Weekly Livestock-Equine News: January 27, 2025

Equine vets report gender, appearance bias

Seventy-six percent of participants reported experiencing bias due to gender, size, appearance, age, race, sexual orientation or disability, according to a focus group study by Lincoln Memorial University. Gender bias was the most common issue for current or former equine veterinarians, who reported clients were less willing to use the services of female veterinarians than those of male counterparts.

Animal food industry awaits tariff decisions

The American animal food industry has expressed concern about new tariffs on imports. American Feed Industry Association President and CEO Constance Cullman told GlobalPETS, “We would not be enthusiastic about tariffs on products that we don’t produce here because all that does is drive up the cost of production without doing anything to protect domestic industry.”

AAFCO approves pathway for animal food ingredient submissions

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) membership approved a proposal from Kansas State University’s Olathe Innovation Campus to provide the scientific review for a new animal food ingredient submission pathway. The new pathway replaces AAFCO’s former Ingredient Definition Request process. Petfood Industry

USDA relaxes some poultry import restrictions

Effective Jan. 27, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will permit the importation of poultry from France that have not been vaccinated for HPAI, as well as hatching eggs and day-old avians that are not derived from flocks vaccinated against HPAI. Importation of poultry that are vaccinated for HPAI and live avian commodities derived from vaccinated flocks remains prohibited.

Perdue Farms to shutter Tennessee chicken plant

Perdue Farms will close a chicken production plant in Monterey, Tennessee, on March 28 and will lay off more than 433 workers. The poultry processor is one of the latest meatpackers to roll back production capabilities. In 2023, Tyson Foods closed six processing plants, and last year, Pure Prairie Farms closed its Iowa plant after filing for bankruptcy.

Lallemand Animal Nutrition awards $14,000 in scholarships

The Lallemand Animal Nutrition Scholarship Committee awarded five scholarships to up-and-coming students and established scholars within agriculture. This is the tenth year the company awarded the scholarships, which reward students for their exceptional achievements and dedication to the field of agriculture.