BRSV-MoreThan Just Four Letters On A Vaccination Bottle

Fred Froderman, Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Mycattle.com

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) has been recognized as a pathogen in cattle since 1970. The presence of this virus in cattle herds is recognized world wide. In the United States antibody prevalence has been reported to 65% to 81% in the cattle population.
BRSV-MoreThan Just Four Letters On A Vaccination Bottle

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Horse slaughter ban could be reality

Western Livestock Reporter

— Silent movement on bill could mean an extra 90,000 horses with undetermined futures.
Horse slaughtering could be banned permanently in the U.S. in the very near future. In just two months, thousands of unwanted horses may not be shipped to slaughtering facilities. Instead, they will be kept alive, but with equine shelters at maximum capacity, unanswered questions as to who will care for and board them persist. A hearing is to take place July 25 where lawmakers will hear from both sides regarding the permanent ban on horse slaughter. After members of the House return from break in September, a vote is expected the first week of their return.

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Stockpiling perennial grasses to extend grazing into fall

Stockpiling perennial grasses to extend grazing into fall

By PAUL PETERSON, RUSS MATHISON, GREG CUOMO, AND CRAIG SHEAFFER, University of Minnesota – Department of Agronomy & Plant Genetics and North Central and West Central Research and Outreach Centers

Minnesota Farm Guide

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Growing a big love for cattle; Size difference doesn’t deter veteran 4-H’er

Growing a big love for cattle; Size difference doesn’t deter veteran 4-H’er

By CAROL JOHNSON, carol@tmnews.com
Times-Mail (IN)

BEDFORD – Meg Norman has never let the size of a beef steer or the stiff competition at beef shows intimidate her.

Her steer outweighs her by about 900 pounds, but she doesn’t let that bother her.

“He got a little rowdy at the market show the other day and pushed me around the show arena, but I got him settled down,” she said. “It’s just part of it.”

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It’s still grilling season

It’s still grilling season

by jstreckert, Wellfed.net

In last week’s Chicago Sun-Times, Leah Zeldes offers an extremely helpful primer on the basics of grilling steak, that extends far beyond various grilling methods and which cuts of meat are choice. The successful grilling experience is underscored by using high quality meat and these days, there is nearly an overwhelming selection of choices. In addition to the expanded variety of traditional cuts, along with their assorted grades, there is a current revival of grass-fed and dry aged beef, furthering the possibilities.

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On The Farm: Keep an eye out for FMD in livestock

On The Farm: Keep an eye out for FMD in livestock

By ERIC ZIMMERMAN
Special to the Eagle.com

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly infectious viral disease of cloven-hooved animals. Although usually not fatal, it causes suffering and lowers the animal’s commercial value by reducing its weight and milk output.

Cattle, swine, sheep, goats and deer are highly susceptible and may exhibit signs of infection after an incubation period of only one to eight days. In sheep and goats, the incubation period may be longer and, in some cases, the disease may go undetected. FMD is not a zoonotic disease. The disease survives in lymph nodes and bone marrow at a neutral pH, but after death it is destroyed in muscle when the pH is less than six (rigor mortis). There are at least seven types and several subtypes of the FMD virus. An animal that is immune to one subtype is not immune to other types.

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Preserving precious pasture

Preserving precious pasture
Drought causes Gothenburg cattle producer to consider early weaning, pregnancy checks

By Elizabeth Barrett
Gothenburg Times (NE)

Randy Burge has killed a couple of rattlers this year on pasture he owns northeast of Gothenburg.

But poisonous snakes are not on Burge’s mind today as he steers his red pickup through a gate and onto land speckled with Angus cattle.

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Roundup checkup

Roundup checkup

By Jeff DeMoss
Standard-Examiner (UT) staff
jdemoss@standard.net

NORTH SALT LAKE — As a third-generation livestock producer in Utah, Bret Smith knows firsthand the “joys” of checking cattle for disease and illness.

“The old way of sickness protection is to simply walk through the herd looking for signs of sick animals, then taking those animals’ temperature with a rectal thermometer to find out the truth.”

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Cattle farmers learn new techniques

Cattle farmers learn new techniques

By Liz Hayes
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH (PA)
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

People driving past fields full of grazing cattle might consider farming an old-fashioned, nontechnical industry.

Those people have never tried to raise cows.

Cattle producers from across the state converged on Swank Farm in Lower Burrell Saturday to participate in the Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association Annual Field Day. The event is designed to introduce farmers to new techniques, equipment and legislation that affect or could improve their operations.

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Japan set to resume U.S. beef imports

Japan set to resume U.S. beef imports

Associated Press
Honolulu Advertiser

TOKYO — Japan plans this week to officially approve a partial resumption of U.S. beef imports, which had been banned because of fears of mad cow disease, said a news report Friday.

The Kyodo News agency report comes hours after Japan’s farm minister said a cutback in the U.S. government’s testing program for mad cow disease won’t affect Tokyo’s decision on resuming U.S. beef imports.

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National beef surveillance program announced

National beef surveillance program announced

The Daily Nonpareil (IA)

WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns recently announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would soon begin transitioning to an ongoing Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy surveillance program that corresponds to the extremely low prevalence of the disease in the U.S.

“It’s time that our surveillance efforts reflect what we now know is a very, very low level of BSE in the United States,” said Johanns. “This ongoing surveillance program will maintain our ability to detect BSE, provide assurance that our interlocking safeguards are successfully preventing BSE, while continuing to exceed science-based international guidelines.”

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Drought forces early cattle sales

Drought forces early cattle sales

By Garry Mitchell
The Associated Press
Montgomery Advertiser (AL)

MOBILE — As hay supplies dwindle, drought conditions are forcing Alabama cattle producers to sell calves and thin out herds early to avoid further losses, agriculture officials said.

It’s not a stampede to the auction block yet, but producers are getting nervous about the lack of rain.

Unlike 2000 when farmers trucked hay from county to county to help cattle producers, this year there is “just no hay to move,” Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Ronnie Murphy said.

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Speaking ranch

Speaking ranch

News-Press.com

Originally posted on July 23, 2006
Cowboys speak a language all their own. A sampling:

Calf: A youngster of either sex when used generically; bull calf or heifer specifically

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