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1. New NDV-H5Nx avian influenza vaccine has potential for mass vaccination of poultry
Phys.org
January 7, 2016
A team of researchers at Kansas State University, in collaboration with Garcia-Sastre of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has developed a vaccine that protects poultry from multiple strains of avian influenza found in the U.S., including H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8. The vaccine has the potential to be administered through water or into embryonated eggs, making it easier for poultry producers to vaccinate flocks.
The vaccine, called NDV-H5Nx, protects chickens and likely other poultry against the three recently introduced U.S. avian influenza strains H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8, as well as against Newcastle disease virus-a virus that naturally affects poultry. Avian influenza killed millions of chickens and turkeys in the U.S. in spring and summer 2015, leading to billions in lost revenue for the U.S. poultry industry.
The NDV-H5Nx vaccine also has the potential to be administered to millions of birds at a time through water, said J�rgen Richt, Regents distinguished professor of veterinary medicine, director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases at Kansas State University and one of the researchers involved in the discovery.
"The vaccine we produced is a live vaccine, which means it replicates in birds," Richt said. "Because it's live, we believe that the vaccine could be sprayed into the air or put in the water supply so that when the chickens need a drink, they could be vaccinated. A poultry farm could vaccinate all of its birds in a single day because all living creatures need water to live."
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2. Tests show disease in hoof from elk killed in Skagit County [WA]
KBKW.com
January 6, 2016
Preliminary tests indicate bacteria found in an abnormal hoof taken from an elk killed in a vehicle collision in Skagit County east of Sedro-Woolley may be the same strain found in diseased elk in southwest Washington.
Last month, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sent abnormal hooves collected from four elk in northwest Washington to Colorado State University to test for treponeme-associated hoof disease, which has infected two elk herds in southwest Washington.
Results came back negative for three elk harvested by hunters in Whatcom County, but the sample from Skagit County revealed microscopic evidence of treponeme-associated hoof disease, said Kristin Mansfield, WDFW epidemiologist.
All four of the elk tested by the university were from the North Cascades herd - also also known as the Nooksack herd - which includes about 1,000 animals centered in Skagit and Whatcom counties. The hoof that tested positive for treponeme bacteria was taken from an elk found dead along Highway 20.
"We routinely send disfigured elk hooves from around the state for testing, but this is the first one outside of southwest Washington that shows evidence of this disease," Mansfield said. "At this point it is unclear whether this condition will spread to other elk as it has in the affected area."
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3. Michigan DNR Checks 1 Million Deer Thanks to Michigan Hunters' Cooperation
By Vanessa Torres
Ammoland.com
January 7, 2016
Michigan -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been collecting records for individual deer since 1987 - although it has been recording deer data for more than 50 years - and near the end of 2015, the DNR added its 1 millionth deer record to this database.
Michigan hunters have the opportunity to voluntarily bring their harvested deer to DNR deer check stations throughout the deer hunting season and receive a prized deer hunter cooperator patch.
The data collected through this process includes age, sex and location of the deer harvested.
"Checking 1 million deer in this time frame shows the department's commitment to collecting data from our deer herd to support science-based management, but also shows the level of cooperation by our hunters throughout the years," said Chad Stewart, DNR deer management specialist.
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4. West Virginia deer farms make the transition from one state agency to another
By Nicky Walters, Reporter
WOWKtv.com
January 6, 2016
CHARLESTON, WV - The deer farming industry in West Virginia is growing as the industry and state leaders make a big transition.
In 2015 the West Virginia Legislature took oversight of deer farms out from under the Division of Natural Resources and shifted responsibility to the Department of Agriculture. The state of Ohio has been under a similar structure since 2012. What this means for West Virginia is consumers could soon be able to buy local venison or order it at a local restaurants. That is an option that wasn't available before. But still the topic of deer farms remains controversial. It is a move the West Virginia Deer Farmers Association lobbied for for over a decade.
"If they take care of them and manage disease that kind of stuff that is fine," said Matthew Myers. But he said the industry isn't something he would get involved with. He also said he refers to kill his own game in the wild.
WV Deer Farmers Association President Mark Cobb said the state now has very specific regulations to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease. The changes include required testing for every deer that dies on the farm. Facilities have to do this for at least five years before they can move deer from one facility to another. Farms are also inspected and work with the state vet to make sure animals are healthy.
There are 500 deer farms in Ohio and more than 40 in West Virginia.
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5. Dietary guidelines keep meat on dinner tables
Kevin Schulz
National Hog Farmer
January 7, 2016
Meat still has a place at Americans' dinner tables, according to the long-awaited updated dietary guidelines. Sylvia M. Burwell and Tom Vilsack, secretaries of Health and Human Services and USDA, respectively, today released the updated nutritional guidelines that encourage Americans to adopt a series of science-based recommendations to improve how they eat to reduce obesity and prevent chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
The U.S. government's release of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines may be a win for the country's meat industry, but it's more of a win for the American consumer.
Adria Huseth was pleasantly surprised that these final recommendations include a place for lean meats, such as pork, but she sees these dietary guidelines as a promotion of a balanced diet. Huseth is a registered and licensed dietitian working for the National Pork Board.
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6. Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Expanded Market Access for U.S. Poultry, Pork and Beef Exports to South Africa
USDA Office of Communications Bulletin
January 7, 2016
WASHINGTON -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement:
On Jan. 7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), reached agreement with South African officials to allow most U.S. exports of poultry, pork and beef and their products to re-gain access to the South African market, pursuant to an out-of-cycle review of South Africa conducted under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The agreement was reached following intense U.S. government engagement with South African officials over the last year. Only a limited number of U.S. poultry and meat products have been exported to South Africa in recent years, due to unwarranted sanitary requirements by the South African authorities, with most poultry exports blocked for the last 15 years. With this renewed access for U.S. red meat and poultry products, U.S. exports to South Africa could generate $75 million of shipments annually.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today made the following statement regarding this announcement:
"This is good news for American farmers, ranchers and poultry, pork and beef companies. We welcome this move by South Africa and will continue our efforts to break down barriers and expand access for high-quality, safe and wholesome U.S. food and agricultural products around the world. With this agreement, South Africa reaffirms the scientific soundness and integrity of the U.S. system for ensuring animal health and food safety, and this will result in high-quality U.S. meat and poultry being available for South African consumers.
The regained access for American meat and poultry exports we're announcing today is the culmination of many months of hard work by USDA and USTR staff. The past seven years have been the strongest in history for agricultural trade, with U.S. agricultural product exports totaling $911.4 billion since 2009. Strong agricultural exports contribute to a positive U.S. trade balance, create jobs and boost economic growth. Those exports supported approximately 1 million U.S. jobs last year. The economy is strengthened in rural communities and throughout the entire country from the additional economic activity that flows from the expanded farm and processing business."
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