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1. U.S. prepares for autumn resurgence of bird flu in poultry
Reuters
July 7, 2015
The U.S. Agriculture Department is worried about a possible bird flu resurgence in the fall, following an outbreak that has killed more than 48 million chickens and turkeys since December in the largest animal health emergency in U.S. history.
Wild birds that spread the virus will very likely carry it when they begin migrating south in the fall, John Clifford, the USDA's chief veterinary officer, said in remarks prepared for a U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on Tuesday.
Poultry producers in a migratory bird route along the east coast, called the Atlantic Flyway, should prepare for the first infections of the disease, he added.
The outbreak has killed more than 48 million chickens and turkeys since December. Most of the losses have been egg-laying hens in Iowa, the nation's top egg-producing state.
The number of new infections has slowed in recent weeks because warmer, drier weather makes it harder for the virus to survive. However, USDA officials plan to meet with state veterinarians and industry members later this month to urge improved cleaning practices to prevent the spread of the disease on farms.
Full text:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/07/07/health-birdflu-usda-hearing-idINL1N0ZN1LI20150707
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2. Vaccine not at top of federal avian flu response plan
By Don Davis
West Central Tribune
July 7, 2015
WASHINGTON - Poultry producers and government officials are preparing for a predicted renewed fall avian flu outbreak, such as improving biosecurity, but they disagree about whether a vaccine should be used.
The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday heard from federal officials and a panel representing poultry farmers, with an eye toward fall when wild water fowl begin their southerly migration, which will be late August in Minnesota. Experts think the flu is spread by migrating birds, but do not know specifically how.
"We are facing the largest animal health emergency in this country's history," said Dr. John Clifford, a key U.S. Department of Agriculture official in dealing with the flu outbreak.
However, Clifford said, vaccine may not be the answer.
Some foreign countries are hesitant to buy poultry from this country.
"We've seen trade cut off by trading partners concerned about the devastating effects of this disease, causing over
$1 billion in poultry products to be directed to other markets at a cost to producers," Clifford said.
The USDA has investigated vaccinations, he said, but none has proven effective to the current H5N2 strain that has hit Midwest poultry farms.
Full text:
http://www.wctrib.com/news/local/3781641-vaccine-not-top-federal-avian-flu-response-plan
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3. Groups request solution on vaccine shortages
Feedstuffs
July 7, 2015
Agriculture organizations urged the Senate Committee on Agriculture to quickly find a solution for a vaccine shortage that could have devastating effects on the United States livestock community.
There isn't enough Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine available to handle an outbreak beyond a very small localized event within the livestock community. In a letter addressed to Sen. Pat Roberts (R., Kan.), chairman of the committee, the groups express concern over the vulnerable position of the U.S. livestock industry considering the shortage.
"The current vaccine bank arrangement has several problems. The turnaround time from the onset of an outbreak until finished vaccine is delivered to the field can take weeks for even a small number of doses and months for the number of doses needed in a large outbreak," the letter states. "Also alarming is vaccine production capacity for approved manufactures is limited world-wide and there is no surge capacity available to produce the millions of doses needed in the event of a large scale outbreak in the U.S."
The groups also noted concerns about the limited number of antigen strains maintained at Plum Island, N.Y. facility and the limited shelf life of the antigen concentrate that affects the potency of the finished vaccine.
The livestock industry has requested that the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proceed with several steps to ensure sufficient supply of the vaccine, including requesting funds through the President's budget.
Full text:
http://feedstuffs.com/story-groups-request-solution-vaccine-shortages-45-129628
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4. General Mills announces new cage-free eggs policy
The Associated Press
July 7, 2015
Food maker General Mills announced a major move toward cage-free eggs Tuesday as part of an updated animal welfare policy that now extends throughout its global supply chain.
The Golden Valley-based company committed itself to 100 percent cage-free eggs for its U.S. operations, a move several other large companies also have taken recently. The company did not set a deadline but said it will work with its suppliers to determine a "reasonable timeline," given the disruption that bird flu has caused to the U.S. egg supply.
Eggs are an important ingredient in many products for General Mills, whose brands include Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Progresso soups, Yoplait yogurt and Hamburger Helper. Some of its products, such as Haagen-Dazs ice cream made in Europe, already go beyond cage-free and use only free-range eggs.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/pqkp3n7
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5. 300 deer at Fairchild farm to be euthanized after CWD found [WI]
WXOW.com
July 6, 2015
Fairchild (WQOW) - It's been 16 years since a Fairchild farmer started a deer farm and now, for the first time, he will have to euthanize all his deer.
Last month, a doe tested positive for chronic wasting disease at Rick Vojtik's farm. He said almost all of his 300 deer will need to be put down in an order from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
State Veterinarian Paul McGrew said he is waiting on paperwork and doesn't know how the deer will be euthanized. Vojtik hopes for the deer to receive a lethal injection of drugs, for the most humane way to put down the deer. Vojtik said he will move to another farm to repopulate his deer farm after the 90-day process involved in euthanizing the deer.
Source:
http://www.wxow.com/story/29486358/deer-at-farm-to-be-killed-after-cwd-found
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6. Northey: Iowa Turkey Farms Could See New Live Birds Within a Month
By Roger Riley
WHOtv.com
July 7, 2015
DES MOINES, Iowa- Turkey farms struck by the avian influenza could be getting new live birds within a month or so, according to Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Bill Northey.
Northey said all the infected birds have now been put down, and disposed of. He said 20 farms are working with contractors to disinfect their barns, several other farmers are doing the work themselves.
"We're pleased, I think within a month here some turkeys will be back in some of the barns," said Northey. "The layer operations could be another month to month and a half out from that." He added that some operations will take longer to re-open.
It has now been around three weeks since the last case of avian influenza was reported in the state. Northey said the USDA has called this event, "the largest animal health emergency this country has ever faced."
Full text:
http://whotv.com/2015/07/07/northeyiowa-turkey-farms-could-see-new-live-birds-within-a-month/
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7. Fish Vet Group Achieves USDA APHIS Approval
Fish Vet Group
TheFishSite.com
July 7, 2015
US - Fish Vet Group - the world's largest aquaculture health provider - is pleased to announce the laboratory services offered by their facility in Portland, Maine have achieved USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) approval.
Their laboratory practices, advanced diagnostic tools and specialized veterinarians and diagnosticians have passed the stringent assessment by the USDA. This allows the facility to provide inspection and health certification in support of inter-state and international movement of live aquatic animals.
Aquatic Veterinarian Dr David Marancik of FVG US explains the importance of this approval: "All of our facilities and applicable diagnostic tests have been assessed and passed by the USDA. This allows us to offer accredited fish health inspections and certification to the aquaculture industry, in addition to our veterinary and pathology services. With all of this housed in one laboratory we are in a unique position to offer a full aquatic health service package".
Full text:
http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/25799/fish-vet-group-achieves-usda-aphis-approval/
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