AnimalNet Dec. 24/03
Another
South Korean farm falls to bird flu as culling continues
China bans
poultry imports from South Korea
Chlortetracycline
medication for pigs
Hay
analysis: Improved test
Maryland
governor pledges to implement poultry panel's recommendations
FDA
Veterinary Newsletter
Consultation
Consultation
Vegetarian
Virgin Mary ad riles Boston church
Dishonouring
scientists
Chronic
wasting disease herd certification program and interstate movement of captive
deer and elk
how to subscribe
Another
South Korean farm falls to bird flu as culling continues
December 24, 2003
Agence France Presse
SEOUL - South Korea was cited as declaring a 10th farm infected with a highly
contagious bird flu Wednesday as it slaughtered thousands more chickens and
ducks in a desperate bid to contain the virus that emerged this month.
Agriculture officials were cited as saying that the poultry farm was found to be
infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus, which is potentially fatal to humans, in
a new round of testing of farms, with another nine farms already declared to
have the disease.
By early Wednesday agriculture officials and troops had culled 700,000 birds
from 1.28 million to be killed over the next few days, the agriculture ministry
said.
The story says that YTN cable news television showed soldiers bagging dead birds
for burial as herds of ducklings and chicks were forced to march towards a huge
ditch on one farm where they were to be buried alive.
China
bans poultry imports from South Korea
December 24, 2003
Meatingplace.com
Joshua Lipsky
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp
China has banned the import of any poultry or bird products from South Korea
after reports that the bird flu virus had spread beyond the quarantine zone (see
South Korean bird flu spreads beyond quarantine blockade, Daily News, Dec. 23,
2003 11627).
In a joint statement, China's Ministry of Agriculture and State Administration
of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine also said all South Korean
bird products must be returned or destroyed.
In the battle to contain the outbreak, South Korean authorities have culled
about one million chickens and ducks so far.
"A total of 972,000 chickens and ducks have been marked for
slaughter," said Lee Sung-do, an official at the Korean Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry. "We have so far culled 582,000."
There have been nine confirmed cases of bird flu in South Korea since its
outbreak earlier this month, and authorities are investigating 13 other reported
cases, said Sung-do.
Sung-do added that the farm birds have been infected wit the H5N1 virus, but are
still investigating whether it is the H5N1-97 strain that crossed from chickens
to humans in Hong Kong in 1997, killing six people. However, South Korean
officials have said that the flu is unlikely to be transmissible to humans since
those exposed to the chickens have so far showed no signs of symptoms following
the four- to five-day incubation period.
Chlortetracycline
medication for pigs
December 23, 2003
Pig Disease Information Centre
Dr. Michael Meredith
www.pighealth.com
According to pig therapeutics specialist, David Burch, chlortetracycline (CTC)
is the most versatile antibiotic in the swine veterinarian's
therapeutic armoury. In many countries, it is also the most widely used oral
antimicrobial agent for control and treatment of swine diseases.
Resistance to Chlortetracycline:
Unfortunately, widespread use of tetracyclines has engendered a certain amount
of bacterial resistance, particularly amongst pathogenic members of the family
Enterobacteriacae. Escherichia coli strains associated with neonatal and
post-weaning diarrhea, and some Salmonella species have become a particular
problem. Fortunately, most respiratory pathogens are still susceptible.
Chlortetracycline for Ileitis:
The new review by David Burch of the therapeutic role of CTC is particularly
upbeat about the activity of CTC against Lawsonia intracellularis, the cause of
ileitis. Ileitis has become recognized as a fairly common enteric affliction
responsible for diarrhoea and poor growth in growing hogs. He reviews clinical
challenge data in which CTC gave better production results than tylosin, when
included in the feed for 21 days.
In-feed formulations:
There are a number of in-feed formulations but granular premixes are the
most popular form because they give a good homogeneous mix. In this
formulation the particle size is similar to feed particles and they are also
non-dusty. Currently they are made from mycelial fermentation products,
which have a maximum strength of about 15%, although there are 10% (100g of CTC/kg
premix) products for convenience of dosing.In the near future, CTC premixes in
the EU will be required to be based only on pharmaceutical-grade
chlortetracycline .
Weblink: www.octagon-services.co.uk/articles/chlortetracycline.htm
Hay
analysis: Improved test
December 23, 2003
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Gavin Meerdink
Beef and Feed Safety Extension Veterinarian
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ceps/enotes/ .
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/enotes/showarticle.cfm?id=130
Relative Feed Value (RFV) has been used for some time as a single-value
indication of hay value relative to "average." An improvement, the
Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) test, has been developed by Dan Undersander, from
the University of Wisconsin, along with John Moore, from the University of
Florida, and Randy Shaver, Wisconsin Extension dairyman. The new test is being
adapted by test laboratories, and hay growers and buyers are slowly becoming
aware of it and learning how to interpret the test results. In order to more
accurately predict how forages will perform in a ration, changes were made to
better estimate the digestibility of the forage. In the RFQ test, TDN (total
digestible nutrients) is incorporated into the formula, which includes the
estimate for NDF (neutral detergent fiber). Another plus for the new method is
that grasses (because of their high NDF) will be measured more accurately.
Forages raised in cooler weather should outperform those grown under hotter
conditions. Therefore, first-cutting hay might outscore second and third
cuttings.
The RFQ test is expected to cost $5 to $10 more per sample than RFQ. The
improved estimate might help producers more accurately gauge how to supplement
hay to best maintain condition of beef cattle through the winter.
Maryland
governor pledges to implement poultry panel's recommendations
December 24, 2003
Meatingplace.com
Joshua Lipsky
A panel of poultry farmers and business leaders have submitted a set of
initiatives to Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich that are designed to help save their
industry on the Eastern Shore (see Maryland Governor asks poultry growers for
help in dealing with Chesapeake Bay, Daily News, Aug. 7, 2003 11129).
A major concern is the preservation of agricultural land on the Delmarva
Peninsula, according to Assistant Agriculture Secretary Pat McMillan. McMillan
said poultry growers worry that the grain-producing corn and soybean farms are
being forced out of work by rising land prices. McMillan added that a program
that offers federal money for retired farmland has exceeded its goal of saving
tributary buffers and has taken too much land out of farming.
Other initiatives include looking for ways to:
* Sell poultry manure, including for electricity generation
* Transport grain more cheaply
* Promote Maryland poultry products internationally
* Sell more poultry products to state institutions
* Include poultry growers in more state economic development programs
* Upgrade the state's animal health laboratory
After hearing the initiatives, Ehrlich said he will direct his administration to
implement them.
FDA
Veterinary Newsletter
November/December 2003
The new issue of the FDA Veterinary Newsletter (Vol XVIII, No. VI) is available
in pdf format at
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/index/fdavet/2003/Nov-Dec03.pdf
Consultation
December 23, 2003
European Commission
The Commission publishes a reflection paper on control of residues of veterinary
medicinal products and Maximum Residue Limits
Available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/consultations/cons2_en.htm
Consultation
December 23, 2003
European Commission
Veterinary controls on live animals and animal products from third countries in
the context of the enlarged EU
Available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/consultations/cons1_en.htm
Vegetarian
Virgin Mary ad riles Boston church
December 23, 2003
Reuters
BOSTON - The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston on Tuesday was cited as
demanding the removal of an animal rights group's billboard advertisement
depicting the Virgin Mary cradling a lifeless chicken in her arms.
The story says that the ad by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
features the tagline "Go Vegetarian -- It's an Immaculate Conception,"
a reference to teachings about Mary's purity.
But the church said the billboard was "offensive at any time" and
especially so during the Christmas season.
Dishonouring
scientists
December 23, 2003
sp!ked
Helene Guldberg
The Sunday Times published the details of a leaked Cabinet Office document on 21
December 2003, which suggested that Professor Colin Blakemore was not
recommended for a knighthood because of his 'controversial work on vivisection'.
Blakemore says he is now reconsidering his position as chief executive of the
Medical Research Council (MRC).
This is not a case of sour grapes. Blakemore tells me 'it has nothing to do with
whether I deserve an honour or not - that is not the issue'. His concern is that
these revelations may discourage scientists from speaking out on controversial
matters. 'My research is not particularly controversial', he points out;
'neither in terms of the animals I have experimented on - mice - nor in terms of
the techniques I have adopted. But the point is that I have spoken out on these
issues.' Indeed, Blakemore is one of the few British scientists who has
consistently spoken out in favour of animal research.
He is relieved that UK science minister Lord Sainsbury has come out in support
of animal experimentation - but he says the government will need to do more to
convince him to remain at the MRC. Sir David King, the government's chief
scientific adviser, declared his support for the work of scientists carrying out
animal experimentation on BBC Radio 4's Today this morning, but Blakemore would
like to see prime minister Tony Blair enter the fray.
The Council of the Biosciences Federation, led by Sir Tom Blundell, has also put
pressure on Blair, in a letter signed by eminent scientists, to take a more
robust stance on animal experimentation (1). The letter expresses 'grave concern
about the damaging effect of the leaked minutes', which send 'entirely the wrong
message. They imply that if scientists communicate with the public about their
research, they will be denied recognition if their work is felt to be
"controversial".'
As Blakemore points out, the MRC says on its website that it is 'eager to share
its work with the public in order to increase awareness of the way in which
medical research affects each of us, and to promote dialogue and debate on major
issues' (2). Blakemore sees his role at the MRC as 'helping encourage scientists
to put their heads above the parapet and speak out on scientific issues, no
matter how controversial'.
'Now I feel compromised', he says. 'How am I expected to respond? How can I
convince scientists to engage in sensitive debates when they see a scientist
marked down in the eyes of the government for doing so? This is very
disappointing.'
Disappointing, yes, but perhaps not surprising. Indeed, Blakemore has spoken out
against the government's stalling over animal research many times before. 'The
government has been equivocal on this issue since it was elected in 1997', he
says. He believes this is due to the substantial donations that the Labour Party
has received from animal liberation groups.
Such funding may influence the government's response to anti-vivisectionists.
But a more convincing explanation for its prevarication over animal
experimentation is the general spinelessness it displays when confronted by
controversial issues. Blakemore is frustrated that the government does not
respond until its back is against the wall - as in the case of the Huntingdon
Life Sciences. 'When there was a serious discussion about pharmaceutical
companies quitting this country, the government needed to respond', he says.
We need the government consistently to back scientists such as Blakemore, who
are prepared to argue for animal experimentation. Previous generations grew up
in an age without antibiotics, organ transplantation, blood transfusion, or
effective drugs for high blood pressure, asthma, epilepsy, cancer and much more.
These medical advances would not have been won, or would have been introduced at
great human cost, had it not been for animal experimentation.
It's time for the government to stop wishing away problems, such as the
anti-vivisectionists arguments - and start confronting them head on.
Chronic
wasting disease herd certification program and interstate movement of captive
deer and elk
December 24, 2003
[Federal Register: (Volume 68, Number 247)]
[Page 74513-74529]
[DOCID:fr24de03-26]
9 CFR Parts 55 and 81 [Docket No. 00-108-2]
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
SUMMARY: We are proposing to establish a herd certification program to eliminate
chronic wasting disease from captive cervids in the United States. Participating
deer and elk herds would have to follow program requirements for animal
identification, testing, herd management, and movement of animals into and from
herds. After 5 years of enrollment with no evidence of chronic wasting disease,
a herd would be granted ``certified'' status. Owners of herds could enroll in a
State program that we have determined has requirements equivalent to the Federal
program, or could enroll directly in the Federal program if no State program
exists. We are also proposing to establish interstate movement requirements to
prevent the interstate movement of deer and elk that pose a risk of spreading
CWD. These actions are intended to eliminate CWD from the captive deer and elk
herds in the United States. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive
on or before February 23, 2004.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery or by
e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send four copies of
your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket No. 00-108-2, Regulatory
Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No.
00-108-2. If you use e-mail, address your comment to regulations@aphis.usda.gov.
Your comment must be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached
files. Please include your name and address in your message and ``Docket No.
00-108-2'' on the subject line.
You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room.
The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street
and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is
there to help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related information,
including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS
dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Lynn Creekmore, Staff Veterinarian, VS,
APHIS, 2150 Centre Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80526, telephone (970) 494-7354.
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