TheBeefSite Newsletter - 17 June 2009

Wednesday 17th June 2009

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: The Truth Behind Shock Stories

'Farmed Fish May Pose BSE Risk' was one of our most dramatic headlines this week, but, according to a neurologist from the University of Louisville, this idea is cause for real concern. Friedland suggests farmed fish could transmit Creutzfeldt Jakob disease if they are fed byproducts rendered from cows. He and his team are now urging governments to prevent this feeding practice until safety in the food-chain can be confirmed.

Another shock story came from Reuters. A report they released earlier this week claims that the Brazilian beef giant, JBS, alongside other meatpackers, is under investigation for allegations of "bribing, racketeering, corruption, fraud and collusion." According to the news agency, the information was passed from a representative at the federal prosecutor's office.

Also this week, the number of Nebraskan cattle herds put into quarantine over concerns of Bovine Tuberculosis increased yet further. As of yesterday, the figure stood at 42 herds to be tested. "The increase in quarantined herds is not unexpected," said Agriculture Director Greg Ibach. However, he added, "It's important to remember that at this time, only one herd has had animals test positive for TB."

Adam Anson

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 5 new features this week:

Better Gut Health Enhances Animal Performance
The health of the gastrointestinal tract is especially important for the young animal, writes Nataliya ROTH DI (MSc), Technical Manager, BIOMIN Holding GmbH.

Feeding Legumes to Cattle - Alberta
Legumes can be a valuable part of a cattle feeding program. In fact, legumes can actually improve animal performance by encouraging intake, by providing greater feed efficiency and by fostering a better use of forage nitrogen content, writes Juanita Kopp, Government of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

Pasture Management: Measure Forage Dry Matter
For livestock producers wanting the most out of their pastures, measuring forage dry matter content before and after livestock grazing is the most effective way of managing an intensive grazing system, writes Candace Pollock, Ohio State University Extension.

The Mongolian Livestock Situation
The global financial crisis that began in 2008 continues to have a negative impact on Mongolia's economy. Although inflation is down and the local currency is up, livestock herding, which provides a living for approximately 28 per cent of the population, continues to be under stress, says this USDA Food and Agriculture Organisation GAIN report.

US Feed Outlook - June 2009
Projected US 2009/10 corn production was decreased 155 million bushels this month to 11.9 billion according to the USDA Economic Research Service.

Company News

VIV China Now Annual, to Focus on Meat in 2009
CHINA - This year's VIV China will focus on presenting quality and innovations in the Chinese meat industry.

Global Beef Cattle Industry News