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1. Tackling the Cattle Fever Tick with Vaccine [TX]
Texas Animal Health Commission News Release
June 7, 2016
AUSTIN - The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is proud to announce the arrival of a new tool in fever tick eradication efforts. The new fever tick vaccine will be a valuable tool for reducing the risk of new fever tick infestations in quarantine areas such as the tick eradication quarantine area, or permanent quarantine zone, and in temporary preventative or control quarantine areas.
After more than five years of cooperative research and development between USDA - Agricultural Research Services (ARS), USDA - Veterinary Services (VS) and Zoetis, the first doses of the vaccine were delivered to TAHC on May 17. Plans are underway to hold producer meetings in the counties along the permanent quarantine zone to provide information on the effectiveness and use of the vaccine and provide producers the opportunity to ask questions. The dates of these meetings will be set in the coming weeks.
"There are numerous benefits of the fever tick vaccination, with the most significant being the potential to prevent the establishment of fever tick infestations on properties where cattle are being grazed. Additionally, the vaccine will be another tool aiding in more rapid eradication of fever ticks on infested premises," said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC Executive Director.
Vaccinating cattle on a property with fever ticks will help assure that ticks are eradicated as quickly as possible under established gathering, inspection, and treatment schedules. While proper use of the vaccine helps assure ticks are eradicated as soon as possible so quarantines can be lifted, it does not eliminate the need to do regular inspections.
The vaccine will be administered by state or federal regulatory personnel at no cost to the producer.
It is approved for use in beef cattle only, two months of age and older. To be most effective, the vaccine should be administered as two priming doses given 28 days apart followed by a booster every 6 months.
TAHC, USDA-VS, and USDA-ARS continue to investigate other treatment and/or preventative products to find additional options with comparable efficacy, greater residual effect, better protection from both strains of fever ticks found in current infestations in Texas, and less frequent treatments in an effort to achieve fever tick eradication.
During the 395th Meeting on May 24, the Commission adopted rules calling for administration of the vaccine to beef cattle residing in the permanent quarantine zone during the annual inspection. Additionally, the vaccine may be administered to beef cattle on premises with high risk of fever tick infestation such as those maintained in control and temporary quarantine areas.
To learn more about the cattle fever tick and current eradication practices visit the links below:
Cattle Fever Tick Brochure:
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2. New Bovine Tuberculosis Zoning Order eliminating Bovine TB Program Requirements for three Northern Michigan Counties
Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development Press Release
June 7, 2016
LANSING - On June 7, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Jamie Clover Adams signed into effect a new Bovine Tuberculosis Zoning Order for Michigan effectively eliminating Bovine TB Program requirements for cattle herds located in Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties. Producers in those counties will now have similar regulations as cattle producers in other parts of the TB Free portion of the state.
These changes were preceded by a successful review of the Michigan Bovine TB Program in 2015 and on-going negotiations with United States Department of Agriculture throughout early 2016.
"This progress is due to the hard work of cattle producers, private veterinarians, and MDARD and USDA staff," said Clover Adams. "The Wildlife Risk Mitigation project has changed cattle producers on-farm practices and is reducing the risk of bovine TB being transmitted from wildlife."
Although the WRM project will no longer be required in Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties, MDARD is encouraging producers to continue the best management practices used in WRM as a way to lower risk from other diseases transmitted by wildlife. As always, all cattle leaving a Michigan premises are still required to have a Radio Frequency Identification eartag."
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3. USDA extends comment period for 'certified organic' animal rule
TheHill.com
June 7, 2016
Leaders of the Senate and House Agriculture committees said Tuesday that the Obama administration has granted their request to extend the public comment period on new requirements for meat sold under the "certified organic " label.
Last month, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Rep. Michael Conaway (R-Texas), the committees' chairmen, along with Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), the committees' ranking members, sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack calling the rule "complex in nature" and asking for more time for comments.
The lawmakers said their constituents are concerned about possible unintended consequences like reduced access to organic products, substantially increased organic food costs for consumers, increased exposure to disease and mortality for organic poultry, and increased risk of contamination of food-borne illness.
In a statement Tuesday, the lawmakers said the U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to give the public an additional 30 days for comment, which are now due by July 13.
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4. Swine Vet Center Partners with GlobalVetLINK for Herd Health Solutions
GlobalVetLINK Press Release
June 7, 2016
Ames, Iowa - GlobalVetLINK (GVL�) and Swine Vet Center, P.A., announced today that they will be entering into a working relationship to manage herd health. The industry-leading swine veterinary consultants will now be managing Veterinary Feed Directives (VFDs), Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs), diagnostic results and history, as well as veterinary prescriptions, through GVL's web-based solutions.
Dr. Paul Yeske, Swine Veterinary Herd Health Consultant at Swine Vet Center, said he expects to simplify many of their processes with GVL's services.
"We've been creating VFDs through GlobalVetLINK for over 10 years and in preparation for the coming year, it was time to streamline and manage as much as we can through one service," Dr. Yeske said. "We're confident in GlobalVetLINK's data security, and especially its history and experience with VFDs. Using GlobalVetLink allows us to use one supplier and database for VFDs, CVIs, lab data management and prescriptions, plus gives us the ability to have data transfer to producers' records databases - such as MetaFarms - which is useful for our clients to track their information, as well."
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5. EEE Confirmed in Young Palm Beach County, Florida, Horse
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
June 7, 2016
The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported June 7 that a young Arabian from Palm Beach County, Florida, has been euthanized after contracting Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). The case was confirmed on June 6.
"The 14-month-old, vaccinated Arabian had just moved within the county but had not been outside Palm Beach County since birth," the EDCC statement said. "Clinical signs began on May 31 and the horse was euthanized for humane reasons the same day."
This is the first confirmed EEE case in Palm Beach County and the fourth confirmed case in Florida for 2016, the EDCC reported.
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6. Disease Trends Reinforce Importance of Good Biosecurity
By Edited Press Release
TheHorse.com
June 7, 2016
Several equine infectious disease outbreaks already have occurred in 2016. Quarantine measures and other steps to help prevent the spread of disease associated with these outbreaks have grabbed the headlines for good reason. Yet, many horse owners are left scratching their heads wondering what role vaccination has or could play in preventing these situations. What went wrong, if anything?
An ongoing equine respiratory disease surveillance program could shed some light on this subject. The surveillance program, being conducted by Merck Animal Health in partnership with University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, is uncovering information that underscores the importance of basic biosecurity in preventing the spread of infectious disease. Some of these findings were presented at the International Equine Infectious Disease Forum, which took place in April in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
"Vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccines alone may reduce clinical signs of disease and shorten the recovery period, but may not provide complete protection, as hoped or often expected," said Wendy Vaala, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, Merck Animal Health associate director of life-cycle management, who presented the findings.
As an example, 36% of equine influenza cases since the surveillance program began in 2008 occurred in vaccinated horses. The study also has debunked the long-held belief that many infectious upper respiratory diseases, such as influenza, are more common in young horses. Demographic data collected from positive cases associated with recent influenza outbreaks shows an age range from 8 months to 22 years, and a diverse horse population representing a variety of disciplines and travel patterns.
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7. In Memory of Ella Ruth Blanton - Former USAHA Executive Director
Obituary
June 7, 2016
BLANTON, Ella Ruth, 90, of Richmond, died May 25, 2016. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Douglas Blanton; and three brothers, Richard Louis Rose, Hiriam Grant "H.G." Rose and Jack Rose, Jr. Survivors include four sons, Robert Douglas Blanton, Jr. and wife Annette, Thomas B. Blanton, Sr. and wife Jane, Ronald Rose Blanton and wife Frances, and Richard G. Blanton and wife Barbara; eight grandchildren, Mary Lydia Lyon, R. Carr Trevillian, G. Grahame Trevillian, Kathryn Trevillian, Todd Schwartz, Paige Schwartz, Thomas Blanton and Amy Kernan; twelve great-grandchildren; brother, Donald Bruce Rose; and other extended family members.
She was active and outgoing and loved people. She was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church for 65 years. She married Robert Blanton, for whom she worked and they were married at Trinity in 1948. After all of her children were in school, she worked part time for WLEE radio, where she was the continuity director. Ella was then offered a job with the U.S. Animal Health Association and after two years, was promoted to Executive Director and continued there for 22 years. She loved music and was an avid bridge player.
During her lifetime, Ella was a compassionate caretaker Her remains rest at the Parham Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Road, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 903 Forest Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either Trinity United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society .
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