The MacVet Podcast

Completing a marathon is a significant challenge for most people, so imagine what it must be like to complete a couple of marathons every day for around 10 months. This is the challenge that the modern dairy cow has mastered, with a truly impressive metabolic response.Dairy vet and herd manager Nial O'Boyle has for some time been fascinated by the metabolic capacity of the dairy cow, which led him to study mitochondria and the role they play for his PhD.Originally from Northern Ireland, Nial has worked in many different countries across the world, with extensive experience managing large, high yielding herds in the US. In this episode, we discuss:​how a cow uses energy,​the importance of providing feedback for engagement, ​changes in farm veterinary practice over the past 20 years.This episode will not only appeal to farm veterinarians and dairy farmers, but anyone who wants to hear more about cows!Links from the episode:'Oleic acid abomasal infusion limits lipolysis and improves insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue from periparturient dairy cows', Journal of Dairy Science paper open access:https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(23)00195-9/fulltextContact Nial on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nial-o-boyle-14a815130/ CattleEye https://cattleeye.com/

Returning to the show for a third episode is our favourite exercise physiologist, Marcelle Malan! Marcelle works in private practice in Melbourne, Australia, helping clients understand how to engage with exercise to promote resilience and maintain physical and cognitive function well into older age. In this episode, Marcelle brings us up to date on the most effective types of exercise for women going into and after menopause. There's a weight of evidence that shows women significantly benefit from using weights, but sometimes the messages we hear from social media personalities can be misleading.We also talk about which supplements you should consider taking for brain health, and Marcelle shares tips on how to keep exercise fun!And if you haven't listened yet, you can check out her previous episodes from Seasons 1 & 2.Notes from the show:The Resilient Ageing Projecthttps://www.theepgroup.com.au/the-resilient-ageing-project/FitPro Education Providerhttps://www.fitpro.com/blog/authors/marcelle-malan/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/marcelle.malan_ep/

How would you like to have better interactions with others, less conflict at work, and to feel more confident in what you say? Becoming an assertive communicator could help!Gill Hasson has spent the past 30 years helping people improve their communication skills and realise their potential. She is a teacher, tutor, lecturer, speaker and has written close to 40 books.In this episode, we discuss:how to deal with difficult people,simple tips to start improving your communication,Italian coffee makers and being wary of cows in a field.Notes from the episode:Gill Hasson website: https://www.gillhasson.co.uk/Walking Through Cows: 3 Helpful Tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh6LtpxZC2s

Two years since the podcast launched, we're catching up with our first guest from the world of fitness, Matt Gleed. Matt has worked in the fitness industry for nearly 25 years, providing a range of services from individual personal training, through to representing global fitness brands such as TRX and Matrix Fitness as an education specialist working with other personal trainers.Matt has a knack for inspiring and motivating the people around him, winning numerous awards in recognition of this.In this episode, we catch up on Matt's latest role as Community and Leisure Manager for Central Swindon North Parish Council, where a key goal is to strengthen the diverse community through various fitness activities. Just before taking on this new challenge last year, Matt suffered an acute Achilles tendon rupture, leaving him with restricted mobility.Listen in to hear how Matt has adapted his communication approach working in a new role, his thoughts on communication strengths and weaknesses across age groups and, of course, we chat about coffee drinking habits and canine antics!Notes from the show:Moredon Sporting Hubhttps://centralswindonnorth-pc.gov.uk/moredon-sporting-hub/British Rowing article and You Tube videoshttps://plus.britishrowing.org/author/author-mgleed/Matt Gleed You Tube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@MattGleedPT

Back in 2012, farmer Dan Luff felt there had to be a different way to buy and sell cattle, so he decided to take matters into his own hands and co-founded SellMyLivestock, the online livestock marketplace. He soon came across challenges that threatened to derail the startup but, reflecting on what the issues were and how they could be overcome, he and co-founder Jamie McInnes were able to adapt and build what is today an established and thriving business. In this episode, we discuss:taking a positive attitude to turn an idea into a business,the future of cattle farming,posh coffee in Petersfield.Listen in to hear Dan's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!Links from this episode:SellMyLivestock websitehttps://sellmylivestock.com/about

Dr Paul Gaffney helps people get results when working under pressure. He is Lead Consultant in High Performance Sport Clinical Psychology at the Sport Ireland Institute and was Head of Psychology for Team Ireland for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.You may have heard his name if you're a fellow snooker fan, as Paul also works with professional snooker player Mark Allen.Paul's journey to become a clinical psychologist was influenced by personal loss and the guidance of mentors. In this episode we discuss:using intuition to judge if someone needs support or space,managing anxiety and conflict,connecting over a coffee to support mental health.Listen in to hear Paul's thoughts on communication, coffee and connection!Links from the episode:Dr Paul Gaffney Psychological Consultinghttps://drpaulgaffney.ie/Tim Ferriss Fear Setting TED talkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J6jAC6XxAI

Renowned for his tongue twisting talent on University Challenge, the UK's toughest TV quiz show, Roger Tilling is the voice-over artist who can accurately pronounce the most complicated surnames at pace!Roger's journey to become an airline pilot gave him a great foundation in confident communication skills, so when he was forced to consider a different career path, broadcasting offered an ideal alternative to apply those skills. In this episode, we discuss: essential communication skills for an effective voice actor,tips to warm up vocal chords and mouth muscles,the delights of freshly-ground coffee beans.Listen in to hear Roger's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

Jodi Wallace believes we should all challenge ourselves to push for better and to not settle for average.Setting this example in her own practise has seen her recognised as 2023 Bovine Practitioner of the Year by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.Jodi is proud to be a 6th generation dairy farmer, working alongside her husband on their 100-cow farm in Quebec, Canada. Their inspiring results from a focus on calf care on farm set Jodi on a mission to share their experiences and help others to also strive for better results on their farms.In this episode, we discuss:Zero Zero Calf Care - what it is and how to achieve it,using communication skills to help improve engagement and achieve change, especially by having some fun,the art of persuasion and practical tips for using an ice bath!Listen in to hear Jodi's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!Notes from the show:https://www.totaldairy.com/speakers/dr-jodi-wallace-dvm-msc/

Paul Worpole shoots people for a living...using his camera! He specialises in creating portraits for people who hate having their photo taken. Many people find that being in front of a camera induces a fear response, which can be seen through facial expressions and body positions captured on camera, leading to disappointing results for all involved. Being skilled at helping people relax and overcome their nervousness can transform the process of having your photo taken, so you end up with an image that looks far more like you! In this episode, we discuss: using communication skills to help instantly create rapport tapping into previous experiences to help recreate a relaxed state of mind Paul's top tips for anyone wanting to look and feel more relaxed for their photoshoot Listen in to hear Paul's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Notes: Visit Paul's website www.paulworpole.com

With a long and illustrious career in veterinary practice and research, Martin Green has significantly contributed to improvements in cattle health and welfare. He recently took a step back from full-time work but remains firmly involved in research and advisory roles. Beginning his farm vet career surrounded by inspirational colleagues, Martin went on to build strong relationships with his farmers, valuing the opportunity to provide strong technical knowledge as part of a team approach to improving production and performance. In this episode, we discuss: the high risks associated with providing preventative health care how research can help answer practical questions and broaden our understanding the joys of experimenting with different beans! Listen in to hear Martin's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from the show: Dairy Cow Lameness Manifesto: https://ruminanthw.org.uk/dairy-cow-lameness/ European Food Saftey Authority (EFSA): https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en

Pete Orpin began his career like so many vets do; concerned that he'd make mistakes and not have enough knowledge to be a 'good vet'. However, he soon realised that it was far more important to focus on forging strong relationships with his clients, to build trust and work together to approach problem solving on farm. He applied this approach when co-creating the myhealthyherd.com herd health management tool, to facilitate herd health planning between vets and farmers. In this episode, we discuss: setting your mind into a position of positivity does the veterinary profession place too much emphasis on clinical knowledge the similarities between tortoise and cattle veterinary work Listen in to hear Pete's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Notes: Contact on LinkedIn @PeteOrpin Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) https://spvs.org.uk/ Action group on Johne's https://actionjohnesuk.org/

Vibeke Fladkjear Nielsen soon realised that becoming a successful consultant would take more than her agriculture degree. Returning to university to complete a masters degree in psychology gave her the foundation to better understand what motivates people. Vibeke is a Danish specialist in LEAN and change management in the dairy industry. She has more than 15 years of practical and theoretical experience helping people work together more effectively on farm. In this episode, we discuss: what are some of the barriers to helping people make changes, recognising that what motivates you may not be the same for someone else, how Vibeke's work contributes to the improved welfare of cows on farm Listen in to hear Vibeke's thoughts on communication! Show notes: Lean In Agriculture: Create More Value with Less Work on the Farm, co-author with Susanne Pejstrup

In this episode, we revisit conversations with two former guests, David Main and Alison Blackler. David shares his own experience of being on the receiving end of poor communication, after his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Alison shares her most important communication skill and one she recommends we can all work on, our ability to listen to understand, rather than to respond. Listen to the full length episodes by clicking on the links below: David https://www.macvetltd.co.uk/podcast/episode/31f38855/communication-curiosity-and-complexities Alison https://www.macvetltd.co.uk/podcast/episode/19c5641f/reach-out

“Listen to the cow – she's got know-how!”Joep Driessen is a veterinarian, entrepreneur and businessman. He is co-creator of Vetvice and creator of the globally successful CowSignals training programme. Joep is an energetic, passionate cow-communicator on amission to inspire vets, farmers and advisors to ‘do the right thing' for the cow, so everyone benefits. Based on observation of cow behaviours in different environments, and recognition of what conditions make cows 'happy', the CowSignals training programme aims to help farmers prevent disease, increase income, and improve cow welfare. Joep has educated more than 400 CowSignals trainers in over 50 countries. In this episode, we discuss: ​the significance of adopting a prevention rather than cure approach to cow management,​reaching a global audience to share the CowSignals message, ​what makes working with cows so rewarding. Listen in to hear Joep's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!Links from the show:https://www.cowsignals.com/en/

Former Secretary of State for Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs), George Eustice has spent the past 25 years working in various roles within the world of British politics. As a 6th generation farmer, the expectation had been to continue working within the family business but a formative event at age 22 prompted the move into the political arena. George subsequently had four years experience of communication and media management at the highest level in politics. This year (2024) has seen the start of a new career path for George, as director of Penbroath Consultants, a policy and regulatory affairs consultancy specialising in the environment, natural capital, water, agri-food and waste sectors.In this episode, we discuss:how the style of political communications has shifted over time,developing a taste for political conflict,coffee drinking habits in Westminster.Listen in to hear George's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!Links from this episode:https://penbroathconsultants.co.uk/

Julia Moorhouse is the head of veterinary services for Map of Ag, a company that provides a data platform for the agrifood sector, connecting farms and industry. In this role, she supplies technical advice to dairy processors, retailers and their producers.Prior to joining Map of Ag, Julia worked in mixed, mainly farm animal practice in the north of England for 13 years. Growing up on a pedigree dairy cattle farm influenced her decision to become a vet and communicating with farmers remains her key drive in the varied work she delivers today.In this episode, we discuss:​the 2024 TotalDairy Conference - what it's about, who should attend and how it can make a difference at the farm gate​how to effectively communicate data to different audiences​an exciting shared love of one particular dairy cow breedListen in to hear Julia's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!Links from this episode:https://www.totaldairy.com/https://mapof.ag/team-member/944/

How would expectations compare with the reality of starting work as a vet? Sky Tetlow has just completed her first year in farm animal practice. Looking back, she reflects on how valuable it was to invest time and effort into finding the right practice for her. Having joined Cross Counties Farm Vets - part of the VetPartners group - she set about building her skills in calving, castrations and call outs, taking a positive attitude when faced with challenging situations and reaching out to others to build knowledge and confidence. In this episode, we discuss: the importance of being honest to build stronger connections, the power of communication within the practice team, creating a diverse support network. Listen in to hear Sky's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

Alice Swift believes that farmers can benefit from opportunities that come from building closer relationships with retailers. Having worked in the dairy and beef sectors for over 20 years, it is her experience and expertise in bridging the gap between farmers and retailers that drives her continued passion working to support the agriculture industry.     Growing up on a hill farm in North East England, Alice developed a deep-seated desire to work with and support farmers through her career in agriculture. It was the experiences during her degree course and placement year that catapulted her into the world of corporate business, working for supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury's.   In this episode, we discuss:  the benefits of using and applying data when assessing practises on farm,  how brand protection affects consumer trust, and the role farmers play in this,  starting a new venture! Listen in to hear Alice's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! 

New and recent veterinary graduates often worry about projecting confidence in their roles. In this clip from Series 2 of The MacVet Podcast, Kat Hart talks about her experiences as a new and recent graduate on farm. Kat grew up on a farm and talks about how this helped when making connections with farmer clients. She shares some some excellent tips on how to use communication to build connections and confidence on farm. You can listen to the full episode here: https://www.macvetltd.co.uk/podcast/episode/487c3f95/galvanize Kat Hart is a cattle young stock specialist and part of the Cultivate CPD veterinary team https://www.cultivatecpd.co.uk/about/

New and recent veterinary graduates often worry about projecting confidence in their roles. Communication can help with this. Stuart Russell didn't come from a farming background and was conscious of his lack of farming knowledge. In this clip, he talks about his approach to building confidence as a new vet on farm, with some excellent tips on how to use communication to learn and build connections. You can listen to the full episode here: https://www.macvetltd.co.uk/podcast/episode/1eb16681/balanced-conversations-better-understanding Stuart Russell is a dairy veterinarian and data scientist. He's the director of define:ag https://define.ag/#splash

Large animal vet and dairy farmer Hazell Mullins loves the variety of her work, which includes being the current president of Veterinary Ireland. In this role, she hopes to support younger vets build their confidence and skills in communication. Hazell has enjoyed working in clinical practice over the past 11 years and shares her exploits through her popular Instagram account Vet On The Moove. Having worked in different parts of Ireland since graduation, she recently moved back home to Cork. In this episode, we discuss: sharing her clinical cases through social media to help others better understand veterinary work, the importance of non-clinical CPD for vets to broaden their skillset, posh coffee and where to find it in Cork! Listen in to hear Hazell's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

Jo Speed has an affinity for supporting people, especially those who work with cows. She has worked in the dairy industry for over 20 years, holding positions with Kite Consulting, DairyCo/AHDB and Promar.   Jo recently set up her own business - Jo Speed Coaching – after training to become a life coach, and in this role, she applies her skills as a mentor, coach and facilitator.   In this episode, we discuss: how asking questions can achieve a better outcome than telling someone what to do, not letting a feeling of discomfort stop you from pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to grow your skills and experience, comparing yourself with yourself not with others, and the importance of reflecting on your achievements. Listen in to hear Jo's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

Dairy market analyst Chris Walkland believes in speaking his mind. As a consummate communicator, he believes that sharing opinions with others should be done with diplomacy, confidence and a thorough understanding of the topic. Chris soon recognised that his passion for communicating could be channelled into supporting the dairy industry, by bringing to data to life and explaining the relevance to UK dairy farmers. Data analysis could be for many a 'dry' topic; to avoid this, Chris adds his own flamboyant style and storytelling, which extends to his choice of clothing at public events. In this episode, we discuss: key skills to be an effective communicator, the future of dairy journalism, coffee or tea?! Listen in to hear Chris's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

Clinical exercise physiologist Marcelle Malan joins us again on the show to share details of her latest educational programme, the Resilient Ageing Project. Her objective for using this with both clients and fitness professionals, is to provide scientifically proven and evidence based exercise strategies for maintaining cognitive function (including memory, language skills, concentration and reaction time) into older age. In season 1, Marcelle talked about the application and benefits of exercise for women in perimenopause and menopause. In this episode, we discuss: what forms of exercise boost brain health and function, and those that are less effective, to allow us to make more informed choices on our exercise programmes, the challenges faced by clients living with chronic painful conditions - the role of exercise in managing those conditions, practical tips for keeping your mind sharp and active into your 70s, 80s and beyond. Listen in to hear Marcelle's thoughts on the role of communication in the world of exercise. Links from the show: "Bones, brains and exercise" episode 17 from season 1 https://www.macvetltd.co.uk/podcast/episode/209135ef/bones-brains-and-exercise The Resilient Ageing Project https://www.marcellemalan.com/rap

Renowned animal welfare researcher Nina von Keyserlingk believes that scientists can help bridge the gap between public values and animal welfare, providing evidence on which systems work for the animals, work for the farmers and resonate with societal values. Nina grew up on her family cattle ranch in British Colombia, Canada, and she is now the NSERC* Industrial Research Chair Professor at the University of British Columbia. She is internationally recognised as a pioneer in the field of farm animal welfare research. In this episode, we discuss: defining animal welfare, with a recognition that we must factor in the humans who influence the lives of animals - the 4th dimension of animal welfare, some of the management changes seen in the cattle industry that were driven by scientific findings, such as social housing for calves after nipple bucket feeding was introduced, recognising that changes take time and change offers opportunities. Listen in to hear Nina's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! *NSERC Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Background: 73% of Canadian dairy farms use tie stalls (2022 figures from Canadian government).

Elise Sutton had not planned on forging a career in farming, yet when she failed her A levels, she started on a path that would lead her to work with the majestic English Longhorn breed. Elise manages the herd of Longhorn cattle at Cherry Lodge Farm in Wiltshire, South West England, a role she holds through Natural England. In this episode, we discuss: Longhorn breed characteristics and traits: including their gentle nature, calving ease and longevity, how to communicate more effectively with farmers when coming from a non-farming background and the importance of being relatable, building a strong support network within the farming community and not being afraid to ask for help when you don't know something! Listen in to discover Elise's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from this episode: Longhorn Cattle Society https://www.longhorncattlesociety.com/ Nature Friendly Farming Network https://www.nffn.org.uk/ Pasture for Life https://www.pastureforlife.org/

Accompanying his father on visits as a child, Den saw first-hand the special relationship that farm vets can have with their farming clients. Recognising that, unlike his three veterinary brothers, he would feel better suited to farm vet practice, Den began his career at his father's practice. After several years he decided that perhaps farm vetting could be done differently, so together with good friend and colleague Charlie Lambert, they set up a practice in Cheshire. This soon grew into Lambert, Leonard and May, a practice that would go on to disrupt the status quo of farm vetting. But it was the business side of practice life that really became Den's passion. Being introduced to the concept of setting a vision and values, then integrating them into everything the practice does, unlocked a realisation of the power of what some may call soft skills: communication, understanding what motivates people, and how to build a strong team of workers and clients. Although no longer in veterinary practice, Den recently took up a role that brings him back to working with the farmers he has always felt comfortable talking with and helping. In this episode, we discuss: The challenges and rewards of developing a novel veterinary business model, Reflecting on the influence our communication can have on others, how we can become more aware of this and communicate in a more constructive manner, Stepping into the public arena to support his farmers in their challenge to control TB and the consequences associated with this. Listen in to discover Den's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

Veterinarian Gwen Rees found herself reassessing her options as she realised she needed to move away from clinical work. Finding an opportunity to study what influences farmer decisions in their use of medicines gave her the chance to explore human behaviour, adding novel insights into the world of improved veterinary and farmer communication. Gwen now lectures at Aberystwyth University in Wales and is the president of the British Veterinary Association Wales Branch. She also leads the Veterinary Prescribing Champions (VPCs) network, part of the Arwain DGC project that looks at ways to reduce the use of antimicrobials in cattle, sheep and horses. In this episode, we discuss: how her PhD project helped recognise that vets often make assumptions about how medicines are used on farm, the question 'what does a farmer want from their vet?' with regards to understanding how to use prescribed medicines, the success of the Veterinary Prescribing Champions network in Wales and how this was achieved. Listen in to discover Gwen's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from the show: Arwain DGC https://menterabusnes.cymru/arwaindgc/home-2/

Farmer and veterinarian Kat Hart believes you shouldn't let a lack of experience hold you back from trying something new. If it's something you are passionate about doing, then make a start and you can learn the skills along the way. Kat is part of a team of farm vets working in England, where she specialises in young stock, having developed this role from scratch within the practice she's worked in since graduating in 2011. In this episode, we discuss: practical tips for vets worried about feeling confident when going onto a new farm, looking for opportunities to build your unique offering to clients, building and promoting the family beef and sheep farming business. Listen in to discover Kat's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

David Main is a vet and professor of production animal health and welfare at the Royal Agricultural University, England. His research interests lie in welfare education, the science and practice of knowledge exchange, animal welfare assessment and improvement strategies. Like many, he began his veterinary career expecting to improve animal health and welfare by sharing his technical knowledge and expertise with clients. Soon recognising that this was not the most effective approach to take, he became increasingly interested in learning more about communication style in medical and veterinary interactions. In this episode, we discuss: how communication style will influence the uptake of veterinary advice, using a 'what would a friend say?' approach in conversations dealing with difficult topics, such as terminal illness, to better connect with clients, how use of positive language in programmes that aim to improve animal welfare, such as Health Feet, achieves better engagement with farmers. Listen in to hear David's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from the episode: BMJ article 'Communication in difficult situations: what would a friend say?' https://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f5037.full Healthy Feet Programme https://ahdb.org.uk/healthy-feet

Heather Wildman loves helping people and businesses understand how they can get the most out of themselves. Using her own experiences working in different agribusinesses, she knows the importance of management style to build motivated and positive teams, and what happens when bad behaviour and poor attitudes are tolerated within a team. Another facet of Heather's work is helping businesses and farming families with their succession planning, ensuring that businesses can continue to run smoothly once key people retire, move to another job or have died. In this episode, we discuss: facing up to the implications of Heather's recent accident, when she broke her back in two places, how a desire to be more effective at knowledge transfer turned into a fascinating Nuffield scholarship project, possible reasons for not discussing what happens after death within families, but the benefits of being honest and sharing what could happen to the farm and business in the future. Listen in to hear Heather's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from the show: http://www.saviourassociates.co.uk/ https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/

Rural geographer David Christian Rose recognises that farming can feel like a juggling act. In his role as Elizabeth Creak Chair in Sustainable Agri-Food Systems at Harper Adams University, David leads the 'Change in Agriculture' research group, whose objective is to help farmers and farming stakeholders navigate the changes being asked of them. David has considerable experience communicating his views and research findings across many and varied platforms, including the mainstream media, farming press and as part of the debating team at Oxford University discussing the benefits of eating a balanced diet that includes meat and dairy. In this episode, we discuss: how the behaviour of people has an impact on our environment, the importance of producing tangible outputs from research: make it meaningful and make it matter, finding out what can help motivate people to change. Listen in to hear David's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

Kristen Reyher enjoys working with animals but ultimately became a veterinarian to help the people who's lives depend on their animals. In her role as Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology and Population Health at Bristol Vet School, Kristen enjoys teaching the next generation of vet students and supporting her research team achieve success. Kristen has a passion for data, describing herself as a 'mathlete'. She is also fascinated by human behaviour: what motivates people in their use of antimicrobials, and how vets can communicate more effectively about motivating change to manage endemic diseases such as mastitis and lameness. In this episode, we discuss: supporting others to achieve their goals and change the world with their ideas, the importance of time management when working with large teams, how Motivational Interviewing (MI) can help vets explore farmer motivations and then give advice in a more appropriate way. Listen in to discover Kristen's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

In each episode of the podcast, I like to ask my guests about their favourite cow breed. On this occasion, I wanted to speak to someone who could tell me more about my own favourite dairy breed, the Ayrshire. My guest in this episode is Duncan Hunter, someone who has vast experience and understanding of this beautiful breed. Over generations, Duncan and his family built up their prize-winning herd, the Haresfoot Ayrshires, which were in the top 1% in the UK for production for many years and won numerous awards with their high-quality milk and management standards. Duncan also held the role of breed manager for the Ayrshire Cattle Society of Great Britain and Ireland. He now provides consultancy services in the dairy sector, and recently returned to provide support to the Ayrshire Cattle Society. This involves working across a wide range of activities, which include promoting the breed through novel communication channels.   In this episode, we discuss: breed and personality traits of Ayrshire cows, the benefits of introducing Ayrshires into dairy herds to improve sustainability, embracing technology to enhance communication for internal and external audiences, International Ayrshire Cow Day. Listen in to hear Duncan's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from this episode: Duncan's consultancy website https://hunterdairyconsulting.com/ Ayrshire Cattle Society of Great Britian and Ireland https://www.ayrshirescs.org/ayrshires-cattle-society/ Ayrshire YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AyrshireCattleSocietyOFFICIAL

Veterinarian Ryane Englar is a leading light in the field of communication skills development, helping veterinary students become the vet they want to be. She is Associate Professor and Executive Director of veterinary clinical and professional skills at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, USA. Ryane is also a researcher, with a particular interest in clinical communications and relationship-centred care. She has authored multiple books for veterinarians. In this episode, we discuss: relationship-centred care in veterinary practice: what it is and how it can improve our interactions with clients, our interpretation of situations compared with the facts – are we making inaccurate assumptions of others intentions, thoughts and feelings? changing the way we talk about grief to support our clients and ourselves. Listen in to hear Ryane's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from this episode: Resources and empathy cards available at www.intheirpaws.com Abbreviations: CE = continuing education

Chris Moon is a motivational speaker. He talks about his own experience of facing challenging situations, that many people would have struggled to cope with. This includes being blown up whilst supervising mine-clearance in Mozambique, barely surviving and ending up minus an arm and a leg. He became the world's first amputee ultra-distance runner; he's experienced being in dark places and finding a way out of them. A key principle that Chris speaks about is that we should all challenge the concept of limitations we face through life. In this episode, we discuss: his background in farming and the army, which helped shape his approach to resilience, the importance of connecting with others and avoiding isolation, how humour provides such a vital role as a coping mechanism, the benefits of making people feel valued and listened to through our communication. Listen in to hear Chris's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from the show: www.chrismoon.co.uk

In this Christmas catch up with Rachael Porter, we chat about highlights from the year and plans for 2024. Cow Management magazine reaches a milestone next year and Rachael shares some of the exciting plans in store for its readers. Listen to the full episode with Rachael Porter 'Fascinated by farming' in season 1.

In this short Christmas catch up with farm vet Sarah Tomlinson, we find out how important it is to gather people together so they can share their experiences. Sarah explains why she feels the recent conference on TB control in England was so well received. You can hear Sarah's full length interview in episode 2 of the podcast 'Never turn down a cuppa!'.

Wondering what to expect from this podcast? Listen in to this brief introduction from creator Fiona MacGillivray.

Giovanni Gnemmi is a world-renowned expert in bovine ultrasonography, sharing the knowledge he has acquired over 30 years with veterinarians and farm workers around the globe. He is professor of bovine reproduction at the University of Valencia, Spain, where he is also an active researcher in this field. Giovanni clearly has a passion for what he does; from a young age he was determined to become a veterinarian and work with cows, despite not coming from a farming background. Indeed, this affinity for cattle and desire to help others learn the benefits of ultrasonography is so strong that retirement is not something he is contemplating any time soon! In this episode, Giovanni talks about: how his work has opened up a vast range of opportunities, helping vets appreciate the broad application of scanning in herd health, an exciting new venture to help students develop their scanning skills! Listen in to hear Giovanni's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from this episode: https://www.bovinevet.com/en/

Alison Blackler is an international mind coach with first-hand experience of the importance of achieving self-confidence and self-awareness; prior to becoming a coach, her severe lack of confidence impacted her life every day, affecting her work and relationships. Today, she helps others to understand themselves, sharing useful tools to develop their own confidence and guiding them to positive change. Alison is also a public speaker, podcaster and has authored two books. In this episode, Alison talks about: imposter syndrome - what it is and how to recognise the signs not being afraid to reach out to others for help when it feels appropriate to drink coffee! Listen in to hear Alison's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from this episode: Alison's website https://2-minds.co.uk/ The Mental Wealth Podcast https://mental-wealth.captivate.fm/listen

Nikki Yoxall is passionate about helping bring about change in farming practices through understanding and partnership. She has a background in education, training and horses, and was excited when the opportunity arose to add farming to her daily life, setting up Grampian Graziers with her husband James in Aberdeenshire, UK. Nikki's work is focused on agroecological transitions, understanding farmers' cultural identities and social practices to enable mixed farming futures. In this episode, Nikki talks about: the importance of using the 'right' language for mutual understanding, embracing the opportunities within new roles, showing curiosity and interest through asking questions. Listen in to hear Nikki's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from this episode: https://www.pastureforlife.org/ https://www.grampiangraziers.co.uk/ https://www.ccri.ac.uk/about-us/people/postgraduate-students/nikki-yoxall/ https://www.nffn.org.uk/

Taking a rather circuitous route through different companies and roles in communications led Patrick Donohoe to his current role as director of communications and corporate affairs with Lakeland Dairies, a dairy processing co-operative based in Ireland, with customers in 70 countries across the world. One of his recent roles was working as an advisor to the Irish minister for agriculture, food and the marine. Having such a broad range of experience puts Patrick in a fantastic position to talk about the importance of using communication to shape the implementation of policy, to keep company employees updated and engaged, and conveying key messages about the business to customers. In this episode, Patrick talks about: making sure communications are two-way taking a sabbatical to experience the world of politics his least favourite breed of cow! Listen in to hear Patrick's thoughts about communication, cows and coffee! Links from this show: www.lakeland.ie

Understanding people and what motivates them is a key skill that Karen Halton possesses. One of the ways she has demonstrated this is to create the 'wall of words' with her farm team. Everyone was asked to come up with one word that summed up how they feel about the industry or working on the farm. Those words were then printed and posted on the milking parlour wall, acting as a powerful reminder of the team's purpose. Alongside her passion for cows, Karen believes in investing in the team of people she works with. In this episode, Karen talks about: encouraging younger people into the dairy industry motivating through involvement cream cake Friday Listen in to hear Karen's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from this show: www.haltonfarms.com

Becoming the passionate and inspirational dairy farmer she is today seems to have been Karen Halton's destiny, as was marrying her teenage sweetheart, Tom. Central to everything in her farming life are the cows; Karen, Tom, and the team strive to provide an environment that achieves high welfare for the cows and calves. Having the opportunity to look round with Karen before our conversation, it was clear to see that the Haltons' Cheshire farm is indeed 'the home of happy healthy crossbred cows'. In this episode, Karen talks about: not shying away from 'difficult' questions how diversifying helps reach more of the public to hear about dairy prioritising a strong team Listen in to hear Karen's thoughts about communication, cows and coffee! Links from this show: www.haltonfarms.com

Joe Navarro is an international bestselling author, having published 14 books including the world number 1 book on body language, What Every BODY Is Saying. He began studying human behaviour as a boy, having fled to the US with his family from Cuba in the 1960s, and continued to build his skills and insight during his 25 years working as a special agent for the FBI.   In this episode, Joe talks about: the difference between children and adults in their observational skills and the reasons behind this, how nonverbal behaviours can be used to calm down an angry person, discovering how playful cows are!   Listen in to discover Joe's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from this episode: www.jnforensics.com

Former FBI special agent Joe Navarro interviewed a wide range of people during his career - including bank robbers, kidnappers and spies – which provided a special opportunity to observe people and study their body language. Since retiring after 25 years in the FBI, he has shared those observations in his best-selling books, through public speaking and delivering training courses.   In this episode, Joe talks about: body language and nonverbal communication – is there a difference? observing nonverbal communication in scientific and non-scientific settings, the relevance of nonverbal communication in daily life.   Listen in to discover Joe's thoughts on communication!   Links from this episode: www.jnforensics.com

Temple Grandin has worked in the livestock industry for over 50 years and has been instrumental in improving animal welfare around the world, through her work in cattle handling design and as an animal behaviourist and academic. She is professor of animal science at Colorado State University, USA and has authored more than 400 articles in scientific journals and livestock publications on animal handling and welfare.   Temple is also a prominent author and speaker on autism, sharing her insights about ‘differently-abled brains'. In her book, Visual Thinking, she describes being an object visualiser, which also allows her to understand the sensory-based world of animals and explains her intuitive knack for design and problem solving.   In this episode, Temple talks about: understanding how animals see the world, how observational skills can suffer as verbal skills improve, the shadow (or spider) monster,   Listen in to discover Temple's thoughts on communication and cows!   Links from this show: www.templegrandin.com

Dairy farmer Sophie Gregory strongly believes that anyone with a passion to farm can work in this industry. This belief is a testament to her own journey, from accountancy to becoming a first generation farmer alongside her husband Tom. Sophie shares her experiences through her popular social media accounts @farmer_in_training and @sophieaplin, to help people understand what goes into making a pint of milk and explaining what a dry cow is. In this episode, Sophie talks about: raising awareness of farming as a career choice the importance of having a purpose in life adapting her accounting skills to farming Listen in to discover Sophie's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee! Links from this show: www.dairyfutures.org.uk www.justfarmers.org www.britishgrassland.com www.arlafoods.co.uk

During his career, retired veterinarian Derek Armstrong worked to improve the control of endemic diseases in cattle and pigs. He grew up on a small farm in Ireland, with initial interests in engineering and agriculture superseded by a degree in veterinary. Moving from roles in clinical practice and research, Derek became lead veterinary science expert with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the UK's statutory levy board. In this role, he was responsible for delivering a number of programmes designed to support farmers. Derek's energy and passion to see a coordinated approach to tackle one important cattle disease, BVD, lead to the launch of the national campaign BVDFree England in 2016. His unique approach to engage with key industry stakeholders included a mixture of technical details alongside references to popular songs and poems. In this episode, Derek talk's about: the challenges of communicating with larger groups, the importance of asking the right questions, how our routines and habits lead to positive or negative outcomes. Listen in to hear Derek's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!

Udder health specialist and prolific author Theo Lam is manager of Research and Development at GD Animal Health in the Netherlands. He is also part-time professor at Utrecht University. Theo worked in veterinary practice for 10 years but it wasn't until he moved out of clinical work, and into research, that he started to appreciate the significance of communication for vets working with farmers to improve udder health. In this episode, Theo talks about: discovering a new perspective on how vets can work more effectively how to change mindsets through social influence a rare and beautiful breed of cattle I bet you haven't heard of yet! Listen in to discover Theo's thoughts on communication, cows and coffee!