Weekly livestock news: April 18, 2022

This year’s bird flu could be here to stay

Unlike the last major U.S. bird flu outbreak seven years ago, this year’s flu may not disappear, NPR reports. This year’s virus seems capable of staying in wild bird populations, which can pass it to poultry farms. While chickens and turkeys with the virus quickly get sick and die, some waterfowl can remain healthy with the virus and carry it long distances. Scientists believe wild migratory birds brought the virus to North America in December, and it’s been detected in more than 40 wild bird species in more than 30 states since then. “It’s somewhat surprising how widespread it is already in North America,” said Jonathan Runstadler, an influenza researcher at Tufts University. “It’s clearly able to persist and transmit from year to year in parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, and I don’t think we should be surprised if that’s going to be the case here.” The virus so far has killed about 24 million poultry birds in the United States. As it continues to spread, it will encounter new animal species to infect and could also genetically mingle with flu viruses already circulating in the United States.

Biden waives summer ethanol restrictions for gasoline sales, worrying meat groups

In an effort to lower fuel costs for consumers, the Biden administration will allow sales of gasoline with 15% ethanol this summer, waiving the usual restriction. The decision is a win for corn growers, but meat and poultry processors worry it could lead to higher corn costs and, with it, higher food costs. “Further and artificial demand for corn created by this administration will likely increase the cost of corn and all food products dependent on corn and corn oil inputs,” said Mike Brown, president of the National Chicken Council. The NCC said feed is the top cost in raising chickens. “At the end of the day—ethanol manufacturers win and consumers lose,” Brown said. At the same time, farmer trade groups such as the National Corn Growers Association applauded the administration’s decision, since higher corn prices could help relieve inflationary stress for farmers, The Wall Street Journal reports.

New smartphone app aims to help veterinarians track livestock disease

A new smartphone app from Texas A&M aims to help early-career veterinarians monitor livestock diseases. The Veterinary Syndromic Surveillance System, or VSS, allows veterinarians to access and input disease information so the tool can be used for state and regional disease surveillance. The app, whose development was funded by a USDA grant, is available only to veterinarians. Animal health regulatory agencies in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona were involved in the project, Dr. Tom Hairgrove, a Texas A&M cattle veterinary specialist who led the project, told AgriLife Today. Hairgrove said the new app, unlike previous versions, will use artificial intelligence to detect disease trends. Veterinarians “can note they are seeing a lot of one symptom and find out if anyone else is as well,” Hairgrove said. “Then they can communicate back and forth on these issues.” Veterinarians can also enter confidential information that gets sent to their clinic and isn’t shared in the database, he said.

Neogen adds new insecticide to Prozap product line

Neogen has added Prozap Protectus Pour-On Insecticide – IGR to its Prozap insect control line. The company describes the new product as “a ready-to-use triple-active formula for use on beef cattle and calves that kills chewing and sucking lice, horn flies, stable flies, horse and deer flies.” It’s formulated with an insect growth regulator, adulticide and a synergist, which provides infestation relief and kills louse eggs before they hatch, providing season-long control of lice in one application, according to the announcement.

New SoundByte: Draxxin KP

Draxxin KP (tulathromycin and ketoprofen injection) Injectable Solution can be used for treatment of bovine respiratory disease and associated fever in beef steers and beef calves 2 months of age and older, as well as beef heifers and beef bulls. It has demonstrated a significant reduction of BRD-associated fever from one hour up to 24 hours after treatment compared with Draxxin alone, according to manufacturer Zoetis. More information is available in the SoundByte in Veterinary Advantage.

Groups oppose $500 million, 170-acre pork processing plant in Sioux Falls

Nearly 60 organizations and businesses in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, are urging the city council to hold off on plans to build a $500 million pork processing facility in the city, Meat + Poultry reports. Nebraska-based Wholestone Farms plans to build a 170-acre complex with capacity to process up to 6 million hogs annually. “A new hog processing plant in our community could have profound implications on the health, safety, and quality of life of area residents,” the coalition, known as Citizens for a Sustainable Sioux Falls, wrote in a letter. “Yet, there has been no serious attempt to study the potential impacts of this project, including odor, traffic, water quality, workforce, and affordable housing.” The group said the proposed plant will discharge wastewater into the Big Sioux River. A Wholestone official said farmers living within 75 miles of Sioux Falls would supply most of the hogs for the plant and that the company would be investing $45 million in wastewater treatment.