Weekly Livestock-Equine News: December 30, 2024
USDA announces stronger measures to protect against Listeria
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced steps to strengthen the agency’s oversight of food processing facilities (meat, poultry and egg products). Effective January 2025, FSIS will conduct in-depth safety reviews at ready-to-eat meat and poultry facilities and add broader Listeria species testing to all samples of ready-to-eat product, environmental and food contact surfaces.
Targeted ultrasonography diagnoses interstitial pneumonia in cattle
Targeted thoracic ultrasonography can offer timely diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia in feedyard cattle, according to a Kansas State University study published by AVMA. Respiratory disease in cattle represents a significant and widespread health concern within the livestock industry, adversely affecting animal welfare and economic productivity.
Tool developed for calculating costs for replacement heifers
A prediction tool that provides a starting point for evaluating whether to buy, sell or trade replacement cows has been developed by the beef economics team of Randy Saner, and Shannon Sand, both Nebraska Extension educators and Matt Stockton, a Nebraska Extension Ag Economics Specialist. The information can be modified to fit each producer, depending on their circumstances and expectations of future productivity, costs and revenues.
Beef export market continues to grow
Through October beef exports totaled $8.7B (4% ahead of last year’s pace), which translates to $411/head for every fed steer and heifer slaughtered in the US. Given the absence of any disruptions during the past several months, the industry will likely hit somewhere around that mark for the year. During the past 20 years, the annual growth rate in beef export dollars has been nearly 14%.
Mexico now most reliable customer for US dairy
U.S. dairy exports are approaching record levels as consumer demand for dairy products in Mexico continues to outpace the country’s production, according to a report released by CoBank Knowledge Exchange. Mexico is the leading export market for U.S. dairy products. Dairy product consumption in the country has increased by 50 lb. per capita since 2011, and today Mexico purchases 4.5% of U.S. milk production via dairy products and ingredients.
Smithfield, HD3 Farms sign agreement for independent pork production
Smithfield has signed an agreement with VisionAg LLC, an affiliate of HD3 Farms, to supply hogs to the company as an independent pork producer. The agreement calls for Smithfield and VisionAg to form a company called VisionAg Hog Production LLC, with Smithfield owning a minority interest. VisionAg is expected to ultimately produce 600,000 hogs annually for Smithfield’s fresh pork operations.
