From the editors of Feedstuffs
Zoetis receives conditional license for avian influenza vaccine, H5N2 subtype, killed virus
Zoetis has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) has issued the company a conditional license for its avian influenza vaccine, H5N2 subtype, killed virus. The vaccine is labeled for use in chickens. The conditional license was granted on the demonstration of safety, purity, and reasonable expectation of efficacy based on serology data.
Zoetis said it is committed to supporting poultry producers with scientific solutions for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The decision to vaccinate commercial poultry flocks against HPAI rests solely with national regulatory authorities in partnership with the poultry industry.A conditional license is used to meet an emergency condition, limited market, local situation or other special circumstance and is issued for a finite period of time. Conditional licenses may be renewed at the discretion of the CVB.
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We know that African swine fever virus (ASFV) is very stable and can survive for more than a year in pig carcasses, blood, tissues, and body fluids, and that it can be transmitted orally. We also know that a surrogate African swine fever-like algal virus, Emiliania huxleyi virus (EhV), remains bound to soybean meal after extraction for PCR or bioassays. However, we know nothing about the fate of ASFV in feed after it is consumed and subjected to the pig’s digestive processes. Dr. Jerry Shurson of the University of Minnesota joins us to share new research that explores survival of ASFV in the digestive system of pigs. To view our interview on this topic.
Rhoden signs South Dakota lab-grown meat bill
By Ann HessSouth Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed a bill into law that prohibits the misbranding of any cell-cultured protein product. The lab-grown meat labeling law will take effect July 1 and will require packages that contain cell-cultured protein to include the words “cell-cultured” or “lab-grown” in a prominent and conspicuous manner, adjacent to the name of the food on the label.
Thirteen other states have proposed legislation regarding the labeling or banning of alternative proteins in the 2025 legislative session. Georgia, Nebraska, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oregon, South Carolina and Utah have introduced bills similar to South Dakota’s that require specific labeling on food products. For example, Georgia’s House Bill 163 would demand all food service establishments in the state that serve products containing cell cultured meat, plant based meat alternatives, or both, display on their menus, or on placards visible to the public, disclosures stating that such food products contain that type of protein.
Co-chairs of the Congressional and Senate Chicken Caucuses – Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Reps. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) and Jim Costa (D-Cal.) – wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Feb. 13 seeking assurances to protect U.S. chicken exports should vaccination be contemplated as part of any government strategy to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
With the recent attention around increased egg prices due to HPAI, there have been renewed conversations about whether the U.S. should vaccinate its commercial poultry flocks against the virus, the National Chicken Council (NCC) shared in a news release.
The members said “there should be a very clear distinction” with respect to how poultry is defined “in order to protect America’s family farmers and global trading relationships. To be clear, vaccination in any poultry sector – egg layers, turkeys, broilers or ducks – will jeopardize the entire export market for all U.S. poultry products,” they warned.Read more
Biofuel producer POET and infrastructure company Tallgrass announced that they have entered into definitive agreements to connect POET’s Fairmont, Neb., bioprocessing facility to the Tallgrass Trailblazer carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline. Under the arrangement, the POET facility will capture bio-CO2 for transportation and permanent underground sequestration in Wyoming.
Tallgrass is in the process of converting a natural gas pipeline that has safely operated for over a decade to transport CO2 to its sequestration site in Wyoming, minimizing the need for additional pipeline infrastructure. The Trailblazer project is under construction and is expected to commence commercial operations in 2025, which will enable near-term connectivity of POET Bioprocessing – Fairmont.
Capturing and sequestering bio-CO2 from the bioethanol production process lowers the carbon intensity of the final product, which will open new market opportunities. By delivering bio-CO2 for transportation and sequestration, POET will not only benefit the farmers who supply their facility, but under the Trailblazer Community Benefits Agreement, POET’s commitment will also support additional direct funding to the landowners who have agreed to site the pipeline on their property and the communities that are hosting the infrastructure.
Novonesis to take over Feed Enzyme Alliance
Novonesis and dsm-firmenich announced that they have reached an agreement to dissolve the Feed Enzyme Alliance and for Novonesis to take over the sales and distribution activities, in exchange for a total cash consideration of €1.5 billion euros.
The companies founded the Feed Enzyme Alliance more than 25 years ago to jointly develop a comprehensive, innovative and competitive feed enzyme portfolio for the animal feed markets, with Novonesis contributing its expertise in high-quality enzyme development and dsm-firmenich offering a wide-reaching salesforce with access to key industry customers.
