Weekly livestock and equine news: August 24, 2020

Researchers look to equine antibodies as potential COVID-19 treatment

Borrowing from decades of experience producing snake antivenoms, scientists, veterinarians and technicians in Costa Rica have been working to produce a therapeutic formulation of equine antibodies against the new coronavirus, Scientific American reports. Similar efforts are underway in Brazil and Argentina to tide those countries over until an effective vaccine is available. Researchers at the University of Costa Rica’s Clodomiro Picado Institute for decades have used horse antibodies to create antivenoms for snake bites. The technique has also emerged as a potential treatment source for avian influenza viruses and the MERS-causing coronavirus. “All this inspired several research groups to find ways to produce safe and effective COVID-19 equine immunoglobulins,” said Fan Hui Wen, a Brazil-based researcher. The research team will now begin testing the equine antibodies in COVID-19 patients.

2020 Angus Convention reformatted due to COVID

The American Angus Association is reformatting its 2020 convention, originally scheduled for November 7–9 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will be a two-day meeting of delegates on November 8–9. The National Angus Tour and trade show portion of the event have been canceled and the number of educational sessions will be reduced, but virtual options for members and attendees will be offered, according to the announcement from the American Angus Association.

Lawmakers urge enforcement of USMCA dairy provisions

A group of federal lawmakers sent a letter urging the U.S. government to proactively enforce the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s dairy related provisions. Specific provisions of concern to the U.S. dairy industry named in the letter include Canada’s administration of its dairy Tariff Rate Quotas; the full and transparent elimination of Classes 6 and 7 and related dairy pricing program disciplines; and the enforcement of the side letter agreements with Mexico that protect market access for U.S. common names cheeses. According to the announcement, “Urgent enforcement is needed as Canada and Mexico have already demonstrated reluctance to adhere to their trade obligations, as exhibited by Canada’s recently announced TRQ allocations that run counter to the intent of [USMCA] to expand access to the Canadian dairy market.”

APHIS awards RFID ear tag contracts

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently awarded contracts to purchase up to 8 million low-frequency radio frequency identification ear tags, which the agency said will help increase overall animal disease traceability in cattle and bison. The contract allows APHIS to purchase additional tags each year for up to five years. USDA believes RFID devices will provide states and the cattle and bison industries the most effective opportunity to rapidly contain the spread of high economic impact diseases.

USDA grant supports research to control respiratory disease in young swine

A new $500,000 grant will help a Kansas State University researcher look for ways to control porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, the university announced. “Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, or PRRSV, causes the most costly disease to swine production in the United States,” said Megan Niederwerder, the project director for the three-year grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The project is titled “Assessing the Microbiome as a Tool for the Mitigation of Viral Disease in Nursery Pigs.” “The goal of our work is to investigate the gut microbiome as a novel tool for PRRSV control due to its impact on the immune system and nutritional outcomes after infection,” Niederwerder said.

Hemp producers look for opportunities in poultry production

Layer hens fed a diet containing hemp seed produced bigger eggs with more omega-3 content, a hemp industry executive said at the recent Midwest Poultry Federation virtual convention, citing previous research. That study, from 2012, concluded that chickens fed a 20% hemp seed diet produced a higher egg weight than chickens without a hemp seed diet. “While this study is fantastic, we must replicate these results in the U.S.,” said the executive, Andrew Bish, founder and CEO of Hemp Harvest Works and chief operating officer of Bish Enterprises. Feed Strategy reports.