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1. Bovine TB case traced to Indiana farm
The Journal Gazette
May 2, 2016
The Indiana State Board of Animal Health issued this news release today:
INDIANAPOLIS (2 May 2016) - Staff of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) is investigating a case of bovine tuberculosis (commonly called "TB," or more formally known as Mycobacterium bovis) in a beef cattle herd in Southeastern Indiana. The TB-positive cattle were identified through routine inspection at a meat processing facility in Pennsylvania.
BOAH veterinarians are in the process of conducting a thorough investigation of the Indiana herd from which the animals were shipped. In follow up to the initial positive report, the infected herd will be depopulated. Six beef steers were condemned at slaughter last week after exhibiting signs of TB. M. bovis was confirmed by the US Department of Agriculture laboratory in Ames, IA over the weekend.
BOAH staff is working closely with the herd owner to trace any movements of animals into and out of the herd. As information develops, BOAH will notify herd owners and others who may be impacted by the investigation.
Indiana has officially held a bovine tuberculosis-free status since 1984 with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under federal guidelines, that status remains. BOAH has found individual cases of TB in a cattle herd and a cervid farm in this region of the state between 2008 and 2011.
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2. Bird flu quarantine lifted at last of 10 Indiana farms
By Rick Callahan, Associated Press
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
May 2, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS - Animal health officials have lifted their quarantine on the last of 10 southwestern Indiana poultry farms where a bird flu outbreak discovered in January impacted the state's top turkey-producing region.
The quarantine at the Dubois (doo-BOYS') County farm was ended Sunday when it was declared virus-free after the composting of the carcasses of its euthanized birds and thorough cleanings of its poultry barns.
State Board of Animal Health spokeswoman Denise Derrer says the first quarantine at the 10 affected farms was lifted March 19. The quarantines at the nine other farms were lifted over the last several weeks as each was declared virus-free.
The release of the last quarantine coincides with Indiana achieving virus-free status after going 90 consecutive days with no new cases of the poultry disease.
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3. AASV Board Addresses Antibiotic-Free Production
AASV News Release
May 2, 2016
PERRY, IA, May 2, 2016 -- The American Association of Swine Veterinarians' (AASV) Board of Directors addressed the issue of antibiotic-free production during their recent meeting in Perry, Iowa. Veterinarians serving on the association's Pig Welfare and Pharmaceutical Issues committees raised concerns regarding pig health and well-being in antibiotic-free production systems. The committees considered issues associated with concerns that animals requiring antibiotics may not receive timely treatment under certain antibiotic-free production strategies.
The timely treatment of sick animals is a standard of proper animal husbandry promoted by veterinarians and supported by America's swine farmers. Some antibiotic-free systems, however, do not provide marketing options for the animals that do need antibiotic treatment. This disincentive may lead to delayed treatment or the failure to treat altogether. AASV members consider this to be unacceptable from the standpoint of proper animal health and well-being.
Dr George Charbonneau, AASV President, commented that, "the AASV is committed to sustainable pork production. Maintaining the health and welfare of the pigs that are in our care is a top priority. We recognize there is a market for pork that is raised without antibiotics. It may be necessary, however, in any production system to provide timely and judicious antibiotic treatment in order to avoid animal suffering. Consequently, every antibiotic-free program should have the ability to sell antibiotic-treated pigs through an alternate market, following a safe withdrawal time."
In response to these concerns, the AASV board adopted the following position statement regarding raising pigs without antibiotics:
Any pork production system that is marketing pigs raised without the use of antibiotics should closely involve veterinarians in the management of herd health. If a pig is sick, or is at risk of getting sick, it is our responsibility as swine veterinarians to prevent or treat illness in a judicious manner to maintain animal health and welfare. Farmers should have an alternative marketing plan in place for pigs that need to be treated with an antibiotic.1,2 It is important that the decision to treat or euthanize is made in a timely manner so as to minimize the pig's pain or distress.
1 If an animal has been treated with antibiotics and proper withdrawal times are followed, the meat is safe for consumption.
2 Marketing programs should not prevent a farmer from treating or preventing illness.
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4. Methane production reduced in ruminants
Source: Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
ScienceDaily.com
May 2, 2016
Researchers at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) have taken part in a study of the effect of one molecule, 3-nitrooxypropanol, in inhibiting methane production in ruminants. The work has been published in the magazine, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Ruminants are animals which digest their food through fermentation carried out by microorganisms living in the rumen. This process produces organic acids: acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, all of which are absorbed and metabolized by the organism as a source of energy. But, in addition, it also produces methane, which escapes into the atmosphere in the form of gas.
By 2014, scientists had demonstrated the effectiveness of this molecule in sheep, but were unaware of how it actually worked. Now, in vivo research, using incubated anaerobic microorganisms from ruminants' digestive systems have revealed how the compound 3-nitrooxypropanol only had an effect on methane producing microorganisms (arqueas methanogens) and not on those which contribute to digestion (bacterias).
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5. Reminder: NIFA Webinars on New Veterinary Services Grant Program
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Bulletin
May 2, 2016
The Veterinary Services Grant Program is authorized by Section 7104 of the 2014 Farm Bill and received a first-time appropriation of $2.5 million in the FY16 federal budget. NIFA anticipates releasing the first Request for Applications for this program in April 2016 and announcing the first grants awarded under this program by September 30.
NIFA will host three Veterinary Services Grant Program webinars to provide information to applicants and address their questions.
Eligible entities interested in the education objective of the program should join the May 10, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT webinar. Eligible entities interested in the rural practice enhancement objective of the program should join either the May 11 or May 15 webinar, scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Webinars will be recorded and posted here* after the events. Any questions not address during the webinars can be addressed to vsgp@nifa.usda.gov.
[ *See: http://tinyurl.com/j3hvpk2 ]
Dial-in: 1-888-844-9904
Access Code: 1966323#
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6. USDA Announces $6 Million in Available Funding for Antimicrobial Resistance Research
USDA Office of Communications Bulletn
May 2, 2016
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $6 million to fund research to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This funding is available through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, and administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
"Through our Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan, USDA is leading the way to better understand how antibiotic resistance develops, find alternatives to antibiotics, and educate people on practices that reduce the need for antibiotics," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The research projects funded through this announcement will help us succeed in our efforts to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics and protect public health."
This funding announcement is one of many ways that USDA supports the Combating Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria (CARB) National Action Plan and work of the Task Force for Combating Antibiotic Resistance, which USDA co-chairs. Specifically, this program priority promotes the development of sustainable and integrated food safety strategies that reduce public health risks along the entire food chain, from producer to consumer.
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7. FAO addresses importance of feed safety
By Emmy Koeleman
All About Feed
May 2, 2016
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has published a video on the importance of feed safety.
FAO stresses the need for feed safety as the expected 60% increase in global demand for animal products will require a doubling of the production of feed, putting pressure on the availability of feed resources.
In the video, numerous FAO stakeholders stress the vital importance of feed safety, including the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF). Feed safety is mentioned as a prerequisite for safe food and human health as well as a part of economic sustainability for the livestock sector. FAO is launching a multi-stakeholder partnership to strengthen the capacities of relevant stakeholders to produce and supply safe animal feed and to contribute to enhanced food safety, animal health and welfare and food security. All stakeholders interested in contributing with financial or in kind (e.g. expertise) resources can join the partnership.
FAO's initiative and the statements in the video are in line with the FEFAC Vision on Feed Safety Management, where capacity building is highlighted as one of the key actions for the feed chain to manage feed safety risks collectively.
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