Weekly livestock and equine news: March 21, 2022

World faces food crisis due to war in Ukraine, founder of major Russian fertilizer company warns

The founder of a major Russian fertilizer producer is warning of a global food crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine, as fertilizer prices rise so fast many farmers can no longer afford it. “One of the victims of this crisis will be agriculture and food,” said Andrei Melnichenko, founder of EuroChem, one of Russia’s biggest fertilizer producers, and Suek, Russia’s top coal producer. Melnichenko is Russian but was born in Belarus and has a Ukrainian mother. Russian President Vladimir Putin said recently that food prices would rise globally because of soaring fertilizer prices if western nations made it difficult for Russia to export fertilizer; Russia’s fertilizer exports account for 13% of the world’s output. International food and feed prices could rise by up to 20% due to the war in Ukraine, according to the United Nations food agency. Reuters has more.

Zoetis has no manufacturing operations in Russia, expects little impact on revenue as it scales back business in the country: CEO

Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck said the company has scaled back its business in Russia, though sales of essential livestock vaccines to producers will likely continue even under sanctions. “We do not have any manufacturing operations there; we do not sell to the government,” Peck said on CNBC. Russia accounts for less than 1% of Zoetis’ revenue, she said, so she doesn’t expect a decrease in business there to have a significant impact on the company. Peck said the company condemns the attacks in Ukraine and is trying to protect its employees in the country.

Illinois and Kansas report cases of avian flu

Illinois and Kansas have now reported cases of highly pathogenic avian flu, both of which involved noncommercial backyard birds, CIDRAP reports. This brings the number of affected states this year to 13, according to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Illinois’ outbreak occurred in the central part of the state and Kansas’ in the eastern part. Kansas also detected the virus in wild birds, and Iowa has reported its third outbreak in commercial poultry this year, in the southwestern part of the state.

More than 7.5 million birds have died from avian flu this year, USDA says

This year’s outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu are hitting egg-laying flocks the hardest, as they did in 2014 and 2015, Successful Farming reports. Laying hens account for two-thirds of this year’s toll, which has now reached 7.65 million birds, USDA said.

Bimeda launches new generic treatment for equine inflammation

Bimeda announced the launch of KetoMed (ketoprofen), the first FDA-approved generic version of Zoetis’ Ketofen, which is used to treat inflammation and pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders in horses. The medication comes in 50 milliliter and 100 ml bottles, with a recommended dosage of 1 mg/lb of body weight once daily, according to Bimeda.

Elanco brings cattle and poultry portfolio to Nigeria

Elanco is bringing its cattle and poultry portfolio to Nigeria, opening a new market for the company. Additionally, the company is beginning an initiative called MAHABA (Managing Animal Health and Acaricides for a Better Africa). The program aims to support small-scale producers in Nigeria and Uganda by defining and implementing strategies to effectively manage tick infestations in cattle.