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1. Symposium to address management of catastrophic losses
By Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases
PorkNetwork.com
May 13, 2015
Online registration is now open at animalmortmgmt.org for the 5th International Symposium on Managing Animal Mortalities, Products, By-Products, & Associated Health Risks: Connecting Research, Regulations, and Responses. The conference, to be held September 28 - October 1, 2015, will take place at the Lancaster Marriot at Penn Square in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Catastrophic losses of poultry and livestock caused by disease, fire, or weather-related stresses, and routine losses associated with large-scale production operations, have become significant environmental, bio-security, and waste management concerns around the globe. The Symposium will highlight new research, current and emerging disposal methodologies, and critical assessments of public policy, with the intent to capture and disseminate new information on these topics, and to stimulate development of additional research, policy development, and educational programs.
Active learning will be achieved through an Emergency Exercise, "Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Outbreak." This Emergency Exercise will include breakout sessions and active participation in facilitated scenario discussions. Participants will analyze a fictitious HPAI outbreak in various dimensions (one farm, multiple farms, state or province, and nationally) and identify issues and gaps related to depopulation, disposal and managing various contamination issues that would occur during the disease outbreak. The continuation of food production and distribution, with stop movement processes, will also be explored. The Exercise will draw upon real experiences of participants in responding the HPAI outbreaks in the U.S. and Canada in 2014 and 2015.
Full text:
http://www.porknetwork.com/news/symposium-address-management-catastrophic-losses
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2. Equine Herpes Virus Myeloencephalopathy Found at Warren County Stable [ IA]
Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship News Release
May 13, 2015
DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today announced that a horse stable in Warren County has had several confirmed cases of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). EHM is the neurological disease associated with Equine Herpesvirus (EHV). There is no human health threat from the disease.
All horses at the facility are being monitored for the disease and are not permitted to leave the site.
EHV is spread by direct horse-to-horse contact or through contact with objects contaminated with the virus. This can include tack, grooming equipment and feed and water buckets. Signs of the disease include fever, decreased coordination, failure to maintain balance, lethargy and inability to rise.
Full text:
http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/press/2015press/press05132015b.asp
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3. First Avian Influenza Case in NE, Two More in SD; Two more in Iowa
WNAX.com
May 13, 2015
Two more avian influenza cases have been reported in South Dakota, this time in the southeast. State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven says the latest infections were in turkey operations in Yankton and Hutchinson Counties with a total bird count from the two operations at 115,000.
He says they are destroying the birds at those two locations today and testing several other poultry flocks in the 6 miles control zone.
Oedekoven says to date 465,000 turkeys have been infected with bird flu in South Dakota, but so far no chicken or layer operations.
Full text:
http://wnax.com/news/180081-first-avian-influenza-case-in-ne-two-more-in-sd/
See Also:
USDA Confirms More Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza in Two Flocks in Iowa
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
May 13, 2015
WASHINGTON - The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in additional two flocks in Iowa. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time. CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low.
USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed HPAI H5N2 in the following counties and states:
Osceola County, Iowa (May 12, 2015)
Mixed poultry (number pending)
4th detection in this county
Wright County, Iowa (May 12, 2015)
713,000 chickens
3rd detection in this county
Full text:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/10434cb
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4. Fewer Piglet Losses in 2015
By Angela Bowman, associate editor
PorkNetwork
May 12, 2015
Large hog slaughter numbers in April indicate lower piglet losses this year, according to Steve Meyer and Len Steiner in a recent "Daily Livestock Report." Part of these lower piglet loss levels can be linked to the reduction in outbreaks of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv).
"Piglet survival has been remarkable this year relative to one year ago and the improvement is not just because of PEDv. It is due to a sharp increase in the general health status of the U.S. herd. PEDv is the leading factor due to its huge impact one year ago," Meyer and Steiner reported.
Companies surveyed by the University of Minnesota showed the frequency of PEDv on sow farms is significantly lower than in 2014, with the worst weeks in 2015 reporting just nine sow farms with PEDv breaks.
However, PEDv isn't the only factor to consider.
Another factor includes "very low" incidences of porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (PRRS). Meyer and Steiner attribute this reduction in PRRS frequency "largely to Draconian biosecurity measures taken to fight PEDv. This year's low PRRS figures support that conclusion."
Full text:
http://www.porknetwork.com/pedv/fewer-piglet-losses-2015
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5. Egg, turkey meat prices begin to rise as bird flu spreads
By David Pitt, Associated Press
Columbian.com
May 12, 2015
DES MOINES, Iowa - Prices for eggs and turkey meat are rising as an outbreak of bird flu in the Midwest claims an increasing number of chickens and turkeys. Market experts say grocery stores and wholesalers are trying to stock up on eggs, but there's no need to worry about having enough turkeys for Thanksgiving.
The cost of a carton of large eggs in the Midwest has jumped nearly 17 percent to $1.39 a dozen from $1.19 since mid-April when the virus began appearing in Iowa's chicken flocks and farmers culled their flocks to contain any spread.
A much bigger increase has emerged in the eggs used as ingredients in processed products like cake mix and mayonnaise, which account for the majority of what Iowa produces. Those eggs have jumped 63 percent to $1.03 a dozen from 63 cents in the last three weeks, said Rick Brown, senior vice president of Urner Barry, a commodity market analysis firm.
Turkey prices, which had been expected to fall this year, are up slightly as the bird flu claimed about 5.6 million turkeys nationwide so far. About 238 million turkeys were raised in the U.S. last year.
Full text:
http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/may/12/egg-turkey-meat-prices-begin-to-rise-as-bird-flu-s/
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6. Sen. Gillibrand introduces bill after 'devastating' Frontline investigation of food safety system
Robert Harding
Auburn Citizen
May 13, 2015
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who introduced legislation earlier this year to bolster food safety standards, has now unveiled a bill that would improve the recall process for meat and poultry products.
The measure, the Meat and Poultry Recall Notification Act, would give the U.S. Department of Agriculture mandatory recall authority for meat, poultry and some egg products. The bill would also encourage retailers to use shopper reward cards that monitor purchases to inform customers who may have purchased recalled meat and poultry products.
The legislation also calls for the creation of a one-page recall summary notice. This document would be posted at cash registers or on shelves in stores that sold a recalled product.
Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said Wednesday that the current food safety system is "failing to protect Americans."
"Poultry and meat known to be contaminated should never end up in market fridges and freezes or our kitchens," she said. "The USDA must have the authority to recall products that test positive for contaminants, and consumers need to know when food has been recalled."
Gillibrand's announcement comes one day after Frontline, a PBS program, aired its report on the dangers posed by salmonella*. According to the investigation, the bacteria is found in one of four pieces of raw chicken.
[ * See: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/trouble-with-chicken/ ]
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/o6x4qzw
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7. Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Veal Calves
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2015)
Proposed Rules
Pages 27269-27275
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11559]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 309
Docket No. FSIS-2014-0020
RIN 0583-AD54
Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Veal Calves
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to amend its regulations on ante-mortem inspection to remove a provision that permits establishments to set apart and hold for treatment veal calves that are unable to rise from a recumbent position and walk because they are tired or cold. Under the proposed rule, non-ambulatory disabled veal calves that are offered for slaughter will be condemned and promptly euthanized. Prohibiting the slaughter of all non-ambulatory disabled veal calves will improve compliance with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1978 (HMSA) and the humane slaughter implementing regulations. It will also improve the Agency's inspection efficiency by eliminating the time that FSIS inspection program personnel (IPP) spend re-inspecting non-ambulatory disabled veal calves. FSIS is also proposing to clarify in the regulations that all non-ambulatory disabled cattle must be promptly disposed of after they have been condemned.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 13, 2015.
Full text:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-05-13/html/2015-11559.htm
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