On April 26th, the Chicago City Council approved an ordinance to ban the sale of foie gras in the city’s restaurants and supermarkets. City officials consider the production of foie gras to be cruel to ducks and geese. California enacted a similar law in 2004 banning the production and sale of foie gras in the state following a 7 year phase out period. Chicago’s ban takes effect on June 26, 2006.
Monthly Archives: April 2006
USDA Determines BSE Prevalence in the U.S. to be Extraordinarily Low
USDA Secretary Mike Johanns announced the results of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) enhanced BSE surveillance program which indicate that the prevalence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is “extraordinarily low”.
Selection of Dr. Elizabeth Lautner as NVSL Director
I am pleased to announce that I have selected Dr. Elizabeth Lautner as the new Director of APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). Dr. Lautner brings an impressive wealth of knowledge and experience to this position. Most recently, Dr. Lautner served as Center Director, Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) within the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She was the first DHS Center Director and served in that capacity from January 2004 until March 2006.
Lyle Vogel to Lead AVMA Animal Welfare Division
Effective May 1, 2006, Dr. Lyle Vogel has been named Director of the AVMA’s newly formed Animal Welfare Division; and Dr. Gail Golab has been named Associate Director.
Bacteria to Reduce Foodborne Pathogens in Meat and Poultry
Researchers at Texas Tech University have developed a mixture of lactic acid bacteria designed to fight foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli O157 in beef and poultry products.
CORN ? Remember When We Fed it to Pigs?
Livestock producers should start paying attention to the legislative debate occurring at the federal and state levels regarding the future of corn usage in the US. Actually, it’s not much of a debate at this point. Livestock uses for corn are not getting much attention as legislators aggressively promote the development of corn-based ethanol production as the cure for the country’s fuel needs.
Ethanol?s Impact on Animal Feed
According to a February 27th article by Chris Hurt published in the University of Illinois’ Weekly Outlook, the expansion of ethanol production will likely have an adverse effect on the price of animal feed domestically and internationally.
New! Student Poster Session at AASV meeting
The AASV 2007 Annual Meeting will offer a new opportunity for veterinary student participation! Students whose abstracts are not selected for oral presentation during the Student Seminar will be considered for participation in a poster session at the meeting. Up to fifteen abstracts will be selected for poster presentation through the Student Seminar competitive selection process. A stipend of $250 will be awarded to those students who are selected and participate in the poster session. Details for submission of abstracts (due September 22) are available on the AASV website at http://www.aasv.org/annmtg/2007/studentseminar.htm. The AASV 2007 Annual Meeting will be held March 3-6, 2007 in Orlando, Fla.
Call for Abstracts: AASV Student Seminar
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians announces an opportunity for up to 15 veterinary students to make a scientific presentation during the Student Seminar at the AASV annual meeting on Sunday, March 4, 2007 in Orlando, Florida. Interested students are invited to submit a one-page abstract of a research paper, clinical case study, or literature review for consideration.
ARS Scientists Discover Salmonella in Intestinal Protozoa
Researchers Steven Carlson and Mark Rasmussen at the National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, IA have found that an antibiotic-resistant strain of Salmonella enterica DT104 is especially virulent when associated with naturally-occurring protozoa in the rumen of cattle.