Livestock News for June 4
According to Today’s Veterinary Business, Ceva Animal Health has agreed to acquire IDT Biologika’s veterinary division, a manufacturer of swine, cattle and poultry vaccines.The deal between France-based Ceva and privately owned IDT is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close by July 1. The terms were not disclosed. “IDT has significant expertise in a number of other areas, including autogenous vaccines and oral vaccination for the control of endemic disease in wildlife and free-roaming animals, adding important new technology, especially in rabies control, to Ceva’s growing public health business,” the companies noted in a joint statement.
Equine: UHVRC distributes 3,500 core vaccines
Entering its second decade of partnership between the AAEP and Merck Animal Health, the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC) provided 3,500 doses of core vaccines to protect horses from eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), western equine encephalitis (WEE), equine rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1 and EHV-4), tetanus and West Nile Virus. Since its inception, more than 32,000 doses of core vaccines have been distributed to protect horses in need. “Helping those who help the horse is at the heart of who we are at Merck Animal Health. Partnering with the AAEP to distribute the vaccines allows us to highlight the importance of the equine veterinarian’s role in maintaining the health and welfare of horses,” said Ron McDaniel, Merck Animal Health national equine sales director.
Cargill expands voluntary recall of select Southern States feed
According to TheHorse.com, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported May 28 that Cargill’s animal nutrition business is expanding its voluntary recall of select Southern States feed due to aflatoxin levels that exceed FDA’s action levels. This is an expansion of the recall initiated May 6 and is the result of Cargill’s internal investigation that identified additional products containing an ingredient provided from the same supplier referenced in the May 6 recall announcement. The expansion includes products manufactured between October 31, 2018 and March 1, 2019.
Receding floodwaters pose hazards to livestock
According to a Bovine Veterinarianreport, when flood waters begin to recede, producers must continue to use caution when assessing damage and beginning clean-up procedures on the farm. According to Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension, livestock will be exposed to unique hazards created by flood waters. In addition, agriculture producers must also protect their own health when working in and cleaning up previously flooded areas. “It is very important that you make sure all animals have a source of clean, uncontaminated water. Animals on pasture may need a different source of water until ponds or creeks clear up.”
Feeding cattle, hogs and chickens just got more expensive
According to Meatingplace, corn futures hit a three-year high this week, topping $4.22 per bushel for July delivery and more than $4.50 for contracts as far out as May 2020 delivery as the cool, wet spring continues to keep farmers out of fields across the Midwest. While livestock producers have enjoyed much lower prices over the past three years due to large U.S. crops, it just got more expensive to feed cattle, hogs and poultry. During the month of May alone, corn futures prices have surged by 17%.
