From the editors of Feedstuffs
BALTIMORE, MD. - As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District continues working with local, state and federal partners to clear the wreckage along the Fort McHenry Channel following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, engineers have determined a tentative timeline for the restoration for safe navigation in and out of the Port of Baltimore.
After detailed studies and engineering assessments by local, state and federal organizations, in collaboration with industry partners, USACE expects to open a limited access channel 280 ft. wide and 35 ft. deep, to the Port of Baltimore within the next four weeks. By the end of April. USACE said this channel would support one-way traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore for barge container service and some roll on/roll off vessels that move automobiles and farm equipment to and from the port. USACE said its engineers are aiming to reopen the permanent, 700-ft.-wide by 50-ft.-deep federal navigation channel by the end of May, restoring port access to normal capacity.Read more
Final WIC rule reducing access to dairy cause concern
ARLINGTON, VA - The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) expressed disappointment in the final rule released April 9 to update the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which maintained the proposed rule’s cuts to dairy in the WIC food packages.Read more
New antimicrobial drug approved for cattle and swine
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has approved Pradalex (pradofloxacin injection) solution for certain respiratory diseases in cattle and swine.Pradofloxacin is a medically important antimicrobial in the fluoroquinolone class and may only be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian as a single injection.
Over the past several decades, FDA has implemented policies to help ensure that medically important antimicrobials approved for use in animals are used in a manner that is consistent with principles of antimicrobial stewardship.
Pradalex is a 3rd generation fluoroquinolone, which is ranked as a critically important antimicrobial, and the labeling of the drug includes a statement that it should be used only after considering other, non-fluoroquinolone therapeutic options. Additionally, since 1997, the FDA has prohibited the extralabel use of fluoroquinolones, such as Pradalex, in food-producing animals for any indication other than those the agency has approved.
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Guidance criteria released for grazing on public lands during FMD outbreak
WASHINGTON – Managing livestock grazing on federal public lands in a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak will pose unique challenges for ranchers and animal health officials. That is why the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) received USDA National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) funding to work with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and other stakeholders to develop movement decision criteria guidance that addresses the unique scenarios that would arise for federal lands grazers. Resources are now available on the Secure Sheep and Wool Supply and Secure Beef Supply websites under the Public Land Grazing pages.
“With about half of the U.S. ewe inventory that seasonally graze on permitted federal grazing lands, this project provides needed information for ranchers and decision makers,” said ASI President Brad Boner. “The rancher’s and other stakeholder involvement on the Advisory Group is greatly appreciated. Their input helped ensure the guidance created represented the realities and capabilities of this important sector of our industry.”“Having raised cattle on both public and private land for almost my entire life, I know firsthand how important Western cattle production is to the national industry, and how complicated disease preparedness can be when we start talking about federal grazing allotments,” said NCBA President Mark Eisele. “For the first time, there are now resources that specifically consider those unique challenges and give detailed guidance to producers ranching on federal lands.”Read more
Hormel Foods reaches settlement in pork litigation
By Krissa WelshansA $2.43 million settlement between Hormel Foods and commercial and institutional indirect pork purchasers has been reached and preliminarily approved, according to newly filed court documents in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota. This is the third settlement reached in the lawsuit, bringing the total amount to more than $57 million. Settlements with JBS and Tyson had been previously reached.Read more
GEA adds proven AI solution to portfolio with CattleEye acquisition
GEA Farm Technologies has acquired Northern Ireland-based agricultural software company CattleEye Ltd., adding a pioneering artificial intelligence system to its existing portfolio of solutions for dairy farms. The acquisition reinforces GEA’s strong commitment to improving animal health and welfare.
“With the trend towards larger and more automated dairy farms, the need to monitor and track animals and production is becoming increasingly important,” said Peter Lauwers, chief executive officer of GEA Farm Technologies. “By adding CattleEye’s advanced AI technology, we are expanding our DairyNet portfolio for modern herd management. This can be a game changer for farmers to improve herd health, farm productivity and financial stability.”
CattleEye is an artificial intelligence system designed to detect and predict lameness in cows quickly. CattleEye also provides critical data to assess body condition scores, which helps analyze cow health after calving, determine ration adjustments and monitor the cow’s general condition.Read more
Merck introduces SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock
Merck Animal Health recently introduced SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock, the industry’s first monitoring technology for dairy calves from birth through the first 12 months of life.
New SENSEHUB Dairy Youngstock makes it easier for dairy producers to detect and locate calves and heifers that need attention. Proprietary, science-based algorithms constantly monitor animal behaviors through the special SENSEHUB monitoring ear tag. The technology identifies animals that exhibit behaviors that fall outside their individual norms, indicating they may need attention. The SENSEHUB monitoring ear tag incorporates a blinking LED light so workers can quickly and easily locate those animals and apply appropriate interventions.
“This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we raise calves and heifers,” said Brandt Kreuscher, dairy business development manager of North America for Merck Animal Health. “For the first time, dairy producers can harness objective data to find calves that may need extra care and then provide early intervention to keep them on a path toward becoming healthy and productive cows.”
