TheBeefSite Newsletter - 4 November 2009

TheBeefSite Weekly Newsletter

Wednesday 4th November 2009

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Animal Welfare Questioned?

Animal welfare was highlighted at the Worldwide Food Expo, with Temple Grandin addressing the issue of vigilance regarding welfare on farm and in the slaughterhouse. This comes as a report in the US shows abuse on infant veal calves, which has shocked the industry.

A Canadian MP in now fighting for animal welfare rights in transit. Currently ruminants can be confined up to 52 hours without food or water. Alexandra Mendes, Quebec MP is asking for this to be lowered to 12 hours.

In the US, a coalition of food and consumer groups, backed by McDonald's Corp, the nation's largest restaurant user of beef, has asked the Food and Drug Administration to ban the practice of feeding poultry litter to cattle. The group believes this practice increases the risk of cattle becoming infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

In Northern Ireland beef prices paid by some processors have increased, however, there is still a difference of 33 pence a kilo between NI and mainland UK prices. The National Beef Association has said that they have tried numerous methods to increase income to beef farmers in NI, however, plans are thwarted by processors and the government. Ulster Farmers' Union recently met with Sainsburys to highlight the difficulties faced in the NI beef industry.

With the past few disastrous months for the Australian beef industry, it is little surprise, that AAco, Australia's largest cattle company has said that they do not expect any significant earnings this financial year. The company says each one per cent fall in AAco's herd valuation costs it A$4 million.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 4 new features this week:

Scours In Fall-Born Calves
Wet weather can cause calf scours to become a problem in fall-born calves, according to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Maximising the Benefits of Weed Control in Grass and Forage Crops
A new leaflet by DairyCo and EBLEX highlights the main reasons for concern over changes in herbicide/ pesticide availability and what can be done to prevent increased costs to farmers.

Minerals in Beef Cattle, Part 1
Strong immune systems, reproductive performance and calf weight gain are all influenced by mineral and vitamin nutrition. This article written by beef extension specialists at the University of Ohio looks at macro and trace minerals. Look out next week for a follow up article on mineral supplementation and vitamins.

Prevent and Manage Silo Fires
David Hill, from Penn University looks at how silo fires can be prevented, and in the case of fire managed effectively to save some crop.

Company News

Merck, Schering-Plough Merger Approved
GLOBAL - Merck and Schering-Plough have received approvals from the US Federal Trade Commission, Swiss Competition Commission and Canadian Competition Bureau for their proposed merger but significant divestitures are required.

Study on Efficacy of BUTOX Insecticide
GERMANY - A study conducted at the Department of Parasitology of the Heinrich-Heine University in DÃ¼sseldorf (Germany) has shown that the veterinary antiparasitic product BUTOX 7.5 pour on (deltamethrin) also protects cattle and sheep during wet conditions against insects proven to be responsible for the transmission of the bluetongue virus.

Acquisition Puts Boehringer among Top Health Companies
GLOBAL - Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has closed the deal to acquire a significant portion of the Fort Dodge Animal Health business from Pfizer.

VIV Europe 2010 Returns to its Roots in Utrecht
NETHERLANDS - VIV Europe 2010 will take place on 20 to 22 April 2010 in the Jaarbeurs at Utrecht in the Netherlands.

Global Beef Cattle Industry News