AnimalNet Dec. 23/03
Overall use
of antibiotics in animals
China bans
S.Korean poultry to keep out bird flu
Horse flu
leads to postponement of premier South African race
U of M
research shows swine tolerance to DON higher than previously believed
Pork
promotion, research, and consumer information order-decrease in importer
assessments
Downed
animal case back in district court (Baur V. Veneman)
Island
leading country in environmental farm planning
US
researchers announce world's first cloned deer
Researchers
say wolves could help curb wasting disease
Another plea
against fish farms
Salmon
farming the future for B.C.
Dow
AgroSciences Canada Inc., University of Guelph collaborate in developing
livestock vaccine
Studying
the differences in watersheds
Swine
vesicular disease in Portugal
Animal
health / prevention and control of animal diseases
how to subscribe
Overall
use of antibiotics in animals
December 22, 2003
Lean Trimmings
Edited by Kiran Kernellu
Following two consecutive years of decline, the amount of antibiotics used in
animals in the U.S. was virtually unchanged in 2002 compared to 2001, according
to a new survey of animal health companies conducted by the Animal Health
Institute (AHI). Sulfonamides and penicillin were the only category to show a
significant decline. In 2002, 22 million pounds of antibiotics were sold for use
in both farm and companion animals, according to AHI. That represents a slight
increase in the 21.8 million pounds reported in 2001, but AHI's membership base
for the 2002 survey was larger than in 2001. When factoring out the different
membership base, use in 2002 would have declined slightly from 2001, AHI said.
Therapeutic use of antibiotics to treat, control and prevent disease rose to
more than 90 percent of total use, AHI also said. "Careful and judicious
use of antibiotics to keep animals healthy contributes to the safety of our food
supply and the health and well-being of our pets," s aid Alexander S.
Mathews, AHI President and CEO, in the National Chicken Council Washington
Report. "This annual data continues to demonstrate that antibiotics are
used prudently and with increasing efficiency."
China
bans S.Korean poultry to keep out bird flu
December 23, 2003
Reuters
BEIJING - The official Xinhua news agency was cited as reporting on Tuesday that
China has banned imports of poultry and poultry products from South Korea to
prevent the spread of bird flu.
Poultry brought to China by travellers or mailed to China from South Korea had
also been banned, Xinhua quoted a circular by the Ministry of Agriculture and
State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, as
saying.
The story adds that South Korea announced a ban on Chinese poultry in June 2001
on bird flu fears. The Chinese government denounced the move at the time as
"frivolous and irresponsible."
Horse
flu leads to postponement of premier South African race
December 23, 2003
Agence France Presse
JOHANNESBURG - Newspapers were cited as reporting on Tuesday that a horse flu
outbreak in South Africa has led to the postponement of one of the country's
richest and most prestigious races, the one-million rand (145,000-dollar /
117,000 euros) J and B Met by more than two months to April.
The story adds that three races were cancelled in the Western Cape region
following the discovery of the flu outbreak at a training centre in Cape Town
and has led to more than 1,000 horses being quarantined, according to media
reports.
U
of M research shows swine tolerance to DON higher than previously believed
December 23, 2003
Farmscape Episode 1411
Research conducted at the University of Manitoba shows swine can tolerate higher
levels of fusarium mycotoxins in barley based rations than had been previously
thought. Current recommendations are to keep deoxynivalenon or DON at less than
one part per million in swine diets. The university's Animal Science Department
has completed three trials, one with starter pigs andtwo with grower finisher
pigs, to see if those guidelines can go to higher=2E Associate Professor Dr. Jim
House says the works shows swine can tolerate higher levels of DON without a
significant impact on performance.
Clip-Dr. Jim House-University of Manitoba
In the first trial we went up to two parts per million and saw a slight
reduction in performance in gilts but not in barrows. In the two following
trials we saw absolutely no difference in performance in the starter pigs up to
two parts per million or in the grow finish trial up to four parts per million
on average daily gain, days to market. We're showing, in our data at least, that
using barley that's contaminated with fusarium mycotoxins, inparticular the DON,
that we can feed higher than one part per million. Weknow from the literature
that deoxynivalenon or these fusarium mycotoxins reduce feed intake primarily.
We're not finding that so that begs the question as to why? There's a number of
factors including the use of current genetics. These pigs are basically geared
to eat so they may not be as sensitive. Other environmental factors may play a
role in terms of the abilityto break down these mycotoxins. We don't really know
whether or not barley makes a difference verses corn or wheat. Most of the
studies in the pasthave been corn based diets and we don't really know whether
or not there'ssomething intrinsic about barley that's helping to offset some of
the negative effects so that's another angle that we're approaching.
Dr. House says, despite the higher tolerances, it is still important to minimize
DON contamination. He says several options for reducing mycotoxin levels,
including washing the grain and pearling the grain, are now being explored. For
Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.
Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council
Pork
promotion, research, and consumer information order-decrease in importer
assessments
December 22, 2003
Herd On The Hill
Edited by Kiran Kernellu
Last Wednesday, AMS published a proposed rule in the Federal Register entitled,
"Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order-Decrease in
Importer Assessments," which proposes to decrease the amount of the
assessment per pound due on imported pork and pork products to reflect a
decrease in the 2002 average price for domestic barrows and gilts. It would
decrease the amount by five-hundredths to seven-hundredths of a cent per pound.
Comments must be received by January 16, 2004. Send comments to Kenneth R.
Payne, Chief, Marketing Programs Branch, Room 2638-S, Livestock and Seed
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA, STOP 0251, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0251; PorkComments@usda.gov or
(202) 720-1125 fax. All comments should reference the document number
(LS-03-08), the date, and the page number of that issue of the Federal Register.
Contact Kenneth R. Payne, Chief, Marketing Programs Branch at (202) 720-1115 for
more information.
Comments will be made available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/mpb/rp-pork.htm.
Visit the proposed rule at:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/17dec20030900/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-31074.htm.
Downed
animal case back in district court (Baur V. Veneman)
December 22, 2003
Herd On The Hill
Edited by Kiran Kernellu
A decision issued last Tuesday, December 16, by the United States Court of
Appeals for the Second Circuit remands to the District Court a case brought by
Michael Baur against USDA seeking to ban the use of non-ambulatory livestock as
food for human consumption. Mr. Baur, a member of animal rights group Farm
Sanctuary, alleged such livestock are particularly likely to be infected with
transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) and that current USDA
regulations violate the statutory authority and the Federal Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). He further claimed that consumption of downed animals
creates a serious risk of disease transmission.
The U.S. Constitution provides that, to bring suit in a federal court, a
plaintiff must establish standing, otherwise the court will dismiss the
complaint without reaching the merits of the lawsuit. In dismissing Baur's 1998
lawsuit, the district court held that he had not alleged a concrete and imminent
injury, and expressed concern about the potential breadth of his standing claim.
The Appeals Court found that Mr. Bauer's claim that the increased risk of BSE
transmission from downed livestock is a "credible threat of harm," not
merely a speculative risk. While it is a very narrow opinion in this case, it
found that his allegations are sufficient to confer standing at the pleading
stage, which means that the decision of the District Court is vacated, and the
case is remanded for further proceedings.
This case is of considerable interest to NMA and its members, and we are
considering options. NMA members may contact Kiran Kernellu at 510-763-1533 or
kiran@nmaonline.org for a copy of the Olsson, Frank & Weeda memorandum on
the case and a copy of the Appeals Court decision.
Island
leading country in environmental farm planning
December 23, 2003
The Guardian (Charlottetown)
A4
With funding from the Prince Edward Island A.D.A.P.T. Council, which delivers
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development (C.A.R.D.)
Fund, the Prince Edward Island Environmental Farm Plan steering committee has,
according to this story, enjoyed the success of having close to 80 per cent of
Island farms involved in this program.
Karen Murchison, who has been co-ordinator of the program since November of
2002, was quoted as saying, "We are the envy of the rest of the
country," adding that environmental farm plans are a major component of the
Agricultural Policy Framework, the federal-provincial-territorial agreement
designed to establish a long-term plan for the industry.
Murchison was further cited as saying that having an environmental farm plan is
now a requirement for taking part in virtually any provincial government
program. As well, she said many financial institutions are also requesting such
plans from their agricultural clients.
US
researchers announce world's first cloned deer
Dec. 22/03
Agence France Presse English
CHICAGO -- Researchers at Texas A and M University were cited as saying Monday
they have carried out the first successful cloning of a white-tailed deer in a
"breakthrough" that could be instrumental in conserving endangered
deer species, and that the cloned animal -- a fawn, named "Dewey," --
was born to a
surrogate mother several months ago, but was only certified as a genetic clone
of a donor through a recent DNA analysis.
Mark Westhusin, associate professor with the university's college of veterinary
medicine and lead investigator on the project was quoted as saying in a
statement that, "Dewey is developing normally for a fawn his age and
appears
Healthy.
Researchers
say wolves could help curb wasting disease
Dec. 22/03
AP
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/12/22/build/wyoming/42-wastingdisease-wolves.inc
DENVER -- Researchers are, according to this story, looking to wolves to help
control the spread of chronic wasting disease in deer and elk, and that wolves'
uncanny ability to spot vulnerable animals may make them the best natural
control for the disease, since wolves could kill off sick animals.
National Park Service biologist Douglas Smith, who helped lead the program that
returned wolves to Yellowstone in 1995 and 1996, was quoted as saying,
"Wolves show up and say, 'Let's see what you've got.' And if you don't have
it, they laser in on you like a fighter pilot. The things they pick up on are
incredibly subtle."
While the theory is still unproven,some say it is worth factoring in to the
debate as chronic wasting disease continues its creep north toward Yellowstone's
famed game herds.
The story adds that no one has been able to study whether wolves single out CWD-infected
animals because the range of predator and disease have never overlapped, but
over the next few years, that will likely change as both the disease and wolves
spread out.
David Mech, a biologist with the United States Geologic Survey who is considered
the world's top wolf expert, was cited as cautioning that until wolves and
wasting disease actually interact, theories about wolves controlling the spread
of the disease are just speculation.
Another
plea against fish farms
December 19, 2003
The Daily News (Prince Rupert)
4
Jeff Mikus of Tofino, B.C., writes to express my concern over possible fish farm
expansion on the North Coast.
Mikus is a commercial fisherman who lives on the west coast of Vancouver Island
who has spent many years around salmon farms in Clayoquot and Nootka Sounds
while fishing prawns, and has seen the damage fish farms have caused when
fishing prawns. Every year, says Mikus, he has to move his gear further away
from the farms as the bottom is dead.
In Nootka Sound Greig Seafood lost 2.2 million pounds of fish this summer to the
same problems for the second straight year. Does this sound like a good idea for
the pristine waters of the North Coast, where we have some of the few viable
commercial fisheries for salmon, shrimp, prawns and crab etc. and an expanding
sports and first nations fisheries?
Do we want to take a chance with fish farms when everything we hear about them
points to serious problems with open net cage systems?
They are able to use chemicals such as Slice to kill off sea lice but they also
kill off crabs, shrimp and other crustaceans.
Salmon
farming the future for B.C.
December 22, 2003
The Daily News (Prince Rupert)
4
Laurie Jensen, President, Positive Aquaculture Awareness, writes that Mr.
Charles Justice talks about preserving "livelihoods" in coastal BC,
yet he doesn't seem to recognize how more and more of those livelihoods are
being made ("Fish farms not for us," Dec. 11).
Let's be very clear: the future prosperity of Coastal BC communities, including
First Nations -- now, more than ever -- is largely dependent on the sustainable
BC salmon farming industry.
Salmon aquaculture employs members of First Nations in communities such as
Campbell River, Klemtu, Alert Bay, Port Hardy, Fort Rupert, Port Edward,
Kitkatla, Tofino and surrounding villages in Clayoquot Sound. The industry
generates more than 4,000 jobs throughout the Coast.
For Mr. Justice to evoke some nostalgic past of "once upon a time"
where First Nations engaged only in wild fishing is to ignore the current
realities of limited wild fish stocks and to condemn First Nations to a kind of
economic paralysis, where change and adaptation to current situations is not
possible.
But it is possible and it's happening.
Salmon farming is the future for BC coastal communities.
Many First Nations are welcoming salmon farming. First Nations have signed
numerous memoranda of understanding with BC aquaculture companies that will
provide long-term, well-paying economic opportunities.
Given that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported earlier
this year that global fishing of the wild stock has reached its sustainable
limit and that aquaculture is a viable alternative to supply the growing world
demand for fish, it follows that farmed salmon will form a key part of the
world's future nutrition needs.
Mr. Justice should know that Alaska's decision to ban salmon farming is a bit
deceiving.
The Alaskan fishery is based on a huge system of salmon hatcheries and net-pen
rearing operations.
It is called "salmon ranching" but it is also a form of farming.
And it is probably only a matter of time before Alaskans see the benefits of
moving to farming the full life-cycle of salmon and other finfish.
Salmon farming is one of the most environmentally-friendly and sustainable of
industries. Jensen encourages readers to visit www.farmfreshsalmon.org for the
real facts about salmon farming.
Dow
AgroSciences Canada Inc., University of Guelph collaborate in developing
livestock vaccine
December 22, 2003
From a press release
INDIANAPOLIS -- Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. announced today the signing of a
research and licensing agreement with the University of Guelph, which is
conducting research on a promising new vaccine to prevent a major flu-like
disease in cattle. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Researchers at the University of Guelph have been developing plant-made antigens
that have shown effectiveness against Mannheimia haemolytica, a serious
respiratory pathogen that can infect entire herds of cattle. The disease makes
infected animals very ill and can even be fatal. The disease is a major global
concern to the livestock industry because infection is costly to treat and leads
to decreased productivity.
Dow AgroSciences, among the leaders in plant biotechnology, is actively pursuing
plant-derived treatments for livestock. "We see this collaboration with the
University of Guelph as an excellent opportunity to extend our technology
platform with a project that will benefit the cattle industry," said Butch
Mercer, global business leader, Animal Health and Nutrition for Dow AgroSciences.
"Furthermore, we see this as an opportunity to collaborate with the world's
best in this scientific field." The university, with support from Dow
AgroSciences Canada Inc., hopes to further develop a protein-based vaccine,
which could be delivered in multiple plant systems. Developing an oral vaccine
for cattle has proven difficult because of cattle's unique digestive system.
Cattle's four stomachs break down therapeutic proteins before they can be
absorbed through the intestines. Dr. Patricia Shewen, professor of immunology,
said university researchers have shown experimentally that proteins expressed in
cattle's forage can be presented to the immune system.
Three departments at the university are involved in the research -- pathobiology,
microbiology and plant agriculture. In addition to financial support, Dow
AgroSciences also brings intellectual property, molecular biology expertise and
other assets that will facilitate delivery and expression of the proteins in
plants.
"This project brings together people with diverse expertise," Shewen
said.
"If we can succeed, this will revolutionize how we vaccinate cattle."
www.dowagro.com .
Studying
the differences in watersheds
December 23, 2003
ARS News Service
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
A decade-long Agricultural Research Service study of two midwestern watersheds
confirms that soil differences affect how water and agricultural
chemicals--particularly nitrate fertilizer and atrazine herbicide--move through
the soil. Those two chemicals were measured in the study of watersheds in Iowa
and Missouri from 1992-2001.
Soil scientists Gene Alberts and Robert Lerch of the ARS Cropping Systems and
Water Quality Research Unit in Columbia, Mo.,studied the Goodwater Creek
watershed in north-central Missouri. Dan Jaynes, research leader at the ARS
National Soil Tilth Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, studied central Iowa's Walnut
Creek watershed. Watersheds are geographic areas where the land
"sheds" water to a common outlet.
Researchers learned that two watersheds, closely located geographically, can
have significantly different water quality issues.
Chemical movement depends on their physical properties and how water moves off
the land and through the soil. These watersheds have significantly different
water movement pathways because their soils vary.
At Walnut Creek, tile drains are needed to grow row crops. The drains intercept
rainfall, moving it rapidly into the creek. This results in more rainfall
percolating downward through the soil. Because of nitrate's soil mobility, it
moves with the percolating water, resulting in high contamination levels of
nitrates used as fertilizer.
In Goodwater Creek soils, tile drains do not work well and are not needed for
row crop production. Soils within this watershed have a natural clay layer that
limits downward percolation of rainfall, resulting in higher levels of surface
runoff. Unlike nitrate, atrazine stays near the soil surface where it moves with
runoff. This resulted in high atrazine levels in Goodwater Creek, but lower
nitrate levels.
Atrazine is a pre-emergence herbicide that is applied to bare soil, which means
that it's more susceptible to being washed away without crops to hold it in
place.
Crop rotation, cover crops and a nitrogen management plan can be beneficial in
central Iowa. In Missouri, surface runoff control practices and a pesticide
management plan that includes pesticide incorporation or the use of low-rate
pesticides can be of assistance.
ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.
Swine
vesicular disease in Portugal
December 22, 2003
OIE Alert message
(Date of previous outbreak of swine vesicular disease in Portugal reported to
the OIE: September 1995).
An outbreak of swine vesicular disease (SVD) was reported in Leiria district,
Beira Litoral region, in a farm containing 1,754 pigs. The origin of the
outbreak is under investigation.
Diagnosis: On 22 December 2003, positive results by RT-PCR were obtained at
Pirbright Laboratory, United Kingdom (OIE Reference Laboratory for SVD).
Control measures: Control measures laid down in Directive 92/119/EEC of the
Council of the European Communities, "introducing general Community
measures for the control of certain animal diseases and specific measures
relating to swine vesicular disease", are applied.
- The holding was put under restriction on 17 December 2003. Furthermore, no
pigs left this holding during the 30-day period prior detection of clinical
signs.
- Stamping out began on 19 December.
- Complete standstill of pigs in all pig holdings located within the established
protection and surveillance zones.
Number of pig farms
Number of pigs
3-km-radius protection zone
144
62,874
10-km surveillance zone
202
64,108
Total
346
126,982
- Additional cleaning and disinfection of vehicles transporting pigs in the
whole Portugal.
- Any consignment of pigs will be serologically tested for SVD before dispatch
from Portugal (there is very limited trade in live pigs from Portugal).
Animal
health / prevention and control of animal diseases
December 23, 2003
European Commission, Health and Consumer Protection
To view the new section Eradication Programmes, see:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/ah_pcad/ah_pcad_index_en.html#erad
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