Editorial: Focus on Animal Health

Animal health has been topical this week. In the UK, the industry has called for action to control bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR). A new scheme has also been launched to help farmers establish and improve herd health programmes. The scheme will also provide cost effective treatment, testing and monitoring of stock.

In Ireland, livestock producers have been warned about liver fluke which flourishes in wet weather, and the Department of Agriculture has issued advice on how to deal with outbreaks.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has closed a deal to acquire a significant portion of the Fort Dodge Animal Health business from Pfizer. Elsewhere, Merck has completed the merger with Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health.

In the US, AgriLife Extension staff are issuing warnings and advice over tick fever. Whilst in Australia, producers have seen herd conception rates fall dramatically, as tough weather conditions have left cows in poor nutritional condition.

The industry has come under further criticism regarding climate change, as a global report by Worldwatch has said that livestock and their byproducts account for 51 per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. The report recommends that the substitution of dairy products with soy and rice, it says, could not only benefit the environment but also be healthier.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

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.

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Study on Efficacy of BUTOX Insecticide
GERMANY - A study conducted at the Department of Parasitology of the Heinrich-Heine University in Düsseldorf (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.

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New Merck Company Begins Operations
US - Merck has outlined its global plans following the completion of Merck's merger with Schering-Plough Corporation announced this week. Raul E. Kohan has been named president of the Animal Health division.

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New IBR Educational Material
UK - Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has produced a new suite of education materials to highlight the costly financial losses associated with IBR infection in cattle herds.

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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.

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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.

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Global Dairy Cattle Industry News

   United States

 » WWFE REPORT: Attention to Detail in Animal Welfare
 » Students To Learn Cattle Exhibition Skills
 » Coming Election Could Change Ohio's Welfare Rules
 » WWFE REPORT - Dairy Industry Splits from Worldwide Food Expo
 » FDA Urged to Ban Feeding Chicken Litter to Cattle
 » Evidence Shows Abuse Inflicted on Infant Veal Calves
 » Potentially Lethal Grass Poses Risk To Cattle Farmers
 » Weekly Outlook: Harvest to Accelerate
 » Tick Fever Prevention
 » Look Out for Mycotoxins In Cattle Feed
 » Weekly Roberts Report
 » Wet Harvest Causes Problems For Grain And Cattle Producers
 » CME: Voters Approve State Issue 2 in Ohio
 » AFBF Congratulates Ohio and Texas on Victories
 » Aflatoxin-contaminated Corn Threatens Dairy Cattle

   Ireland

 » Irish Minister Visits Tipperary to Follow Dairy Investment Fund
 » Department Issues Advice On Liver Fluke

   United Kingdom

 » Cost Effective Slurry Storage - Is It Possible?
 » Food Chain Proposal Offers A Starting Point For Discussion
 » Livestock Production Over The Years
 » National Beef Calf Decline Accelerates
 » Call for National Action to Control BVD
 » New Scheme Launched to Manage Cattle Diseases
 » LMC Report: The Carbon Footprint of Livestock
 » World Dairy Market Must Deliver Price Stability
 » NFUS Urges Participation in Carbon Footprint Study

   Qatar

 » OIE Meeting Delegates Call for More Lab Capacity

   Czech Republic

 » Czech Meat and Dairy Production Down in Q3 of 2009

   Canada

 » Transport to Slaughterhouse on Welfare Agenda
 » Antibiotic Resistance Among Bacteria a Concern
 » New Alternative for Liquid Manure Application

   European Union

 » Monsanto Welcomes EU Approval of its GM Maize
 » The Safety And Efficacy of MycoCell

   General

 » Meat and Dairy Substitutes Could Prevent Climate Change
 » Ridley Hit by Falling Demand for Feed

   New Zealand

 » Gulf FTA Good News For NZ Dairy
 » International Cow is the Future of Dairy

   Sri Lanka

 » e-Dairy Promotes Self Sufficiency

   Netherlands

 » Nutreco's Q3 Results in Line with Expectations

   Sweden

 » European Dairy Energy Award
 » Full-Fat Milk Results in Lower BMI

   Uganda

 » Cattle Could Save Ugandan Poverty

   Australia

 » Tough Weather Condition See Conception Rates Fall

   Thailand

 » Livestock Production Trends in Asia To Be Discussed

   India

 » Demand For Organic Milk and Milk Products
 » Dudhsagar Dairy in India to Set Up Cattle Feed Plant

   Denmark

 » Ensuring the Most Exposed Animals the Best Welfare

   Fiji

 » Best Conditions For Dairy Industry in the West



That's all for this week!

Ed.