News Update
June 22, 2010

Angus Health and Profit

It’s no secret that Angus cattle can grade well. But new evidence from Iowa and Kansas sheds light on why high-percentage Angus cattle beat crossbreds in profitability: They tend to stay healthier, which may allow them to better realize their full potential.

An analysis of data on more than 30,000 head fed through Iowa’s Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity (TCSCF) documents the decrease in health problems as percentage of Angus breeding increases.

Records from cattle placed on feed from 2002 to 2009 were sorted into four groups based on sire and dam information: low-percentage Angus, half, three-quarters and straightbred. Read more.

TAHC and TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine Team Up

In cooperation with the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has recently developed a mobile Veterinary Emergency Team (V.E.T.) to respond to disasters that affect animals state-wide.

The new team is deployable under the state animal response plan in a disaster situation where there is need for additional veterinary assessment, triage and care. Currently the team is made up of 13 members and consists of A&M faculty, resident veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary students who have completed a disaster medicine elective. The team is fully self-sufficient with their own lodging, food, generators and supplies for responders. Their equipment includes two large climate-controlled tents, one multi-purpose trailer and one clinic trailer with limited surgical capability. The team also has obtained trucks to haul trailers and equipment, as well as an ambulatory medicine truck. Team members are divided into strike teams that can be targeted at either large or small animal issues.

“As the lead agency responsible for dealing with animals affected by disasters, the Texas Animal Health Commission has done an outstanding job of developing one of the premiere animal issues in disasters plans in the country. TAHC personnel have brought together an impressive array of governmental and non-governmental agencies all focused on preserving the health and welfare of animals. The Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is proud to be part of this effort. Under the leadership of the TAHC the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences will field a team capable of assisting in assessment and providing triage capabilities,” said Wesley Bissett, TAMU’s lead faculty member in this effort.

“Our two organizations have put together an impressive array of equipment and personnel that will have the ability to limit and prevent animal suffering as disasters occur. In addition, the TAHC has provided us the opportunity to increase our efforts in teaching emergency response in the veterinary medical curriculum. Ultimately, this will lead to increased numbers of veterinarians committed to and trained in emergency response. The end result will be strengthening the foundation of local governmental emergency response efforts. Texas is a “can do” state and the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences appreciates the opportunity to play a role in making sure that we can enhance the efforts of local and state governmental entities during times of disaster.”

The Texas A&M V.E.T.s’ first field exercise was held in College Station April 23-25. While they are still finalizing the acquisition of necessary supplies, the team is fully operational and mission-ready in time for the 2010 hurricane season.

Under the animal response plan, this team will deploy with TAHC field personnel in a large-scale disaster and will work under the same incident command structure.

The Texas Animal Health Commission works to protect the health of all Texas livestock, including cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, equine animals and exotic livestock.

— Release by TAHC and TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Recall of Terramycin Scours Tablets

Pfizer Animal Health is voluntarily recalling eight production lots of Terramycin® (oxytetracycline HCI) Scours Tablets. Working in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pfizer Animal Health voluntarily initiated this recall when it was determined that certain lots manufactured by a third-party vendor contained an active pharmaceutical ingredient that was sourced from a facility prior to reapproval by the FDA.

The use of, or exposure to, this product is not expected to pose adverse health consequences. Dairy and beef producers have depended on Terramycin Scours Tablets for many years as a versatile, broad-spectrum antibiotic.

This recall affects approximately three months of production. The specific lots included are:

• Bottle of 24 tablets, 250 mg — Lots: PF9Y020A, PF9Y035A, PF9Y036B, PF9Z006
• Bottle of 100 tablets, 250 mL — Lots: PF9Y020B, PF9Y035B, PF9Y036A, PF9Z005

Pfizer Animal Health is working closely with the FDA to correct this situation. The company is committed to maintaining the safe and effective use of antibiotics and appreciates your support in this matter.

Customers with questions should contact Pfizer Animal Health Customer Service at 1-800-733-5500. Any media questions can be directed to Karen Potratz, 262-938-5457 (kpotratz@bader-rutter.com) or Josh Hushon, 262-938-5474 (jhushon@bader-rutter.com).

— Release by Pfizer Animal Health.

Danish University Seeks Extended Partnership With the University of Illinois

As universities tighten budgets and competition increases for research and education grants, collaboration becomes an even more important piece of university strategy. University of Illinois (U of I) faculty recently met with Marianne Aaro-Hansen from Aarhus University in Denmark to discuss extended collaborations, particularly in the field of animal sciences.

“By focusing our partnership with the U of I more strategically and identifying associated funding opportunities, we can all benefit more,” Aaro-Hansen said. “Partners who have a good track record in collaboration stand better chances in obtaining funding when approaching national sources such as research councils and international sources such as the European Union’s (EU’s) programs.”

These collaborations will enable both universities to exchange more students at both graduate and undergraduate levels, develop targeted elite courses, and engage in the development of lecturer/teacher exchanges.

Hans Stein, U of I associate professor of animal sciences, is one of the professors in mind to lead a short course on behalf of the U of I animal sciences faculty. This graduate-level course on carbohydrates with an emphasis on nutrition and health in non-ruminant animals would rotate from year to year between Aarhus University and the U of I.

Graduate students from Aarhus University would travel to Illinois when the course is taught at U of I, and graduate students from U of I would travel to Denmark when the course is being taught at Aarhus University. Aaro-Hansen believes this program would help both universities attract top talent and provide the students with valuable networks in their careers.

A proposal for this course was submitted to a Danish funding agency, and, if funded, Stein would collaborate with Knud Erik Back Knudsen from Aarhus University to develop the course.

To continue to make progress in this area of research, Stein said it is critical to work with other countries to make advancements.

“No longer can everyone do everything,” he said. “We need to work together and create joint resources. It makes sense to develop partnerships with universities from other countries that have expertise in areas that complement our own expertise. Such partnerships will also provide our graduate students with international experiences that can strengthen their marketability when they graduate.”

Aarhus University’s world-class researchers, human resources assistance and government support make them a great university to partner with, Stein added.

Likewise, U of I’s reputation for high numbers of graduate students with specific interests in production animals and state-of-the-art research facilities appeals to other universities interested in animal science research, said Neil Merchen, U of I head of the department of animal sciences.

This fall, Aarhus University’s head of the department of animal science will be visiting U of I in an effort to begin building these relationships and helping identify potential match-ups of faculty.

“The motivation to create programs like this comes down to individual faculty creating relationships with individual faculty at other universities,” Merchen said. “We are pleased Aarhus University is interested in partnering with us and I am sure our faculty will take advantage of this opportunity. The greater international collaboration we can develop, the more competitive our program will become in terms of attracting research dollars and the better we will be able to prepare our graduate students for a future in an increasingly global marketplace.”

Schuyler Korban, Director of the U of I Office of International Programs, said he is looking forward to strengthening U of I’s relationship with Aarhus University and expanding it further in an effort to internationalize graduate programs.

“Tremendous opportunities will be available to both graduate students and faculty members in these exchanges and joint collaborative research projects,” Korban said.

— Release by U of I.

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