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1. Research supports flu vaccine development, better global surveillance
By Emily Packer, Media Contact, eLife
PorkNetwork.com
May 5, 2016
The wide diversity of flu in pigs across multiple continents, mostly introduced from humans, highlights the significant potential for new swine flu strains to emerge, according to a study to be published in eLife.
While swine flu viruses have long been considered a risk for human pandemics and were the source of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus, attention has recently turned to the transmission of flu viruses from humans to pigs.
"Once in pigs, flu viruses from humans continue to evolve their surface proteins, generically referred to as antigens, resulting in a tremendous diversity of novel flu viruses that can be transmitted to other pigs and also to humans," explains author Nicola Lewis from the University of Cambridge.
"These flu viruses pose a serious threat to public health because they are no longer similar enough to the current human flu strains for our immune systems to recognize them and mount an effective defense. Understanding the dynamics and consequences of this two-way transmission is important for designing effective strategies to detect and respond to new strains of flu."
Humans and pigs both experience regular outbreaks of influenza A viruses, most commonly from H1 and H3 subtypes. Their genetic diversity is well-characterized. However, the diversity of their antigens, which shapes their pandemic potential, is poorly understood, mainly due to lack of data.
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2. Reflective pigment on cattle reduces heat stress
By Elsie J. McCoy and Steve J. Bartle, Beef Cattle Institute, Kansas State University
Bovine Veterinarian
May 5, 2016
Heat stress in feedlot cattle leads to serious animal-welfare and economic implications. Documented feedlot cattle losses show more than 5,000 head have died as a result in seven of the last 20 years, and non-death costs are estimated at five to 10 times greater than death losses.
Environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, wind and solar radiation, can affect heat load. Those environmental and animal factors are difficult to control, especially cost-effectively. However, it's possible to reduce the impact. When a light wave strikes a surface, it can pass through, be reflected away from the surface or be absorbed and converted to heat. As the amount of light that is reflected increases, the amount absorbed decreases. That fact accounts for the reason white-roofed buildings and light-colored cattle are cooler.
Because about 75 percent of domestic beef cattle are black, this research study asked: Could a reflective pigment on the hide reflect solar energy and help reduce heat stress?
The pigment, titanium dioxide, reflects light, doesn't react chemically and is approved for use in feeds, food coloring and sunscreens. Researchers applied the pigment to 30 feedlot heifers-29 black and one red-weighing on average 591 lb. within a range of about 61 lb.
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3. Ten tips to keep cows cool in the summer heat
By Louisa Shepard
DairyHerd.com
May 5, 2016
Summertime is great for eating ice cream, but the heat and humidity can be dangerous for dairy cows, lowering milk production and threatening their health, said Dr. Meggan Hain, Staff Veterinarian at Penn Vet's Marshak Dairy at New Bolton Center.
Dr. Hain offers these 10 tips to help to beat the heat and to alleviate heat stress in dairy cattle:
Plenty of water: During cooler weather (40�F) a 1,500 lb. dairy cow producing 80 lb. of milk per day will drink an average of 25 gal. of water per day. The same cow will drink 33 gal. of water per day in hot weather (80�F). Cows that are producing more milk will need even more water. There must be at least 3" per cow in the pen of space along the water trough; this will decrease competition and ensure that all animals have access to clean water.
Shade: Studies have shown a 10% to 20% increase in milk production for cows offered shade in pasture versus those without access to shade. For high-producing, lactating cows this is essential, but don't forget the heifers and dry cows out on pasture.
Fans: Fans will help remove radiant heat. Choose fans that are 36" to 48" wide and place them 8' off the ground, 20' apart, at an angle of 15� to 25� downward toward the ground to offer continual air flow.
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4. Attend the Kansas Anaplasmosis Symposium in person or online [edited]
By Kansas State University Extension
Drovers CattleNetwork.com
May 5, 2016
Saying anaplasmosis is of interest to the beef industry is an understatetment. Registrations have already reached the meeting room capacity for the Kansas beef industry and veterinary profession symposium on combatting anaplasmosis infections in cow herds on May 11, 2016 at the College Conference Center at the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus. The meeting is hosted by the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and K-State Research and Extension involving beef-focused faculty from K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agriculture along with leadership from the Kansas Livestock Association, the Kansas Farm Bureau and the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association.
The solution is a web-cast of this meeting for people that will not be able to get to Salina or who registered after the room's capacity was filled. This will allow people to watch the meeting and email questions for speakers in real time.
For more information, contact Anthony N. Ruiz in the K-State Research and Extension Central Kansas District extension office at 785-392-2147 or anruiz@ksu.edu .
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5. Experts explain why bird flu costs and complexity will mount
By Jake Davies
FarmersWeekly.co.uk
May 5, 2016
Avian influenza (AI) will continue to plague the global poultry industry, and the scale of its damage will only increase in complexity and cost, two experts have warned.
Alejandro Thiermann, of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), told the recent International Egg Commission conference almost 60 million birds had been affected by highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) in the 12 months to May 2015.
Over that period, 35 countries had been hit by HPAI, and more than 650 people died from the disease.
Mr. Thiermann said that the number of strains - or serotypes - of the disease had rapidly grown in the past few years.
"If we look back at the early 2000s, then we were dealing almost strictly with H5N1, and occasionally H5N2."
Today, there is a huge diversity of H5 and H7 strains to contend with across the globe.
Reports to the OIE were also up, suggested Mr. Thiermann: "I hope that it's not only because we are being affected by more outbreaks of avian influenza."
He added he hoped it was increased notifications from countries that previously had not reported.
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6. FDA To Hold Live Web Cast on Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance in the Age of Genomics
Quality Assurance Magazine
May 5, 2016
FDA is holding a live Grand Rounds web cast Thursday, May 12 from 12-1 p.m. on Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance in the Age of Genomics: New Answers to Old Questions, presented by FDA's Dr. Patrick McDermott of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine.
To access the web cast via Adobe Connect, click the following link and login as a guest (please provide your full name) https://collaboration.fda.gov/grandrounds/
Audio will come from your PC/laptop speakers. Questions can be submitted in writing during the presentation. For those unable to view the lecture, the archived presentation will be posted after each session.
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7. TPWD Taking Public Comment on Proposed Deer Movement Rules [TX]
Texas Parks & Wildlife
May 3, 2016
AUSTIN - The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is taking public comment on proposed rules that would implement the department's comprehensive chronic wasting disease (CWD) management plan with respect to the artificial movement of deer under TPWD permits, including Triple T (trap, transfer and transplant), DMP (deer management permit), TTP (trap, transport and process) and deer breeder.
Current deer movement rules (proposed for repeal) were intended to function on a temporary basis for the 2015-16 deer season and the period immediately thereafter. As stated in previous rulemakings and numerous press releases, TPWD's intent was to review the current rules following the hunting season and, based on additional information from ongoing epidemiological investigations, disease surveillance data collected from captive and free ranging deer herds, guidance from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and input from stakeholder groups, present proposed changes to the TPW Commission at the May 25-26 commission meeting for possible adoption.
To ensure that the concerns and interests of all stakeholders were fully understood and considered, TPWD engaged the Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution at the University of Texas School of Law to provide facilitation services for the spectrum of interested groups, including landowners and land managers, hunters, veterinarians, wildlife enthusiasts, deer breeders, TAHC and TPWD. The facilitator's official report is available on TPWD's website http://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/cwd/ .
In addition to the facilitated process, the proposed new rules are also a result of extensive cooperation between TPWD and TAHC to protect susceptible species of exotic and native wildlife from CWD. TAHC is the state agency authorized to manage any disease or agent of transmission for any disease that affects livestock, exotic livestock, domestic or exotic fowl, regardless of whether the disease is communicable, even if the agent of transmission is an animal species that is not subject to the jurisdiction of TAHC.
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