UC Davis-led organic farming project receives $2MOctober 12, 2016A nearly $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic Research and Extension Initiative will fund an organic farming research project led by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Specifically, the grant will support studies needed to develop national guidelines and best practices for using animal-based manure to improve soil quality and nourish crops.
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Kansas State gets FDA OK for pilot project on antibiotic useSeptember 21, 2016Veterinary researchers at Kansas State University recently received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to monitor antibiotic use in beef feedlots and dairies. The grant extends for five years at $300,000 per year.
University of Saskatchewan achieves reproductive firsts for wood bisonJuly 27, 2016University of Saskatchewan veterinary researchers say they have achieved reproductive firsts for the wood bison (Bison bison athabascae), a species in which only up to 7,000 remain in the wild.
MSU researchers, vets and farmers collaborate on E.Coli prevention studyJuly 11, 2016A study by Michigan State University researchers may lead to better prevention practices to limit E. coli bacteria transmissions. The study involved the collaborative effort from the university’s veterinarians, animal scientists, epidemiologists, microbiologists, graduate students, undergraduates and farmers.
UC Davis vets save calf from deadly protozoal infectionJuly 8, 2016Brownie, a 6-month-old Jersey heifer calf, was had bloody diarrhea, lethargy and anorexia. She was diagnosed by her referring veterinarian with coccidiosis, an infection of the intestinal tract caused by an ingestion of parasites (coccidian protozoa).
Kansas vet college to provide assessment service for feedlotsMay 25, 2016The Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine recently reported that its beef production medicine group is collaborating with the Kansas Livestock Association, the Kansas Beef Council and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to offer a free Beef Quality Assurance feedlot assessment service.
Merck Animal Health Acquires Rights to Whisper Veterinary Stethoscope SystemApril 20, 2016Merck Animal Health announced plans to acquire worldwide rights for the Whisper Veterinary Stethoscope System from Minnesota-based Geissler Companies. The Whisper Veterinary Stethoscope System is a Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) detection system, which is used to determine the severity of an animal’s lung condition so that the appropriate treatment regimen can be started to protect the health of the animal. Bovine Respiratory Disease is the most common disease affecting cattle in North America. This complex, multi-factorial infection affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts and can often be fatal, causing billions of dollars in economic losses for farmers. Identifying the cause of the disease and appropriate treatment pathways is vital to maintain an infected herd. “We are pleased to add the Whisper Veterinary Stethoscope System to our comprehensive portfolio of vaccines and pharmaceutical products for the cattle industry,” said Rick DeLuca, president of Merck Animal Health. “It is important to provide our customers with the most innovative solutions available today that will meet their needs to maintain healthy stock and advance animal well-being.” Randolph K. Geissler, CEO of Geissler Companies, said they …
Study: Always Use Pain Meds During DehorningApril 20, 2016A study has found that 90 percent of people within and outside the international dairy industry believe that pain relief should be used when debudding or dehorning calves, a practice that is not universally carried out. The research was done by a team at the University of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program in Canada and published in Animal Welfare, a peer-reviewed journal of the British charity Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. The team stated that it hopes the findings serve to promoting awareness of the subject among veterinarians and dairy producers. “Despite evidence that these procedures are painful, and the availability of effective means of pain relief, use of pain mitigation remains low in many parts of the world,” said study co-author Marina von Keyserlingk, MS, Ph.D., a professor of animal welfare at the University of British Columbia. “Although veterinarians are able to provide pain control … approval of additional analgesics for use in food animals is also needed.” She recommended that more effort be put into the breeding of polled, or hornless, dairy cattle. Debudding is performed on young calves—often with hot irons or caustic paste—to eradicate horn-producing cells. Dehorning involves the use of cutting or gouging tools. …
Phibro Swine Drug Draws FDA ScrutinyApril 11, 2016Phibro Animal Health Corp. is defending the safety of its swine drug Mecadox (carbadox) after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration moved to rescind approval of the antimicrobial because of the potential risk to people who eat carbadox-treated pigs. Approved in the 1970s, Mecadox is indicated for the control of salmonella and swine dysentery and for weight gain and feed efficiency. The Mecadox label requires pigs to be off the drug for at least 42 days before slaughter. The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine on Friday announced that a safety re-examination found the medication may leave trace amounts of a carcinogenic residue. “A preliminary risk characterization … indicated there could be potential risk to human health from ingesting pork, especially pork liver, derived from carbadox-treated pigs,” the agency stated. Phibro, based in Teaneck, N.J., noted that FDA’s action does not prohibit the sale or use of Mecadox. The company criticized the agency’s action as hasty given that Phibro is close to completing further studies of carbadox. “Our studies are due to be completed in the next 90 days, and we expect that the remaining evidence will support the continued safe use of Mecadox,” Phibro stated. “We are disappointed …
Funds Available from USDA for Veterinary Loan RepaymentApril 6, 2016Like working with large animals and looking to repay your school loans? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $4.4 million in available funding to help repay veterinary school loans if veterinarians will serve in areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. The funding is available through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). “Veterinarians are critical to America’s food safety and security, as well as to the health and well-being of both animals and humans,” said Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, the NIFA administrator. “There are significant shortages of veterinarians in areas of this country, and a leading cause is the heavy cost of four years of professional veterinary medical training, which leaves current graduates of veterinary colleges with an average debt of more than $135,000.” The VMLRP will pay up to $25,000 each year towards qualified educational loans of eligible veterinarians. Recipients are required to commit to three years of veterinary service in a designated veterinary shortage situation. Loan repayment benefits are limited to payments of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received while attending an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)-accredited college of veterinary …
