Weekly Livestock-Equine News: June 24, 2024

Family farm advocates seek changes to Farm Bill

Family farm advocates in Missouri are pushing for major changes in the new Farm Bill, including reduced subsidies for large factory farms, mandatory beef country-of-origin labels and measures to boost competition, reports Public News Service. Noah Earle, a member of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, a farmer and co-owner of Clovers Natural Markets, argued that the failure to label beef lets big meat companies sell foreign beef as American, harming local farmers and shoppers. Advocates want the Farm Bill to boost competition, help small farms and curb big corporations’ control, he said. The U.S. House Agriculture Committee approved its Farm Bill version, but passing the full House is uncertain.

Further U.S. bird flu spread could heighten human infection risk

Further spread of bird flu among U.S. dairy herds presents additional opportunities for human infections, according to Reuters. Bird flu has been reported in 94 dairy herds across 12 states since late March, according to the USDA. The risk to public health is currently low, though additional spread of the virus could increase that risk, said Nirav Shah, principal deputy director for the CDC. “The more infections there are among cows, the more risk there is for infections to occur among humans,” Shah said. The CDC has monitored more than 500 people and tested at least 45 during the current outbreak, he added. Testing asymptomatic people could result in identifying people who are carrying virus in their nose that would not actually cause an infection.

Europe on alert for China tariff retaliation

Global food companies from dairy producers to pork exporters are on high alert for potential retaliatory tariffs from China after the European Union’s decision to impose anti-subsidy duties on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs), according to Reuters. China’s state media have reported that domestic companies are preparing to request investigations into some EU dairy and pork imports over anti-subsidy and anti-dumping concerns, moves that could result in lengthy trade suspensions. While it remains unclear which products China could target for retaliation, whey powder, cream and fresh milk were the top items in the EU’s 1.7 billion euros ($1.8 billion) worth of dairy exports to China last year, according to data from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, which cited Eurostat.

Colorado issues bird flu guidance

The Colorado Department of Agriculture released guidance for livestock owners and event organizers encouraging – but not mandating – that livestock owners and event organizers increase practices that help prevent the introduction or spread of diseases, in this case, bird flu, among their herds, reports Denver7ABC. The guidance – which is only applicable to cattle moving within state lines – calls for livestock owners and event organizers to monitor their herds for clinical signs of disease and to work with their veterinarian to test lactating dairy cattle for Influenza A a week prior to the show/event.

Australian poultry farms affected by H7N3 and H7N9 strains

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has spread to a seventh poultry farm near Melbourne, the government of Australia’s Victoria state reported on June 17, reports Reuters. Six of the properties have an H7N3 flu strain and a seventh has an H7N9 strain, it said. Neither is the H5N1 type of avian flu. The infected properties include six egg farms and a duck farm. Around 1 million chickens, roughly 5% of Australia’s egg-laying flock, have been or will be killed at affected farms to contain the virus, the government said.

Wisconsin issues rules for dairy cattle shows

Wisconsin is implementing new measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza in dairy cattle, reports Wisconsin Ag Connection. All lactating dairy cows attending fairs or exhibitions within the state now require a negative Influenza A test. This action comes in response to detections of HPAI bird flu in dairy cattle across 12 states, including nearby Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture aims to minimize the risk of infected animals comingling at events. The testing requirement complements existing federal regulations for interstate movement of dairy cattle. To participate in Wisconsin fairs or exhibitions, cows must undergo a negative Influenza A test within seven days of arrival at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network lab. This testing is free for producers through USDA APHIS at NAHLN facilities. Reimbursement for shipping and veterinary fees associated with sample collection may also be available.

Microchip milestone for Merck and USTA

Merck Animal Health recognized a 50,000-microchip milestone as part of its ongoing partnership with the United States Trotting Association. The organization partnered with Merck Animal Health in 2018 to become the first registry to formally incorporate temperature scanning into its microchip identification program and is now using Merck Animal Health Bio-Thermo microchips exclusively for identifying Standardbred racehorses in the United States.