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Articles: Influenza Preparedness Must Become Public Health Priority, Experts Say
Posted by: JimEdwards on Monday, November 08, 2004 - 09:45 PM
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 Influenza experts at a Pan American Health Organization technical meeting said here today that national preparedness plans to confront a potential influenza pandemic must become a "public health priority without delay."
As a highly infectious disease that strikes millions worldwide and causes fatal complications in about 1 million persons every year, influenza has the potential for high social disruption and economic losses. But these can be avoided through systematic vaccination of adults over 60 years of age, people with chronic illnesses and immune deficiencies, pregnant women, and children between 6 and 23 months of age, concluded the Technical Advisory Group on Vaccine Preventable Diseases, where more than 200 experts are discussing the best ways to control vaccine-preventable diseases.
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Articles: Edible insects, important source of protein in central Africa
Posted by: JimEdwards on Monday, November 08, 2004 - 09:45 PM
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Nutritious, income generating, biological pest control
8 November 2004, Rome
 Edible insects, like caterpillars and grubs, are important sources of protein and should be considered an alternative in efforts to increase food security in central African countries, FAO said today.
Caterpillars are already an important food intake for many in central Africa, according to an FAO study published today: About 85 percent of participants in a survey in the Central African Republic consume caterpillars; 70 percent in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 91 percent in Botswana.
"Edible insects from forests are an important source of protein, and unlike those from agricultural land, they are free of pesticides," said Paul Vantomme, an FAO forestry expert.
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Articles: CITES gives full backing to new IATA Live Animals Regulations
Posted by: JimEdwards on Sunday, November 07, 2004 - 12:56 PM
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Geneva, 3 November 2004
Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Mr Willem Wijnstekers, today gave his complete backing to the new edition of the Live Animals Regulations set down by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which are recognized by the 166 countries members of CITES as the international standard for transporting live animals by air. Similarly, IATA provides guidance for the transport of live plants which is useful to CITES Parties.
The IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) are an essential source of information on how to ship animals safely, sensitively and effectively. They specify the minimum requirements for the international transport of animals, specifying ventilation, space, packing, feeding and other conditions to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment. Both safety and animal welfare concerns are given attention in these regulations.
The CITES Secretariat and IATA have a long history of cooperation to ensure that animal transportation procedures comply with international and national requirements and contribute to the effective implementation of CITES by airlines, shippers, cargo agents and animal-care professionals on the ground and in the air. Representatives of IATA attending the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, which ended on 14 October 2004 in Bangkok, reiterated the organization’s long-term commitment towards civil aviation safety requirements whilst taking into account animal welfare, scientific progress and commercial trade realities, and expressed their willingness to share their expertise with Parties. It was agreed that the collaboration between CITES and IATA should be formalized, and that a draft resolution to that effect should be submitted at the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties, to be held in 2007.
Mr Wijnstekers commended IATA’s animal-care team for their dedication in providing substantial assistance and training on how to ship live animals and plants safely and legally, and declared that “where these regulations are not implemented, or prove to be insufficient, IATA and CITES should together take steps to ensure that improvements are made. However, as several studies have shown, air transport mortality rates for live animals are actually very low, indicating that the IATA LAR are generally well adhered to.”
Giovanni Bisignani, IATA Director General and CEO, said that "Standards work best when they are built cooperatively using the experience of the industry. An efficient and safe industry is in everybody's interest. IATA's cooperation with CITES is a great example of what can be achieved when Governments and industry work together."
Concerned about the overexploitation of many vulnerable species as a result of unregulated international trade, Governments adopted CITES in 1973. The treaty entered into force in 1975 and now has 166 member countries. The Convention gives producer and consumer countries joint responsibility for controlling international trade in wildlife to ensure that it is sustainable and to prevent illegal trade.
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Articles: Electronic Identification Pilot Trial in Sheep
Posted by: JimEdwards on Sunday, November 07, 2004 - 12:56 PM
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 The European Commission’s proposals to improve identification and tracing of sheep included a recommendation that Electronic Identification (EID) should be made mandatory from 1 January 2008.
In order to test the use of EID in practical English sheep production conditions and to explore the potential business advantages to producers, Defra is running a pilot project to fully test the effectiveness of Electronic identification (EID) and Electronic Data Transfer (EDT) in a real time working environment within the English sheep industry.
The trial is now underway, covering English production conditions, involving sheep farms producing commercial and pedigree flocks, also assessing the impact of technology in markets and abattoirs.
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Articles: Meeting of delegation with Health Minister
Posted by: JimEdwards on Sunday, November 07, 2004 - 12:56 PM
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Heavy restlessness was being observed in the pharmaceutical market regarding the imposition of price control on veterinary drugs by the ministry of health, Government of Pakistan.
The Chairman Standing Committee PPA.on Pharmaceuticals along with other leading Veterinary Pharma Industrialists Called on the Federal Health Minister Mr. Naseer A. Khan in his office in Islamabad on 2nd November, 2004, & discussed the burning issue of Price decontrol of the veterinary drugs. Health Minister formed a panel comprising of DG. Health, Drug Controller, DDG. Health, Chairman Quality Control, DDC. Registration, Chairman Price committee & Chairman Licensing Committee from the Ministry. The undersigned that is also General Secretary of Pakistan Veterinary Pharmaceuticals Association (PVPA) was accompanied by Chairman PVPA Dr. Khalid Sheikh, Mr. Javaid Iqbal of Islamabad Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Yousaf Bhai Dawai wala from Karachi.
The issues were discussed at length & the following decisions were made with the mutual consent of Ministry of Health & PPA./ PVPA.
1. The price decontrol for veterinary drugs policy,which was approved by Prime Minister in 1993, will be observed & followed. The veterinary drugs will not be catered in the price control policy.
2. The unnecessary delay in the registration process will be avoided. To avoid this all the completed registration applications will be disposed off within 2 months time.
3. The METOO products will not be send to veterinary expert committee & instead will be discussed & approved by the registration board. However to define the METOO drugs, the association will discuss the issue with the ministry within week time.
4. The ministry of health will exchange the related information with the association on regular basis.
5. A separate meeting from the general registration meeting for veterinary drugs will be held in case the agenda of the registration meeting is very voluminous, to speed up the registration process.
In the end the worthy Health Minister joined the meeting & endorsed all the decisions. He also directed the ministry of health that as veterinary sector is playing a huge roll in the economics of Pakistan, their issues must be resolved on priority basis. He also stressed on the association that as ministry is prepared to cooperate fully with the industry, the industry must also put its full effort to raise the standards of local products to International level & increase their share in the National Economy.
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Articles: LEAD Newsletter Vol 2 No. 2
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 06:41 PM
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 This regular bulletin provides information related to livestock, environment and development interactions that is essential for achieving sustainable livestock production. It focuses on the livestock’s role in: dryland management (Pastoralism and Environment; Livestock and Wildlife Integration in Communal Lands Adjacent to Protected Areas; Livestock-Water Interactions); the deforestation process; land and water pollution by industrial livestock production and; livestock, environment and trade issues.
News of the activities of the Livestock, Environment and Development Initative
Most recent reviews of books and CD-ROMs dealing with Livestock, Environment and Development issues
Highlights
Paying for biodiversity conservation services in agricultural landscapes
Adoption of improved silvopastoral practices in degraded pasture areas is thought to provide valuable local and global environmental benefits, including biodiversity conservation. Can payments for environmental services tip the balance towards a greater adoption of silvopastoral practices? More ...
Livestock Industrialization, Trade and Social-Health-Environment Impacts in Developing Countries
The world is entering a period of rapid change in how animal products are produced, processed, consumed, and marketed. Increasingly the trends that have been observed in developed countries-scaling-up of production and increased concentration of large-scale operations with increased environmental problems are becoming apparent in the developing countries. More ...
Key Performance Indicators for LEAD Virtual Centre
The 2003 study on "FAO's Dissemination and Communication" that reviewed the achievements of the information systems since FAO website was launched, showed that the LEAD Virtual Centre has established itself as one of the most successful web sites, if not the "single" most successful website in FAO. The study analyzed statistics held by an independent firm "WEBTRENDS" from 1994 till May 2003. More ...
News
Link to the last news (general information, experts, books, institutions...) concerning livestock and environment.
Events
Link to upcoming meetings, seminars and conferences concerning livestock and environment.
Digital library
Link to the last books and publications concerning livestock and environment interaction, added to the LEAD database.
“The work of the LEAD Initiative targets at the protection and enhancement of natural resources as affected by livestock production while alleviating poverty”
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Articles: African water meeting seeks to harmonize water for food and ecosystems
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 06:38 PM
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Food security and poverty reduction are serious concerns
New and growing demands for sustainable use of natural resources are having a serious impact on agriculture, as the sector struggles to feed a growing world population, according to Louise Fresco, Assistant Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Speaking at the opening session of a major pan-African conference on water for food and ecosystems, Ms Fresco said: "The history of agriculture is characterized by a progressive and increasing control of the biological processes for the sake of increased food production."
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Articles: Vaccine Contributions to Health Highlighted at Expert Meeting
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 06:38 PM
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Vaccine programs in the Americas have made major contributions to improving health in the Americas and new vaccines could go even further, said Dr. D.A. Henderson, a global expert who chairs a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) technical group here today.
Opening a meeting of 200 experts in vaccine-preventable diseases, Henderson, who led the successful smallpox eradication campaign, said, "Mortality rates of children under 5 years old have dropped between 3 and 5 percent every year over the past 20 years, more than at any other time in history. Vaccines made a huge contribution and this group has played a very important part in contributing to health improvements in the Americas."
"We are looking ahead to better and new vaccines against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. I feel confident we will have them, and with the unique, effective immunization structures you have created in the Americas, which have served as an example for the world, we can look forward to an even better future for the children of the region and the world," said Henderson, chairman of the Technical Advisory Group on Vaccine Preventable Diseases.
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Articles: British vet receives global agriculture science award
Posted by: JimEdwards on Wednesday, November 03, 2004 - 01:13 PM
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 Dr. Brian Perry, a veterinary epidemiologist at the Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), received the award of “Outstanding Scientist” on 27th October 2004 from Ian Johnson, Vice-President of the World Bank and Chairman of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), at the annual general meeting of the CGIAR, this year held in Mexico City. The CGIAR is a strategic global alliance of countries and organisations mobilising agricultural science for the poor; it oversees 15 international agricultural research centres around the world. This is the first time a veterinarian has received such an award and the first time this prestigious annual global award has been made for work on livestock issues.
In the citation read out at the awards ceremony, Dr. Perry’s work was described as having had widespread impact on science, development and poverty reduction. During his 17 years at ILRI and its predecessor ILRAD (the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases), Dr. Perry, a British citizen and four-time graduate of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh, has led work there in three main fields. His research on the dynamics and control of tick-borne diseases of livestock has focussed on the quantitative understanding of “endemic stability” and how this can be applied to the better control of East Coast fever and heartwater of livestock in different regions of Africa. Secondly, he has been at the forefront of improving decision-making capacity in developing countries through the integration of quantitative veterinary epidemiology and agricultural economics, in which field he has received global scientific recognition. This work has included recent studies on the economics and poverty reduction implications of foot-and-mouth disease control in Africa and South East Asia. And, thirdly, he has recently undertaken studies with support of DFID (UK Department for International Development) to delineate major livestock-mediated pathways out of poverty. This has formed the heart of ILRI’s new strategy, and the concepts behind it have been widely cited in policy, scientific and donor circles. Dr. Perry was appointed OBE in 2002 for services to veterinary science in developing countries.
Currently Dr. Perry leads work under a Joint Programme between ILRI and its sister institute the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), based in Washington, DC, researching ways to lower the animal health constraints to greater marketing of livestock products of the poor at local, national, regional and international market levels. This programme seeks to follow up on the implications of “the Livestock Revolution” in developing countries, in which rapidly increasing demands for livestock products in the developing world are creating both significant threats and opportunities for smallholder farmers to contribute to such markets.
For further information please contact Helena Cotton in the BVA Press Office on +44 20 7636 6541.
British Veterinary Association
7 Mansfield Street
London
W1G 9NQ
Tel: +44 20 7636 6541
Fax: +44 20 7436 2970
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Articles: Migratory bird tested positive for H5N1 virus in Hong Kong
Posted by: JimEdwards on Wednesday, November 03, 2004 - 01:13 PM
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Sources:
International Veterinary Public Health Consortium
Xinhuanet
Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) confirmed Wednesday that a dead Grey Heron found in Lok Ma Chau area was tested positive for H5N1 virus.
A government spokesman said: "the dead bird, which was first found by a worker of the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line project within the restricted area of Lok Ma Chau, was handed to AFCD for diagnostic testing on Nov. 1. Swab and tissue samples from the bird were confirmed positive for H5N1 avian influenza virus today."
In response, the government has stepped up monitoring of bio-security measures at chicken farms, the inspection of poultry stalls in retail markets and the surveillance of wild birds at recreational parks.
The Center for Health Protection (CHP) has also initiated its surveillance program for public health monitoring.
"All poultry farms in the vicinity of where the dead bird was found, totaling 37, have been inspected by AFCD staff. There was no abnormal mortality and the chickens showed no symptoms of avian influenza. Farmers have been alerted to pay special attention to their bird-proofing facilities and to strictly implement bio-security measures," the spokesman said.
"As a precautionary measure, the AFCD will step up its farm inspection program and wild bird surveillance program at recreational parks during the next few days.
"The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will also continue to closely monitor the situation at the retail markets."
The spokesman said the CHP was monitoring the health conditions of the seven persons who had contact with the dead bird.
"As the CHP has taken immediate and prompt actions to initiate its surveillance program on public health, and made all necessary arrangements for those in contact with the infected dead bird, it is unlikely that the virus has been able to spread in the community. Therefore, we believe that there is no immediate threat to the public health," he said.
Hong Kong's health departments urged the public to observe good personal hygiene and avoid contact with wild birds and live poultry.
Since 1998, Hong Kong has put in place a comprehensive surveillance program which enables the relevant authorities to monitor human influenza activity and detect the presence of avian influenza viruses in the environment.
On human influenza surveillance, the CHP has initiated a program that covers a network of clinics, hospitals and laboratories in the public and private sectors, thus enabling the Center to monitor the disease trend and circulating influenza viruses.
On avian influenza surveillance, a comprehensive surveillance program targeted at poultry at all levels from farms, import, wholesale market and retail outlets has been implemented.
At the farm level, all chickens available in the market must be vaccinated against H5 avian influenza. Stringent bio-security measures, including the requirement for all chicken farms to be bird-proof, have been imposed to prevent the introduction of viruses by wild birds.
In 2003, the government has extended the surveillance program to wild birds in recreational parks so as to ensure timely detection of the presence of any avian influenza viruses in the environment and possible re-assortment of the viruses. Under the surveillance program, more than 2,000 samples have been tested since January 2004.
The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is an abundant winter visitor but scarce summer visitor in Hong Kong. It is not a resident species in Hong Kong.
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Articles: AVMA acts to stop pollster from using AVMA Directory
Posted by: JimEdwards on Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 11:36 AM
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In mid-October, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) began receiving scattered reports that pollster Zogby International was contacting AVMA members and asking them to participate in an opinion poll on animal welfare issues. Several members contacted AVMA to express concern after the questions they were asked regarding certain husbandry practices and medical procedures seemed designed to elicit specific responses rather than to seek objective measures of veterinary attitudes.
The AVMA contacted Zogby International for information and, although Zogby would not divulge the identity of its client, their representative did identify the 2004 AVMA Membership Directory & Resource Manual as the source of names and phone numbers the company was using.
The Zogby representative indicated that the client had provided the directory, and had told the company it was free to use it to contact AVMA members.
To protect the privacy of its members, AVMA policy prohibits the sale or sharing of member phone numbers or e-mail addresses outside the Association. To ensure the privacy of AVMA members who choose to be listed in the AVMA Directory, all directory recipients agree to a short, clearly written agreement shrink-wrapped in the print and electronic versions.
The agreement states that the AVMA Directory may be used "for individual, personal, and confidential reference purposes only." The agreement also states that the directory and its contents "are proprietary products of the AVMA. The contents of this Membership Directory may not in whole or in part be reproduced, copied, disseminated, entered into a computer database, used as part of or in connection with a mailing list, or otherwise utilized, in any form or manner, or by any means, except for the user's individual, personal, or confidential reference."
A letter sent on Oct. 21 informed Zogby International that its use of the directory violated the agreement between AVMA and the directory's original owner. The company was asked to return the directory to the AVMA and to destroy all remaining print or electronic copies of the directory's contents that it may have in its possession. At press time, Zogby International had not yet responded to the AVMA's letter.
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Articles: WSAVA NEWS - November, 2004
Posted by: JimEdwards on Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 11:36 AM
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29th WSAVA/10th FECAVA/7th HVMS Congress Highlights
WSAVA Assembly meeting
2004 WSAVA Award Winners
WSAVA WALTHAM International Award for Scientific Achievement
WSAVA WALTHAM Service to the Profession Award
WSAVA Iams Patsaama Award
WSAVA Hills Excellence in Veterinary Healthcare Award
Future Congresses
Mexico City, Mexico - May 11-14, 2005
Prague Congress Centre - Prague, Czech Republic: October 11-14, 2006 (www.wsava2006.cz)
Sydney Convention Centre - Sydney, Australia: August 26-29, 2007
Dublin, Ireland - August, 2008
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Articles: New President for Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
Posted by: JimEdwards on Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 11:35 AM
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European Parliament Animal Welfare Intergroup appoints Portuguese MEP, Paulo Casaca as President Paulo Casaca MEP from Portugal was appointed President of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals yesterday. The Intergroup is a cross-party grouping of MEPs which promotes and develops the animal welfare agenda in the Parliament. Mr. Casaca has long bee an active supporter of animal welfare within the Parliament and his appointment as President of the Intergroup belies the traditional stereotypes of southern Member States as unconcerned with animal welfare.
“One of the reasons I have been elected President of the Intergroup”, says Mr. Casaca, “is precisely because southern Europe shares the concerns about animal welfare and conservation. We do have many problems, but I am convinced that southern European citizens, Portugal included, are concerned with these issues”.
The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals was founded in 1983 and provides MEPs with a forum for highlighting and debating key animal welfare issues that are likely to come before the Parliament. It has become one of the best known and most active intergroups with a regular attendance of prominent MEPs and high profile speakers such as, in recent times, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, and representatives of successive EU presidencies.
The Intergroup’s meetings are held monthly during the Parliament’s Plenary session in Strasbourg and the inaugural meeting of the newly-reconstituted Intergroup, held in September, attracted some 42 MEPs.
Over the years, the Intergroup has highlighted and acted on issues such as the testing of cosmetics on animals, improving the welfare of pregnant sows or stepping up controls on illegal hunting of birds. One of the key successes of the Intergroup during the 1999-2004 legislature was when it gave the impetus for the European Parliament’s Written Declaration on the transport of live animals which was subsequently passed by an overwhelming majority in Plenary.
Mr. Casaca states “These intergroups are crucial mechanisms in the political process. The essence of the intergroup is its lack of a partisan or national agenda. Instead, it brings together people with a common goal, in this case animal welfare and conservation. The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals is the one with the most capacity, interventions, visibility and impact in the European Parliament”.
Eurogroup for Animal Welfare
6 Rue des Patriotes
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium.
www.eurogroupanimalwelfare.org
Tel.: +32 (0)2 740 08 20
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Articles: Revised Veterinary Protocol for Pig AI Studs Improves Disease Security
Posted by: JimEdwards on Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 11:35 AM
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Close cooperation between the British pig industry and Defra has resulted in a revised protocol for veterinary supervision at Artificial Insemination (AI) stud farms.
The farms have shown that, by reducing veterinary inspections to once a week, an experienced pig vet can attend the boars without having any contact with other pigs, thus reducing the risk of spreading disease. Defra is now satisfied that a suitable internal protocol is in place to enable any early signs of disease to be picked up, evaluated and reported.
Led by PIC's Meritxell Donadeu, the NPA Breeding Companies Group, in conjunction with Defra, drew up the revised protocol that offered the required security and also reduced the cost of inspections.
Debby Reynolds, the Government's Chief Veterinary Officer said:
"This is a good example of the partnership approach envisaged by the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy. Industry demonstrating where controls could work better; Defra listening and working with the industry to achieve a better protocol that ensures good welfare and reduces disease risk."
Ian Campbell, on behalf of the National Pig Association, said:
"This is one of several instances where an improved dialogue between the British pig industry and Government is producing controls that are 'fit for purpose'.
"Nobody gains if controls kill off the economic viability of the British pig industry but equally nothing will do that faster than inadequate national biosecurity leading to further disease incursions."
The European legislation (EU Council Directive 90/429/EEC and Commission Decision 1999/608/EC) require as a condition for a semen collection centre to be approved, to be placed under the permanent supervision of a centre veterinarian (Annex A, Chapter 1,1). It also requires that for intra-community trade, the boars must show no clinical signs of disease on the day of collection (Annex C,1). There is a considerable variation amongst Member States with the interpretation of permanent supervision by a Centre veterinarian, with once a week or less considered sufficient.
In the UK, current guidelines state that boars on a centre holding either EU or Domestic licence should have a veterinary inspection within 72 hours of collection. Additionally, when semen is used for intra-community trade, the boars from which the semen is collected must be examined on the day of collection.
The industry expressed to Defra concerns that the second routine visit each week was putting at risk the health of the animals that the examination was designed to protect and therefore requested that they consider a weekly visit only from the Centre veterinarian for both EU and Domestic licensed studs. Defra agreed to consider this request on the basis that industry adhere to a Code of Practice which allows the Centre veterinarian to have permanent supervision of the AI centre. This is not in conflict with the requirements for intra-community trade as laid out in EU Council Directive 90/429/EEC.
Copies of the Code of Practice can be found on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/germ-ex/germ-ex.htm. Defra will be sending copies out to all approved studs and breeding companies.
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Articles: Undercover investigation exposes plight of over 40 wild-caught dolphins in the Solomon Islands
Posted by: JimEdwards on Monday, November 01, 2004 - 11:49 AM
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 One year after the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) first exposed the cruel and illegal dolphin trade in the Solomon Islands, new further investigations reveal that 44 dolphins are still being held in the most appalling conditions in overcrowded, polluted and shallow sea pens off the island of Gavutu.
WSPA investigators have observed dolphins displaying injuries consistent with fighting for space and several dolphins are known to have died since being taken from the wild. The captures began last year, with fishermen responding to a US$260 bounty for each dolphin taken from the wild.
Kimberly Muncaster, one of the WSPA investigators that has witnessed the plight of the dolphins, Regional Manager for WSPA New Zealand, Kimberly Muncaster, said , “ Our latest investigations reveal that the 44 dolphins, including four nursing calves are being held in overcrowded, shallow and polluted pens in Gavutu. The condition of these dolphins is shocking and we are extremely concerned for their welfare. Time is running out if we are to prevent these animals from being sold to the highest bidder and having to spend their entire lives in captivity.”
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Articles: Enhancements to existing TB Controls in the UK
Posted by: JimEdwards on Monday, November 01, 2004 - 11:48 AM
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Defra is strengthening existing cattle controls to reduce the risk of bovine TB spreading to low incidence areas.
The measures, which start today, are:
A recalculation of routine testing intervals to ensure TB testing complies with European legislation while offering robust surveillance. To support this, reviews of testing frequencies will be undertaken each year, with farmers being individually notified of the results;
From today the State Veterinary Service is writing to farmers with tests due from 16 February 2005 onwards to outline their testing window and the date that movement restrictions would be applied if the tests are not completed on time. From 16 February 2005 herd movement restrictions will be applied immediately a test becomes overdue;
A more rigorous and systematic approach to identifying and dealing with potential new TB hotspots (with effect from mid November 2004); and
The introduction of rigorous testing schedules for new and reformed herds.
The changes focus on prevention and the importance of taking steps to reduce the risk of bovine TB spreading to clean areas.
Letters have been sent to every cattle farmer in Britain. The letters explain the new measures and provide guidance on action that farmers need to take.
The changes, agreed with the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department and the Department for Environment, Planning and Countryside of the Welsh Assembly Government, were first outlined (as proposed 'short term options') in Defra's consultation on TB strategy, which began in February 2004. In addition to these changes Defra has set up a small group of stakeholders (chaired independently by Staffordshire dairy farmer Bill Madders) to develop a detailed proposal to implement pre-movement testing of cattle (which was also detailed in Defra's consultation document). The proposal is being developed on the basis that farmers will pay for the tests and will be subject to a further short consultation.
A long term GB strategy for bovine TB is being developed with the assistance of stakeholders and will be introduced in 2005. Seven regional stakeholder meetings were held during Spring 2004 to discuss the implications of these changes.
Further information on the new measures is available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/strategy/newstrategy.htm.
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Articles: Give a Stray a Christmas Dinner
Posted by: JimEdwards on Monday, November 01, 2004 - 11:47 AM
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An initiative from the BVA
The BVA: Animal Welfare Foundation has announced the availability of A4 and A3 posters inviting veterinary surgeons' clients to "Please, Give a Stray a Christmas Dinner" through the donation of cans or packages of cat or dog food for distribution over Christmas to local animal charities.
Veterinary surgeons who have participated in the campaign before report that clients are more than happy to make this practical contribution to animal welfare while charities are highly appreciative of the extra food, at what is, regrettably, one of their busiest times of year.
Copies of the posters are available, free of charge, from the BVA.
The Give a Stray Christmas Dinner campaign was launched on a nationwide basis in 1989 following the success of a local campaign organised by the North West Surrey Veterinary Group in 1988.
An image of the poster is available in electronic format on request.
For further information please contact Nadin Sajakow in the BVA Press Office on +44 20 7636 6541.
British Veterinary Association
7 Mansfield Street
London
W1G 9NQ
Tel: +44 20 7636 6541
Fax: +44 20 7436 2970
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Articles: The catch-22 in regulating the slaughter industry
Posted by: JimEdwards on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 05:56 PM
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USDA encourages improvements in animal welfare at slaughterhouses
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The Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has published a notice in the Federal Register encouraging slaughterhouses to use a systematic approach to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act passed in 1978. The notice is a response to pressure from the public, Congress, and a 2004 report from the General Accounting Office that was critical of slaughter practices and USDA enforcement of the act, which requires establishments to adopt humane handling and slaughter methods.
The current state
The FSIS says it has received over 20,000 letters from the public—individuals, consumer organizations, and animal welfare organizations—over the past few years expressing concerns about the treatment of livestock.
A report by the General Accounting Office released this past January also found that the number of humane handling noncompliance incidents documented by the FSIS in establishments increased from January 2001 through March 2003 (see JAVMA, May 15, 2004, page 1568). To be compliant with the HMSA, facilities must, for example, design holding pens, driveways, and ramps to prevent injury to livestock; use electrical prods as little as possible; and effectively stun an animal on the first attempt.
The FSIS attributes the increase, in part, to the improved documentation of noncompliance by FSIS personnel who routinely do inspections to evaluate whether facilities are meeting requirements. In 2001, for example, the agency hired district veterinary medical specialists to serve as the primary contact for humane handling and slaughter issues in each district. In 2003, the agency started providing FSIS inspection personnel with additional information on humane handling verification procedures and clarification about enforcement actions to be taken for violations. In early 2004, the FSIS implemented the humane activities tracking program, which collects data on nine humane handling-related tasks
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Articles: Mammal mapping projects to move forward
Posted by: JimEdwards on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 05:55 PM
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In the coming months, scientists will begin sequencing the genomes of nine more mammals, including the domestic cat, guinea pig, rabbit, orangutan, and elephant, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute. In addition, nine other organisms have received the green light to be sequenced as part of the institute's large-scale sequencing research network.
In a shift from the NHGRI's previous procedure of choosing sequencing targets one at a time on the basis of proposals from scientists, the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research, a federally chartered committee that advises NHGRI, recently approved a comprehensive plan that identified two groups on the basis of their collective scientific merits.
"Science tells us that the most effective approach we currently have to identify the essential functional and structural components of our own genome is to compare it with the genomes of other organisms. With each new genome that we sequence, we move closer to the goal of finding all of the crucial elements of the human genome involved in development, health, and disease," said Mark Guyer, PhD, director of the division of extramural research at the NHGRI. "We hope to accelerate that process with our new sequencing strategy that identifies the organisms, or sets of organisms, with the greatest potential to fill gaps in our knowledge."
The agency selected the nine mammals in the first group because each species represents an important position on the evolutionary tree and, therefore, will contribute a sequence that will be particularly important in helping to interpret the human genome.
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