|
* * * * * * * * * *
1. Vigilance urged as Senecavirus strain hits more pigs
Feedstuffs
December 15, 2015
A once uncommon virus in pigs that's appearing this year with greater frequency should keep pork producers and local veterinarians vigilant but is no cause for panic, according to an Iowa State University veterinarian.
The ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has confirmed around 100 cases of Senecavirus A in pigs in seven states since July, said Chris Rademacher, a senior clinician in veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine.
In a normal year, the U.S. swine industry encounters only a handful of cases, Rademacher said, and veterinarians have taken notice of this year's increasing frequency.
Senecavirus causes blisters, or vesicles, around the snout, mouth and hooves of an infected pig, but the symptoms are rarely fatal and don't last long. In fact, the virus rarely requires any sort of treatment, Rademacher said.
"In severe enough cases, it can cause lameness, but it's generally not lethal for an adult pig," he said. "The pigs heal quickly, usually in a matter of a few days."
Of greater concern is that the symptoms of a Senecavirus A infection mirror those of several foreign vesicular viruses the American pork industry is working hard to keep outside U.S. borders. Those diseases include foot and mouth disease, swine vesicular disease, swine vesicular exanthema and vesicular stomatitis virus.
Full text:
********
|
|
2. CWD confirmed in Crawford County buck harvested on private land [WI]
Westby Times
December 16, 2015
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Tuesday confirmed test results showing chronic wasting disease in a 3-1/2-year-old buck harvested on private land in Crawford County.
Tami Ryan, DNR wildlife health section chief, said the result represents the first positive test for CWD detected in the county. The buck appeared healthy at the time of the kill, which is not unusual with CWD detections as it takes up to 16 to 18 months before infected animals display symptoms.
"Crawford County is already classified as a CWD-affected county, so the finding will not result in any regulatory changes," Ryan said. "We have interviewed the hunter to confirm the location, which is in the town of Clayton, west of Richland Center. The deer was harvested 13 miles from the nearest previous positive test result."
Crawford County and the surrounding counties of Vernon, Richland and Grant are already classified as CWD affected counties and have baiting and feeding bans in place.
********
|
|
3. CWD Found in Elk Near Elk Mountain [WY]
Big Horn Radio Network
December 16, 2015
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a cow elk that was observed to be in poor health near Elk Mountain and was lethally removed. The elk was found in elk hunt area 11, which is flanked by elk hunt areas and overlaps with a deer hunt area where CWD had already been documented.
The elk was reported to Game and Fish on Dec. 4 near Bear Creek, 5 miles southeast of the town of Elk Mountain.
Source:
********
|
|
4. Livestock shipping guidance available
JAVMA News
Posted Dec. 16, 2015
January 1, 2016
Two organizations that support livestock industries and livestock health are giving guidance on moving animals between states.
The National Institute for Animal Agriculture and the United States Animal Health Association are providing the information on state livestock importation requirements and restrictions, which can be determined for a particular shipment by inputting details about the animal species to be moved and their source and destination.
The database is available at: http://www.interstatelivestock.com
Source:
******** |
|
5. Secluded Utah bison have key genetic material, study shows
By Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press
Lexington Herald Leader
December 16, 2015
SALT LAKE CITY -- A secluded group of bison in southeastern Utah is directly descended from bison that once covered the American West, according to new research published Wednesday.
The paper shows the herd could help the recovery of the iconic animals.
The analysis of genetic material by scientists from Utah State and Texas A&M universities shows that the herd of about 350 animals living in the Henry Mountains is free of cattle DNA introduced into the most bison lineages when people tried to breed them with cows in the 19th century.
But cow DNA can alter bison size and behavior, so conservationists want to use bison with the rarer pure genome as the animals are re-introduced to national parks, American Indian lands and private lands from Alaska to Mexico.
"It's important to how these animals look and behave, but also to conservation of the bison genome as a whole," said lead researcher Dustin Ranglack.
The study published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE was done by analyzing cells on strands of hair plucked from the tails of 129 animals, said USU wildlife ecologist Johan du Toit. It was paid for with a grant from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Full text:
********
|
|
6. Omnibus, tax extenders provide some presents for ag [edited]
By Jacqui Fatka
Feedstuffs
December 16, 2015
The long-awaited omnibus spending bill and tax extenders package were released late Tuesday night, giving a look at what lobbyists were able to win in the ongoing discussions of recent weeks over riders, funding levels and tax extensions. The House could vote as early as Thursday on the deals.
On the spending level, the omnibus bill provides $21.75 billion in discretionary funding for agriculture appropriations - $925 million above the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and $34 million below the President's budget request.
Within the agriculture research budget, the bill includes $350 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative for competitive agricultural research grants and $212 million to rehabilitate high-priority ARS facilities.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service received a $23 million increase this year's levels to support increases to fight highly pathogenic avian influenza and citrus greening. The Food Safety Inspection Service also saw a boost of $3.3 million above the president's request, although $1.6 million below this year's levels.
Policy riders
The legislation includes several policy provisions including a mandatory country of origin labeling repeal for certain meat products (see related story*.)
[ *See: http://feedstuffs.com/story-cool-repeal-rider-included-omnibus-45-135254 ]
The bill does ban horse slaughter in the U.S., which has become a common rider in these omnibus bills.
Full text:
********
|
|
7. Availability of FSIS Compliance Guideline for Controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter in Raw Poultry
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 241 (Wednesday, December 16, 2015)
Notices
Pages 78166-78167
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31628]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2014-0034]
Availability of FSIS Compliance Guideline for Controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter in Raw Poultry
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and opportunity for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing the availability of and requesting comment on the revised guideline to assist poultry establishments in controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter in raw poultry. The Agency has revised its guideline to provide updated information for establishments to use to control pathogens in raw poultry products with the goal of reducing human illnesses associated with consuming poultry contaminated with Salmonella and Campylobacter. The guideline represents the best practice recommendations of FSIS based on scientific and practical considerations. This document does not represent regulatory requirements. By following this guideline, poultry establishments should be able to produce raw poultry products that have less contamination with pathogens, including Salmonella and Campylobacter, than would otherwise be the case.
DATES: Submit comments on or before February 16, 2016.
Full text:
********
|
|
