Tenth Case of BSE in Canada

News EditorAnimal Health, Industry News, International

Canada has confirmed their tenth case of BSE since 2003. The mature dairy cow was found in the providence of British Columbia and was 66 months old. The cow was born and died on a farm in the western part of the province’s Fraser River valley. The case is the tenth found in Canadian cattle since 2003, and the second … Read More

Proceedings from IDF Forum Available

News EditorAnimal Health, International, Veterinary

The International Dairy Federation has made available the “Proceedings of the first ParaTB Forum,” the publication of the outcome of the first ParaTB forum on surveillance, control and eradication programmes on paratuberculosis in dairy herds. To order your own electronic copy, visit IDF’s website. Paratuberculosis is an infectious disease that has emerged to become one of the leading causes of … Read More

Rumen Yeast Approved by CFIA

News EditorAnimal Health, International

Lallemand has announced the approval of it’s revolutionary Levucell rumen yeast. The milk production claim: “Increases milk production when fed as directed” has been approved for Levucell® SC 10ME and Levucell® SC 20, rumen specific yeast, by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Levucell® was granted approval by the CFIA in 2002. In addition, Levucell® SC 20 rumen specific yeast, … Read More

FDA Concludes Cloned Meat and Milk Safe

News EditorAnimal Health, Genetics, Government, Industry News

This announcement from the FDA has been awaited all week. I’ve listed portions from the actual FDA press release, plus two links to media stories. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued three documents on the safety of animal cloning — a draft risk assessment; a proposed risk management plan; and a draft guidance for industry. The draft … Read More

New Things From Merial

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Animal Health, Audio

MerialAt the National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention going on in Kansas City, MO, companies like Merial exhibit. It’s called Trade Talk and provides an opportunity to interview various people in the industry.

Dry Period Advantage

Chuck ZimmermanAnimal Health, General

Heifer calves are only valuable to dairies when they are healthy. And one way to help maximize the survivability of a heifer calf is to vaccinate its dam at dry-off. That’s the message from Novartis Animal Health professional service veterinarian Doug Scholz, DVM. “This is a critical control point where producers can intervene on behalf of the cow to help … Read More

BVD Hijacks Profits

Chuck ZimmermanAnimal Health

Novartis Animal Health reminds dairy producers that persistently infected (PI) animals remain the most common source of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection. “The presence of one PI animal, based on a herd size of 150 cows, results in a loss of $1.93 per hundredweight of milk,” says Julia Ridpath, PhD, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, Iowa. That’s why Novartis … Read More

FluNix-D Approved for Lactating Cows

Chuck ZimmermanAnimal Health

The FDA has approved FluNix-D for use in lactating dairy cows, according to a release from AgriLabs of St. Joseph, MO. FluNix-D (flunixin meglumine) is a Non-Steroidal Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that reduces the fever and inflammation caused by Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) and endotoxemia. FluNix-D may be administered intravenously or intramuscularly. The compound breaks down quickly in the animal’s body … Read More