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1. Three cases of equine neurological virus are confirmed at Fonner Park [NE]
Midwest Producer
April 27, 2016
LINCOLN, Neb. - Three cases of the Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) have been confirmed at Fonner Park in Grand Island resulting in State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes calling for horse owners to use best biosecurity practices. Samples were collected and sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where the disease was confirmed. One of the affected horses was euthanized on site while the other two have been isolated on the premises.
Fonner Park is nearing the end of its annual Thoroughbred racing season. May 7 is the final day of racing.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture in cooperation with Fonner Park management has quarantined the horses located at Fonner Park. Horses located in the Red Barn (where the affected horses were stabled) will not be allowed to race at present time. Racing will continue at Fonner Park with the horses located in the other barns on the premises.
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2. AASV provides hog biosecurity fact sheets
Source: American Association of Swine Veterinarians
National Hog Farmer
April 27, 2016
As the result of an American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation-funded research proposal, fact sheets are now available on the AASV website* to help producers and feed delivery personnel gain a better understanding of major swine diseases and the biosecurity practices that will minimize the risk of pathogen transmission during feed deliveries.
[* See: https://www.aasv.org/aasv/publications.htm ]
The project was initiated by Dr. Cate Dewey and Karen Richardson in response to a request they received from producers and feed company personnel during a study to identify biosecurity risks associated with feed delivery.
The fact sheets, titled "Reducing pathogen spread during farm feed delivery," are available in two sets: "basic" and "detailed." Each set includes a brief overview of biosecurity and disinfectant use, followed by a one-page overview of each of 10 swine diseases/organisms: Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia, influenza, ileitis, Mycoplasma, porcine epidemic diarrhea, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, Salmonella, Strep suis, swine dysentery and transmissible gastroenteritis. As implied by the description, the "detailed" set of fact sheets provides more information about each disease than the "basic" set, which was prepared to comply with a request from feed industry personnel to provide the information in a "simple, short and straightforward" manner.
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3. Researchers Pinpoint Additional Laminitis Risk Factors
By Katie Navarra
TheHorse.com
April 27, 2016
We know that factors such as easy-keeping breeds and increased high-quality grass intake can contribute to a horse's risk for developing laminitis.
"But it is not only fat ponies that can suffer from pasture-associated laminitis," emphasized Nanna Luthersson, DVM, partner at Hestedoktoren, a Danish equine veterinary clinic.
She and colleagues recently determine that "overconditioned animals may be at increased risk" of developing the condition, as well.
In a study on the topic Luthersson and her team observed 110 horses in Denmark diagnosed with laminitis (69 new cases and 41 chronic ones) and determined that nearly 33% of the study equids with laminitis were euthanized within 12 months of being diagnosed.
"The finding suggests that proportionally more animals that were euthanized were in mild or moderate work, compared to those not in work," she said. "This suggests that the owners of such animals (those in work) are less tolerant of the situation and less willing to keep more active horses alive."
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4. Horse sense: Penn Vet displays new robotic-controlled imaging system
John George, Senior Reporter
Philadelphia Business Journal
April 27, 2016
Horses, the veterinarians at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center will tell you, are not the best patients when it comes to diagnostic imaging.
"We've all seen imaging scanners," said Dr. Dean Richardson, the Kennett Square, Pa., center's chief of large animal surgery. "They look like giant Krispy Kremes. We have really big patients and they don't fit in little tubes."
Additionally, noted center director Dr. Barbara Dallap Schaer, traditional imaging devices can only scan small areas of a patient's body, which limits their use for horses.
But now Penn Vet has a new way to get the images they need.
The New Bolton Center showed off its new robotic-controlled imaging system Wednesday, developed in collaboration with Wisconsin-based Four Dimensional Digital Imaging (4DDI). It is designed to be used on standing and moving horses.
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5. VFD webinar now available online
By John Maday, Editor
Bovine Veterinarian
April 27, 2016
Full implementation of the FDA's new veterinary feed directive (VFD) rules will commence at the end of this year, a deadline that is rapidly approaching. The new rules will place the use of medically important antibiotics delivered in feed under the oversight of veterinarians.
On April 19, GlobalVetLINK hosted a webinar titled "Veterinary Feed Directives: Taking Action." The archived presentations now are available for viewing on your own time.
[See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYxTNYqKUck&feature=youtu.be ]
The webinar features several presenters with insights on different aspects of the VFD rule and how veterinarians and producers should prepare.
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6. Missouri Senate approves farm data bill
Hannibal Courier-Post
April 27, 2016
An effort to keep some types of Missouri farm information private has won approval.
The Senate agreed Tuesday, April 26, to keep data from voluntary agricultural programs confidential.
The measure allows state agencies to release information about whether a disease outbreak has affected specific animals and data which does not identify individual producers, but keeps private registration data for animal disease tracking.
Supporters say the legislation would protect farmers' privacy and encourage participation in voluntary programs. Critics call it an attempt to evade public disclosure laws that will lead to less government transparency.
The House will now consider the updated version after approving broader exemptions earlier this year.
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7. House votes to designate bison as America's national mammal
WDAM.com
April 26, 2016
WASHINGTON (AP) - Make room, bald eagle. The House has voted to designate the bison the national mammal of the United States.
The move seeks to elevate the bison's stature to that of the bald eagle, long the nation's official bird. There has not been an official mammal of the United States.
Prior to approving the measure by voice vote Tuesday, House members spoke of the significance to the nation's history of the bison, also known as buffalo. The animals were central to many Native American cultures and were on the verge of extinction before revival efforts established herds on national refuges and parks.
The measure passed by the House must go to the Senate for final passage, expected later this week, before it can go to the president's desk.
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