Animal Welfare
Surveillance, reporting and veterinary partnerships are framed as critical ways to prevent a single case from becoming a national crisis.
Megin Nichols, the CDC’s director in the division of foodborne, waterborne and environmental diseases, explains the ties between human, animal and environmental health.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture says California’s actions under Proposition 12 fly in the face of Federal jurisdiction and regulation over food production and safety under the Egg Products Inspection Act.
The image, the smell, the emotions: five cattle producers and veterinarians from around the world share their first-hand experience with New World screwworm.
Identifying the flesh-eating parasite, which actually isn’t a worm, is key to keeping it out of the U.S. Recognizing a problem in an animal might come down to seeing a larval infestation in unusual circumstances.
As the fight to keep the flesh-eating parasite out of the U.S. intensifies, the economic impact on ranchers and the industry is top of mind. “This pest will be one that leaves quite a mark on our economy,” says one veterinarian.
NCBA’s Woodall says the goal is complete eradication — not just from the U.S., but from Mexico and Central America, ultimately pushing the fly back to its original range in South America.
Achieving the best results with vaccines requires using the correct syringes and needles, good management practices and functional facilities.
The tiny, annoying pest can wreak $6 billion in losses annually to U.S. cattle production due to decreased weight gain or milk production, veterinary needs and control measures.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins says the agency is hyper-focused on poultry, but no vaccine is yet available. The agency has ‘separate work streams’ to address the virus in the ‘cattle and dairy’ industries, but dairy is not part of USDA’s primary focus for now.
ENSO-neutral means conditions could be close to average, but Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien’s principal atmospheric scientist, says that doesn’t mean the weather will be normal this spring and summer with growing concerns about drought.
Outgoing USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture acknowledging the progress made in reopening cattle trade between the two countries following the detection of New World Screwworm, but says more action is needed to resume trade.
The report echoes calls by other scientists to ramp up the surveillance of felines, which are susceptible to the virus and have a high mortality rate. The AVMA says several cases in cats linked to poultry or wild bird exposure had been reported before the outbreak began in dairy cows last spring.
USDA announced on Oct. 30 the first reported case of H5N1 in a pig in an Oregon backyard farm.
Parts of the Texas Panhandle, Kansas and Nebraska could get some rain as early as this weekend. Other parts of the Midwest might have some moisture relief as well by early next week.
Floodwaters breached levees in parts of Iowa on Tuesday, with more flooding anticipated for Wednesday. The damage to row-crop and livestock operations is likely significant, according to state officials.
Michigan’s ag department will provide the grant money for to up to 20 farms from its emergency response funds.
Is it early June or the middle of August? Because despite what the calendar might say, Mother Nature seems to be cranking up the thermostat earlier than normal this year.
If new predictions hold true it could be a hotter than normal summer across much of the U.S
The livestock industry needs a comprehensive, cohesive plan to address the virus. Producers, their employees and veterinarians need clear answers and support from U.S. agricultural leadership, moving forward.
Richie Devillier is fighting back after the government twice flooded his 900-acre farm and home, killed his cattle, ran his family through emotional hell—and insisted he foot the entire bill.
A Florida agri-science teacher and the advisor of the school’s FFA club, was placed on administrative leave after school officials were told that he had students help him drown wild raccoons during class.
One of the nation’s largest egg producers says it plans to build a new cage-free farm in eastern South Dakota that will house 3 million egg-laying hens.
Now that warm weather has arrived, everyone will start to focus on all the chores that have to be done to “gear” up for the upcoming season, including fly control.
Today, the Center for Consumer Freedom released its yearly review of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ appalling record of killing pets at its Norfolk, VA animal shelter.
PETA has done a lot with a little sex, shock and shame.
Results from California’s Proposition 2 are mixed, with happy hens but higher egg prices.