News Update
August 23, 2012
Farm Science Review Program to Discuss Animal/Human Disease Transmission
Hollywood likes to promote the myth that humans are always the "victims" when it comes to diseases transmitted between animals and humans, referred to as zoonotic diseases. In reality, the illnesses can pass either direction, said Armando Hoet, director of the Veterinary Public Health Program within Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.
"The truth is, you are more likely to get an infectious disease from another human than from an animal," Hoet said. "Plus, we are also an important source of infectious agents to animals, as many of our own infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, and intestinal pathogens, just to name a few, can be passed from humans to animals, making them sick."
Hoet will discuss the diseases that can move from humans to animals, and vice versa, and how to prevent this transmission, during a program titled "Can your animals make you sick?" during the Farm Science Review hosted near London, Ohio, Sept. 18-20. His presentation will be offered Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 2 p.m., and on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 1:40 p.m. as part of the daily Question the Authorities series.
For more information and the full release, click here.
'Building Better Heifers' Field Days Planned in Eureka, Phillipsburg, Kansas
Kansas State University (K-State) will host "Building Better Heifers –– Selecting, Growing and Breeding Heifers Using Today's Science" field days Aug. 28 in Eureka, Kan., and Aug. 29 in Phillipsburg, Kan.
"As feed costs have risen, the balance between properly developing heifers and not spending more than you can afford has become more challenging," said Sandy Johnson, K-State Research and Extension livestock specialist, based in Colby. "Science has provided new tools to use for breeding and selection."
The Aug. 28 field day will be hosted 7 miles northwest of Eureka at the Dalebanks Angus Reproduction Facility on River Road. The Aug. 29 event will be at Bar Arrow Cattle Co. at 26 E. Limestone Rd., Phillipsburg, Kan.
"Market signals are there for those who are in a position to build their cow herd," Johnson said. "Where resources are adequate, producers may develop additional heifers beyond what they need to offer for sale. Producers should be aware of current research studies that look at systems aimed to reduce the cost of heifer development while maintaining or improving their performance as cows."
The field day at both locations begins with registration at 4 p.m., and the program starts at 4:30 p.m. Presentations and speakers include:
- Heifer development systems — Rick Funston, University of Nebraska–Lincoln;
- Reproductive technologies — Sandy Johnson, K-State;
- Proper collection of DNA samples — Kara Wilson, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB)
- Heifer selection tools — Bob Weaber, K-State;
- Postbreeding nutrition and early pregnancies — Scott Lake, University of Wyoming; and
- Healthy heifers to healthy cows — Dale Grotelueschen, veterinarian, Pfizer Animal Health.
For meal planning purposes, organizers request that all participants RSVP by contacting Anna Curry (akcurry@ksu.edu or 620-583-7455), Rachael Boyle (rboyle@ksu.edu or 785-425-6851) or Sandy Johnson (sandyj@ksu.edu or 785-462-6281).
MU Field Day to Show Beef Research at MU's Thompson Farm, Spickard, Sept. 18
Beef herd management during the drought and beyond will be discussed at the University of Missouri (MU) Thompson Farm Field Day, in northwestern Grundy County, Sept. 18.
The annual event starts at 9 a.m. with talks on cow herd nutrition and pasture management as a result of the extreme drought, says Rodney Geisert, superintendent and MU animal scientist.
Justin Sexten, MU Extension beef nutrition specialist, will explain the feeding challenges of the 2012 drought. Rob Kallenbach, MU Extension forage specialist, will give pasture management tips.
A panel on reproduction will follow with tips from Scott Poock from the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, and Mike Smith and Dave Patterson from the MU Division of Animal Sciences.
Scott Brown, MU livestock economist, will describe profit potential from producing high-quality beef. Mike Kasten, director of the MU Quality Beef program, will tell of the new beef marketing effort.
The Thompson Farm beef herd has attained national attention for producing calves with high percentages of USDA Prime quality grade beef.
Lunch and tours of exhibits will be at noon. Farm tours will be in the afternoon.
For the full release, click here.
'Farm Bill Now' Coalition Unites Nation's Farm Groups in Push for New Farm Bill
Thirty-nine of the nation's foremost agricultural organizations have joined forces in an effort to raise public awareness of the need for Congress to pass a new, comprehensive, five-year farm bill before current farm programs expire in September.
The coalition, called 'Farm Bill Now,' comprises associations and coalitions representing commodity crops, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, state and local governments, minor crops, energy and biobased product groups, farm cooperatives and financial groups, as well as the nation's two largest farm groups, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union. Each organization has strong and distinct policy priorities, yet all 39 are committed to passing a new, comprehensive bill this year. Today, the group issues the following statement on the importance of new farm legislation for America's farmers.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Second National Symposium on Antibiotic Use in Food Animals to be Nov. 13-15
Lonnie King will be the opening keynote speaker at the "A One Health Approach to Antimicrobial Use & Resistance: A Dialogue for a Common Purpose" symposium in Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 13-15. King is dean of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and is a former director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne and Enteric Diseases where he led the center's activities for surveillance, diagnostics, disease investigations, epidemiology, research, public education, policy development, disease prevention and control programs.
"Dr. King is the ideal person to kick off the symposium," states symposium co-chair Leah Dorman, director of food programs, Center for Food and Animal Issues, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. "He's been in the trenches and will bring a 360-degree view to this important topic."
For more information, click here.
CDC Telebriefing on West Nile Virus Update
A press briefing transcript is available and can be read and listened to, click here.
Secretary Vilsack Announces New Help for Livestock Producers
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack Aug. 23 said the USDA intends to file special provisions with the federal crop insurance program to allow haying or grazing of cover crops without impacting the insurability of planted 2013 spring crops, a move that can help provide much needed forage and feed this fall and winter for livestock producers. In a separate step, Vilsack will modify emergency loans, allowing loans to be made earlier in the season, helping livestock producers to offset increased feed costs and those who have liquidated herds.
"At the direction of the president, USDA continues to work as swiftly as possible to get help to America's farmers and ranchers by providing flexibility within existing programs, particularly those that assist livestock producers," said Vilsack. "In the weeks ahead, the Obama Administration will continue to stand with and support our farmers, ranchers and businesses as they recover from this drought. Still, it is important that Congress pass a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible to give USDA more tools to help and to give more certainty to producers in this difficult time."
Pfizer Animal Health Support Advances Efforts of U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) announced that Pfizer Animal Health has joined USFRA, becoming the first animal health company member of USFRA's Premier Partner Advisory Group.
"It is important that the agriculture industry joins together for the common goal of building public trust in the U.S. food system," said Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau and chairman of USFRA. "USFRA is proud to have partners like Pfizer Animal Health supporting our mission of enhancing consumer trust, maintaining and enhancing the freedom of U.S. farmers and ranchers to operate in a responsible manner, and strengthening collaboration within the food production, processing and distribution systems."
As a member of the Premier Partner Advisory Group, Pfizer Animal Health has a seat on the USFRA board, the Chief Executive Officer Advisory Council and an opportunity to participate in USFRA committees/task forces, annual meeting and educational activities. In addition, the expertise of Pfizer Animal Health can be used to help guide official positions in important animal care and health practices topics.
"Healthy food begins with healthy animals," said Clint Lewis, president of U.S. operations for Pfizer Animal Health. "Veterinarians who care for animals on America's farms play a key role in this effort, and through our collaboration with USFRA, Pfizer aims to raise the visibility and the voice of the veterinarian in our nation's conversations about food production."
The Alliance will focus on enhancing consumer trust in today's food production through education and communications to consumer influencers and thought leaders. An important Alliance goal is to lead the conversation about the industry's commitment to continuous improvement and the importance of today's agriculture.
For more information and the full release, click here.
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