Jun 12/06: Dairy Economic Activity Big
One dairy cow on an American farm generates U.S. $15,524 in annual economic activity, according to an economic analysis recently completed by Su Ye, economist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).
"Cows are more than producers of milk, cheese and yogurt-they're powerful economic engines that generate income, business activity and jobs," said MDA Commissioner Gene Hugoson.
"Cows are more than producers of milk, cheese and yogurt-they're powerful economic engines that generate income, business activity and jobs," said MDA Commissioner Gene Hugoson.
May 25/06: May is Egg Month in U.S.
The air cell is the empty space between the white and shell at the large end of the egg. When an egg is first laid, it is warm. As it cools, the contents contract and the inner shell membrane separates from the outer shell membrane to form the air cell. You can see the air cell in the flattened end of a peeled, hard-cooked egg.
About 240 million laying hens produce approximately 5.5 billion dozen eggs per year in the United States.
About 240 million laying hens produce approximately 5.5 billion dozen eggs per year in the United States.
Apr 17/06: Canada Confirms Mad Cow
Canada has now recorded its fifth confirmed case of a cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease in a dairy cow from British Columbia.
Government officials say the finding does not affect the safety of Canadian beef because no meat from the animal entered the food chain. However, milk from the animal was sold to dairies. But, officials say milk is not known to be a transmissable agent for the disease from cows to humans.
It is believed infected feed is the source of the problem. The fact a dairy producer would have his cow cannibalizing other cows is a serious issue for many consumers and helping driev interest in switching to organic milk, where such feeding practices are not allowed.
Government officials say the finding does not affect the safety of Canadian beef because no meat from the animal entered the food chain. However, milk from the animal was sold to dairies. But, officials say milk is not known to be a transmissable agent for the disease from cows to humans.
It is believed infected feed is the source of the problem. The fact a dairy producer would have his cow cannibalizing other cows is a serious issue for many consumers and helping driev interest in switching to organic milk, where such feeding practices are not allowed.
Apr 13/06: Suspected Mad Cow Case in B.C.
A British Columbia, Canada cow may have been infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is now doing another round of tests to confirm if this is true.
It says no part of the animal-an approximately six-year-old dairy cow-entered the human food or animal feed systems, and the entire carcass has been placed under control. The cow was identified on a Fraser Valley farm through the national BSE surveillance program. Since detecting Canada's first case in 2003, Canada's surveillance program, which targets animals most at risk of having BSE, has tested approximately 100,000 animals.
It says no part of the animal-an approximately six-year-old dairy cow-entered the human food or animal feed systems, and the entire carcass has been placed under control. The cow was identified on a Fraser Valley farm through the national BSE surveillance program. Since detecting Canada's first case in 2003, Canada's surveillance program, which targets animals most at risk of having BSE, has tested approximately 100,000 animals.
Mar 29/06: Canada Sees Increase in Poultry Placements
Statistics Canada reports that placements of hatchery chicks on farms in Canada totalled 50.6 million birds in February, up 0.5% from the same month last year. This is the fourth consecutive month placements were above year earlier levels.
Placements of turkey poults on farms increased 3.2% to 1.6 million birds.
So far this year, hatchery chick placements are up 9.62% from last year; while placements of turkey poults are up 6.45% from the first two months of 2005.
Placements of turkey poults on farms increased 3.2% to 1.6 million birds.
So far this year, hatchery chick placements are up 9.62% from last year; while placements of turkey poults are up 6.45% from the first two months of 2005.
Mar 20/06: Age Verified Cattle in Demand
There is a shortage of age verified cattle in Canada, says Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) Livestock Development Specialist Bob Klemmer.
While Japan and the USA accept the CCIA's birth-date registration system for age verification for export, Cam Daniels, the vice president of the Canadian Beef Export Federation (CBEF), says that, currently, there are not enough age-verified cattle to fill Japanese orders for beef under 21 months of age.
While Japan and the USA accept the CCIA's birth-date registration system for age verification for export, Cam Daniels, the vice president of the Canadian Beef Export Federation (CBEF), says that, currently, there are not enough age-verified cattle to fill Japanese orders for beef under 21 months of age.
Mar 15/06: Denmark Finds H5 Bird Flu
Government officials in Denmark have conrnfirmed that a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) found dead over the weekend in an area called Svino Strand in southern Zealand died from the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5. More tests are needed to see if the bird died from the deadly H5N1 strain.
Denmark is the eleventh member state of the European Union to report a suspected or confirmed case of the Asian strain of the avian influenza H5N1 virus in wild birds.
Denmark is the eleventh member state of the European Union to report a suspected or confirmed case of the Asian strain of the avian influenza H5N1 virus in wild birds.
Mar 13/06: U.S. Faces Third BSE Case
A cow in Alabama, thought to be 10 years old, has tested positive for BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) or mad cow disease.
USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford said, "We received a positive result on a Western blot confirmatory test conducted at the USDA laboratories in Ames, Iowa, on samples from an animal that had tested 'inconclusive' on a rapid screening test performed on Friday, March 10.
USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford said, "We received a positive result on a Western blot confirmatory test conducted at the USDA laboratories in Ames, Iowa, on samples from an animal that had tested 'inconclusive' on a rapid screening test performed on Friday, March 10.
Mar 12/06: USDA Reports Inconclusive BSE Test
The USDA's Chief Veterinary Medical Officer John Clifford said the United DStates uncovered another possible case of a cow infected with BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy). He made the comment after the USDA received an inconclusive result "on a rapid BSE test."
He said, "USDA is conducting further tests at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, using an immunohistochemistry test. In addition, USDA's Agricultural Research Service, will also conduct a Western blot test. The results of those tests will be released as soon as they have all been completed, within the next four to seven days.
He said, "USDA is conducting further tests at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, using an immunohistochemistry test. In addition, USDA's Agricultural Research Service, will also conduct a Western blot test. The results of those tests will be released as soon as they have all been completed, within the next four to seven days.
Mar 06/06: Poland Confirms H5 in Migratory Birds
European officials say two swans died of the high pathogenic avian influenza virus H5 in the city of Torun, north-west of Warsaw in Poland. Samples from the bird will be tested to see if they are the H5N1 virus.
The Polish authorities have informed the European Commission that they are applying the precautionary measures set out in the Commission Decision on certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in the Community.
The Polish authorities have informed the European Commission that they are applying the precautionary measures set out in the Commission Decision on certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in the Community.
