TheBeefSite Newsletter - 12 May 2010

Wednesday 12th May 2010

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Fighting E.coli - The Next Step

Vaccinations, handling and management have all been trialed to reduce the infection of E.coli, however new research in the US has identified a different method to help prevent the outbreak in cattle.

The researchers interfered with a genetic sensing mechanism that allows the E.coli strain to form colonies within cattle, causing the bacteria to die off before they could reach the animals’ recto-anal junction, the primary site of colonisation.

The study is still in early days, but the scientists are discussing the possibilities of including some sort of antagonist in cattle feed, which would result in less shedding of the bacteria in fecal matter with less contamination down the road in food products.

Discussions between the EU and South American countries regarding re-opening of trade has caused a stir among farming unions. Talks between the EU and Mercosur countries collapsed in 2004.

Farming unions in the UK and France have expressed concerns of the threat that increased beef imports from these countries may have on the domestic beef sector.

The UK, France and other European countries are worried that importing more agricultural products from this area will risk sacrificing the welfare standards, environmental production and sustainable production base that Europe's farmers currently provide.

Should a deal be confirmed - it is vital that European farmers are able to compete at a fair level, meaning that products imported must have been produced to the same standard that is expected of European farmers.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 4 new features this week:

Global Challenge of Food Security
Food security is one of the key global challenges today, writes TheCattleSite senior editor, Chris Harris.

Strategic Crossbreeding Recommended
For cow-calf producers, survival and operational profitability are reliant upon efficiently producing uniform calves for target markets in an economical fashion.

Estrus Detection In Cattle
Estrus in cattle is commonly referred to as heat. It occurs every 18 to 24 days in sexually mature, open (nonpregnant) female cattle when they are receptive to mounting activity by bulls or other cows or heifers, according to Dr. Jane A. Parish, Associate Extension/ Research Professor, Animal and Dairy Sciences; Dr. Jamie E. Larson, Assistant Professor, Animal and Dairy Sciences; and Dr. Rhonda C. Vann, Associate Research Professor, Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station.

World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates - May 2010
Tighter cattle supplies, as a result of a declining cattle inventory over recent years, and pressure on imports will likely lead to a fall in beef production in 2011. This may however push prices up, says the USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates for May 2010.

Company News

Pfizer Announces First Veterinary Scholarships
US - Pfizer Animal Health and American Veterinary Medical Foundation are offering 222 scholarships to help decrease the debt burden of veterinary students.

VIV Europe 2010: The Best Of A Turbulent Situation
NETHERLANDS - VIV Europe 2010 was a remarkable success despite air travel disruptions, with more than 10,000 visitors from 96 countries and 85 per cent of exhibitors making it to the event in Utrecht last month.

Global Beef Cattle Industry News