News Update
May 4, 2009

BIF Concludes in California, Angus Herd Shares Seedstock Producer of the Year Title

Genomics took center stage at the 2009 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) annual symposium in Sacramento, Calif., April 30-May 3. The event was hosted by the California Cattlemen’s Association and the California Beef Cattle Improvement Association.

Champion Hill of Bidwell, Ohio, was named Seedstock Producer of the Year during Saturday’s Award Luncheon. They share the title with Harrell Hereford Ranch of Baker City, Ore. JHL Ranch of Ashby, Neb., was named the Commercial Producer of the Year. Releases on all three winners can be found on the Awards page at www.bifconference.com.

Angus Productions Inc. (API) is in the process of posting coverage to the site, which is made possible through the generous support of BioZyme Inc. through its partnership with the Angus Foundation. Links will turn blue when they are active.

Abstracts and proceedings are available now in the Symposium Papers page. A short biography of the speaker is included with each abstract for the general session presentations.

Several summaries and most of the PowerPoints for which API has permission to post are now posted in the Newsroom. More will be added throughout the week. Audio will be made available Tuesday, so you can listen to the presentations.

Here are some quick links to a few of the sessions:

• Understanding the Estrous Cycle and Fundamentals of AI, by Bill Beal, Virginia Tech
  
  
• The Best-Kept Secret in the Commercial Cattle Business, by Herb Holzapfel, California cattleman
  
  
• How Can We Best Use DNA Data in Selection of Cattle? by Mike Goddard, Beef CRC, Australia
  
  
• The Nature and Scope of Some Whole-Genome Analyses in U.S. Beef Cattle, by Dorian Garrick, Iowa State University
  
  
• Feedlot Marker-Assisted Management, by Bill Kolath, Cargill Meat Solutions
  
  
• Breed and Breeder Adaptation to Genome-Enhanced/Enabled Selection Information, by Kent Andersen, U.S. Beef Breeds Council
  

Chicago Mercantile Exchange ‘A H1N1’ Update

Influenza A H1N1 remains the key factor affecting U.S. meat and poultry markets in general and U.S. pork markets in particular and this weekend brought a major development. Influenza A H1N1 was confirmed in a small hog herd in Alberta, Canada. That is the first confirmed case of the virus in pigs anywhere, and news reports say that it likely came from a farm worker that recently returned from Mexico and had been ill. The worker and the pigs are recovering. Canadian animal health authorities have quarantined the herd, and no animals have left the farm. Confirming the test will take five days to two weeks.

Influenza is not unusual in pigs. This is the first known case of H1N1 in pigs, though. Influenza in pigs is usually mild, but some producers vaccinate for known strains in order to avoid the production losses associated with fevers and decreased feed consumption. The preventive treatment is an antibody-developing vaccine, not subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics. Antibiotics may be used to control secondary bacterial infections.

In a statement released Saturday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack pointed out that there have been no reports of H1N1 infection in U.S. hogs and the virus is not foodborne. Properly handled and prepared pork is as safe as ever. He did point out — as have industry groups since last week — that anyone with flu-like symptoms should stay away from pigs and that any pigs with flu-like symptoms should be brought to the attention of state animal health authorities or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Secretary Vilsack said the discovery would not affect U.S. trade with Canada. World Organization for Animal Health (also known as OIE) guidelines require any trade restrictions to be based on science and, accordingly, USDA will await the result of confirmatory tests.

It is difficult to tell just how many pigs are imported from Alberta, since USDA publishes data by port of entry and by the destination of the animals, but not by source province. CME said Alberta would be the source of most of the pigs entering through Idaho and Montana: 6,464 feeder pigs and 217,392 market hogs in 2008. This year to date (YTD), only 371 feeder pigs and 54,231 market hogs have entered through Idaho and Montana.

Those numbers are down 92% and 47%, respectively, from YTD 2008. It is possible that some Alberta pigs enter the U.S. through North Dakota. This discovery will make efforts to distance pork from “swine flu” more difficult this week. Our sources indicated that retailers slowed pork orders last week, taking a “wait and see” posture on whether domestic pork demand was indeed damaged. There has still been no transmittal from pigs or pork to humans, so the battle is not lost, but a continuation of “wait and see” ordering could put more pressure on markets. 

— Release provided by CME.

Canadian Hog Herd Infected by Influenza

Statement by USDA Secretary Vilsack:

I received word Saturday afternoon that Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officials have tentatively confirmed that swine from a herd in Alberta, Canada, have tested positive for the H1N1 strain currently causing illness in humans. A Canadian carpenter who had been in Mexico, upon return, was exhibiting flu-like symptoms, did work on the Alberta farm, and subsequently the family and swine on the farm became ill.

First and foremost, this detection does not change the situation here in the United States:

• There have been no reports that the novel H1N1 strain currently causing illness in humans is in U.S. swine.
  
• This is not a foodborne illness. The American food supply is safe, and pork and pork products are safe. As is the case with all meat and poultry, safe handling and cooking practices should be used to kill any germs or bacteria that could make you sick.
  
• As a precaution, people with flu-like symptoms should not interact with swine, and swine showing influenza symptoms should be kept away from the public and brought to the attention of the state animal health authorities or USDA. Proper biosecurity measures — as in any influenza situation — will protect against the spread of the virus.

Additional details about the Alberta situation are that no sick swine have left the farm, and the animals and premises have been quarantined. The swine and humans are recovering and appear healthy. We are working closely with our CFIA counterparts to be kept abreast of the situation, and will await the final confirmatory test results, which could take anywhere from five days to two weeks. Canada has handled this situation appropriately and taken the necessary steps and precautions.

Here in the United States, the USDA is actively working to develop an H1N1 vaccine for swine, just as the CDC is doing for humans. It is standard operating procedure at the USDA to send any unusual virus, such as the H1N1 virus, detected through our surveillance network to our labs in Ames, Iowa. Our scientists routinely diagnose animal diseases and develop vaccines to protect livestock and poultry in the United States.

Saturday’s discovery will not impact our borders or trading with Canada. As prescribed by the OIE guidelines, any trade restrictions must be based on science, so at this time, we are awaiting confirmatory test results before considering any action.

— Statement provided by USDA.

Swine Flue Misnomer May Cost Pork Industry $400 Million

University of Missouri Extension Economist Ron Plain says the hog industry has already taken an immense hit from Influenza A (H1N1) and that it could get even worse.

“We’re looking at losses over the next four months (based on Friday’s futures close) of $400 million, and this is a time now when they can’t afford it,” Plain told the Brownfield Network, noting that the typical producer has lost money 16 out of the last 18 months.

— Adapted from release provided by Brownfield Network.

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.