Weekly Livestock-Equine News: December 9, 2024
Cargill to lay off 8,000 employees
Cargill will reportedly lay off about 5% of its global workforce as food commodity prices drop. The company distributes grains, meat and other farm products around the world. It had profited heavily during the pandemic and its aftermath, thanks to inflation and geopolitical turmoil throwing food prices into disarray. But now, grocery prices are dropping and the number of U.S. cattle is down.
Horse Protection Final Rule webinar December 13
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) invites horse event management, horse owners, riders, trainers, veterinarians, veterinarian technicians and those interested in becoming a Horse Protection Inspector to attend the Horse Protection Final Rule virtual webinar on December 13, 2024, at 6:30 pm ET. The webinar will provide an overview of the Horse Protection Act and new rule highlights, implementation and timelines. Click here to register for the webinar.
Tyson to close Kansas beef and pork plant in Kansas
Tyson Foods announced it will permanently close a beef and pork plant in Emporia, Kansas, which employs more than 800 people. Tight cattle supplies are reported to squeezing meatpackers, including Tyson. Tyson has also closed six U.S. chicken plants since the start of 2023 and an Iowa pork plant.
Isoacids: The old is new again in dairy nutrition
Since the 1950s, nutritionists and researchers have investigated isoacids in dairy nutrition. Today, their potential role in boosting rumen function, dairy cow productivity and even environmental sustainability is being visited with renewed interest. Isoacids also likely lead to a more balanced rumen microbe population and subsequent improved efficiency of microbial protein production, as long as rumen nitrogen levels are sufficient.
New safety measures at Ontario track following fatal breakdowns
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is enforcing additional safety requirements at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, citing a total of 15 musculoskeletal injuries from Oct. 28 to Nov. 29. Nine of those injuries required euthanasia. Among the new requirements: Woodbine’s racing office may not accept entries for horses who have raced within the previous 14 calendar days or those which have had an intra-articular fetlock injection in that same timeframe.
Smithfield Foods reduces hog footprintÂ
 Smithfield Foods, the world’s biggest pork processor, said it will sell 150,000 female pigs to Wallace, North Carolina-based Murphy Family Ventures, making Murphy one of the largest independent pork producers in the U.S., with the capacity to produce approximately 3.2 million hogs annually for Smithfield’s fresh pork operation. The deal will further reduce the number of hogs owned by Smithfield as it prepares for a U.S. listing.
