Weekly Livestock-Equine News: September 9, 2024

Nebraska governor takes aim at lab-grown meat sales

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed an executive order Aug. 30 creating strict guidelines when it comes to state agencies and its contractors obtaining lab-grown meat, and he announced that in the upcoming legislative session he would work with senators to draft legislation banning lab-grown meat in Nebraska. This year, Iowa became the third state to sign legislation aimed at regulating the sale of lab-grown meat, according to Pillen’s office. Florida and Alabama have already moved to ban the products.

Three cows in California test positive for avian influenza

Cows at three California dairy farms have been placed under quarantine after testing positive for avian influenza, according to the state’s department of food and agriculture. Currently, there are no threats to California’s milk or food supply. Despite the positive tests in livestock, no human cases of the bird flu virus have been reported in connection with the latest outbreak.

First field trial for H5N1 cattle vaccine

The USDA’s Center of Veterinary Biologics is accepting field trial applications for H5N1 vaccines that may be conducted outside of containment without terminal disposal of milk and other commodities. Previously, all studies, even those not involving virus challenge, had to be conducted in containment facilities regardless of risk profile.

Huvepharma’s Coxidin 90 receives FDA approval

Huvepharma Inc. received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market Coxidin 90 (monensin Type A medicated article) as an aid in the prevention of coccidiosis in chicken, turkey and quail.

USDA guideline to substantiate claims on meat and poultry labels

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of an updated guideline that makes recommendations to strengthen the documentation that supports animal-raising or environmental-related claims on meat or poultry product labeling, such as: “Raised Without Antibiotics,” “Grass-Fed,” “Free-Range,” “Raised using Regenerative Agriculture Practices” and “Climate-Friendly.”

Registration open for inaugural Compass conference

Defining the future of animal health and pet care will be the focus of the inaugural Compass conference, to be held April 10-11, 2025, in Washington, DC, by the North American Veterinary Community and the Michelson Found Animals Foundation. Topics will include technology and development, investing and entrepreneurship, market dynamics and consumer behavior, infrastructure and environmental design, pet healthcare professionals and medical innovations, industry advocacy and nonprofit perspectives, and regulatory, policy and legislative developments.