Weekly livestock news: April 17, 2023

Minnesota poultry producers brace for new avian flu outbreaks during spring migration

Scientists and poultry producers in Minnesota are waiting to see whether migrating birds bring new outbreaks of avian flu. Bryan Richards, emerging disease coordinator with the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, expects the virus to be strong again this year. But he added that low pathogenic viruses carried by waterfowl could mix with the virulent H5N1 and eventually overwhelm it. Still, there’s no evidence yet it’s losing strength, and the poultry industry is bracing for a new normal of highly pathogenic avian flu, Minnesota Public Radio reports.

Scientists and poultry producers debate potential bird flu vaccination program

Given the rapid spread of avian flu and concerns about a potential jump to humans, some scientists say it’s time for the United States to implement a vaccination program against the disease. China has aggressively vaccinated poultry over the last two decades, with evidence the programs work, but the USDA has fought the disease with surveillance, strict biosecurity at farms and culling. Skeptics of vaccination say immunization could allow the virus to spread silently, not reducing the threat of a pandemic but simply making it more difficult to detect. There are also concerns it could limit trade opportunities, though scientific evidence doesn’t support trade bans on vaccinated poultry, Science reports.

Biden vetoes bill that would have overturned WOTUS rule

President Joe Biden vetoed a congressional resolution that would have overturned water protections opponents have said are overly intrusive, The Associated Press reports. Republicans and some Democrats sought to overturn the clean water rule, adopted at the end of last year, that protects thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways. Lawmakers said it’s an overreach that harms businesses, developers and farmers. In separate votes, the House and Senate used the Congressional Review Act to enact a measure blocking the rule. In his veto message, Biden said the measure would leave the country without a clear definition of “Waters of the United States.” This came shortly before a federal judge blocked the rule in 24 states.

Livestock antibiotic restrictions don’t appear to be effective, analysis finds

Several states and cities have implemented policies to restrict antimicrobial use and increase industry transparency, but new research shows these policies may not be effective. Policies in California, Maryland and San Francisco don’t appear to be working, according to a study led by the University of California, Berkeley, published last month in PLOS One. The research found the policies were limited by refusal of food and animal producers to reveal their use of antimicrobials as required, lack of money for data analysis and enforcement, and vague language that permits loopholes for producers to exploit. Many people interviewed for the study, as well as the study’s authors, said they would prefer a national surveillance system for antimicrobial use rather than a patchwork of state and local regulations. UC Berkeley has more.

Texas A&M plans livestock reproduction research facility

Texas A&M plans to open a $13 million Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Center to enable research on livestock reproductive issues. The center is expected to be completed in late 2024 on the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus. It will include educational spaces, animal handling areas and research lab space and will facilitate partnerships between the university and industry, according to the announcement from Texas A&M.

Iowa House passes bill limiting drone surveillance of livestock facilities

The Iowa House has passed legislation that would restrict drone surveillance of livestock facilities without permission of the property owner. “Remotely piloted aircraft” would not be able to fly within 400 feet of homesteads or areas where agricultural animals are kept if the bill becomes law. The bill is a response to animal welfare organizations documenting conditions and treatment of animals at Iowa livestock and dog-breeding facilities, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.