September 15, 2014

Cattle welfare perceptions vary    

 

A team of Kansas State University researchers explored the beef animal welfare knowledge gap between consumers and cattle producers in a recently released study funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.


Kansas State livestock economist Glynn Tonsor and doctoral agricultural economics student Melissa McKendree, along with a team of veterinarians and animal scientists, have taken the lead on exploring the similarities and differences in views between U.S. beef producers and the general public on animal welfare practices in the cattle industry.


Like other livestock industries, the beef industry faces rising pressure to adjust animal welfare practices in response to consumer concerns.


The goal of the Kansas State study was to identify common ground between beef producers and the public, discover areas for improvement and pinpoint opportunities for possible consumer engagement.


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Milk producers sign clean water MOU 


The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last week to promote increased cooperation and communication between the two organizations in their efforts to make watershed-level water quality improvements.


This MOU marks an important milestone in endeavors to strengthen ties between urban and rural sectors on conservation activities to improve local water quality and the environment.


The goal of the agreement is to encourage clean water agencies and nearby dairy farms to work together to improve both water quality and environmental benefits produced on dairy farms.


Potential projects include cooperation on installing anaerobic digesters, which can use manure to generate electricity and reduce methane emissions, and producing more water quality benefits through the use of nutrient separation technologies and land management practices such as planting grass buffers near streams and using no-till planting in fields.

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Cargill sues Syngenta over unapproved corn trait 

Cargill has filed a lawsuit against Syngenta Seeds Inc., in Louisiana state court, seeking damages from Syngenta for commercializing its Agrisure Viptera (MIR 162) corn seed before the product obtained import approval from China.  Cargill's grain export facilities in Reserve and Westwego, La., loaded the vessels that were destined for and rejected by China.


"Unlike other seed companies, Syngenta has not practiced responsible stewardship by broadly commercializing a new product before receiving approval from a key export market like China," said Mark Stonacek, president of Cargill Grain & Oilseed Supply Chain North America.  "Syngenta also put the ability of U.S. agriculture to serve global markets at risk, costing both Cargill and the entire U.S. agricultural industry significant damages."


Since mid-November 2013, China has rejected imports of U.S. corn due to the presence of Syngenta's MIR 162 trait because of its lack of approval for import, virtually halting U.S. corn trade with China.  A study by the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) estimated that U.S. exporters and farmers lost up to $2.9 billion because of the uncertain trade environment. 

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AABP offers cattle castration, dehorning guidelines 

 

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) has created "Castration & Dehorning Guidelines" for general information for the castration and dehorning of beef and dairy cattle (http://aabp.org/about/AABP_Guidelines.asp ).


These guidelines are meant to assist veterinarians and their clients in enhancing the welfare of cattle on beef and dairy farms by providing information on how best to approach dehorning and castration of calves.


"These new guidelines for castration and dehorning represent our combined view on the best approach to be taken for performing these procedures, melding science where it exists with sound judgment and commonsense where science is less clear, accepting that the veterinarian of record for the farm is likely the best person to ultimately determine the most appropriate combination of procedures," said AABP past president Dr. Nigel Cook with the University of Wisconsin. "They will be updated regularly as new science emerges so that our recommendations represent the best possible approaches available."


The guidelines discuss age at castration and dehorning, proper chemical or manual restraint, different methods used to castrate and dehorn and anesthesia and pain relief.

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Thoughts and opinions ...  

 

Farmer's job anything but effortless


By Megan Brown


Recently, I was told that "a farmer's job is no harder than a carpenter's."


Having never been a full-time carpenter, I can't say whether that is true or not. However, the time I have spent building corrals, repairing barns and attempting to build my own furniture has given me a respect for the work they do.


These experiences have taught me - the hard way - that when you become a master at something, it truly does look effortless.


Perhaps this is why many people who are not directly involved in agriculture seem to think that farmers and ranchers fit the stereotype of simple folk living simple lives.

Fairgoers, officials set right example

 

By Joy Philippi


Last year, when vandals attempted to destroy the butter cow at the Iowa State Fair, fair officials chose to play it cool. The cow was repaired, the paint mess was cleaned up and the show continued.


One year later, Iowa State Fair manager and chief executive officer Gary Slater explained, "There was no reason for us to make a big deal out of the incident. We were confident those responsible would step forward in the media."


That is exactly what happened. The cow attackers had to issue a press release to claim responsibility hours after the vandalism was discovered. What this extremist group did not expect was to have its message countered by thousands of activists who would purchase "Butter Cow Security" T-shirts last year and again in 2014 to express their support for agriculture.


These authentic pro-agriculture activists did not jump on a soapbox and emotionally condemn the actions of the offenders. They understood that doing so would merely open the door for extremist groups to use their own emotional rhetoric to mislead the public.


  


     
Agribusiness news, event coverage, weather, markets and even vintage tractors, This Week in Agribusiness, featuring veteran broadcasters Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson, takes you across the country, and occasionally around the world, with stories, profiles updates and more related to America's most essential industry. As seen on RFD and 90 other stations nationwide.


Click here to view
 

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AABP offers cattle castration, dehorning guidelines
 

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) has created "Castration & Dehorning Guidelines" for general information for the castration and dehorning of beef and dairy cattle.
 

These guidelines are meant to assist veterinarians and their clients in enhancing the welfare of cattle on beef and dairy farms by providing information on how best to approach dehorning and castration of calves.

 

 

 


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