The School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of California at Davis is conducting an anonymous online survey of livestock operations aimed at understanding how Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) might spread in the United States.
Monthly Archives: November 2007
Economist sees hog price losses continuing through next year
Hog producers are expected to continue losing money through early 2009, even if breeding herd reductions begin this winter — and that’s a big “if.”
Burger King opts for Meat from Uncastrated Pigs
Fast-food giant Burger King has announced that it will not be serving bacon from pigs castrated without an anaesthetic from the new year in the Netherlands.
USDA Changes the Disease Status of Four EU Countries
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will amend its animal import regulations by changing the disease statuses of the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. These countries will be added to the regions of the European Union considered low risk for classical swine fever and free of swine vesicular disease. Latvia and Lithuania also will be added to the list of regions considered free of foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest. This final rule is scheduled for publication in the Nov. 28 Federal Register.
Blaze Reported in Sutton, Nebraska
The Sutton, Nebraska volunteer fire department responded to a blaze at the home of Dr. John Waddell over the weekend.
AASV Foundation Needs Your Help
As you all hopefully know by now, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ Foundation has set a Big Hairy Audacious Goal of raising $50,000 at the Foundation Auction during the 2008 AASV Annual Meeting in San Diego. The fundraiser will consist of both a silent and live auction.
Smithfield Rejects Cloned Pork
Market leading pork producer Smithfield Foods, says it will not produce or use pork from cloned animals. It says the technology is, as yet, unproven and requires further investigation.
Position Announcement: Director of Swine Health Information and Research
The National Pork Board Department of Science and Technology seeks a Director of Swine Health Information and Research. The position will be filled as soon as a satisfactory candidate is identified. If interested, or to obtain more information, email Dr. Paul Sundberg, Vice President of Science and Technology, at psundberg@pork.org or call (515) 223-2764. The position description follows:
Prairie Swine Centre to Expand Research into Group Housing of Sows
Renovations underway at the Prairie Swine Centre’s Floral, Saskatchewan research facility will allow scientists to expand their research into group housing of sows and weaning age of piglets.
Upcoming Meeting: 2008 Pig Group Ski Meeting
Pigs may not fly, but swine vets ski! The annual Pig Group Ski Meeting has been set for February 20-23, 2008 at Copper Mountain, Colorado. Attendees have the opportunity to participate in continuing education sessions in the morning and enjoy winter sports the rest of the day. Program details and registration information are available at http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=240396&da=y.