Livestock News for July 23

Generic monensin for use in cattle and goats approved by FDA

According to Drover’s CattleNetwork, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Monovet 90, manufactured by Huvepharma EOOD, the first generic monensin for use in cattle and goats. In its approval notice, the FDA notes that Monensin is an ionophore, which is an antimicrobial not used in humans; therefore, use of this drug does not raise antimicrobial resistance concerns.

Texas Animal Health Commission confirms three anthrax cases

Since June 19, 2019, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) announced it has received confirmation of three additional anthrax cases in the area of Texas where anthrax is historically found. The first anthrax case of the year was confirmed in one captive antelope on a premises in Uvalde County on June 19, 2019. Since that time, anthrax was confirmed in goats on a new Uvalde County premises on June 24, one Sutton County horse was confirmed to have anthrax on July 3, and cattle were confirmed to have anthrax on a separate Sutton County premises on July 4. All of the premises have been placed under quarantine and producers were advised on vaccinating exposed animals and the proper disposal of affected carcasses, as outlined by TAHC’s rules. Typically, quarantines are lifted 10 days from vaccination or the last death loss. “It is common to see an increase in anthrax cases after periods of wet, cool weather, followed by hot, dry conditions,” said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC Executive Director. “During these conditions, animals ingest the anthrax bacteria when they consume contaminated grass and hay, or inhale the spores. Outbreaks usually end when cooler weather arrives.”

Cargill shuts animal feed mills in China as African swine fever spreads

Reuters reported that Cargill shuttered animal feed mills in China in recent months partly because the rapid spread of African swine fever has reduced demand, according to a company executive. The closures highlight the pain for global agriculture companies from the ASF outbreak in China, the world’s top hog producer and pork consumer. The outbreak accelerated closures of Cargill animal feed mills in coastal regions of China that were also prompted by a westward shift over the past decade of the areas in which livestock are raised. Most of the facilities won’t be reopened even if China gets ASF under control, according to the company.

Plant-based food market value hits $4.5B, with sales growing 11% in the past year

Food Dive reported that Plant-based food sales jumped 11% in the past year, reaching a total market value of $4.5 billion, according to figures released by The Good Food Institute and the Plant Based Foods Association. Sales of plant-based yogurt saw the highest growth at 39%, while conventional yogurt sales fell 3%, the groups reported. Refrigerated plant-based meat alternative sales grew at a similar clip, increasing 37%, while sales in the conventional meat category increased by 2%.

Phibro developing vaccine for African swine fever

According to National Hog Farmer, Following a significant advance in the development of a vaccine for African swine fever, Phibro Animal Health Corporation says its pursing patent protection. The company announced that its vaccine development process now involves the identification of immunogenic epitopes and proteins that show strong potential to form the basis for a vaccine against ASF. Phibro’s R&D team and its collaborators made the identification through the use of a unique bioinformatics analysis tool in order to select for the highest potential epitopes and proteins capable of eliciting protective immune response.