News Update
Oct. 19, 2009

USDA Confirms 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus Present in Minnesota Fair Pig Sample

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed the presence of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in a pig sample collected at the Minnesota State Fair submitted by the University of Minnesota. Additional samples are being tested.

“We have fully engaged our trading partners to remind them that several international organizations, including the World Organization for Animal Health, have advised that there is no scientific basis to restrict trade in pork and pork products,” Vilsack said. “People cannot get this flu from eating pork or pork products. Pork is safe to eat.”

Sequence results on the hemagglutinin, neuraminidase and matrix genes from the virus isolate are compatible with reported 2009 pandemic H1N1 sequences. The samples collected at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair were part of a University of Iowa and University of Minnesota cooperative agreement research project funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which documents influenza viruses where humans and pigs interact at such events as fairs.

The infection of the fair pig does not suggest infection of commercial herds because show pigs and commercially raised pigs are in separate segments of the swine industry that do not typically interchange personnel or animal stock. USDA continues to remind U.S. swine producers about the need for good hygiene, biosecurity and other practices that will prevent the introduction and spread of influenza viruses in their herd and encourages them to participate in USDA’s swine influenza virus surveillance program.

More information about USDA’s 2009 pandemic H1N1 efforts is available at http://www.usda.gov/H1N1flu.

— Release by USDA.

Beef Meetings Concentrate on Successful Calving

Producers can get a head start for calving season by taking advice from area experts.

The 2009-2010 area beef meetings, hosted by the Indiana Beef Cattle Association (IBCA) and Purdue University, will take place in Indiana’s 10 Extension areas between November and January.

“The meetings will provide producers with valuable information they can use for their own herds,” said Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef specialist.
Topics for this year’s meetings include calving, vaccinating for scours and the Sandhills Calving System.

One way to improve calf survival is to protect them from scours. Scours in newborn calves is usually caused by a bacteria or virus.

“Scours can rapidly dehydrate a calf, a leading cause of mortality. Force-feeding electrolytes with an esophageal feeder to rehydrate the calf is an important part of treating calf scours,” Lemenager said.

Lemenager recommends producers take three main steps to protect the herd from scours: nutrition, antibody protection from colostrum and protection from nature’s elements.

“Cow nutrition is a primary factor in determining colostrum quality and the calf’s ability to absorb the immunoglobulins that provide the calf with passive immunity,” Lemenager said. “Colostrum is essential for calf health. It gives the calf the ability to resist disease and fight off infection.”

Producers should make sure that the calf gets the colostrum shortly after birth. If the calf does not then the large protein molecules that provide passive immunity will be virtually gone within 12 hours, he explained.

Environment also is important. Calving season can last several months, which means the producers have to be prepared for different types of weather conditions.
The type of environment the calf is born into should be dry and free of wind chill.

“Newborn calves need a low-stress environment, free of mud, rain and wind, which are all big stressors for calves,” Lemenager said. “If they are outside they need some type of shelter where they can get away from the weather.”

The Sandhills Calving System was developed so each cow that was calving could give birth in a clean pasture. It involves rotating pregnant cows to a clean pasture on a weekly basis.

“A producer can start out with a set number of cows ready to calve within a month of each other. The producer will want to move the non-calved cows to a new, clean pasture each week,” he said. “This system will separate newborn calves from later-born calves and also prevent spreading of diseases.

The first meeting will take place Nov. 5 in Butlerville. Other locations include: Mitchell, Jasper, Greencastle, Martinsville, Richmond, Logansport, West Lafayette, Wanatah and Columbia City.

Meeting dates, times and locations are available by calling 317-293-2333.

— Release by Indiana Ag Connection.

Maddux Named Nation’s Top Rancher

Jack Maddux of Wauneta, Neb., received the 32nd annual National Golden Spur Award on Saturday from the Ranching Heritage Association in Lubbock, TX. The award was given in recognition of his contributions to the livestock and ranching industries and his contributions to improving the land and natural resources.

Each year, the National Golden Spur Award recognizes the lifetime achievements of the nation’s top rancher. This unique award, the only national distinction of its kind, recognizes outstanding contributions to the ranching and livestock industry. More than bringing prestige to an individual, the award spotlights the humanistic and scientific contributions of the livestock and ranching industries. Maddux was nominated for the National Golden Spur Award by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF), based in Centennial, Colo.

Maddux is a fourth-generation rancher and manager of the Maddux Cattle Co. In addition to a 3,000-head feedyard, Maddux Cattle Co. encompasses a 2,500-head cow-calf operation on some 40,000 acres of deeded and leased land in the Sandhills of Nebraska.

— Release by NCF.

New Pfizer Animal Health is Unveiled With Acquisition of Wyeth

A new Pfizer Animal Health was unveiled last week as Pfizer’s acquisition of Wyeth, including its subsidiary Fort Dodge Animal Health, was completed. The acquisition of many of Fort Dodge’s U.S. products allows Pfizer Animal Health to greatly diversify its U.S. portfolio, as well as broaden its offering in all animal health segments. Pfizer Animal Health now offers an enhanced portfolio in beef, dairy and companion animals, as well as a redefined product line for swine, equine and poultry. For more information on the merger, including a current listing of products, see the full release at www.pfizeranimalhealth.com.

— Adapted from release by Pfizer Animal Health

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