related events going on around campus. To be considered for this committee, you simply have to commit to sending at least one idea per week during the semester, and participate in the various campaigns.

If you are interested, or would like more information, please e-mail dlentini@udel.edu.

Crest View Animal Clinic

Dr. Harry Sachs is an AG alum of 87 and works at the 

Crest View Animal Clinic off 896. It's just outside Newark (in PA) but still close to the area. He is 

willing to take on a student or 2 for a volunteer internship opportunity! If interested, send him an email at 

crestview4@verizon.net! It would be a great experience!

Meeting Minutes 10/2

Animal Science Club

October 2, 2013

Treasurer’s Report: 

− $1509.77

Old Business: 

− New website! universityofdelaware.wix.com/animalscienceclub

    − Check out the calendar of events!

− Amazing time at Steve Cook’s farm!

− Email Ariana or Jess for your Cowtown Reimbursements (last week to get your money 

back!)

− Long-sleeved t-shirts

    − Sign up on Google Doc!

    − Go to udel email‡drive‡shared with you‡t shirt form

    − Periwinkle design on black shirt

    − Less than $15!

− Hog Slat, Inc. Position available! 

    − Contact jthomas@hogslat.com

New Business:

− Fill out survey for e-board evaluation!

    − On your Google Drive

− NESA practice!

    − Sign up still ongoing!

Chair Reports:

− Social: 

• Milburn Orchards trip on Sunday 10/13!

− Meet at Lot 19 @ 10:30AM

− Fundraising: 

• Meltdown Fundraiser all day Wednesday 10/16!

− Meet in Memorial 109, then we’re heading over as a group!

− Invite friends! Requires a voucher which will be available at the next meeting

• Pumpkin Sale (Friday 10/25 @ Townsend & Monday 10/28 @ Trabant)

− Service: 

• Trip to Steve Cook’s farm on Saturday 10/19!

− Livestock: 

• [DATES TBA]

• Alpaca farm tour

• Horseback riding ($35 per person)

− Riding horses along a trail, super fun and totally worth it!!

• Speakers: Richard Morris and Scott Hopkins

− Dairy and Webb farm directors!

− Pre-Veterinary: 

• Penn Vet Panel on Wednesday 10/23 in place of meeting @ 6PM

− Meeting in Memorial 123!!

Miscellaneous Announcements:

− Rising Sun dairy farm in Maryland

• Part time employment opportunity!!

• Weekends, Tuesdays, and Fridays‡ calf feedings

• Working with calves!

− Feeding, monitoring, and administering treatments

• Contact Laura Nemec for more info!

− Fairhill International

• 10/17-10/20

• Fairhill, MD

Mark L. Morris Sr. and the Birth of Prescription Pet Food

April 23, 2013
By Donald F. Smith

I am always fascinated when an author or producer introduces a veterinary backstory into a movie, book or other form of pop culture. Recent examples include Water for Elephants¹ and War Horse.²Though a story of fighter pilots rather than birds, Red Tails³ also has a connection to veterinary medicine.

So when a friend gave me a copy of the novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, last summer, the reference to a famous guide dog named Buddy bred by a kennel in New Jersey caught my attention. While investigating events surrounding the suspicious death of his father, young Edgar discovers letters written in 1934 by his late grandfather to a man in Morristown named Brooks, one of the original breeders of guide dogs for the blind. Author David Wroblewski doesn’t tell us about the far-reaching contribution of Buddy, his role in the development of the pet food industry in general, so here is the “rest of the story.”

Cover of David Wroblewski’s novel,
“The Story of Edgar Sawtelle”.
(Photo by Dr. Smith)

Mark Morris was an advanced-standing transfer student who arrived at Cornell University in the fall of 1925 and received his veterinary degree the following spring. Two years later, he established the Raritan Hospital for Animals in Edison, New Jersey, considered at the time to be the second exclusive small animal practice in the country.⁴ Ahead of his time in many of his veterinary concepts and practices, Morris became convinced that proper nutrition was essential to improve the health and well-being of pets.

Dr. Mark L. Morris Sr., Cornell Graduate 1926
(Photograph © Cornell University)

During the 1930s, a blind man named Morris Frank was touring the country by train with the country’s first guide dog for the blind, a Swiss-born German Shepherd named Buddy. Morris and Buddy became national advocates for these working dogs, demonstrating the positive impact they could have on the life of a blind person, allowing them to navigate in their homes and communities independently, safely and with dignity.

When Buddy’s life was threatened by kidney disease, Dr. Morris was consulted and he formulated a diet low in protein and salt that slowed the progression of the renal failure. This diet allowed Buddy and Mr. Frank to continue their travels about the country spreading the good news of dogs as helping companions for the blind.

Initially, Buddy’s special food was mailed as needed to Mr. Frank in glass jars, but the jars often broke in transit. Morris and his wife, Louise, then developed a canning procedure for processing of the specialized diet. Meanwhile, everywhere Mr. Frank and Buddy went throughout the country, they were telling people of the miraculous and life-saving food developed by the Morris’ back in New Jersey.⁵ The Morris’ fame spread and the prescription pet food industry was born.

The ‘kidney diet’ was named Canine k/d®, and was later licensed to Hill’s Packing Company (now Hill’s Pet Nutrition) to produce what became a growing line of pet prescription formula diets.⁶

Mark L. Morris Sr. weighing a puppy.
(© The Morris Animal Foundation)

With the royalties from the sale of these diets, Mark Morris established a foundation in 1948 dedicated to animal health and well-being. Originally called the Buddy Foundation, the Morris Animal Foundationis now the largest organization in the world to invest in research that promises to advance veterinary medicine and improve the quality of life for companion animals, horses and wildlife. The Foundation also supports scholarships for veterinary students.

In 1993 Dr. Morris died at the age of 92. His legacy continued through his veterinarian son, Dr. Mark L. Morris Jr., who died in 2007.⁷

Dr. Mark L. Morris Sr. in late life.
(© The Morris Animal Foundation)

Dow AgroSciences Internship Opportunities

Dow AgroSciences has positions available for students seeking 

summer internship opportunities. These opportunities are 

full-time positions available from May until August.

Applicable majors would include:
•Any agriculture-related majors
•Biology (biochemistry, biotechnology, cell biology, entomology, microbiology, molecular biology, plant pathology, or plant physiology)
•Chemistry (analytical, organic, or physical)
•Informatics (bioinformatics or chemical)

R&D opportunities include

 both laboratory-based and field station research positions. Positions for R&D field station research are located throughout the US whereas the laboratory-based R&D positions are located at our headquarters in Indianapolis, IN.

Job Descriptions
Research and Development: The R&D intern program provides an opportunity for students to work closely with a senior scientist in order to improve technical skills while being given a developmental opportunity in an industrial setting. It is desirable that the intern have past practical experience in handling chemicals, operating laboratory equipment, generating and manipulating data, as well as computer database and word-processing skills. Interns are encouraged to be creative and take initiative, where appropriate, and will be granted significant latitude for discretionary decisions and independence of action within guidelines established by their supervisor. Interns are expected to always operate in a safe and efficient manner.

Qualified interns should be pursuing a BS or MS degree in biology, chemistry, informatics, or closely related majors. 

Students having completed at least their junior year are preferred. A chemistry intern candidate having a working knowledge of organic synthesis and/or experience with modern chromatographic techniques is highly desirable.

For a biology intern, it would be advantageous to have a working knowledge of their area of study. Interns will be part of a team responsible for the development of novel agricultural products. Good interpersonal, communication, organizational, teamwork and time management skills are essential.

Primary responsibilities:
•       Review and research project background and status with mentor
•       Become proficient in laboratory and/or greenhouse experiments or biochemical assays to characterize experimental, developmental, and commercial herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and products of biotechnology
•       Participate in all phases of research including planning, preparation, calibration, application, evaluation, data analysis, maintenance, and when necessary, appropriate disposal.
•       Design and conduct experiments, with mentorship guidance, within a defined project
•       Make novel observations
•       Collect and interpret data
•       Draw sound scientific conclusions based on data analysis. The results of these studies, and the conclusions generated, will impact research plans and advancement decisions on the experimental materials.
•       Present project reviews before colleagues and peers
Contact Information

To apply for an R&D internship at Dow AgroSciences, please submit one document which includes a cover letter (detailing your interest in an internship and any relevant research experience), your resume and your current overall GPA.  Be sure to specify your preference for R&D laboratory-based positions or field R&D positions. Resumes are accepted beginning in October for the following year's internships, until December 31st.  Log into Blue Hen Careers to apply.