Weekly livestock news: March 8, 2021

Officials review hemp as potential poultry feed ingredient

Federal officials are reviewing the first proposal to approve hemp as an animal feed ingredient. If approved, the application will allow hemp seed meal and cake to be legally used as commercial feed for laying hens, Poultry World reports. The Hemp Feed Coalition and other industry members submitted the application, which will be considered by the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and the Association of American Feed Control Officials. “Like most agriculture commodities, these products have value as ingredients in human and animal food markets, and we are working to add this tool to the hemp farmers’ toolbox to stabilize the supply chain, create new markets and help farmers access additional streams of revenue for their farm products,” said Hunter Buffington, executive director of the Hemp Feed Coalition.

California’s cage-free law challenged again

The North American Meat Institute is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review an earlier appellate court ruling that struck down NAMI’s challenge to California’s animal confinement law (known as Proposition 12). The Meat Institute says the law is unconstitutional and will hurt the nation’s food value chain by significantly increasing costs for producers and consumers. The question presented in the case is whether the U.S. Constitution permits California to extend its police power beyond its borders by banning the sale of wholesome pork and veal products sold into California unless out-of-state farmers restructure their facilities to meet the new requirements. The National Pork Producers Council is raising issues with a similar law in Massachusetts, Feedstuffs reports.

Some meatpackers announce vaccine plans, but many workers are still waiting

Meat and agriculture workers are getting COVID-19 vaccines, but companies and union officials say progress needs to be faster after coronavirus outbreaks sickened thousands and disrupted operations in the spring, Reuters reports. A CDC committee in December recommended that frontline food and agriculture workers receive access to vaccines ahead of people 65-74 years old and younger Americans with high-risk medical conditions. But many states prioritized older residents, who account for the majority of U.S. COVID-19 deaths, and other essential workers like teachers. “Priorities have shifted in the past two months in a range of states, and that has lowered the priority status of our critical and essential employees,” said Keira Lombardo, chief administrative officer for Smithfield Foods. USDA told Reuters it is “again contacting governors in each state to encourage they prioritize food workers for vaccinations, as public health agencies have recommended.”

Officials warn U.S. producers to prepare for another potential avian flu outbreak

As countries elsewhere deal with avian flu outbreaks, the United States can learn from its own 2015 outbreak, an industry leader said at a recent webinar. Poultry producers at operations of all sizes should know the signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza, said Dr. Dale Lauer, a veterinarian with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. An unexplained increase in mortality and a decrease in egg production are among the signs that should be investigated. “If you have a veterinarian, you should describe the signs, have them, him or her, come in for a diagnosis,” Lauer said. “If you don’t have a veterinarian, you certainly should contact your state animal health official.” Experts worry owners with small flocks may not be well-prepared. WattAgNet reports.

Bit lesions found in mouths of 84% of trotting horses: study

Eighty-four percent of the more than 200 trot-racing horses in a new study had bit lesions inside the mouth, and more than half of those were moderate or severe. But only 2% of the horses had blood that could be seen without opening their mouth. All bits were associated with lesions, regardless of whether blood could be seen on the outside of the mouth, said Dr. Kati Tuomola. “The visible blood is very likely only a tip of an iceberg when it comes to oral lesions in horses,” she said. Tuomola said the bit itself might not be the problem; they can be safe if used correctly. More information is available from The Horse.

Vilsack announces review and extension of CFAP

Newly sworn in Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said USDA will evaluate the latest iteration of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and, in doing so, will extend the sign-up, Feedstuffs reports. At issue is the CFAP–Additional Assistance program, which expanded eligibility and adjusted payment calculations for CFAP. A chief concern, Vilsack said, is to provide equitable distribution of funds among commodity, need, region and operational size, and to provide as much help as possible to as many people as possible. Once USDA evaluates the program, the agency will provide an additional 30 days after that for producers to sign up, Vilsack said.