Two cats have died after consuming recalled raw milk from Raw Milk Farms LLC, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health stated in a news release last Thursday. The two cats lived in the same household. After eating the product, they exhibited lack of appetite, fever and signs of neurological problems. Source: Los Angeles Times, December 12, 2024. Link. “I think this … [Read more...]
USDA offers support to address rural veterinarian shortage
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture recently awarded more than two dozen Veterinary Services Grants totaling $3.8 million to universities and veterinary practices working to address shortages of food animal veterinary services across the nation in underserved areas. Source: Dairy Herd Management, December 9, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Mexico notifies United States of New World Screwworm detection
Commentary The recent announcement that officials detected a New World Screwworm in Mexico brought memories of removing screwworms from baby rabbits, ducklings and newborn puppies in the late 1960s. These experiences make this situation a priority to share with animal health pros. Vigilant monitoring and managing fly populations is critical to avoiding the devastation … [Read more...]
Microbiome-gut-brain axis; its importance in production animal agriculture
Complimentary Commercial Content Steve Lerner, PhD, shares how two legacy companies, Novozymes and Chr. Hansen, became the company Novonesis <Link>. His role with the new entity is to educate and support the company and industry by sharing the benefits of effective probiotics. Lerner explains the significance of the microbiome-gut-brain axis in animal production and … [Read more...]
Protecting ourselves from hearing loss
Includes Commercial Content The discussion of electronic hearing protection as a solution for hunting- and shooting-related hearing loss caught our attention. Animal health pros and workers in swine confinement, kennels and shelters and confined cattle areas can experience hearing loss from the noise in those environments. Different from over-the-ear noise cancelling … [Read more...]
First factory farm ban passes in Berkeley, California
Mostly symbolic, Measure DD’s passing in the city of Berkeley, California, may spur similar policies elsewhere in the United States. Advocates say large livestock facilities produce immense amounts of waste that can pollute water and spread disease, adding to human health risks. Source: Agricultural Dive, November 14, 2024. Link. INSIGHTS: A review of the city of Berkeley … [Read more...]
Rendering: Every part has a purpose
The parts of animals we don’t eat provide many benefits. NARA has a new informative video for the young, the old, those in the livestock business and those who’ve never touched it. Thanks to Sharla Ishmael, editor of NARA’s Render magazine, for sharing. Source: North American Renderers Association, November 2024. Link. (animated video, 4:00 min) … [Read more...]
Chicken feather and skin development
The development of the feathers and the feather follicles is extremely involved and a complex part of the bird, writes Doug Ottinger. Animal health pros may find his article worth reading if feather development is not a familiar topic. The feather is a complex epidermal organ.” Source: Backyard Poultry, October 5, 2022. Link. The follicles, feathers, and skin of the chicken, … [Read more...]
Merck Animal Health announces FDA approval of SAFE-GUARD® AQUASOL (fenbendazole oral suspension) for use in backyard chicken flocks
Complimentary Commercial Content The approval of SAFE-GUARD® AQUASOL (fenbendazole oral suspension) for use in backyard chicken flocks makes it the only FDA-approved chicken dewormer designed for home use. The product will be available in a 3 mL presentation at fleet and dealer retail outlets beginning in January 2025. Source: Merck Animal Health, November 13, 2024. … [Read more...]
Help livestock and farm customers get funds they deserve
When natural or man-made disasters strike, USDA programs can help rebuild herds, infrastructure, buildings and crops. However, they can be hard to access for average producers. Enter Crop Disaster Recovery, a grant acquisition firm that helps farmers obtain funding from disaster recovery programs and grants through USDA. Source: FarmFutures, September 25, 2024. Link. “We … [Read more...]
Bird flu mutating and reassorting with seasonal flu could create a pandemic-causing virus
Commentary It is NOT time to panic. Experts are studying the potential for H5N1 to mutate and reassort with seasonal influenza. They indicate humans and pigs could both serve as mixing vessels for a bird flu–seasonal flu hybrid. The article by Tanya Lewis provides a situation analysis, food for thought and reinforces the importance of: seasonal flu vaccination for … [Read more...]
First case of H5N1 in swine found in Oregon backyard farm
No concern about the safety of the nation’s pork supply but a reminder of what can happen when livestock and poultry share water sources, housing and equipment. Source: National Hog Farmer, October 30, 2024. Link. USDA and ODA remind all farmers that strong biosecurity is critical to eradicating this virus and to protecting the health of farmworkers, farmers and their … [Read more...]
Pekin ducks, a turkey alternative
Rumors of turkey shortages due to flocks being euthanized because of HPAI may make the Pekin duck an option. A Pennsylvania family has developed a substantial commercial duck business featured in the article here. While the Pekin duck is a famous icon for AFLAC, it’s all-dark meat may become a favored alternate choice for the holidays. Source: American Agriculturist, … [Read more...]
Can PRRSV, PEDV be inactivated in truck cabs?
Truck cabs are a biosecurity concern, especially in swine production, to reduce the spread of PRRSV and PEDV. Research from the Swine Health Center updates truck cabin biosecurity methods in this article. Source: National Hog Farmer, September 11, 2024. Link. While ozone and air-purifier technologies have emerged as promising alternatives for decontamination, further … [Read more...]
Don’t forget. Manure can kill!
Dealing with manure pits and tankers is a nasty reality for livestock producers. Jennifer Kiel addresses safety as the fall manure application period gets going. Consider her article for newsletters, social media posts and print a few to leave at local coffee stops. Manure is dangerous . . . it breaks down to produce gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane and … [Read more...]
Rats don’t care about property lines
Chickens are messy eaters. This creates a tempting smorgasbord for rodents, explains Maureen Mackey. She shares ways to reduce rat problems around chickens, tips from experts, coop construction advice and reminds us that they can carry serious diseases, including salmonella and leptospirosis. Source: Backyard Poultry, September 2021. Link. Rats rarely go beyond 300 feet of … [Read more...]
Detecting and mitigating stray voltage
The need to stay grounded takes on a different meaning in the two articles shared here. Stray voltage is a hidden risk to production and safety in production settings. Testing for stray voltage is crucial to protecting the herd and livelihoods: Stray voltage can severely affect livestock, resulting in stress, reduced milk production, and higher illness incidents. Causes … [Read more...]
Bird flu pushing egg prices higher
Reading this article, animal health pros might conclude the growth in backyard poultry production will continue. HPAI has reduced egg supplies that are now less robust than normal. Meanwhile, domestic sales and exports have jumped to levels not seen since the pandemic. Source: Agricultural Dive, September 3, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Insights on how avian flu crosses the species barrier
A new study from the Cusack group at EMBL Grenoble and published in the journal Nature Communications, sheds light on the different mutations that the avian influenza virus can undergo to be able to replicate in mammalian cells. Significant biological differences between birds and mammals normally prevent avian influenza from spreading from birds to other species. To infect … [Read more...]
Turkey, egg and dairy groups call for new approach to avian flu
Fall bird migrations <Link> have begun and producers are looking for answers to protect their animals from HPAI. They believe an effective vaccine is necessary to protect food supplies and public health. The report here quotes a USDA official who says the agency is leaving “no stone unturned in the fight against H5N1.” The spokesperson shares concerns about the … [Read more...]
Are ducks the new chicken?
Erin Snyder addresses this oft-heard statement in backyard flock enthusiast groups beginning with ducks as waterfowl and chickens as pheasants. She says raising both makes for backyard fun and learning. Source: Hobby Farms. Link. INSIGHTS: Consider sharing this article in social media posts, in newsletters and with youth groups raising animals for fairs and shows. … [Read more...]
Training dogs to not attack chickens
The “leave it” command is critical to managing safe dog poultry interactions, shares The Dog Expert, Carolyn Georgariou. Leave it works on more than chickens and is much more humane than the old-style method shown in the photo. Source: Backyard Poultry, February 26, 2019. Link. … [Read more...]
Poultry basics and diets for veterinary teams
The increased number of suburban and metro backyard flocks present challenges for companion animal practices. Keeping chickens, ducks and geese healthy goes beyond production animal paradigms as the birds are often considered pets. Veterinary teams will benefit from the upcoming VetFolio basics webinar and the article on poultry diets linked here. Sources: The science … [Read more...]
Avian flu updates
Staying abreast of the latest on high-path avian flu is time-consuming and often confusing. Multiple media sources share information along a rapidly progressing timeline of discovery, opinions and responses. We aggregated some of the more recent updates at these links. Sources: Detections of HPAI in livestock, USDA, July 9, 2024. Link. The most current information and … [Read more...]
All the eggs are brown . . . there’ll be lots of eggs today
Apologies to the Mamas and Papas for the lyrical title <Link> but the sky won’t be gray if the flock has these 15 breeds of chickens that lay brown eggs. They consistently appear on best egg layer lists and can be the backbone of a productive backyard flock, many laying more than 200 eggs per year, writes Pam Freeman. Source: Backyard Poultry, October 24, 2022. … [Read more...]
Breeding ratios for chickens and ducks
Now that Easter chicks and ducklings are growing up, backyard poultry keepers need to know how many roosters or drakes to keep for their flocks to thrive. Doug Ottinger shares the most effective ratios in this article: For chickens use 1 to 2 roosters per 10 hens For ducks use 1 drake per 5 hens Source: Backyard Poultry, May 11, 2024. Link. … [Read more...]
Is H5N1 a threat to U.S. swine herds?
Influenza is constantly changing, shared Amy Baker, DVM, PhD, in a recent webinar for swine producers. Influenza from a native waterfowl host has the potential to infect swine. Those same viruses can also interact with humans and poultry. Baker emphasized awareness, precautions and surveillance. Several species, including pigs, birds, wild mammals and humans, have the … [Read more...]
New York City birds found carrying H5N1
Discovering a few wild birds carrying highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza highlights that the interface between animals and humans that may give rise to zoonotic infections or even pandemics is not limited to rural environments and commercial poultry operations. It extends into urban centers, according to the American Society of Microbiology. Source: Infectious Disease … [Read more...]
Biofilms affect animal health
Water bowls and drinkers that aren’t regularly scrubbed often develop bad-tasting biofilm that discourages drinking. Biofilms are part of the normal complement of microbes in many healthy animals. However, biofilms can be very harmful making them important to remove. The CDC estimates that up to 70 percent of human bacterial infections in the Western world are caused by … [Read more...]
FDA finalizes guidance to provide further clarity on VFD
To assist stakeholders involved with veterinary feed directives – veterinarians, VFD feed distributors (medicated feed mills, feed retailers) and clients (owners or other caretakers of the animals) the FDA has finalized Guidance for Industry (GFI) #120: Veterinary Feed Directive Regulation Questions and Answers. While the core recommendations in final GFI #120 remain the same … [Read more...]