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1. Additional Positive CWD Cases in Arkansas
ArkansasMatters.com
April 1, 2016
NEWTON COUNTY, Ark.(News release) - Six more deer from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's chronic wasting disease sampling effort have turned up positive, according to the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison. This brings the total of CWD-positive cases of Arkansas deer and elk to 56.
All six deer that tested positive came from Newton County inside the sampling focal area. The final results from the intensive sampling effort should be available late next week.
Although a true prevalence rate cannot be determined until the last of the samples come in, the high number of positive results has already prompted a second sampling effort to determine whether the disease is present in other parts of the state. AGFC biologists and wildlife officers will begin collecting samples from road-killed deer and any sick or dead deer reported throughout Arkansas.
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2. New CWD Cases Discovered at Captive Deer Breeding Facilities [TX]
Texas Animal Health Commission News Release
April 1, 2016
AUSTIN - Two new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Texas captive deer, including the first confirmed from a live test tonsillar biopsy sample, have been validated. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) are conducting an epidemiological investigation into these new cases.
One case involves a 3 1/2-year-old captive raised white-tailed doe that was born and raised on-site and died on-site of natural causes at a deer breeding facility in Medina County where the disease had not previously been found. Test samples were submitted in compliance with TAHC herd plan requirements.
The live test finding is from a 2 �-year-old captive white-tailed buck in the Uvalde-Medina County deer breeding facility that was the source of a CWD positive white-tailed buck harvested by a hunter from a release site on the same ranch.
With these new confirmations, 10 white-tailed deer in or originating from deer breeding facilities have been confirmed positive for CWD in the state since the original detection in June 2015.
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3. Setting the record straight on animal antibiotics
By JoAnn Alumbaugh, Editor
PORK Network
April 1, 2016
Dr. Richard Raymond is well-known in food safety and animal health circles. When he shares his thoughts about animal antibiotics, one can trust the topic has been researched and people should pay attention. He's spoken at numerous industry meetings and doesn't hesitate to express his opinion.
He did just that in a recent commentary on Meatingplace, in which he responded to an article that stated in its headline, "FDA report shows antibiotic sales on the rise."
Raymond writes, "It is true that sales have risen from 2009 to 2014, the years cited [in the article]. But nowhere is there mention of any change in size of our herds and flocks."
He notes, "The increase is mostly in the ionophore and tetracycline classes of antibiotics, both climbing by approximately 25% in the last six years (2009 was the first year FDA gathered such data). Ionophores have never been approved for use in humans. By the way, ionophores are also sold to de-worm your dogs."
He mentions that tetracyclines are rarely used in human medicine either, with sales representing less than 4% of all human antibiotic sales.
"Tetracyclines make up 70% of the medically important antibiotics sold for use in animals," Raymond says.
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4. Obama antibiotics panel sees disparity in ag funding
By Catherine Boudreau, With help from Jason Huffman and Victoria Guida
Politico.com
April 1, 2016
There's a wide disparity in funding for efforts to monitor and combat antibiotic resistant bacteria in animal agriculture compared to hospital and outpatient settings, which will impede U.S. efforts to fight the public health crisis, says a report adopted Thursday by the council advising the Obama administration's national action plan on the issue. Following a two-day meeting to review the work done by federal agencies six months into the initiative, the President's Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria acknowledged that progress in the human setting is more on track to meet national goals unveiled last year. "For surveillance in animals, some progress has been made on specific goals, but achieving parallel progress is hampered by asymmetric funding."
Congress in the fiscal 2016 spending package gave agencies involved in the fight at least $375 million in additional funding over the previous year to tackle antibiotic resistant bacteria, the majority of which was allocated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lawmakers failed to designate any of the FDA's additional $8.7 million to efforts targeting agriculture's contribution to the problem, and ignored the Agriculture Department's request for a $77 million budget increase.
The lack of surveillance makes it difficult to measure antibiotic use on farms and set meaningful reduction targets, which have been established on the human health side, says Elizabeth Jungman, director of public health at Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-voting member of the council. "This is just the first step, understanding what we need to measure and how to do it. Having targets is a goal to aspire to in a way that also is addresses the confidentiality concerns of the agriculture sector," she said.
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5. Kansas wildlife is out, but livestock concerns remain
By Kansas State Research and Extension News
AgWeek.com
April 1, 2016
MEDICINE LODGE, Kan. - A long road ahead is probably the best way to describe the aftermath of the Anderson Creek wildfire in south-central Kansas, particularly for cattle producers who have relied heavily on grazing as the main source of herd nutrition. Not only are many pastures burned in Comanche and Barber counties, but the cattle are facing a variety of other health-related problems following the fire, said Kansas State University veterinarian Dave Rethorst.
Rethorst, who works in the K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, has been in contact with cattle producers and local agricultural leaders, including K-State Research and Extension agriculture agent Tim Marshall of Barber County, about the wildfire's repercussions. The wildfire burned approximately 400,000 acres March 22-25, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Following the wildfire, Rethorst said good animal husbandry practices are key. Producers are working hard to provide adequate nutrition to their herds and take care of ailments that range from burns to respiratory issues.
"There are ranchers out there asking, 'Do we have cows alive and just haven't found them? How many cows have I lost?'" said Rethorst. "Things we're seeing short term are cows with burned feet. Their (hoof) coronary bands are burned to the point that some of those cows are starting to lose their hoof wall."
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6. Bison operations end at Stephens Creek [MT - edited]
By Judy Slate - MTN News
KTVQ.com
April 1, 2016
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - Bison trapping within Yellowstone National Park ended Thursday.
Bison were trapped as they were leaving the park and then corralled into a processing area at Stephens Creek where they were weighed and tested for brucellosis.
Then the bison are shipped by various tribes for slaughter.
It's part of the interagency bison management plan. This year the goal was to reduce the Yellowstone bison herd by 600 to 900 bison.
Fifty seven yearlings and calves that are not infected with brucellosis are being held at Stephens Creek awaiting a decision on whether the quarantine of brucellosis free bison will be allowed.
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7. New NMRC Rules for Entering a Track or Training Center [NM]
New Mexico Livestock Board News Release
April 1, 2016
Update: All horses need to be in compliance with the NMRC rules as of today.
NMRC Contagious Equine Disease Protocols
All racehorses entering any NMRC licensed racetrack or training center must be accompanied by copies of the horse's registration certificate, a current health certificate, and vaccination records. 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.
NMRC requires that all horses entering any NMRC licensed racetrack or training center must have proof of:
negative annual Coggins test;
negative Piroplasmosis (Babesia equi) test completed within the last two years for Quarter Horses;
Influenza vaccination with the last six months;
Rhinopneumonitis vaccination within the last six months;
Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, Tetanus, and West Nile vaccination within the last 12 months; and
Owners and trainers should consult with their practicing veterinarian concerning the vaccination regime for their horses, but the vaccinations listed in 3.c-e above will be required to enter NMRC licensed racetracks and training centers beginning April 1, 2016. All other training facilities, fairgrounds, horse farms, stables, arenas and other horse facilities are advised to follow these same recommendations as may be required by the New Mexico Livestock Board.
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