ANIMALNET SEPTEMBER 10, 1998

>From the editors: antimicrobial resistance - everywhere
Two cases of multidrug resistant Mycobacterium bovis infection in Scotland
EU urged to act on resistance to antibiotics
Tougher laws planned to save wildlife sites
'Fledgling disease posed 'major problem'
BSE danger far from over' says professor
Celebrity killer whale arrives in iceland
Worst over in Canty, vets say
Breeders, farmers need information to improve product
This little piggy fell ill...
French breeders sizzle as pork hits 25-year low
Mutton quality plan has backers
Yes ma'am. What can I do to make it better
Livestock manure odor attracts money
Assessment of strengths; study to identify Manitoba beef advantages
Meatier-rights
A not so novel idea
Fur industry flops
Kitty litter-acy
Vegetarian pets
Proposals being accepted for new animal waste technology fund
Deer shoot
Daynard hired as OCA communications manager


AnimalNet is produced by researchers at the Agri-Food Risk Management and
Communication Project at the University of Guelph, is edited by Wendy
Powell (dpowell@uoguelph.ca) and Amanda Whitfield  (awhitfie@uoguelph.ca),
and is supported by the Ontario Cattlemen's
Association, the U.S. National Pork Producers, U.S. National Food
Processors Association, Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited (Canada), the U.S.
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archived at:
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FROM THE EDITORS: ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE - EVERYWHERE
September 10, 1998
Eurosurveillance Weekly
Last week Eurosurveillance Weekly considered the problem of antimicrobial
resistance, in the light of a conference convened by European Union chief
medical officers being held in Copenhagen this week (1) and a report from
the United Kingdoms Departments of Health containing practical proposals
for guidance for doctors and patients (2). The latest BMJ, which is
devoted to antimicrobial resistance, lists contributory factors such as
inadequate resources for infection control in institutions for the care of
very young children and very old people and growth promotion and crop
protection in agriculture as well as the usual factors of overprescribing
of inappropriate antimicrobials (3,4).  Accurate evaluation of the size of
a problem is essential if progress towards its solution is to be measured,
and articles in the latest BMJ consider the limitations of surveillance
systems and describe international initiatives that aim to reverse the
trend of increasing antimicrobial resistance (4-6).
It is straightforward to calculate what proportion of bacteria isolated by
laboratories are resistant to at least some antimicrobials (4). What such
rates represent in terms of their threat to public health is more
difficult to establish. Clinicians vary in their use of microbiological
tests, tests are requested more often for some diseases than others, and
some population groups are more likely to be tested (elderly people,
people with pre-existing disease) (4).  Protocols for susceptibility tests
may differ between laboratories, and reference facilities are sent only
subsets of already biased samples. Britain and Ireland are establishing a
surveillance programme that aims to circumvent some of these deficiencies
by cross validating data gathered in different ways and relating
resistance data to prescribing data (4). The adoption of standardised
susceptibility testing will further improve the data quality.  Countries
of the European Union (plus Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland) are
collaborating in a European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System
(EARSS), which has been set up as an 18 month feasibility study funded by
the European Union (5).  EARSS (http://www.earss.rivm.nl) collects
comparable and quantitative data for assessing antimicrobial resistance to
analyse regional differences and relate them to risk factors in order to
facilitate the development of new guidelines for the use of antimicrobials
(5).
Collaboration on antimicrobial resistance is at the feasibility study
stage within Europe, and the World Health Organization has still more to
do to unify approaches worldwide (6). Its approach is threefold. It aims
to achieve international consensus on standards for the surveillance of
antimicrobial resistance, strengthen national surveillance systems, and
collect information about resistant pathogens worldwide to guide the
empirical treatment of imported infections and provide a mechanism for
international alerts (6). It might be thought that wealthy developed
nations, where antimicrobial use is less constrained by financial
resources, would bear the brunt of emerging resistance, while the
developing world was relatively protected. Such a view is not supported by
the evidence available (7). Regulation of antimicrobial use in developing
countries is sometimes nonexistent, patients may be unable to afford
complete courses of treatment, and the quality control of manufactured
drugs may be suboptimal (7). These factors all contribute to the emergence
of resistant pathogens, evaluation of whose prevalence requires the
development of a laboratory infrastructure that does not yet exist (7).
References:
1.Weinberg J. From the editors: European Union conference on the microbial
threat. Eurosurveillance Weekly 1998; 2: 980903.
2.Weinberg J. United Kingdom report guides prescribing to the Path of
Least Resistance. Eurosurveillance Weekly 1998; 2: 980903.
3.Wise R, Hart T, Cars O, Streulens M, Helmuth R, Huovinen P, et al.
Antimicrobial resistance. BMJ 1998; 317: 609-10. (http://www.bmj.com)
4.Livermore DM, Macgowan AP, Wale MCJ. Surveillance of antimicrobial
resistance. BMJ 1998; 317: 614-5. (http://www.bmj.com)
5..Bronzwaer SLAM, Sprenger MJW. A surveillance system for Europe.
BMJ 1998; 317: 615. (http://www.bmj.com)
6.Williams RJ, Ryan MJ. Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance - an
international perspective. BMJ 1998; 317: 651. (http://www.bmj.com)
7.Hart CA, Kariuki S, Antimicrobial resistance in developing countries.
BMJ 1998; 317: 647-50. (http://www.bmj.com)
Stuart Handysides, editor (shandysi@phls.co.uk) PHLS
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London, England

TWO CASES OF MULTIDRUG RESISTANT MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS INFECTION IN SCOTLAND
September 10, 1998
Eurosurveillance Weekly
Two human cases of infection with Mycobacterium bovis
resistant to isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide have been
reported to the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental
Health (SCIEH) in the past three months. Both patients were from
Lanarkshire, in central Scotland. One, a woman aged 65 years, died
in May 1998 with smear negative pulmonary disease, and the
other, a woman of 79, died in August after surgical treatment of a
tuberculous spinal abscess. Neither had any history of previous
tuberculosis or of antituberculous therapy. Contact tracing has
identified no links between the cases.
Multidrug resistant (MDR) status in mycobacterial infections is
defined as resistance to at least isoniazid and rifampicin. M. bovis
is usually resistant to pyrazinamide, but neither isoniazid nor
rifampicin is used in veterinary practice in the United Kingdom
(UK). This suggests that these infections may have been acquired
from a human rather than an animal source, and that they were
acquired at some point after isoniazid and rifampicin were
introduced to treat mycobacterial infections in humans. The
incident raises the spectre of transmission of MDR M. bovis to
animals; human to animal transmission is known to occur, and
animal isolates are not tested routinely for antimicrobial
susceptibility in the UK at present.
The MycobNet database, which collates data from all mycobacterial
reference laboratories in the UK, includes data on four other cases
of MDR M. bovis infection that have arisen in the UK since 1994.
Two were reported in Cardiff (Wales) and two in Edinburgh
(Scotland). The gene sequences of isolates from Scottish cases are
being studied to see whether the cases may have had a common source.
Nineteen cases of MDR M. bovis arose in an outbreak of hospital
acquired infection among HIV infected patients in Spain (1). The
outbreak affected more than one hospital (2), and the infection was
exported: an HIV infected MDR M. bovis case diagnosed in the
Netherlands had been treated in one of the affected Spanish
hospitals (2,3). Transmission of MDR M. bovis from a Spanish
patient with HIV infection to an HIV negative relation was
recently reported (4); an isolate from the HIV negative relation
was indistinguishable on genetic fingerprinting from the hospital
outbreak strain. These case studies show the potential for this
pathogen to cause major problems: this strain was essentially
untreatable (resistant to 11 antituberculous drugs) and all cases
were fatal (1).
Surveillance of human cases of M. bovis infection is to be
enhanced in the UK following an increase in the number of cases
seen in cattle in Wales and south west England (5). Two hundred
and ten human cases in the UK were reported to MycobNet from
1993 to 1997, but no trend has been seen, despite the rise in cattle
cases (5). Fifty-eight cases of M. bovis infection have been
reported to SCIEH since 1992, 21 of whom were aged under 65 (40%
of the 54 whose ages are known). The numbers are small, but cases
in Scotland account for a disproportionate contribution to UK
numbers (20% of cases from 1993-97, from 10% of the UK
population).
References:
1.Guerrero A, Cobo J, Fortun J, Navas E, Quereda C, Asensio A, et al.
Nosocomial transmission of Mycobacterium bovis resistant to 11 drugs in
people with advanced HIV-1 infection. Lancet 1997; 350: 1738-42.
                              (http://www.thelancet.com/)
2.Samper S, Martin C, Pinedo A, Rivero A, Blazquez J, Baquero F, et al.
Transmission between HIV-infected patients of multidrug-resistant
tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis. AIDS 1997; 11: 1237-42.
                              (http://www.AIDSonline.com)
3.Schultsz C, Kuijper EJ, van Soolingen D, Prins JM. Disseminated
infection
due to multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium bovis in a patient who was
seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus. Clin Infect Dis 1996; 23:
                              841-3.
4.Palenque E, Villena V, Rebollo MJ, Jiminez MS, Samper S. Transmission
of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium bovis to an immunocompetent
patient. Clin Infect Dis 1998; 26: 995-6.
5.CDSC. Enhanced surveillance of Mycobacterium bovis in humans.
Commun Dis Rep CDR Wkly 1998; 8: 281, 4.
(http://www.phls.co.uk/cdsc/)
Reported by Peter Christie (christie@scieh.tcom.co.uk) and
Jennifer Armstrong, Scottish Centre for Infection and
Environmental Health, Glasgow, Scotland

EU URGED TO ACT ON RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS
September 10, 1998
Reuters
BRUSSELS -- A European Union consultative body, according to this story,
called on Thursday for action across the 15-nation bloc to prevent humans
and animals becoming resistant to antibiotics.
In a report entitled "Resistance to antibiotics: a public health threat,"
the Economic and Social Committee (Ecosoc) urged EU governments to curb
excessive use of human and animal antibiotics by halting all
over-the-counter sales. The report was cited as saying that the EU needed
a centralised system to monitor how antibiotics were used in the bloc's
member countries and track indications of resistance to certain products.
The EU, which allows goods and people to circulate freely between its
states, should also set up a centralised body for authorising the use of
antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine.
Ecosoc recommended that EU governments issue guidelines on the use of
antibiotics and on ways to minimise the spread of resistant bacteria in
hospitals.
The committee also, according to this story, called for further research
into the reasons for antibiotics losing their effectiveness and how
resistant bacteria were transmitted from one species to another. Public
concern over antibiotic resistance has increased recently following a
decision by EU governments to authorise a genetically modified strain of
maize produced by Swiss drugs company Novartis. The crop carries an
antibiotic resistance gene as a marker.
Groups opposed to gene crops have voiced fears that the use of the marker
gene will lead to livestock or people who eat the crop becoming resistant
to the penicillin class of antibiotics.
The story explained that Austria and Luxembourg have slapped national bans
on the use of the crop but have been told by the EU's executive Commission
that their action breaches EU law.

TOUGHER LAWS PLANNED TO SAVE WILDLIFE SITES
September 10, 1998
PA News
Sian Clare
U.K. Environment Minister Michael Meacher was cited today suggesting
proposals to strengthen the protection for some of Britain's most
important wildlife habitats by imposing tougher penalties on anyone
damaging Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). The extra
protection would help safeguard some of the country's most endangered
species such as otters, dormice, red squirrels and fen orchids, he told a
London news conference.
There are 5,000 SSSIs in England and Wales, chosen for their fauna, flora,
geological or physiographical features, covering 7% of the land.
Two-thirds of the sites are in private hands.
Mr Meacher was cited as saying that most landowners and farmers behaved
responsibly, but the proposals in the consultation paper were aimed at
dealing with long-running problems facing some sites.
Under his plans, there would be:
:: Increased penalties for deliberate damage to SSSIs and legal measures
to ensure the landowner put good any damage
:: An end to automatic compensation for landowners simply for not using
the SSSIs
:: Payments to landowners according to how much effort they put into
managing the land properly, in a bid to tackle the problem of SSSIs
falling into neglect.
Mr Meacher was further cites as saying that current penalties for
deliberate damage to a SSSI were not tough enough and fines fell far below
those for damaging a listed building, adding  "I am a very strong advocate
of the view that the penalties in respect of environmental damage are
ludicrously low. They do not act in any serious way as a deterrent and in
many cases the costs of clean up and restoration are not included. That is
very difficult to defend."
The Government is, according to this story, also looking at EU Common
Agricultural Policy provisions which undermine SSSIs. Mr Meacher was cited
as saying that farmers could make more than 10 times as much in EU subsidy
per hectare for growing flax than they received in grant from the
Government for leaving the land in its natural state as an SSSI. He added
that the Government was also concerned to protect coastal and sea areas,
important habitats for marine life. However, he would not say
categorically whether today's measures would save Rainham Marshes in east
London, saying the application was still at a very early stage.
Havering Council wants to develop part of the land, but environmentalists
protest that it is the capital's most important wildlife site, a habitat
for water voles, wetland plants and 210 different species of bird.
Mr Meacher was quoted saying, "There can be no question of development
taking place which could damage the SSSI."
Today's consultation paper applies only to England and Wales, and Mr
Meacher hopes to implement any measures which require legislative action
in a Bill in the Queen's Speech in November 1999. Separate proposals will
be published for Scotland shortly, enabling the Scottish Parliament to
take action.
English Nature's chief executive Dr Derek Langslow  was quoted as saying,
"There are significant problems on around 30% of SSSIs and we need to find
new ways to help managers of these sites obtain the best for wildlife."

'FLEDGLING DISEASE POSED 'MAJOR PROBLEM'
September 10, 1998
PA News
Alex Richardson
A former Chief Veterinary Officer today was cited as saying that he feared
BSE could become a "major problem" soon after the discovery of the disease
in
cattle.
Howard Rees, who was in charge of the state veterinary service from August
1980 until May 1988, was cited as saying that he was concerned about the
impact it might have on the cattle industry. Mr Rees was giving evidence
at the reopened public inquiry into BSE at government offices in Lambeth,
south London.
He was cited as saying that he first became aware of BSE in late November
1986, when a case was reported in a Friesian-Holstein cow at a farm in
Kent.
Further cases were reported early in 1987, and by May of that year there
were five confirmed cases in four separate herds.
He was quoted telling the inquiry, "I didn't share with scientists their
enthusiasm for the discovery of a new disease. I thought if this wasn't an
isolated case we might have a major problem. I was concerned about the
effect on the industry," adding that he quickly decided that discovering
how the disease was passed on was the key to tackling it. "If we wanted to
control
the disease, we had to get to the cause. At that stage it was basically an
animal health problem. It was a new problem and if we were going to have
any more problems we had to get to the cause."
He was further cited saying that by May or June of 1987 he had decided
that BSE was not an isolated incident, adding "It became obvious it was
not an individual problem, we were facing a national problem."
Ministers were, according to this story, first informed on June 5 1987,
less than a week before the general election, Mr Rees said, when he sent a
submission to Donald Thompson, a parliamentary secretary at the Ministry
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods.
Mr Rees was quoted, "It was clear at that stage we were facing a serious
problem and it was right we should alert ministers to a difficult problem
we were facing and what we were doing about it," adding that  at that
stage there was no evidence of a connection between BSE in cattle and CJD
in humans.  "We had no evidence (of a connection). We had had a similar
disease in a foodstuff animal (scrapie in sheep) for 250 years."
But he agreed that even if a connection did exist he would not have
expected it to be identifiable at that stage because of the long
incubation period of the disease.

BSE DANGER FAR FROM OVER' SAYS PROFESSOR
September 10, 1998
PA News
Eileen Murphy
The scientist who, according to this story, warned of the dangers of BSE
before the crisis was revealed by the Government today launched a scathing
attack on the handling of the beef crisis and warned that the danger was
far from over. A day after the BSE inquiry resumed following its summer
break the
outspoken academic Professor Richard Lacey will address a scientific
conference in Cardiff to launch his latest book, Poison on a Plate. He
believes that recent scare-stories about the possibilities of BSE being
present in sheep is an attempt to divert attention from the more important
issues.
Commenting on the recent statement from Professor Jeffrey Almond of the
Government's BSE Advisory Committee Professor Lacey was quoted as saying,
"The latest claim that BSE might be in sheep is not supported by any
evidence obtained under farming conditions and destroys any residual
credibility of the committee. Why are they promoting the consumption of
beef we know to be contaminated with BSE while raising doubts about lamb
that has never been established as causing CJD?"
Professor Lacey was cited as being adamant that there are still massive
risks from eating beef and claims there has been a "systematic cover-up"
by the Government and scientists about the dangers in the food Britons
eat.
The BSE inquiry heard evidence yesterday that the Ministry of Agriculture
blocked the introduction of a nationwide cattle tracking system which
would have helped the fight against mad cow disease.
A former chief scientific adviser to the Government was cited as
repeatedly urging the ministry in 1991 to adopt the computerised system,
which would have enabled vets to trace infections to particular farms. The
system, which would have boosted European confidence in the health of
British herds, was subsequently adopted in Northern Ireland, where the
beef ban has now been lifted.
Dr Peter Bunyan was quoted telling the inquiry, "I was pressing the
ministry to give this very sympathetic consideration. At the end of the
day I recognised that there were money issues and a need for Parliamentary
time and so on to get this through, so it was not going to be easy. And it
was not then my problem. I had made it clear what my view was."

CELEBRITY KILLER WHALE ARRIVES IN ICELAND
September 10, 1998
Reuters
Bernard Scudder
WESTMAN ISLANDS, Iceland -- This story explained that the Hollywood killer
whale Keiko arrived safely in Iceland on schedule Thursday after a
four-year campaign to release the five-ton celebrity back into his native
Icelandic waters. A crowd of 200 journalists and 300 cheering spectators
were waiting at an airport on Heimaey Island in Iceland's Westman cluster
as a United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster put down after a nine-hour
non-stop flight from Newport, Oregon. The plane's undercarriage suffered
slight damage on landing, delaying unloading plans, but the VIP
passengerstar of the "Free Willy" movieswas unharmed.
Hallur Hallsson, Icelandic spokesman for the Free Willy Foundation, was
quoted telling Reuters, "Keiko is in good shape," adding that the aircraft
might have to remain in the Westman Islands for a couple of days for
repairs.
Keiko had, according to this story, been loaded at his former home, a
Newport aquarium, into a custom-built container filled with iced water for
the 14-hour trip by truck, plane and barge. Following his arrival in the
Westman Islands, Keiko and his container were being placed on a flatbed
truck to drive three miles (five km) through crowd-lined streets to the
harbor. The weather was fine, with clear skies and a force six wind.
Schoolchildren on Heimaey Island, the only inhabited island in the Westman
group, were given the day off for the occasion.
Marine biologists were cited as saying that they are skeptical that the
pampered movie star could ever fend for himself back in the wild. They
believe other killer whales would treat him as an outcast.

WORST OVER IN CANTY, VETS SAY
Sept. 10/98
The Press - New Zealand
Local veterinarians were cited as saying that Canterbury farmers appear to
have seen the worst of the killer disease, salmonella brandenburg. Vets in
Ashburton and Oxford said the disease, which has killed thousands
of sheep and unborn lambs in Southland, Otago, and Mid-Canterbury, has
reached its peak. Ashburton vet Neil Kennington expected reports of the
disease, which isonly active in in-lamb ewes, to decrease, adding "As
every day goes by the problem is lessening as lambing gets underway."
However, some suspicious abortions were still occurring. A lot of
properties had a touch of the disease, with few deaths.
Oxford veterinarian Hamish Reid was cited as saying that the worst of the
disease seemed to be over with no new cases reported in either Darfield or
Oxford, adding "The word coming out of clinics is that Darfield is as far
north as it has come."
About 70 cases in Otago and Southland have, according to this story, been
confirmed by the Invermay Animal Health Laboratory and 20 to 30 in
Canterbury by the Lincoln laboratory. Lincoln diagnostic veterinarian Jim
Hutton said these confirmed cases would be the "tip of the iceberg"
because many would not have been reported to the laboratory.
Typically, an infected 1000-ewe flock would have a fatality rate of 50 to
60 aborted lambs and 15 ewe deaths.  Invermay veterinarian Marjorie Orr
said
a greater proportion of abortions were now being caused by the more common
toxoplasmosis and campylobacter diseases.

BREEDERS, FARMERS NEED INFORMATION TO IMPROVE  PRODUCT
Sept. 10/98
Manitoba Co-operator
Jim Romahn
Guelph -- Joel Cowley, an extension specialist from Michigan was cited as
telling a day-long seminar in Guelph that the beef industry is suffering
because it's too fragmented and information isn't flowing back to the
breeders and farmers who need it to improve the product consumers buy. But
the good news is that there is potential to improve quality with genetics.
The main factors that can be improved through genetics are marbling,
backfat thickness, ribeye area, percentage of lean meat yield, carcass
weight and tenderness.
Dr. Andy Robinson of the Beef Information Organization was cited as saying
that  consistency can also be improved through genetics. The cow herd can
be organized into relatively uniform groups and a single bull can be used
across the entire herd for one or two years. The single bull means that
half of the genetics of all offspring will be the same. Grouping the cows
will increase the uniformity of calves born from each group.
Cowley was further cited saying that reproductive traits will become more
important but genetic progress is slower with these traits, so the
industry needs information from more cattle to pick the ones that will
contribute the greatest gains. Among the factors he predicted to be
important for the future are scrotal circumference, calving ease,
gestation length, stayability (meaning how long heifers and cows remain in
the herd), heifer pregnancy and body condition score. The key to all of
these genetic gains is gathering information
and getting it into the hands of the farmers who make the genetic
decisions.
He outlined how the Michigan Livestock Exchange was able to greatly
improve the quality of beef coming from farms in the state's upper
peninsula generally considered a poorer, more backward area by selecting
genetics.
Organizers bought,according to this story, females with a high percentage
of Angus genetics and bred them by artificial insemination to bulls with
high ratings for carcass merit, especially marbling. More than 97 per cent
of those cattle, which were finished on hard corn rations, graded Choice
AAA or better compared with the U.S. industry-wide average of 48.3 per
cent. The farmers averaged a premium of $42 per head on these cattle.
Cowley  was further cited saying that the approach is continuing,
including using artificial insemination on run-of-the-mill females. Cowley
said the percentage of Choice AAA or better has dropped off to about 70
per cent "but that's still real good by industry standards." Local
breeders, including Ross
Howard Swatland, who is working on technology to identify beef
quality, was cited as saying that there are some genetics that yield
muscle that is tough as shoe leather, no matter how young they are at
market age and weight. He said the amount and type of connective tissue
accounts for only about 10 per cent of the reasons why beef might be
tough, which explains why the probe he has developed is not a total answer
for grading carcasses or culling out the poor ones. He said the length of
sarcoma muscle is another factor and he's developing other equipment to
measure that factor. He said a
quick, clean probe is better than current thinking in the U.S., which is
to remove a core of beef from a carcass, cook it and evaluate it for
tenderness and taste. Swatland was cited as saying that will take too long
and will be too invasive.
Dr. Ira Mandell of the University of Guelph was cited as saying that a
computer visioning system, which uses a camera to picture warm carcasses
before they go into the packing plant cooler, then again when they have
been cooled for about 24 hours, should be ready for practical application
in Alberta by fall. It's being developed by researchers at the federal
Agriculture Department's station at Lacombe. It will measure ribeye area,
backfat thickness, the color of the lean meat and calculate lean meat
yield.
Cowley and Mandell agreed that objective, quality-measuring equipment will
go a long way towards developing a price grid for the packing industry and
Robinson said breeders will then have more confidence about adopting
specific genetic goals.

THIS LITTLE PIGGY FELL ILL...
Sept. 12/98
The New Scientist
Debora MacKenzie
The southern Netherlands must be, according to this story, the closest
place on Earth to hog heaven for the pig farmers, if not the pigs. The
country is home to 14 million swine, most housed in concrete barns as huge
as hangars. With up to 9000 animals per square kilometre, the southern
Dutch provinces, along with parts of neighbouring Belgium and Germany,
boast the densest pig population in the world. But a blight has hit hog
heaven. In Europe's third major outbreak since 1990, classical swine fever
(CSF) swept the Dutch pig belt last year. Nearly six million pigs died,
most of them killed not by the virus, but by the farmers themselves. The
farmers had no choice: in an effort to halt the spread of the disease, the
government banned the movement of any animals that lived near an outbreak,
offering compensation for animals that couldn't be sold.
The epidemic cost, according to this story, the Netherlands 400 million.
Three years earlier, Germany had to fork out over 600 million when CSF hit
its dense pig  region. And CSF is now raging in the pig country of
northern Spain. CSF is not Europe's only animal plague. Of the 15 serious
diseases that
must be reported to world monitoring authorities, nine have broken out
since 1984. Six were major epidemics. New diseases are also appearing. The
increased trade in meat and animals spreads viruses around more, and once
infections reach Europe's crowded barns, the density of the animals makes
the diseases uncontrollable.
Fernando Mansito, assistant head of the European Commission's agricultural
directorate, was quoted as saying, "This concentration of production is
giving
rise to an increasing risk of disease epidemics."
While most outbreaks have posed little threat to humans, fears are,
according to this story, growing that Europe's crowded barns might be a
breeding ground for human as well as animal disease. Influenza is a
particular worry because there is now evidence that pigs can breed new
strains of it.
Hans-Wilhelm Windhorst, a geographer at the University of Vechta in
Germany's pig belt, who is part of a study of pig farming funded by the
European Commission, was quoted as saying, "Influenza [in pigs] is closely
correlated with pig density."
Martin Ganter of the School of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover was cited as
saying that he thinks the next lethal flu pandemic in humans might emerge
from Europe's crowded pig barns. Chickens, cattle and even rabbits have
all been struck by recent epidemics, but on the Continent, pigs have been
hardest hit. It's no surprise: Europe's pig industry is a recipe for
disaster. To cut production costs, pigs are born on one farm, weaned on
another and
fattened on yet another. In these specialised farms, thousands of animals
from different places are crammed together.
Gareth Davies, formerly of the European Commission's veterinary office in
Brussels was cited as saying that in the US, such mega-units have to be
surrounded by a 30-kilometre pig-free zone to curb the spread of disease,
but no such safety zone is required in Europe. This provides ideal
conditions for explosive outbreaks of disease. When animals are kept at
such high densities, traditional measures such as herd slaughter and bans
on animal transport are unable to prevent contagion.
Martin Hugh-Jones, a veterinary epidemiologist at Louisiana State
University in Baton Rouge, was quoted as saying, "In these high-density
areas, infections which are not traditionally airborne can fly from farm
to nearby farm," adding that foot-and-mouth  disease, a virus which does
spread long distances in humid air, poses an even bigger danger. It could
unleash "a horror scenario" in Europe's hyper-dense pig regions, he warns.
The infection could spread rapidly, and with sick pigs sneezing out vast
amounts of the virus, foot-and-mouth disease could reach virtually
anywhere in Europe where the wet wind blows. "There isn't enough vaccine
to stop it," he
says. "And how do you dispose of that many dead pigs?"
But not everyone is convinced that density is at the root of the problem.
Peter Cowen of North Carolina State University at Raleigh was quoted as
saying, "The swine industry [in the US] has not had an unusually high body
count during its rapid growth phase in the past 15 years." Veterinary care
and
hygiene sterilising swill, for instance, and periodically disinfecting
barns have been stepped up to deal with the growing risk of disease.
Thomas Blaha, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota in St Paul,
who worked on the CSF outbreak in Germany, was cited as saying that while
the risk of epidemics may be heightened by high density, stringent hygiene
should prevent them, adding "Noncompliance with basic prevention and
hygiene rules, and uncontrolled animal movement, pose a much higher risk
than high animal density."
This story explained that the Dutch are in no doubt: they want fewer pigs.
New laws, which take effect this month, aim to cut the number of pigs per
farm, and the total number of pigs in the country, by at least a quarter
by 2000. Fattening units will be allowed to take piglets from only three
suppliers, to limitthe spread of any infection. But pig industries
elsewhere have blocked
similar efforts. In Germany, density is growing and fatteners can take
pigs from up to 30 suppliers.
Meanwhile, the situation is, according to this story, getting worse. As
the costs of pig farming rise in Western Europe, the industry is moving
east, where foot-and-mouth disease is common. The biggest pig barns ever
seen in Europe are now being built in Eastern Europe. More sick pigs are
inevitable and they could cost taxpayers their lives as well as their
money.

FRENCH BREEDERS SIZZLE AS PORK HITS 25-YEAR LOW
Sept. 10/98
Reuters
Pierre-Henri Allain
SAINT-BRIEUC, France  -- French pork prices fell, according to this story,
to historic lows on Thursday as pig breeders became the latest victims of
an international financial crisis sweeping the emerging markets. At
Plerin, on the Cotes D'Armor in northern France, the price of pork fell to
5.84 francs a kilo well below cost and the first time it has breached the
six franc threshold since the start of the Plerin pork auction a quarter
of a century ago.
One of the breeders at the auction was quoted as saying, "The moral of the
troops is very low, even the most optimistic are extremely worried about
the future of pig breeding, this is the first world crisis for
pork."Overproduction in Europe, estimated at 12 million animals per year,
has been exacerbated by the virtual closure of the export markets to
Russia, Japan and the rest of Asia due to the financial crises there.
France exported 12,949 tonnes to Russia in 1997, its biggest single export
market for pork meat, out of total European Union exports of 93,929
tonnes. But the recent rouble devaluation is expected to send sales into a
tail-spin.
Bernard Chretien, chairman of the pork section of the FDSEA agriculture
federation was quoted as saying, "We are told that we have a war chest to
face the situation, but that has already been depleted by the price fall
which started in November 1997 and today we are in an impasse. It's the
entire industry that risks to be damaged. The only solution lies in a
boost to consumption by price cuts by the big supermarket groups and
European help to reconquer export markets."
The story explained that breeders on Tuesday night attacked a supermarket
in this northern town, accusing the large retail outlets of taking too
large a profit margin and thereby breaking sales. Pig farmers also staged
a demonstration in the northern city of Lille on Thursday, setting fire to
bundles of hay in the city centre and letting their animals loose in the
roads. Producers have threatened more protests unless the government
intervenes.
Agriculture Minister Louis Le Pensec is expected to unveil plans to help
the pig industry on Friday. With the cost price estimated at nine francs a
kilo, breeders are losing money to the tune of 250 francs per pig sold at
present. For a modest sized farm of 300 pigs, that represents losses of
thousands of francs per month.
One breeder at the Plerin auction was quoted as saying, "For the moment,
it's the bank that lends us the momey, but for how much longer? There have
already been bankruptcies. "

MUTTON QUALITY PLAN HAS BACKERS
Sept. 10/98
The Press - New Zealand
HASTINGS -- Hawkes Bay, N.Z. farmer Geoff Nichol was cited as saying that
increasing numbers of farmers will have to join meat company accreditation
schemes as part of providing the quality assurance sought by consumers,
and that meeting the food safety and quality standards of retail customers
was becoming an essential  part of the meat industry.
The story adds that the Select-Lamb programme means that next season,
Affco customers will be able to trace meat back from the shop to the farm
and flock.
It is one of the first moves to capitalise on the animal identification
scheme being  brought in by the Animal Health Board to combat bovine
tuberculosis. It will be compulsory to the level of farm or herd
identification, and has enough numbers on the animal tags to identify
individual animals.

YES MA'AM. WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE IT BETTER?
Sept. 10/98
Manitoba Co-operator
Jim Romahn
Guelph -- Wesley Osburn of the University of Michigan was cited as telling
a crowd of industry folks recently that too many beef consumers feel
they're not getting good value for the price they pay, so farmers and
packers need to get
together to improve the product,  adding that consistency is one of the
main challenges now, to not only produce better quality but to deliver the
same quality every time.U
Osburn was quoted as saying, "Think of cattle as food and it could cause
the death of a child.  "Get away from that cowboy attitude. Listen to your
customers and be prepared to change the way you're doing things."
Mark Ishoy, one of the owners of MGI Packers Inc. of Kitchener,
was cited as explaining that he has different kinds of customers each
looking for a different type of carcass, and that his plant needs to be
working close to
capacity, putting through a larger volume of beef, so he will buy
some cattle that are not ideal.
But he also said he's instructing the company's buyers to stay
clear of animals that won't fit into any of the categories where
he can find a ready market for beef. He warned that within a year
MGI will turn back cattle that arrive with too much tag (manure)
on their hides.

LIVESTOCK MANURE ODOR ATTRACTS MONEY
Sept. 10/98
Manitoba Co-operator
Gord Gilmour
Controlling odor from livestock operations is the main thrust of
the Manitoba Livestock Manure Management Initiative's (MLMMI)
recent announcement of more than $260,000.
Deny St. George, the MLMMI communications director, was cited as saying
that although potential environmental impact was always a concern,
odor was probably the issue that could do the most to limit
expansion of the livestock industry, adding, "Based on what has occurred
in other jurisdictions where they have had large expansions of their
livestock industry, odor is the largest, potential threat. We want to
avoid the mistakes of other jurisdictions in our expansion." Ten
proposals were accepted and will cost anywhere from just over
$5,000 to more than $35,000.

ASSESSMENT OF STRENGTHS; STUDY TO IDENTIFY MANITOBA BEEF ADVANTAGES
Sept. 10/98
Manitoba Co-operator
Ron Friesen
When the Manitoba Beef Advantage releases an industry report
later this year, according to this story, it will try to tackle a
perennial problem. Why doesn't Manitoba, with all its competitive
advantages, produce
more cattle?
Industry boosters rattle off a long list of advantages: cheap
feed, available land, abundant hay and water.
Peter Blawat, chair of the Manitoba Beef Advantage committee, was quoted
as saying, "We want to show that the beef industry is alive and thriving
in
Manitoba and it's a good place to invest money in cattle."
The Manitoba Beef Advantage is currently collecting facts to
prove its claim. Blawat said the committee is assembling data on
how the price of barley translates into a feeding advantage here.
It is also measuring the capacity for producing beef in Manitoba
and how much of it is being used right now.

MEATIER-RIGHTS
September-October 1998
The Environmental Magazine
Your "Trouble with Meat" cover story (May/June 1998 issue) did a terrific
job in pulling together all the complex problems associated with America's
love of meatnot least among these, the enormous suffering of nine billion
farm animals. Hopefully, the mainstream media will pursue this issue.
Rightfully, you allowed the proponents of factory farming to have their
say. Jerry Taylor says that our chances of contracting either E. coli or
Salmonella are less than being hit by a meteorite. I for one am unaware
that four million of us were hit by meteors last year (the New York Times,
May 7, reports "Salmonella poisoning [alone] strikes up to four million
Americans a year, killing about 500.)
Henry Spira
Coordinator, Animal Rights International
New York, NY
--------
While most environmental magazines and groups downplay or ignore the
connections between animal-based diets and environmental problems such as
soil erosion, water pollution, destruction of tropical rain forests and
global warming, your consideration of these connections is very important
and praiseworthy. For the sake of our imperiled planet, it is essential
that environmentalists help make it known that a shift toward
vegetarianism is not only an important personal choice, but also a global
imperative, necessary to reverse the Earth's present path to environmental
catastrophe.
Professor Richard Schwartz
Staten Island, NY
-------
I am a vegetarian, so I was very glad to see the cover of the May/June
issue. There are four basic problems with meat eating:
animals are slaughtered; it's detrimental to human health; it's
detrimental to the environment; and meat is detrimental to the health and
livelihood of the world's poor. I only need one reason not to eat animal
fleshand that is because I don't think that humans have the right to kill
animals. I thank E Magazine for educating everyone about the problems
associated with meat consumption.
Iver Odegaard,
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
------
Your "Trouble with Meat" feature story covered many crucial points in a
thorough, direct and non-apologetic manner, building a very powerful case
against eating meat. The issues you raised, as well as other problems
linked to the production of animal foods, are concerns many share.
It is important to separate and keep in perspective the two predominate
themesmeat safety and environmental problems. Major improvements are
needed in meat production: Would consumers really be relieved to know that
the fecal matter on their meat has been zapped with gamma rays? And what
about organic meat? E. coli still will remain a looming issue; the
inevitable volume of manure created by animal farms makes cross
contamination a constant threat. Additionally, organic meat production has
its own set of environmental problems, and sufficient quantities could
never be produced sustainably to meet growing national and international
demands.
We all have to eat. But when we choose the most efficient, nutrient-dense
plant foods, we reap greater energy and resource savings. For virtually
everyone, vegetarian diets are feasible, affordable, and can be
implemented immediately.
When we tally the toll of meat production on the environment and our
health, a vegetarian diet is the clearest and simplest solution.
Joanne Stepaniak, Media Coordinator
North American Vegetarian Society
Dolgeville, NY
I am a professor of animal science at a university in California. I agree
with a number of the points raised in your magazine, as I am not a
supporter of factory farming, but found the lead article laced with the
normal exaggerations and partial truths common in non-scientific
publications. The interview with Nicols Fox was much more accurate in
reflecting the issue of food safety.
It would be my contention that the issue is not about the environment or
food safety, as much as it is about the reshuffling of the political power
structure that we deal with on a regular basis.
Robert Rutherford
San Luis Obispo, CA

A NOT SO NOVEL IDEA
September-October 1998
The Environmental Magazine
That new knowledge or technology brings with it both new solutions and new
problems is as old as human ingenuity (see "The Biotech Century," May/June
1998). What the article's author Rifkin proposes is that biotechnology
(the moving of genes from one organism to another so that modification
will occur) represents a technology so novel that the environment is at
risk from our use of it.
Such a premise is incorrect. Bacteria have been actively and promiscuously
exchanging genes for millions of years. Man just happened to stumble upon
this activity in the 1970s, and is now using it in a more directed manner.
Plants and animals have also been experimenting with genetic engineering
on their own ever since they evolved internal organelles with their own
DNA. Plants have been particularly active in this field, and perhaps
because they generally have a more simplified body plan, have also been
good at generating clonal populations. Many animals, including some
vertebrates, have also mastered this technology. Finally, humans have been
breeding both plants and animals for the last 10,000 years and have been
transferring genes between species for the past century or so. Although we
may be applying the technology in some directions faster than nature ever
did, just what is being done is not new.
Biotechnology does not represent a unique or particularly dangerous threat
to our environment. An organization dedicated to protecting the
environment need not devote space or time to this subject when there are
much more critical issues to be addressed. I would hope that E Magazine
can see beyond the hyperbole of both sides and present readers with
articles addressing the primary problems threatening the environment.
Norman Weeden, Professor of Crop Genetics
Department of Horticultural Sciences
Cornell University
Geneva, NY

FUR INDUSTRY FLOPS
September-October 1998
The Environmental Magazine
We don't know where you got the idea that "fur is back" (Updates, May\June
1998). The fur industry has promulgated a lot of hype this season to make
consumers believe that fur has made a comeback. But a look behind the fur
industry's marketing campaign reveals quite the opposite.
According to a recent issue of Fur World, "...last year's store sales
inched up to $1.27 billion, a mere 1.6 percent ahead of 1996. The increase
was the smallest annual gain so far in the '90s....Because of it, the
consumer isn't breaking down any doors to buy a new fur, even if they
(sic) have more money that usual because of the burgeoning economy."
The truth is, the fur industry is in deep trouble and spending a lot of
money to try to hide the truth. After several years of fur industry
promotion, a revived economy, a change in clothing styles, and the
attempted vilification of the anti-fur movement, fur sales in the retail
year 1996 were still only 69 percent of the sales 10 years ago in 1987! Is
fur back? I don't think so.
Pricilla Feral
President, Friends of Animals
Darien, CT

KITTY LITTER-ACY
September-October 1998
The Environmental Magazine
In reference to your comments concerning cat litters in the May/June 1998
Ask E, I can see where breathing kitty litter dust could cause bronchitis.
However, tuberculosis is caused by a specific organism and therefore could
not be caused by kitty litter dust or any other such agent.
Though I hope not intentional, your statement referring to dust-free
litters strongly implies that used kitty litter can be recycled as compost
or mulch. Cat feces and urine can carry organisms that cause serious
health problems in humans and other animals. The usual methods of
composting do not kill these organisms and mulching invites intimate human
contact. I have always recommended that used kitty litter be disposed of
as garbage. Where local statutes permit, the used litter should be put in
a plastic bag or some other container that can be tightly sealed, then be
hauled away. An alternative method of disposal would be to bury the used
litter.
And whenever cleaning the litter box, one should thoroughly wash hands and
wrists with lots of soap and water.
Richard A. Myers, D.V.M.
Minerva, OH
Editor's Note: Officials at the Centers for Disease Control say there have
been some cases when a cat has had tuberculosis at the same time as its
owner, but it's not clear whether an owner indeed contracted this disease
from the household cat. And crystalline silica dust, the
somewhat-dangerous component in kitty litter, can cause lung disease after
prolonged exposure, but the CDC says it's not connected to tuberculosis.
Kitty litter can be used as a mulch, but according to Pet Care Systems,
you shouldn't use it on your fruit or vegetable garden. Cat feces can
contain dangerous parasites which, if spread on the garden, could possibly
show up in your food. If handled properly, the litter can be used as mulch
in flower gardens or, better yet, in composting, since the bacteria do a
good job of activating the compost pile.

 VEGETARIAN PETS
September-October 1998
The Environmental Magazine
"Natural Critter Care" in your May/June Consumer News exposes the grisly
contents of commercial pet food, but limits options to including fresh
cuts of meat for companions. After losing pets to tumors and kidney
problems, 12 years ago, we started feeding our seven-month-old shelter
refugees a commercial vegetarian kibble. Twelve years later, the healthy
60- to 70-pound animals showed none of these symptoms. After most of its
life as a vegetarian, my daughter's large dog of 18 years also showed none
of the aforementioned symptoms. Natural Life and Nature's Recipe make
vegetarian dog foods, both dry and canned, and there are others. Pet
supply stores can order them. I also feed them biscuits which I make
containing Vegedog supplement.
Although vegetarian pet food is more expensive, we feel confident we can
help our companions avoid a diet-induced, painful old age.
Chris Anderlik
Traverse City, MI
Editor's Note: Since vegetarian diets for pets are still a much-debated
issue, we've listed companies whose products can be made with or without
fresh meat, as well as listing two vegetarian dog food distributors, Dandy
Doggie and Wow-Bow. The resources following the article are another great
source of vegetarian pet foods.

PROPOSALS BEING ACCEPTED FOR NEW ANIMAL WASTE TECHNOLOGY FUND
Sept. 10/98
from a press release
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Dr. Henry A. Virts and
Maryland Department of Business Development Secretary James D. Fielder,
Jr., Ph.D., today announced that proposals are being accepted for a new
Animal Waste Technology Fund created by the Maryland General Assembly as
part of the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998. The purpose of the Fund
is to provide financial assistance to individuals and businesses to
develop technologies aimed at reducing the amount of nutrients in animal
waste, altering the composition of animal waste, developing alternative
animal waste management strategies, or using animal waste in a production
process.
The goal of the Fund is to encourage the development and implementation of
economically feasible technologies that help protect the public health and
the environment by reducing the amount of nutrients from animal waste that
are released into state waters. Applications are due by October 30, 1998.

DEER SHOOT
Sept. 10/98
AP
PHILADELPHIA -- Expert marksmen may, according to this story, go deer
hunting in the nation's largest urban park under a plan to thin the herd
which is damaging plants and increasing the risk of disease and collisions
with cars.
William E. Mifflin, the Fairmount Park Commission's executive director was
quoted as saying, "We must take action to ensure the forest's survival.
However, we would never proceed with this if we couldn't guarantee that it
be handled safely and effectively, in a secure area strictly controlled."
A report by the private support group Friends of the Wissahickon was cited
as saying that 159 deer were in the 3-square-mile Wissahickon Valley,
which lies in the park's northern section. They concluded that
sharpshooters were the only option to reduce the herd to a manageable size
of about 30. The alternative, according to the report, is the eventual
loss of virtually all plants the deer can reach to eat in the park, which
covers about 8,700 acres.
Officials were cited as saying that in rural areas, deer overpopulation is
often handled with a special public hunt, but such a method is dangerous
in a densely populated city like Philadelphia.
Mifflin was further quoted as saying, "Unlike a hunt, this is a severely
regulated and contained operation by professional wildlife managers.
Safety is our top priority."
The park commission must receive a hunting permit from the Pennsylvania
Game Commission, which is expected to issue its decision by January.
Animal rights activists opposed the plan and urged contraception as an
alternative.
Mary Mason a radio personality, one of two commissioners to vote
no, was quoted as saying, "It's going to be a long haul you're not going
to see any shooting this year."
The commission must receive a hunting permit from the Pennsylvania Game
Commission, which is expected to issue its decision by January. Opponents
hinted that they may try to lobby the Game Commission not to issue the
permit.

DAYNARD HIRED AS OCA COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Sept. 10/98
Ontario Farmer Daily
The Ontario Cattlemen's Association recently announced that Kelly
Daynard has been hired as the OCA's communications manager.
Kelly comes from a cash crop farm in Wellington County. She has
been active in the Wellington County 4-H program as a member and a
leader; both the Waterloo and Wellington Junior Farmers'
Associations and in the Wilmot Agricultural society as chairperson
of the board's education committee.
Kelly graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1992 with a
Bachelor's Degree in Honours English and, for the last seven
years, has been working as a reporter/photographer for the New
Hamburg Independent newspaper.
As the OCA's Communications Manager, Kelly will serve as editor of
the Ontario Beef magazine, published five times annually. She will
also promote the organization at agri-food and educational events
and will work with the Producer Communications and Consumer
Education Committees.


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