By Ann Bagel Storck on 4/9/2008 for Meatingplace.com
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has downgraded Minnesota's status for bovine tuberculosis, moving it from the list of Modified Accredited Advanced states to the Modified Accredited list.
The state began preparing for the downgrade after the fourth herd since October 2007 tested positive for bovine TB. (See Minnesota prepares for status downgrade after more bovine TB found on Meatingplace.com, Feb. 21, 2008.)
The change in classification means the interstate movement of cattle and bison from Minnesota will be restricted.
Last week, Gov. Tim Pawlenty named Minnesota Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Joe Martin state bovine TB coordinator. He will oversee statewide efforts to eradicate the disease.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
China reports fifth case of A.I.
(MEATPOULTRY.com, April 08, 2008)
by MEAT&POULTRY Staff
HONG KONG ― Avian influenza is being blamed for killing chickens in poultry markets in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, Chinese officials have confirmed. China's Ministry of Agriculture notified the administration that the birds tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, marking the country's fifth outbreak among poultry this year, according to The Associated Press.
China’s Ministry of Agriculture also said that last week's outbreak in Guangzhou killed 114 birds and resulted in the slaughter of 518 others. But it has been contained, the ministry said.
China raises more poultry than any other country and health officials there have vowed to aggressively fight the virus. H5N1 has killed at least 235 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Most human cases have been linked to contact with infected birds, AP said.
China has reported three human bird flu deaths this year, including a 44-year-old migrant worker last month in southern Guangdong province. China has recorded 20 human deaths since the virus began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003.
by MEAT&POULTRY Staff
HONG KONG ― Avian influenza is being blamed for killing chickens in poultry markets in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, Chinese officials have confirmed. China's Ministry of Agriculture notified the administration that the birds tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, marking the country's fifth outbreak among poultry this year, according to The Associated Press.
China’s Ministry of Agriculture also said that last week's outbreak in Guangzhou killed 114 birds and resulted in the slaughter of 518 others. But it has been contained, the ministry said.
China raises more poultry than any other country and health officials there have vowed to aggressively fight the virus. H5N1 has killed at least 235 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Most human cases have been linked to contact with infected birds, AP said.
China has reported three human bird flu deaths this year, including a 44-year-old migrant worker last month in southern Guangdong province. China has recorded 20 human deaths since the virus began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Government 'Neglect' is Crippling Business, say Producers
From: PigSite.com
CEBU CITY – Pig producers in Central Visayas says that the lack of government support for the local livestock industry is helping to fuel increases to meat prices.
According to GMA News, pig farmers have been asking for assistance amid rising feed prices and escalating inputs costs. Meat vendors in major markets in Cebu City claim that they are losing out as fewer people are buying meat due to the high prices.
The National Federation of hog farmers blamed increasing costs of feeds and other livestock inputs why they could not sell their products at low prices. Amid calls for support, the Department of Agriculture Central Visayas admitted it could only give technical support to hog raisers
CEBU CITY – Pig producers in Central Visayas says that the lack of government support for the local livestock industry is helping to fuel increases to meat prices.
According to GMA News, pig farmers have been asking for assistance amid rising feed prices and escalating inputs costs. Meat vendors in major markets in Cebu City claim that they are losing out as fewer people are buying meat due to the high prices.
The National Federation of hog farmers blamed increasing costs of feeds and other livestock inputs why they could not sell their products at low prices. Amid calls for support, the Department of Agriculture Central Visayas admitted it could only give technical support to hog raisers
Bulacan execs monitor pig diarrhea 'outbreak'
From: GMANews.TV
04/08/2008 | 07:54 AM
BULACAN, Philippines - Health authorities in Bulacan province have started monitoring hog farms amid reports of an outbreak of porcine diarrhea in the area.
Radio dzBB's Bernie Morales reported that the provincial veterinary office in Bulacan coordinated with hog dealers to keep an eye on the health of pigs they sell.
But provincial veterinary office head Dr. Felipe Bartolome said hog dealers should not use the potential hog supply shortage as an excuse to raise prices of pigs.
He said, however, that his office is mapping out plans to prevent the spread of the disease among swine.
In 2007, an outbreak of hog cholera prompted health officials to declare a “red alert" in Bulacan and nearby provinces.
An article on porcine epidemic diarrhea at The Pig Site said the virus that causes the disease damages the villi in the gut, reducing the absorptive surface, which could cause dehydration.
But after introduction of the virus into a susceptible breeding herd, a strong immunity develops over two to three weeks. The colostral immunity then protects the piglets.
Symptoms in sows include mild "cow pat" feces and loose feces to a watery diarrhea.
Diarrhea, dehydration, and a possibly high mortality are among the symptom in piglets.
Signs of the disease in weaners and growers include acute watery diarrhea with no blood or mucus, low mortality but high morbidity, rapid spread of diarrhea across all breeding and growing pigs with almost 100% morbidity (pigs affected) within five to 10 days and vomiting. - GMANews.TV
04/08/2008 | 07:54 AM
BULACAN, Philippines - Health authorities in Bulacan province have started monitoring hog farms amid reports of an outbreak of porcine diarrhea in the area.
Radio dzBB's Bernie Morales reported that the provincial veterinary office in Bulacan coordinated with hog dealers to keep an eye on the health of pigs they sell.
But provincial veterinary office head Dr. Felipe Bartolome said hog dealers should not use the potential hog supply shortage as an excuse to raise prices of pigs.
He said, however, that his office is mapping out plans to prevent the spread of the disease among swine.
In 2007, an outbreak of hog cholera prompted health officials to declare a “red alert" in Bulacan and nearby provinces.
An article on porcine epidemic diarrhea at The Pig Site said the virus that causes the disease damages the villi in the gut, reducing the absorptive surface, which could cause dehydration.
But after introduction of the virus into a susceptible breeding herd, a strong immunity develops over two to three weeks. The colostral immunity then protects the piglets.
Symptoms in sows include mild "cow pat" feces and loose feces to a watery diarrhea.
Diarrhea, dehydration, and a possibly high mortality are among the symptom in piglets.
Signs of the disease in weaners and growers include acute watery diarrhea with no blood or mucus, low mortality but high morbidity, rapid spread of diarrhea across all breeding and growing pigs with almost 100% morbidity (pigs affected) within five to 10 days and vomiting. - GMANews.TV
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza - Korea
Information received on 02/04/2008 from Dr Chang-Seob Kim, Director, Animal Health Division, Livestock Bureau , Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Gwacheon-city, Korea (Rep. of)
Please see attached photos of the report........
Please see attached photos of the report........
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Too many pigs push hog futures markets down
By Janie Gabbett on 4/1/2008 for Meatingplace.com
USDA's quarterly Hogs and Pigs report on Friday revealed more U.S. hogs than expected, driving hog futures markets down on Monday and not boding well for live hog prices for the rest of 2008.
USDA reported the inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2008 was 65.9 million head, up 7 percent from a year ago, and well above analysts' expectation of a roughly 4.5 percent rise from last year. The December 2007-February 2008 pig crop, at 28.1 million head, was up 6 percent from a year ago.
Hog futures markets fell by the daily limit in early trading Monday and closed just above the daily limit declines, but still sharply lower.
The report also showed 5 percent more sow farrowings in the December-February period as well as larger average pig litters, due in part to the success of the circovirus vaccine.
Paragon Economics President Steve Meyer told Meatingplace.com the report indicates hog supplies will remain large through September, pressuring live hog prices at the same time prospects of fewer corn acres being planted will boost feeding costs. He predicted live hog prices averaging as much as $10-$15 per hundredweight below the cost of production this year.
The only good news in Friday's report, Meyer said, was evidence the sow herd is at least starting to slow. March-May farrowing intentions were up only slightly from a year ago and June-August farrowing intentions were down 2 percent compared with a year ago.
USDA's quarterly Hogs and Pigs report on Friday revealed more U.S. hogs than expected, driving hog futures markets down on Monday and not boding well for live hog prices for the rest of 2008.
USDA reported the inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2008 was 65.9 million head, up 7 percent from a year ago, and well above analysts' expectation of a roughly 4.5 percent rise from last year. The December 2007-February 2008 pig crop, at 28.1 million head, was up 6 percent from a year ago.
Hog futures markets fell by the daily limit in early trading Monday and closed just above the daily limit declines, but still sharply lower.
The report also showed 5 percent more sow farrowings in the December-February period as well as larger average pig litters, due in part to the success of the circovirus vaccine.
Paragon Economics President Steve Meyer told Meatingplace.com the report indicates hog supplies will remain large through September, pressuring live hog prices at the same time prospects of fewer corn acres being planted will boost feeding costs. He predicted live hog prices averaging as much as $10-$15 per hundredweight below the cost of production this year.
The only good news in Friday's report, Meyer said, was evidence the sow herd is at least starting to slow. March-May farrowing intentions were up only slightly from a year ago and June-August farrowing intentions were down 2 percent compared with a year ago.
France raises bird flu risk level on Swiss case
Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:48pm EDT
From: Reuters.com
PARIS, March 28 (Reuters) - France's agriculture ministry raised the level of risk for bird flu to moderate from low on Friday, a day after Switzerland reported its first case for two years of the deadly H5N1 strain.
With effect from Sunday, birds in France cannot be assembled in high priority zones, and birds and poultry will have to be locked up to avoid contact with wild birds, the ministry said in a statement.
It will also be prohibited to transport birds used for hunting purposes in France, it said.
Veterinary authorities in Switzerland said on Thursday a duck from Sempachersee lake had been infected with H5N1. It was Switzerland's 33rd case of bird flu.
The other 32 discovered cases of bird flu were all reported in early 2006, on Lake Geneva and Lake Constance.
France, which raised its risk alert to "high" after some wild swans infected with the highly pathogenic virus were found dead in northeast France in July 2007, regularly adjusts its alert levels.
Experts fear the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted from person to person, leading to a pandemic that could kill millions worldwide.
From: Reuters.com
PARIS, March 28 (Reuters) - France's agriculture ministry raised the level of risk for bird flu to moderate from low on Friday, a day after Switzerland reported its first case for two years of the deadly H5N1 strain.
With effect from Sunday, birds in France cannot be assembled in high priority zones, and birds and poultry will have to be locked up to avoid contact with wild birds, the ministry said in a statement.
It will also be prohibited to transport birds used for hunting purposes in France, it said.
Veterinary authorities in Switzerland said on Thursday a duck from Sempachersee lake had been infected with H5N1. It was Switzerland's 33rd case of bird flu.
The other 32 discovered cases of bird flu were all reported in early 2006, on Lake Geneva and Lake Constance.
France, which raised its risk alert to "high" after some wild swans infected with the highly pathogenic virus were found dead in northeast France in July 2007, regularly adjusts its alert levels.
Experts fear the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted from person to person, leading to a pandemic that could kill millions worldwide.
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