Weekly livestock news: August 17, 2020

Fatty acids in feed may influence dairy production, research shows

Changing the fatty acid profile of dairy feed has been shown in new research to affect dairy cattle performance. Supplements comprising 80% palmitic acid and 10% oleic acid typically boost milk production, but at the expense of body condition, said Michigan State University researcher Adam Lock. However, feeding a blend of 60% palmitic acid and 30% oleic acid maintained improved milk production without triggering weight loss. “We need to move away from talking about fat, to fatty acids, the same way we moved away from talking about cured proteins,” Lock said. Feed Strategy reports.

New program monitors individual animal performance through water trough weighing

Vytelle (the recent combination of Vytelle IVF and GrowSafe) announced through its GrowSafe business the launch of the Beef Marketing Program to monitor individual animal performance, predict carcass weight and optimally market cattle in the feedlot. The program uses GrowSafe Beef, a continuous in-pen weighing system, which measures individual animal partial body weights and watering behavior while animals drink at the water trough. The technology weighs every second an animal is standing at the trough, which means up to 450 weights a day, according to the announcement in Drovers.

Lions are less likely to attack cattle with eyes painted on backsides: study

The predation of livestock by carnivores, and the retaliatory killing of carnivores as a result, is a major global conservation challenge, three researchers write in The Conversation. In a new study, they’ve described how painting eyes on the backsides of livestock can protect them from attack. “Many big cats—including lions, leopards, and tigers—are ambush predators,” they write. “This means that they rely on stalking their prey and retaining the element of surprise. In some cases, being seen by their prey can lead them to abandon the hunt.” They ultimately found that lions were less likely to attack cattle if the cows had eyes painted on their rumps.

USDA announces deadline extension, more eligible commodities for CFAP

USDA announced an extension of the application deadline for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, to September 11. It had been August 28. The agency also added several commodities to the list of those eligible for CFAP payments. The new commodities include liquid and frozen eggs, as well as all sheep. (Only lambs and yearlings were previously eligible.) Producers with approved applications initially received 80% of their payments and will receive the remaining 20% automatically, according to the announcement. Going forward, producers will receive 100% of their total payment for approved applications.

Rare disease hits Wyoming pronghorn population harder than last year

A Wyoming county saw a significant increase this year in pronghorn deaths from mycoplasma bovis, a rare disease that attacks the lungs of animals, causing pneumonia and, sometimes, severe lung lesions. About 350 carcasses were discovered that likely died from the disease, although one biologist said closer to 500 may have actually died. Last year there were 75 confirmed deaths and 25 more presumed cases. Mycoplasma bovis is usually seen in livestock, but this “is a case of a pathogen jumping to a new and potentially previously unaffected species,” said disease specialist Terry Creekmore. “We don’t know how the disease overwintered and are unsure if M. bovis has become established in this population of pronghorns,” Creekmore said. The Gillette News Record reports.

University of Illinois offers online master’s degree for livestock health professionals

The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine recently established an online master’s degree for livestock health professionals, to help address global demands for food safety. According to the university, applications for the program open September 15, for enrollment in the spring 2021 semester. “Only a relatively small number of learners were able to take advantage of traditional, in-person educational opportunities, such as our college’s Integrated Food Animal Management System program and Executive Veterinary Program,” said Jim Lowe, director of the college’s i-Learning Center. “The new Master of Veterinary Science degree in Livestock Systems Health was created to give working professionals a similar level of career-focused learning for less than $10,000.”