News Update
May 20, 2010

Annual LEAD Conference Scheduled For Nashville

“Angus: Live and Loud” is the theme for the 2010 Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) Conference, set for Aug. 5-8 in Nashville, Tenn., and designed for members ages 14-21. Early registration for the youth leadership conference ends June 15.

Angus juniors will attend leadership workshops presented by the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) Board and hear from past Oklahoma state FFA president and motivational speaker Rhett Laubach.

Diane Johnson of Details by Design will present sessions on public speaking and business etiquette, and attendees will participate in team-building, workshops and an overview about Tennessee agriculture.

Other highlights of the conference will include tours of Tennessee Angus operations Deer Valley Farm and Robert Elliott & Sons Angus. Read more.

NDSU Extension Veterinarian Suggests Producers Vaccinate for Anthrax Now

Livestock producers should get their animals vaccinated for anthrax now, especially if they are in areas with a history of the disease, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension Service veterinarian Charlie Stoltenow advises.

A case of anthrax has occurred in south-central North Dakota’s Sioux County.

While the disease mainly has been reported in northeastern, southeastern and south-central North Dakota, it has been found in almost every part of the state, according to state animal health officials. This is the first time a confirmed case of anthrax has been found in Sioux County in several years, State Veterinarian Susan Keller says.

Anthrax vaccine is effective, but it takes about a week to establish immunity, and it must be administered annually because immunity appears to wane after about six months, Stoltenow says.

He recommends producers check with their veterinarian to make sure their livestock’s vaccination schedule is adequate and the vaccination is up to date. Livestock in areas where anthrax has been found should be vaccinated about four weeks before the disease usually appears.

Herds within six miles of a prior case of anthrax also should be vaccinated, especially in years with wet spring weather and/or flooding.

If anthrax is detected in a herd, producers should move the herd immediately to a new pasture away from where dead animals were found to prevent other animals from getting infected, Stoltenow says.

During severe outbreak conditions, animals that haven’t been vaccinated and are exposed to anthrax may have to be treated with antibiotics and then vaccinated. Producers considering treating with antibiotics should contact their veterinarian because antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of the vaccine, Stoltenow says.

Anthrax is a concern because spores of the bacteria that cause it can survive in the soil for decades. Cases of the disease develop in the region almost every year. However, favorable conditions, such as heavy rainfall, flooding or drought, may make it more widespread.

Producers should monitor their herds for unexpected deaths and report them to their veterinarian, Stoltenow says.

Because anthrax also is a risk to humans, people should not move a carcass. The carcasses of animals that died from anthrax should be disposed of, preferably through burning, as close as possible to where they died. Any contaminated soil should be piled on top of the carcasses for burning, Stoltenow says.

— Release by NDSU Extension.

Iowa Cattlemen’s Association Hires New CEO

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) announced May 20 the hiring of Duane Gangwish as their new CEO. ICA President Kent Pruismann from Rock Valley said, “Duane joins ICA with a broad knowledge of the cattle industry possessing a deep understanding of environmental issues.” Gangwish replaces Bruce Berven who is retiring after four years at the helm.

Gangwish is a native of Nebraska, where for the last five years he held the position of vice president of Environmental Affairs for Nebraska Cattlemen. Prior to joining Nebraska Cattlemen he worked for an environmental engineering firm specializing in design, construction and NPDES permitting for the beef industry in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota with direct involvement in more than 200 projects. His duties at Nebraska Cattlemen included significant public policy work on both the state and federal level regarding natural resources, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and conservation programs under the purview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “I am truly honored and humbled to be entrusted with the responsibilities of this office. I look forward to continuing the strong traditions of leadership for agriculture; a quality for which ICA is widely known,” Gangwish said.

 — Release by ICA.

Remember Fly Control for Cattle this Summer

Fly infestations of cattle are a real concern during the summer months. Typical flying insects that can cause problems in Illinois include stable flies, house flies, horn flies, face flies, mosquitoes, horse flies and deer flies. The two major species that cause the most serious decreases in beef production and require the most control efforts are the horn fly and face fly. The horn fly alone is estimated to cause $700 million in animal losses to the U.S. beef industry.

Cattle pests, such as flies, cost beef producers in both treatment expenses and lost production, says Teresa Steckler, University of Illinois (U of I) Extension beef specialist. The discomfort to livestock and economic effects of heavy fly populations are easily noticed. Economic losses occur because feeding by horn flies, stable flies, horse flies and other bloodsucking flies mechanically transmits several disease organisms and causes irritation and physiological changes that decrease weight gains. Effective control measures will allow increases in profitability in beef cattle operations.

The adult horn fly, which is about half the size of a house fly, has piercing/sucking mouth parts and feeds on blood and tissue fluids of cattle. Horn flies spend most of their adult life on cattle and feed 20 to 40 times a day. Steckler says losses begin to occur when there are 200 to 250 flies present. If young animals or cows have this many or more flies, then treatment will result in increased weight gains.

The face fly is about the size of a house fly. Face flies are non-biting and prefer to be on the face and consume the secretion from the eyes and nostrils. These flies avoid entering dark places, such as a barn, while on the animal. They are present on cattle only about 10% of the time and may be found resting on fence posts, trees, bushes and other objects the other 90% of the time. Because they spend so little time on the animal and do not feed on blood, they are much harder to control than horn flies. They are particularly important because they serve as mechanical carriers of the causative agent of pinkeye in cattle — infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis [IBK] caused by the bacterium Moraxella bovis — and because they damage the cornea of the eye during feeding, thus allowing a port of entry for the pinkeye-causing organism.

“Cattle can tolerate low fly populations. But when fly populations reach 100 to 200 per animal, producers need to begin a control program,” advises Steckler. “There are several methods of fly control such as insecticide sprays, dusts, pour-on products, oilers, dust bags, ear tags, oral larvicides in minerals and blocks, and controlled release boluses. All of these methods are effective and have a place in the control program; however, the best defense is usually an integrated fly control program.”

When making decisions about fly control, realize that there are many effective programs. Develop a program that is both cost effective and convenient for your operation.

Steckler offers these suggestions:

• Plan ahead for insecticide and ear tag purchases. Fly season always comes, even if delayed by cool weather or rain.
  

• Consult with your herd veterinarian regarding active ingredients in products and their record of effectiveness in your area.
  

• Always follow instructions, warnings and precautions because these products can be toxic to you, your children, pets and others working with them around the chute.
  

• Follow label withdrawal times and keep records of treatment dates, products and lot numbers.

— Release by U of I Extension.

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