TheBeefSite Newsletter - 8 July 2009

Wednesday 8th July 2009

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Passing the Burden of Health and Welfare

Health and welfare are always of a major concern to the livestock industry, whether they regard markets, production, ethics, food safety or costs, but this week they took particular precedent around the globe.

In Europe, the Liaison Centre for the Meat Processing Industry in the European Union (Clitravi), urged Commission chiefs to abide by a parliament recommendation which stated that the European Commission meet extra costs resulting from a new regulation on improving animal welfare at slaughter. Without these funds, processors say they will suffer severe financial burdens.

Fears that a similar situation is evolving within the United Kingdom were also aired after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced that a joint industry and government working group has been set up to advise on how best to develop the body which will oversee responsibility and cost sharing of animal health.

The National Beef Association later called on Defra to open its mind to what livestock farmers are saying about disease cost and responsibility sharing (RCS) in consultation responses submitted when the deadline ended only last week. The association is worried that Defra has already decided, "despite almost universal farmer condemnation of the move," that RCS is a done deal. Meanwhile, National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) urged policymakers to take the impact on Scottish livestock farmers into consideration.

Also this week, the RSPCA spoke out against Australia's live export trade, whilst the Live Export Shipboard Performance Report celebrated a mortality rate of less than one per cent. Ireland achieved a brucellosis free status, but Fiji suffered from a new outbreak which has led to a cull of more than thirty of the 282 cattle infected. And, the first lawsuit stemming from the current E. coli O157:H7 (E. coli) recall by JBS Swift Beef Company, was filed on behalf of a child.

This week also marks the end of the Royal Show, the UK's premier agriculture event which will sadly close its doors permanently on 10 July 2009, due to financial burdens. The show is being attended by TheCattleSite and further reports can be expected.

Adam Anson

Genus - Value through science and genomics

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 5 new features this week:

The Story Behind Numbers: Australian Shipboard Mortalities
In response to industry and public concern, Australia's 2008 national livestock export industry shipboard performance report has been published, detailing animal mortalities throughout the year. Adam Anson, writing for TheCattleSite, examines the facts, figures and concerns.

Anti-quality Factors in Beef Cattle Diets
Under certain conditions, beef cattle may be exposed to forages and feeds containing toxic or harmful compounds, writes Jane A. Parish, Associate Extension/Research Professor, and Justin D. Rhinehart, Assistant Extension Professor, Mississippi State University Extension.

FMD: The Way Towards Global Control
Over 500 participants, participated in the OIE/FAO Global Conference on Foot and Mouth Disease to discuss a way towards global control, reports the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Stocking Rates and AUM
Carrying capacity is considered to be the average number of animals that a particular pasture or range can sustain over time, says this report by the Government of Alberta, Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Plight of Being Average
With rising input costs and falling calf value, survival in the beef business is a very real question for many producers, writes Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, North Dakota State University.