From the editors of Feedstuffs
APHIS reopens bird flu indemnity program comment period
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it is reopening the public comment period on an interim final rule updating the conditions for poultry facilities to receive indemnity and compensation after testing positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Comments will be accepted for 30 days, until April 14, 2025.
Based on evidence that strong biosecurity measures remain the most effective strategy to combat HPAI, the rule requires that farmers pass a biosecurity audit before restocking their poultry after an HPAI detection and before receiving future indemnity payments.
APHIS will also require a biosecurity audit for commercial poultry premises within the “buffer zone” (minimal 7 km radius around the infected zone) of a control area prior to movement of poultry onto the premises if the owner wishes to be eligible for future indemnity for the poultry moved onto the premises.
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Feedworks USA, a leading distributor of research-backed specialty feed ingredients, has introduced Elife to its product lineup for monogastric and ruminant diets. A 100% natural blend of multiple EU-sourced polyphenols, Elife acts as a powerful, cost-effective antioxidant designed to partially spare vitamin E.
“Elife can help our customers deal with the many high-stress conditions their animals may encounter while saving money on feed costs,” says Tommy Shipp, technical services consultant, monogastric, at Feedworks USA. “While vitamin E can help alleviate stress, manufacturing challenges have made it almost cost prohibitive. Elife acts as a powerful antioxidant, making it an ideal substitute for a portion of vitamin E in sow and grower rations.”
Oxidative stress is a major challenge that can be caused by intensive production, heat stress, feed quality issues, nutritional deficiency and more. They all contribute to oxidative damage through the formation of free radicals. Read more
USDA, HHS share update on Dietary Guidelines for Americans process
On March 11, following the inaugural meeting of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced their continued work on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The public comment period on the Scientific Report closed on Feb. 10, 2025. This report contains the independent, evidence-based findings and advice of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC).
The Scientific Report is shared to the two secretaries to help inform the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture as they develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030, which is expected to be published in late 2025. HHS and USDA are currently conducting a line-by-line review of the Scientific Report of the 2025 DGAC — released in December 2024 by the prior administration — and said they are committed to issuing the final guidelines ahead of its statutory deadline of Dec. 31, 2025.
Micro Technologies, provider of precision management solutions for animal production, announced via its Facebook page in March that a name change is coming. The company is part of Cencora, previously AmerisourceBergen.
As part of the parent company name change in August 2023, the animal health businesses of AmerisourceBergen – including MWI Animal Health and Micro Technologies, among others – also moved under the Cencora umbrella.
Cencora recently announced its plan for rebranding in 2025 and said the animal health brands will be changing as part of this effort.
MWI is a leading animal health distribution company serving the U.S. and U.K. Micro Technologies solutions allow for individual and herd animal information collection and management decision-making.
According to the company’s timeline, the transition is expected to happen in spring 2025.
Kansas State University will soon offer groundbreaking integrated training for graduate students in the pathobiology and genomics of livestock diseases to address critical expertise shortages in animal production and advance research in livestock disease management.
Thanks to a prestigious U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA) National Needs Fellowship grant, K-State will offer the Integrated Training in the Pathobiology and Genomics of Livestock Diseases fellowship program. This will be a collaborative effort involving key partners across K-State, including the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Division of Biology.
Laura Miller, associate professor of veterinary virology, spearheaded the proposal in partnership with Bradley Olson, director of the Data Science Core for the Kansas INBRE and associate professor of biology.
The program will address a targeted expertise shortage area in animal production, focusing on the disciplines of animal science and veterinary medicine. It will fund four graduate students — two master's students and two doctoral students — and provide them with opportunities to engage in advanced interdisciplinary research and training.The program is designed to recruit and train students who are committed to advancing the animal production targeted expertise shortage area. Read more
Hungary confirms first case of foot-and-mouth disease in 50 years
On Friday, Hungary's National Food Chain Safety Authority confirmed the first case of foot-and-mouth disease was detected on a cattle farm in Kisbajcs. Chief Veterinary Officer Szabolcs Pásztor has ordered immediate closure of the farm, a ban on the transport of susceptible livestock and the initiation of an epidemiological investigation. It has been over five decades since the country reported an FMD outbreak.
According to authorities, the 1,400 head of cattle showed classic FMD symptoms at the beginning of March. The presence of the pathogen was then confirmed by the Nébih laboratory.Read more