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1. Veterinarians named to ag secretary's animal health advisory committee

By USDA

Bovine Veterinarian

July 29, 2015

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the members of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Animal Health.

[Congratulations to the many USAHA members who are now serving on this important committee.]

The committee will provide outside perspectives on U.S. Department of Agriculture strategies, policies and programs to prevent, control and/or eradicate animal health diseases, according to a USDA news release. The committee also will lead broader dialogue on public health concerns and the stability of the livestock economies, the release said.

The following individuals have been appointed to serve on the committee through June 2017:

   Dr. Michael J. Blackwell, a veterinarian and director of veterinary policy for the Humane Society of the United States from Tennessee

   Dr. Stephen Crawford, state veterinarian and deputy commissioner of agriculture from New Hampshire

   Dr. S. Peder Cuneo, extension specialist and assistant director of university animal care at University of Arizona from Arizona

   Ms. Glenda S. Davis, program manager for tribal veterinary services from Navajo Nation

   Dr. Mark J. Engle, technical services manager, swine business unit, for Merck Animal Health from Missouri

   Dr. David L. Fernandez, a sheep producer and extension livestock specialist from Arkansas

   Mr. Maximiliano A. Fernandez, a cattle and sheep producer and advocate from Washington

   Dr. John R. Fisher, director and professor of cooperative wildlife disease study at University of Georgia from Georgia

   Dr. Daniel L. Grooms, chairperson and professor of large animal clinical sciences at Michigan State University from Michigan

   Dr. Annette B. Jones, state veterinarian and director of animal health and food safety services from California

   Ms. Mary Ann Kniebel, rancher and feedlot nutritionist from Kansas

   Dr. John R. MacMillan, vice president of Clear Springs Foods, Idaho

   Ms. Judith I. McGeary, producer and attorney at law from Texas

   Dr. Willie M. Reed, dean of the college of veterinary medicine at Purdue University from Indiana

   Dr. G. Donald Ritter, veterinary director of health services for Mountaire Farms from Maryland

   Mr. Charles Rogers, chief executive officer for Clovis Livestock Auction from New Mexico

   Dr. David R. Smith, endowed professor and beef program leader at Mississippi State University from Mississippi

   Dr. Belinda Thompson, faculty, advisor and interim assistant executive director, animal health diagnostic center at Cornell University from New York

   Dr. Elizabeth K. Wagstrom, chief veterinarian for National Pork Producers Council from Minnesota

The committee's next meeting will take place in the coming months.

Source:

http://www.bovinevetonline.com/news/veterinarians-named-ag-secretarys-animal-health-advisory-committee  

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2. PA Ag Secretary provides update on avian influenza emergency planning, response

By Paul Smith         

Fox43.com

July 29, 2015

HARRISBURG, Pa. - As the commonwealth continues to plan a response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) - a virus that has decimated flocks in the western two-thirds of the country - Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding emphasized today that the state Department of Agriculture has the financial resources available to continue its work and be ready, should an outbreak occur in the commonwealth.

"We want to be clear that avian influenza has not been found in our state, but we need to plan and act as if it could at any moment, which is a distinct possibility," Redding said. "When this virus hit in 1983 and 1984, 17 million birds were lost. That equated to a $65 million negative impact to our state's economy. We are doing everything possible to avoid that kind of devastation - or worse - with this outbreak."

Redding said Governor Wolf has approved $3.5 million for the department, which would be on the front line of any response, to continue its planning work and mount a response to any initial outbreak, but the size and scope of that response is uncertain.

Full text: http://tinyurl.com/ocnxj2h  

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3. Quarantines lifted on some poultry barns in Barron, Chippewa counties [WI]

RiverTowns.net

July 29, 2015

MADISON -- The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) said Wednesday it had lifted quarantines on three of nine commercial poultry producers struck by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) earlier this year.

The Department has lifted the quarantines on three premises, one in each of Chippewa, Barron and Jefferson counties.

A backyard flock in Juneau County was already released in June.

The remaining six premises are in the final stages of testing that is required for release.

"These producers can now restock their barns and resume business," said Dr. Paul McGraw, Wisconsin State Veterinarian.

Full text:

http://www.rivertowns.net/news/region/3807155-quarantines-lifted-some-poultry-barns-barron-chippewa-counties  

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4. NOTICE: June 2015 Monthly Scrapie Report is Available

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin

July 29, 2015

The monthly report for the National Scrapie Eradication Program for June 2015 is now available. The monthly reports are available in both PowerPoint and PDF formats.

   PowerPoint Monthly Report

   PDF Monthly Report

         [See: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/downloads/monthly_scrapie_report.pdf ]

Highlights of the June 2015 Report

One new scrapie infected flock and three new scrapie source flocks have been designated in fiscal year (FY) 2015. Since the beginning of FY 2015, 30 sheep have tested positive for scrapie; 26 of these positives were from the same source flock. Two goats have tested for positive; both from the same herd.

As of June 30, 2015, 25,018 sheep and 5,720 goats have been tested for scrapie beginning FY2015.

Source:

http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/111729d  

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5. Bison herd in Oklahoma recovering after deadly disease

The Associated Press

The Bellingham Herald

July 29, 2015

PAWHUSKA, Okla. -- A bison herd at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in northern Oklahoma is recovering after a disease killed dozens of the animals between 2013 and 2014.

Roughly 100 bison died after being infected with a bacterial pathogen called Mycoplasma bovis, an illness that leads to emaciation, weakness and death, the Tulsa World (http://bit.ly/1LYvAIe ) reported. Since the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma's herd on the preserve was vaccinated in May 2014, none of the animals have died because of the disease.

"They sure look a lot better than they did a year ago," Preserve Director Bob Hamilton said. "These are nice, good-condition animals. You can tell they have some good reserves."

Hamilton said research indicates the disease isn't contagious to humans and that bison meat from the infected animals is safe to consume. He said it's not known how the bison contracted the disease, which is transmitted through physical contact and through water and feed.

Full text:

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/article29376598.html  

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6. U.S. Measures to Protect Against BSE [video]

FDA Ctr. for Veterinary Medicine

July 29, 2015

This [8 minute] video explains what measures the FDA and the USDA have put in place to prevent Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) - or what the press has called Mad Cow Disease - from entering the United States and how FDA's Feed Inspection Program is essential to protecting the U.S. food and feed supply.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/owrgpgl  

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7. Origin Labeling Repeal Held Up

By Staff Writer         

WHOtv.com

July 29, 2015

Legislative changes to mandatory country of origin meat labeling may have to wait until September. In order to avoid trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico, the U.S. has to fix COOL. Two competing amendments in the Senate would either fully repeal it or replace it with a voluntary program.

House Republicans have called an early summer recess, making it less likely congress can solve the dispute and the threat of $3 billion of taxes on U.S. exports. The House already passed a full repeal.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is in favor of the voluntary replacement, but the likely vehicle for the COOL fix was the highway bill, which now looks like it cannot carry extra legislation.

Full text:

http://whotv.com/2015/07/29/origin-labeling-repeal-held-up/  

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