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1. Elk test positive for exposure to brucellosis [WY]
The Associated Press
Lexington Herald Leader
March 6, 2016
CASPER, Wyo. - Researchers say six of 16 cow elk captured just north of the Wyoming border have tested positive for exposure to brucellosis.
The results are from a sampling of 94 elk captured south of Big Timber by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks crews in January.
According to the Casper Star-Tribune (http://tinyurl.com/hulrosq ), the elk were captured on Forest Service land in Montana where there are no cattle grazing allotments.
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2. Antibiotics take center stage at Pork Forum 2016
By Angela Bowman, Associate Editor, PORK Network
PorkNetwork.com
March 7, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS - The Pork Forum kicked off its 2016 session last week, bringing in hundreds of delegates representing the National Pork Board (Pork Board) and National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). Without question, the biggest topic of the event was antibiotics, antibiotic resistance and what new directives will mean for the nation's pork producers.
Between the new Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2017, and the increasing number of restaurants and suppliers promoting "antibiotic-free" products, antibiotics use in livestock and antibiotic resistance truly took center stage at the event.
Here are just a few quotes regarding antibiotics overheard at the event:
"Nearly $4 million in Checkoff funds were dedicated to antibiotic-related research over the last decade. Antibiotic resistance research is Checkoff's No. 1 priority in 2016."
Jennifer Koeman, Pork Board director of producer and public health
"This is one of the biggest changes that we're going to see in animal health. You need to sit down with your veterinarian to make sure you're doing what's right come Jan. 1. If you start feeding something on Dec. 20, and you're still feeding it on Jan. 1, you will need a VFD, even though it wasn't necessary on Dec. 20."David Pyburn, Pork Board senior vice president of science and technology
"All of us are interested in preserving the effectiveness for both humans and animals through judicious use of antibiotics. 'Judicious' means using as much as necessary and as little as possible." Dr. Peter Davies, University of Minnesota
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3. New NMRC Rules for Entering a Track or Training Center [NM]
New Mexico Livestock Board News Release
March 7, 2016
All racehorses entering any NM Racing Commission licensed racetrack or training center must be accompanied by copies of the horse's registration certificate and a current health certificate. NM Racing Commission requires that all horses entering any NMRC licensed racetrack or training center must have proof of a negative annual Coggins test and proof of a negative Piroplasmosis (Babesia equi) test completed for Quarter Horses only, within the last two year. Health certificates for horses traveling intra-state must have been issued within the last 72 hours. Health certificates for horses traveling inter-state must have been issued within the last seven days.
The health certificate should state to the best of the examining veterinarian's knowledge:
the horse does not show clinical signs of any infectious or contagious equine diseases;
the temperature of the horse at the time of the examination; and
the horse has not received medication that has been shown to reduce the horse's temperature within the past
24 hours.
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4. Animal Manure Increases Antibiotic-resistant Genes in Soil
Aarhus University
Laboratory Equipment
March 7, 2016
The use of animal manure increases the soil content of antibiotic-resistant genes. However, this is not an irreversible situation.
What does one of the world's longest-running field experiments - under Aarhus University in Denmark - have to do with the appearance of antibiotic resistance? The answer is that it forms the platform for illuminating the interaction between the use of animal manure and the appearance of genes for antibiotic resistance in soil.
New investigations show that when a certain type of antibiotic is phased in, the abundance of resistant genes in soil increases. When the antibiotic is phased out again, the abundance of resistant genes drops - and this happens relatively quickly. The scientists also found a correspondence in time between the first detection of antibiotic resistance in the health service and the detection of such genes for resistance in soil that had received applications of animal manure.
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5. Sunland Park cancels points races for Kentucky Derby
By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
Washington Post
March 7, 2016
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Sunland Park Racetrack has been a stop on the road to the Kentucky Derby for horses looking to earn qualifying points for a much-coveted chance at running in the prestigious race. Not this year.
Officials confirmed Monday there will be no Sunland Derby or Sunland Park Oaks as the New Mexico track recovers from an equine herpes outbreak that infected dozens of horses and placed the track along the Texas-New Mexico border on lockdown.
No horses have been allowed on or off the property since Jan. 21. Track officials say they hope that will change Wednesday when New Mexico livestock officials are expected to lift the quarantine.
No new cases of the fast-spreading virus have been reported in more than a week, but there's reluctance from some horse owners to ship their animals to New Mexico for fear of another positive case derailing the track's recovery and prompting another quarantine.
Some tracks have banned the import of horses that have been in New Mexico due to virus concerns.
See Also:
Update on EHV-1 Virus at Sunland Park Racetrack
New Mexico Livestock Board News Release
March 7, 2016
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - To simplify our reporting on the rapidly-changing EHV-1 virus outbreak at the Sunland Park Racetrack, we will update the list below regularly with the most current information. While the situation warrants, we will also e-mail blast this information as it is updated.
Number of horses diagnosed positive for the EHV-1 virus to-date: 73 in New Mexico and 2 in Texas.
Number of horses remaining in isolation: 5
Number of exposed barns remaining: 1
List of facilities within the quarantine perimeter:
Sunland Park Racetrack (Frontera Training Center has been released as of 3/1/2016)
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6. No chronic wasting disease found in harvested deer [ND]
By Dustin Monke
The Dickinson Press
March 7, 2016
BISMARCK -- No North Dakota deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to Dr. Dan Grove, a wildlife veterinarian for the state's Game and Fish Department.
Samples for testing were taken from more than 1,200 deer harvested by hunters in the western third of the state last fall.
Since 2009, seven deer have tested positive for the disease in Unit 3F2, which encompasses all of Sioux County, and parts of eastern Adams County, and southern Grant, Morton and Hettinger counties.
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7. Clearing animal ag misconceptions
AgriNews
March 5, 2016
CHICAGO - Closing the gap on three issues driving consumer distrust in animal agriculture - animal housing, emerging genetic advancements and antibiotics use - will be the focus of The Center for Food Integrity 2016 North American Strategy Conference on Animal Agriculture, May 18-19, at McDonald's Hamburger University in Chicago.
The center's latest consumer trust research reveals that a near-record 60 percent strongly agree with the following statement: "If animals are treated decently and humanely I have no problem eating meat, milk and eggs."
Yet a much smaller percentage of consumers, 25 percent, strongly agree that U.S. meat comes from humanely treated animals.
"Leaders in animal agriculture must effectively address this disconnect between consumer support for consuming meat, milk and eggs and growing doubt that farm animals are treated humanely," said Charlie Arnot, CEO of the center. "Our conference, 'How Do We Close the Animal Ag Gap?', will explore why the divide exists and what those in animal agriculture can do to close it, focusing specifically on three topics we believe are drivers for consumer distrust."
Expert speakers and panelists will present and participate in moderated discussion on each topic.
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