News Update
Oct. 1, 2010

Minnesota’s Status Upgrade Effective Immediately

Effective today, the majority of Minnesota has been upgraded to bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Accredited-Free, and a small area in northwest Minnesota changed to Modified Accredited Advanced (MAA). The State of Minnesota has been working with producers since 2005 to eliminate the disease from northwestern Minnesota and regain the state’s TB-Free Status.

Producers raising cattle in the Management Zone will continue the same testing, movement, and fencing requirements. However, this upgrade brings reductions in testing and movement requirements for the rest of the new MAA Zone. Farmers in this area that raise cattle or bison will see the following changes go into effect today:

• no TB test required for feeder cattle leaving the herd (official ID still required); and
  
• an Animal Movement Certificate is not required for within-herd movement.

Those herds located in the TB-Free area have no federal TB testing requirements; however, some states may have import requirements. Producers should continue to verify import requirements with the receiving state prior to shipping animals out of state. 

“The upgrades signify the achievement of one more step in our continuing effort to eradicate TB from Minnesota,” said State Veterinarian and Minnesota Board of Animal Health Executive Director Bill Hartmann. “The Board of Animal Health, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources remain committed to continuing eradication efforts until the entire state of Minnesota regains its TB-Free Status and TB is not found in free ranging deer for five consecutive years.”

More information can be obtained by logging on to the state’s bovine TB website at www.mntbfree.com or by calling the bovine TB Hotline at 1-877-MN TB FREE (668-2373). 

— Release by Minnesota Board of Animal Health.

Annual WSU Club Calf Sale Slated for Oct. 30

The Washington State University (WSU) Department of Animal Sciences will host the third annual Club Calf Sale — Silent Auction and Seminars Oct. 30. The event will take place at the WSU Beef Center in Pullman with a welcome at 10 a.m. and other events to follow.

Sammy Ledgerwood will give a demonstration of the proper way to clip show cattle. Ledgerwood has been showing cattle for many years and has a wealth of knowledge pertaining to the presentation of cattle for both show and sale.

Beginning at 10:45 a.m., Bill Armstrong, a representative from the feed manufacturer Elenbaas, will give a seminar on feeds and feeding management of cattle. Armstrong will be covering some of the best practices for feeding both show cattle as well as market cattle and how both should look after proper feeding. Feed samples will be made available.

A health seminar will also take place, which will be presented by an experienced livestock veterinarian. Digestion issues, vaccinations, and other health related issues pertinent to 4-H or FFA cattle will be discussed during this time.

A silent auction will begin at 11:30 a.m. There will be 12 premium steers and three show or replacement-quality heifers on auction. In addition to the silent auction, prizes will be raffled off throughout the event.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Tom Cummings at 509-335-2280.

— Release by WSU.

LMA Launches Blog Promoting World Auctioneer Champion

The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) has launched a website promoting the activities and travels of current World Livestock Auctioneer Champion Kyle Shobe. The website, www.auctioneerchamp.com, gives interested media and others the opportunity to follow Kyle as he travels the country making appearances at many livestock markets and other industry events.

The blog features frequent reports and stories from Kyle about his recent adventures, as well as his schedule of upcoming appearances and events. Also listed on the blog are links to other LMA websites, upcoming WLAC events, WLAC rules and registration information and industry news. Photographs from past events, a history of the World Livestock Auctioneer Contest and information about Kyle Shobe are archived on the site as well.

Media and other interested fans can follow Kyle during his reign as the 2010 Champion at www.auctioneerchamp.com and on Facebook and twitter (twitter.com/WLAChampion). To schedule interviews with Kyle when he’s in your area, contact Kelly Schwalbe at 816-474-3166 or Kelly@bcsthinktank.com.

— Release by LMA.

Pfizer Animal Health Invites Applicants to Apply for the 2011 Veterinary Student Scholarship Program

Pfizer Animal Health and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Foundation invite veterinary students to apply for the second annual Student Scholarship Program. Approximately 250 scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded to assist students in paying for their professional education, addressing rising school debt and its impact on the veterinary profession.

The scholarship is part of the Pfizer Animal Health Commitment to Veterinarians — which supports veterinarians through training and education, research and development, and investing in the future of the veterinary profession.

“The Pfizer Animal Health scholarship gave me the opportunity to participate in an international externship where I was exposed to many different aspects of veterinary medicine,” said 2010 scholarship recipient Tia Barksdale.

A third-year student focused on food-animal medicine and public health, Barksdale spent time in Germany and Lithuania learning about animal welfare, trade and food-safety regulations and their global effect. “Pfizer positively impacted my future as a veterinarian by opening the door to experiences I would not have had without the scholarship grant.”

For 2011, the second year of the program, Pfizer Animal Health will provide up to $625,000 in student scholarships to eligible second- and third-year veterinary medicine college students studying at the U.S. and Caribbean-based AVMA-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. In addition to traditional selection criteria — academic excellence and financial need — the scholarships will focus on meeting ongoing needs of the veterinary profession: diversity, sustainability, and the availability of veterinarians to serve in mixed or rural practices. Scholarships will be awarded to students in all areas, including food animal medicine, small animal clinical medicine, research, government services and organized medicine.

“Last year’s program was a huge success, and we’re proud to show our ongoing pledge to veterinarians though this scholarship again in 2011,” said J. Michael McFarland, Diplomate ABVP, and group director of Veterinary Medical Services & Corporate Citizenship for Pfizer Animal Health. “We’re looking for outstanding veterinary students to address the diversity of our changing world, as well as the health and research needs of our society. That’s what this scholarship is about.”

In 2010 — the program’s launch year — Pfizer Animal Health awarded 222 U.S. veterinary students with a total of $555,000 in scholarships. The scholarship complements a number of other Pfizer Animal Health programs supporting the veterinary profession, including more than $15 million invested last year in universities, industry education and training, scholarships, and allied organizations.

To apply for the Pfizer Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program, students can visit www.vetstudentconnect.com or www.avmf.org/pfizer from Oct. 1 to Nov.15, 2010.

— Release by Pfizer Animal Health.

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