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1. Annual Testing in Alpena County Finds Bovine TB Infected Herd [MI]
Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development Press Release
January 6, 2015
LANSING - Routine bovine tuberculosis surveillance testing conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently confirmed a medium-sized beef herd as bovine TB positive in Alpena County. This is the 63rd cattle herd in Michigan and 28th in Alpena County found with bovine TB since 1998.
An informational meeting for beef and dairy cattle producers in Alpena County is scheduled for:
January 21, 2016 at 7 p.m. at Green Township Hall, 14621 M-32, Lachine, MI 49753
Bovine TB is an infectious bacterial disease primarily affecting cattle; however, it can be spread between wildlife populations and other mammals, including humans. This herd is located in a small area of Michigan where bovine TB is endemic in the free-ranging whitetail deer. Any contact either directly or indirectly with the deer can spread bovine TB to a herd.
"Transmission of bovine TB to Michigan cattle continues to be a burden to our farmers, this is our third bovine TB infected herd for 2015," said Dr. Rick Smith, Assistant State Veterinarian. "MDARD has, and will continue to, work with farmers to mitigate the risk of their herd coming into contact with infected deer and toward eventual eradication of the disease."
In designated bovine TB portions of the Northeastern Lower Peninsula, annual surveillance testing and testing before movement is required. These testing precautions are designed to catch the disease in the very earliest stages and prevent the disease from spreading to other farms. In addition, all cattle in Michigan must have electronic identification ear tags before they move from a farm which assists MDARD in tracing cattle movement in the event of a disease investigation.
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2. UW-Madison to end dairy sheep research program, disperse herd of ewes
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By Karen Herzog
January 6, 2016
The University of Wisconsin-Madison will close its dairy sheep research program and disperse the flock of about 300 ewes in the fall, as the university rethinks how it serves the state's broad agricultural sectors in light of state budget cuts.
With pending retirements and reduced resources, the Department of Animal Sciences will no longer be able to support faculty members specializing in all aspects of all species, said Richard Straub, senior associate dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
The university already does not have a swine specialist or a beef specialist, Straub said.
The Department of Animal Sciences will continue to address problems of animal agriculture in the state, but will focus more broadly across species in areas such as nutrition and animal health, Straub said.
The dairy sheep research program and flock are housed at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station in Washburn County in northwestern Wisconsin. A faculty member who started the research program about 20 years ago is planning to retire.
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3. TAHC Coordinates Response Efforts to Winter Storm Goliath
Texas Animal Health Commission News Release
January 6, 2016
AUSTIN, TX - In the aftermath of Winter Storm Goliath, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) continues to work with industry and state agency partners in response and recovery efforts in the northwest part of the Texas Panhandle.
TAHC has been engaged in coordination efforts since the storm hit Texas on December 26, 2015. Livestock producers in this region were severely impacted by blizzard conditions with wind gusts reaching up to 80 MPH and snow accumulating over 20 inches in a 48-hour period.
TAHC Horseback Emergency Response Team has been conducting searches and identifying lost cattle while coordinating their efforts with local county officials and the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Rangers.
"The biggest challenge is yet to come; animal production losses will put a strain on all facets of the industry, but we are doing everything we can to make sure the Texas livestock industry will overcome this," said Dr. David Finch, TAHC Region 1 Director.
A Joint Information Center (JIC) was activated on Wednesday December 30, 2015, by the TAHC to coordinate all Texas Panhandle incident-related public information activities regarding Winter Storm Goliath.
The TAHC is the state's lead agency for all animal issues during disasters. The agency assists local jurisdictions with damage assessments, animal identification, and with the care, evacuation and sheltering of animals during and after disasters.
Animal needs assessment operations can be facilitated at the request of the local community. The TAHC also supports carcass disposal activities and works in partnership with veterinary stakeholders, fellow state agencies and industry groups.
Industry groups such as Texas Dairy Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), Independent Cattlemen Association (ICA), Texas Pork Producers Association (TPPA), Texas Poultry Federation and Texas Farm Bureau have all been involved with coordinating response plans. State and federal partners also responding include Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team, Office of the Governor, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Texas Veterinarian Medical Association(TVMA).
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4. Expert leads cattle handling seminar for beef producers [IN]
Purdue Extension News Release
January 6, 2016
Indiana beef producers and veterinarians are invited to attend a beef cattle handling seminar sponsored by Purdue University's Integrated Resource Management program.
The seminar will be held 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Marriott Indianapolis East as part of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association's annual meeting.
Lynn Locatelli, veterinarian and cattle-handling expert, will lead the seminar based on the Cattlexpressions Low-Stress Cattle Handling program.
The workshop focuses on how human interactions with livestock affect animal health, performance and handling. Locatelli will explain how to reduce stress on animals and their handlers.
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5. Cattlemen should check animals carefully for cold injury following blizzard
By Kay Ledbetter, Texas AgriLife
Southwest Farm Press
January 5, 2016
As the snow melts away from Winter Storm Goliath and cattle are gathered back into pens and pastures, cow-calf producers should continue to watch their animals for after-effects, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist.
"There is some potential for latent effects of the sustained low windchill temperatures during the recent blizzard conditions," said Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Amarillo.
McCollum said the bitter cold may have frozen the ears and tails of cattle and other animals, so partial loss may occur over the next few weeks.
"This may present some concern to the owners, but it is not a threat to the long-term wellbeing of the cattle," he said.
The wind and low temperatures also could have resulted in frozen teats and sensitive udders, McCollum said. The udders of cows nursing calves may be sensitive, which could affect milk consumption by the calf for a few days.
If the teats were impaired by frostbite, then there may be some mastitis and/or partial loss of udder function, he said, advising those tending to the cattle to watch the calves and check the udders.
"Also, cows that will be calving later this year could have been affected, but the effects may not be apparent until calving time and lactation," McCollum said. "Again, observe the calves and the udders after calving."
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6. Tennessee Launches Statewide Animal Abuser Registry [edited]
By Pat Raia
TheHorse.com
January 5, 2016
Tennessee has launched an online registry of those convicted of animal abuse anywhere in that state. The registry represents the nation's first database to list information about convicted animal abusers on a statewide basis.
In May 2015 Tennessee lawmakers passed HB 0147 and its twin bill SB 120 establishing the Tennessee Animal Abuser Registration Act, which authorized the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to establish and maintain a website containing the photos, names, and addresses of those convicted of animal cruelty crimes in that state. The measure became effective on Jan. 1.
Under the new law, information for the database will be provided by court clerks who are required forward copies of judgments along with convicted offenders' dates of birth to the TBI within 21 calendar days after the judgment is entered.
"I'm excited about it," said Franklin, Tennessee-based Arabian horse trainer Jill Girardi-Thomas. "It means we're serious about doing something for the animals in this state."
The Tennessee Animal Abuser Registry can be viewed online at http://tn.gov/tbi/topic/tennessee-animal-abuse-registry.
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7. Chipotle's Food Safety Woes Lead to Criminal Investigation
Aamer Madhani, USA Todayt
WFMYnews2.com
January 6, 2016
Sales at fast casual chain Chipotle Mexican Grill continue to tumble as the company's struggle with a bout of foodborne illness issues at locations across the country deepens.
The company, on Wednesday, reported a double dose of bad news. Sales at restaurants open at least a year slid 30% in December and fell 14.6% during the fourth quarter. The company had previously predicted an 11% decline for the period. Chipotle also said it has been served with a federal grand jury subpoena over an August norovirus episode in California.
The Denver-based company said it was served with a subpoena in December and notified about an official criminal investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations.
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