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1. Idaho implements restrictions for livestock virus
John O'Connell
Capital Press
June 3, 2015
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture has implemented restrictions on animals entering the state from New Mexico and Arizona in response to an outbreak of visicular stomatitis.
BOISE - The Idaho State Department of Agriculture has implemented special restrictions on the movement of livestock from New Mexico and Arizona into Idaho, seeking to avoid introducing a viral disease that has surfaced in those states.
Vesicular stomatitis mostly affects cattle and horses but can also infect sheep, goats, swine, llamas and alpacas, said Idaho state veterinarian Bill Barton.
The disease, known to be transmitted by black flies, rarely kills animals but creates sores in their mouths and causes them to lose weight, and dairy cattle to reduce milk output, Barton said.
He said cases of the disease are reported almost every year in the Southwest, especially Texas, but the disease has arrived much earlier than normal this summer. Livestock may not be imported from any operation in which vesicular stomatitis has been reported within the previous 30 days.
Full text:
http://www.capitalpress.com/Idaho/20150603/idaho-implements-restrictions-for-livestock-virus
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2. Putting Antibiotic Stewardship into Action
Posted by Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics
USDA Blog
June 4, 2015
The White House on June 2 convened a national forum to seek action on the problem of anti-microbial resistance. The development of antibiotics was one of the most significant medical achievements of the last century, and has helped to save millions of lives. But their overuse or misuse has resulted in the rise of bacteria strains that are resistant to antibiotics.
The White House has unveiled a National Action Plan designed to advance the appropriate use of antibiotics in food animals as well as promote collaborations among partners in medicine, veterinary medicine, and public health. This is consistent with a "One Health" approach that embraces the idea that a disease problem impacting the health of humans, animals, and the environment can only be solved through improved communication, cooperation, and collaboration across disciplines and institutions. USDA, which helped develop the National Action Plan, was pleased to join our many Federal partners and continue our work with the agriculture industry at the forum.
USDA continues to research alternatives to antibiotics, including vaccines, to reduce the use of medically important antibiotics and develop new tools to prevent and treat diseases that impact the health, welfare, and production of livestock, poultry and fish.
For example, recent findings by USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists suggest that lysozyme, an enzyme used in many foods and beverages can serve as a natural alternative to antibiotics used to improve feed efficiency and growth in pigs.
And through our shared goal, USDA will continue working with the agriculture industry to optimize stewardship of antibiotics in food animals.
Full text:
http://blogs.usda.gov/2015/06/04/putting-antibiotic-stewardship-into-action/
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3. USDA Confirms More Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza in Five Flocks in Minnesota and Iowa
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
June 4, 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 five additional flocks in Minnesota and Iowa. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time. CDC considers the risk to the general public 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:
Brown County, Minnesota (June 3, 2015)
15,900 turkeys
4th detection in this county
Kandiyohi County, Minnesota (June 3, 2015)
37,000 turkeys
39th detection in this county
Hamilton County, Iowa (June 3, 2015)
26,200 turkeys
2nd detection in this county
Hamilton County, Iowa (June 3, 2015)
17,200 turkeys
3rd detection in this county
Clay County, Iowa (June 3, 2015)
1,115,700 chickens
2nd detection in this county
Full text:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/107dda5
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4. State Vet: Vaccinate horses now for mosquito-borne illnesses [SC]
by Robert Joseph Baker
ManningLive.com
June 4, 2015
State Veterinarian and Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health Director Boyd Parr said earlier this week that horse owners should be vigilant in maintaining current vaccinations for Eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus and rabies.
Parr said South Carolina led the country in 2013 with its 49 confirmed cases of EEE, a serious, and often fatal mosquito-borne illness in horses that can also affect humans.
Clarendon County had four such cases in 2014. The number fell to just seven statewide in 2014, with none for Clarendon, in large part to the vaccinations, Parr said.
"In South Carolina, we routinely see EEE cases reporter as early as June, making now a good time to vaccinate or (have) a booster on previously vaccinated horses," Parr said. "We think the value of vaccinating was shown by the significant reduction in cases this past year as many more horse owners decided to vaccinate their horses after EEE took its toll in 2013."
With EEE in horses completely preventable by vaccination, Parr said owners should consult with a veterinarian to assure shots against both EEE and West Nile virus are up to date. Most horses that succumb to one of these infections are not properly vaccinated, he noted.
EEE is maintained in nature through a cycle involving the freshwater swamp mosquito, culiseta melanura, commonly known as the blacktailed mosquito.
Two to three days after becoming infected with the EEE virus, a mosquito becomes capable of transmitting it. Infected mosquitoes can then transmit the disease when they bite horses and humans.
Symptoms usually develop in horses from two to five days after exposure, and include, in horses, stumbling, circling, head-pressing, depression or apprehension, weakness of legs, partial paralysis, the inability to stand and muscle twitching. Nine of every 10 horses infected with EEE virus die from the disease.
Full text:
http://manninglive.com/2015/06/04/state-vet-vaccinate-horses-now-for-mosquito-borne-illnesses/
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5. NDA cancels poultry shows across state for remainder of the year [NE]
By Robert Pore
Grand Island Independent
June 4, 2015
LINCOLN - After consultation with Nebraska Extension and poultry industry leaders, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) on Thursday cancelled all poultry events across Nebraska through Jan. 1, 2016.
The ban will include all events where birds are commingled including local and county fairs and festivals, the Nebraska State Fair, Ak-Sar-Ben, swap meets, exotic sales and live bird auctions in an effort to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI).
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/q9s3gnl
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6. Hazardous materials experts helping with bird flu outbreak [IA]
KCCI.com
June 3, 2015
DES MOINES, Iowa -Hazardous materials experts across Iowa are being called to help with the response to the bird flu outbreak.
Officials said 15 members of the Iowa Hazardous Materials Task Force were activated this past weekend.
"The disposal mission would be an insurmountable task without this valuable resource," said Dr. Jack A. Shere, Veterinary Services Associate Deputy Administrator in the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. "USDA does not possess this unique resource that the hazmat team brings to the Task Force to complete these tasks."
They are monitoring cleaning and decontamination activities at infected farms and at landfills.
Full text:
http://www.kcci.com/news/hazardous-materials-experts-helping-with-bird-flu-outbreak/33378492
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7. AgriLife Research-led study examines dairy cow genetics for impact on fertility
Kay Ledbetter
AgriLife Today
June 3, 2015
AMARILLO - Genetic selection in dairy cattle has long been used to help improve milk production and other traits that make dairy cattle more efficient, but attention to fertility hasn't been a big part of the mix until recently.
A Holstein dairy cow tends to her baby calf. (Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo by Dr. Pablo Pinedo)
A Holstein dairy cow tends to her baby calf. (Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo by Dr. Pablo Pinedo)
Texas A&M AgriLife Research is leading a multi-university study aimed at helping producers determine if genetics can help improve the fertility of their herds.
"Genetics and reproduction have not been extensively explored," said Dr. Pablo Pinedo, AgriLife Research ruminant animal health scientist in Amarillo. "We think that genetics play a role in fertility, so we are looking beyond the effect of environment, which includes proper nutrition, management, health and comfort."
The project, "Genomic Selection for Improved Fertility of Dairy Cows with Emphasis on Cyclicity and Pregnancy," was awarded almost $3 million over a five-year period from the U.S. Department of Agriculture within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture as a part of the 2012 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative's Food Security program.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/pzk7h34
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8. USDA Announces Final Environmental Impact Statement on Feral Swine Damage Management Program
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
June 4, 2015
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the availability of a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the APHIS Feral Swine Damage Management Program. As required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), APHIS published a draft EIS in December 2014 that examined five alternatives before the Agency. Of the alternatives examined, APHIS is required by NEPA to identify the alternative-known as the "preferred alternative"-that best meets the purpose and need for the EIS. Following the close of a 45-day comment period on the draft EIS, APHIS thoroughly reviewed and analyzed the comments received.
APHIS' preferred alternative is an integrated, multi-pronged national approach to reduce feral swine damage to agricultural, cultural, natural, and property resources, and human health and safety throughout the United States and territories. This preferred alternative (Alternative 2) meets the Agency's goals and objectives for the national program, and will enable a nationally coordinated, integrated feral swine damage management program in partnership with Federal, State, Territorial, and Tribal agencies. It would also provide cost-share opportunities and include a national component to emphasize research, monitoring, education and other coordinated support actions.
The final EIS will be available for public viewing for 30 days upon publication in the Federal Register before APHIS issues its Record of Decision for the final EIS.
APHIS has submitted the final EIS to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for publication of a notice of availability in the Federal Register. APHIS anticipates that EPA will publish the notice on June 12, 2015. A copy of the final EIS provided to EPA can be found at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0031. Printed and CD copies may be requested from Kimberly Wagner, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services, 732 Lois Dr., Sun Prairie, WI 53590; (608) 837-2727.
Full text:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/107c7aa
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