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1. VFD clarification needed
By Mark Dorenkamp
BrownfieldAgNews.com
June 9, 2016
The National Pork Producers Council says the Food and Drug Administration did not cover all its bases before issuing its final VFD rule.
NPPC chief veterinarian Dr. Liz Wagstrom says pork producers have been preparing for changes brought on by the Veterinary Feed Directive, and clarification was needed for those who mix their own feed.
"Originally we thought they were going to have to register with FDA as a distributor. FDA has now clarified that if (a producer) is mixing on-farm, feeding only animals they own on farms they own, they don't need to register."
But Wagstrom says for producers with contract growers who send feed to other farms, even for animals they own, registration is required.
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2. New Genetic Engineering Method Called Promising - And Perilous
Heard on All Things Considered
By Rob Stein
June 8, 2016
A powerful new technique for changing genes in insects, animals and plants holds great promise, according to a report from an influential panel of scientists released Wednesday. But the group also says it's potentially very dangerous.
As such, the report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine concludes that it's far too soon to release any organisms altered with the technique, known as a gene drive, into the environment.
Even so, scientists should continue conducting experiments using this approach inside laboratories, the report urges. And the panel endorsed the possibility of conducting very controlled studies of creatures altered with a gene drive outside laboratories.
"There is insufficient evidence available at this time to support the release of gene-drive modified organisms into the environment," the report states. "However, the potential benefits of gene drives for basic and applied research are significant and justify proceeding with laboratory research and highly-controlled field trials."
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3. TAHC Adopts Fever Tick Vaccine at May Commission Meeting [TX]
Texas Animal Health Commission News Release
June 10, 2016
AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) held a regularly scheduled Commission meeting on May 24, 2016, at its headquarters in Austin.
The following rule adoption will become effective on June 15, 2016.
Chapter 41, Fever Ticks, Fever Tick Vaccine
This newly adopted rule will add the fever tick vaccine requirements for beef cattle in quarantine areas and clarifies the different requirements for dipping, treatment, and vaccination.
The following rule amendment was proposed:
Chapter 47, Authorized Personnel, CWD Authorized Personnel Requirements:
The proposed rule will clarify that only Certified CWD Veterinarians may collect antemortem (live animal) CWD samples. Non-veterinarians may only collect postmortem CWD samples. As such, the commission proposes to change the title of such individuals from "Certified CWD Sample Collector" to "Certified CWD Postmortem Sample Collector." The proposed rule also includes the requirements for Certified CWD Veterinarians.
The TAHC began accepting public comments for the proposal on June 10, 2016. The deadline for comment submissions on the proposed amendment is July 11, 2016. Complete details of the rule proposal are available on the TAHC website at http://www.tahc.texas.gov/regs/proposals.html
The TAHC encourages and appreciates all comments. Comments on the proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to Amanda Bernhard, Texas Animal Health Commission, 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas 78758, by fax at (512) 719-0719, or by email to comments@tahc.texas.gov.
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4. Privacy protection bill sent to governor [MO - traceability]
High Plains Journal
June 10, 2016
The Missouri Cattlemen's Association initiated legislation nearly three years ago to protect the private information of farm and ranch families that is often collected through voluntary and mandatory government programs. Rep. Jay Houghton (R-43) sponsored the legislation each year and, according to MCA Executive Vice President Mike Deering, the bill is finally heading to the desk of Gov. Jay Nixon.
The Missouri House of Representatives passed the legislation recently with a bipartisan 111-40 vote. This was the final vote needed before heading to the governor for consideration. Deering said the legislation gives producers the confidence to participate in the Animal Disease Traceability program and other state and federal programs without fearing their private information will end up in the hands of those with improper motives.
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"Missouri cattle farmers and ranchers certainly want to be transparent, but should not fear their private information being public knowledge because of participation in a government program," said Deering. "The threat of agro terrorism is real and this legislation helps reduce this threat for Missouri farm and ranch families."
Deering said MCA is committed to taking proactive steps to protect producers' private information. Deering urges the governor to sign the legislation.
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5. Animal Abuse Charges Filed After Hundreds of Cattle Rescued [MO]
OzarksFirst.com
June 10, 2016
WHEELERVILLE, Mo. -- A man from Greenfield Missouri is charged with theft and animal neglect, after hundreds of head of cattle were rescued by Barry County deputies.
The case first came to light, detectives say, when Greg DeJager, 35, reported about 50 cattle stolen from a farm he leases in Wheelerville, Missouri. DeJager contracted with cattle owners to house the animals on 800 acres for a fee, investigators said.
When detectives served a search warrant to investigate further, they found at least 40 dead cattle and many more in very poor, emaciated condition, according to a news release by the Sheriff's office. "The remaining cattle were collected and loaded onto trucks and moved to a location where they could be held and rehabilitated. The condition of the live cattle were horrible, with the adult cows emaciated and starving. A veterinarian who was on the scene indicated that the calves looked to be in good health generally, but the adult cattle were not being cared for correctly, not being fed enough and were in poor health due to neglect," the release said.
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6. Cancer-Causing Virus Strikes Genetically Vulnerable Horses
By Cornell University
TheHorse.com
June 10, 2016
Sarcoids are the most common form of cancer in horses, but little is known about why the papillomavirus behind them strikes some horses and not others. A new study by an international research group led by scientists at the Baker Institute for Animal Health at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine shows genetic differences in immune function between horses partly accounts for these differences. The study mirrors findings in humans, as some people have a genetic susceptibility to human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical and other cancers.
"Many therapies have been proposed as the 'best' treatment for sarcoids," said Doug Antczak, VMD, PhD, the Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor of Equine Medicine, who led the study. In some horses, tumors develop as small bumps under the skin or as scaly lesions that easily can be removed by a veterinarian, but in other horses the problem becomes much more serious. Surgery, cryotherapy (freezing the tissue), laser treatment, injecting the tumors with drugs to kill the cells, radiation treatment and immunotherapy have all been shown to cure these recalcitrant tumors, "but some tumors tend to recur no matter what treatment is used, and there is no universal consensus on a uniformly successful therapy," Antczak said.
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