News Update

News Update
Aug. 6, 2007

Angus and Pfizer Animal Health Team Up

The American Angus Association and Pfizer Animal Health announced today a marketing alliance for two premier feeder calf programs. The collaboration pairs AngusSource,® an age-, source- and genetic-USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) for Angus-sired cattle, with SelectVAC,® the premier branded preconditioning program from Pfizer Animal Health.

“Pfizer is excited for the opportunity to work with the American Angus Association to help bring more value to their customers,” says Pierre Bertrand, SelectVAC marketing manager for Pfizer. “We admire the dedication of the AngusSource program for helping Angus customers market high-quality calves.”

More than 132,000 calves have been enrolled in AngusSource, nearly 51,000 in the first half of 2007. “The program continues to drive the beef industry toward quantifying true Angus genetics,” AngusSource director Sara Moyer says.

“Our goal is to give our customers the opportunity to maximize their marketing options and profit potential,” Moyer adds. “While we aren’t requiring them to participate in SelectVAC in order to register with AngusSource, we highly recommend it for the added benefits of better health and quality it brings to their animals.”

While AngusSource documents genetics and origin, participating in a certified preconditioning program can complete the total value picture. Moyer notes the demonstrated premiums available for verified health. “It makes sense to use every tool available to add value,” she adds. “And, buyers will feel assured the calf's health is sound because of the added health verification.”

“Calves enrolled in SelectVAC deliver value through improved health, which reduces treatment costs, time and labor needs.” Bertrand says. “Buyers have paid up to $29 per head more on sale day for SelectVAC calves. Having verified health documentation along with verification of genetics, age and source will help producers capture the maximum value from Angus-sired calves.”

Angus cattle last year brought record premiums of more than $30 per head over non-Angus cattle in an eight-year Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) national auction market study. “That says bidders are specifically looking for Angus cattle,” Moyer says. “There’s nothing like seeing the AngusSource tag in a calf’s ear to remove all doubt.”

The Association created AngusSource to enhance the value of Angus-sired feeder calves and replacement females. As a USDA PVP, it documents source, group age and at least 50% Angus genetics. Enrolled calves are identified with an official program tag and an AngusSource document is generated for the lot.

The SelectVAC program includes industry-trusted products, including Bovi-Shield Gold,® CattleMaster® Gold,™ One Shot® and Dectomax.® By using these products and following flexible management protocols that fit individual styles, producers can help optimize the health of their calves. To enroll calves or to learn more about SelectVAC, contact a veterinarian or animal health consultant, visit www.selectvac.com or call 1-800-760-9946.

— Release provided by the Pfizer Animal Health.

Washington, Beijing Conclude Food Safety Talks

Washington and Beijing recently concluded talks aimed at establishing bilateral food safety pacts, with officials reporting progress in the effort, according to MeatingPlace.com.

“I am pleased to report that this week’s talks established basic frameworks for the two draft [agreements],” Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, said in a statement.

“Our vision for these [agreements] aims to increase cooperation and information sharing between the U.S. and Chinese governments on these safety issues, and, at the request of the Chinese, to enhance the technical capacity of China’s regulatory agencies to help ensure Chinese exports to the United States meet U.S. safety standards.”

Leavitt said the discussion covered specific concerns, including how China can meet U.S. requirements in the event FDA issues an import alert on Chinese products.

More talks are slated for the end of August in Beijing. The two sides hope to complete the drafts by December, according to the article.

Cranberries Prevent Bacteria Growth Without Affecting Taste

Vivian Chi Hua Wu at the University of Maine led a study that found cranberries can help reduce the growth of bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli in beef patties without affecting how burgers taste.

In a study presented last year at the Institute of Food Technologists show, researchers added cranberry concentrate to samples of raw ground beef tainted with several types of bacteria that frequently cause food-related illness. After observing the ground beef over several days, scientists discovered that the cranberry concentrate significantly reduced the growth of salmonella, E. coli and other dangerous bacteria in the beef.

In the new study, Wu and her colleagues reproduced these results with a strain of pathogenic E. coli and tested the effect of different amounts of cranberry on the taste of burgers. “We focused on taste and found that it wasn’t sacrificed,” Wu said. “This is great news for consumers who are seeking natural alternatives to chemical additives in food.”

Latest Update on FMD in the United Kingdom

Chief veterinary officer (CVO) Debby Reynolds of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the United Kingdom (UK) has provided an update on the foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) outbreak in Surrey. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, swine and other cloven-hooved ruminants. It has serious implications for animal agriculture in any country where it is detected.

She stressed the operation continues to focus on containment and eradication of the disease, and that livestock keepers should continue to be vigilant and maintain high levels of biosecurity.

There is currently one infected premises that had infected animals on three sites. A total of 97 animals have been culled; 64 from the infected premises plus 33 from two dangerous contact premises. The carcasses were disposed of by incineration.

As part of DEFRA’s contingency plan, 300,000 doses of strain-specific vaccine have been ordered from the UK’s vaccine bank, to be made up from antigen. No decision has been made on whether or not to use the vaccine.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a statement Aug. 3 immediately placing restrictions or prohibitions, depending on the type of product and level of processing, on all UK products derived from any FMD susceptible species.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been alerted to this ban, and USDA will work closely with CBP to ensure that these products are not imported into the U.S., and that travelers do not bring prohibited products back to the U.S.

USDA stated that it is very closely monitoring the situation in the UK.

— Adapted from statements from DEFRA and USDA.

— compiled by Linda Robbins, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.