News Update
Aug. 11, 2009

Board Candidates Submit Resumes by Aug. 15

Members interested in seeking a position on the American Angus Association® Board of Directors are encouraged to submit a biography and photo to Angus Journal Associate Editor Crystal Albers by Aug. 15. All bios and photos submitted by the deadline will be published in the October Angus Journal, prior to the Annual Convention of Delegates in November.

Contact Albers at 816-383-5215 or calbers@angusjournal.com.

Senate Amendment Would Slash NAIS Funds

The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee has accepted an amendment to reduce the budget for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) by nearly half, according to Drovers. The amendment introduced by Sen. Jon Tester (D–Mont.) and Sen. Mike Enzi (R–Wyo.) would also limit the use of funds to pay for rule-making activities, Drovers reported today.

Q&A on Recent Changes to Dues, Registration Policy

The Association has posted commonly asked questions and related answers online regarding recent changes to dues and registration policies. To access the question-and-answer document, visit www.angus.org.

Australian Fast-Growing Feed Debuts in U.S.

Australian technology that produces nutritious green feed for livestock in only six days is making its debut in the United States, according to a release issued Monday.

Fodder Solutions, www.foddersolutions.net, has reportedly sold more than 300 climate controlled growing chambers to farmers across Australia, enabling them to transform grain seed and water into highly palatable feed harvested fresh daily, regardless of seasonal conditions.

The technology uses densely matted sprouts as a source of feed for livestock, which, according to the company, devour even the roots with no waste. Systems are being used to feed beef and dairy cattle, horses, sheep, goats, free-range pigs and even rabbits.

First Case of VS Detected in Texas Horse

The nation’s first case of vesicular stomatitis (VS) for 2009 has been detected in a horse in Starr County, in far south Texas. “The most recent outbreak was in 2006 limited to Wyoming only, where 17 horses and a dozen cattle on 13 premises were confirmed to have the virus,” said Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.

“To prevent the spread or introduction of infection, many states and countries will place additional entry requirements or restrictions on the movement of animals from affected states, or portions of the state. Call the state or country of destination before moving livestock, to ensure that all entry requirements can be met. Do not risk shipments being turned away, or worse, spreading disease and facing legal action by animal health authorities.”

For more information on vesicular stomatitis you may go to the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/vsv/ or contact David Thain, State Extension Veterinarian at 775-784-1377 or dthain@cabnr.unr.edu.

— Information provided by the University of Nevada–Reno.

— Compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.