TheBeefSite Newsletter - 22 September 2010

TheBeefSite Weekly Newsletter

Wednesday 22nd September 2010

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Focus On Feed

The New York State Agricultural Department has been awarded a $1.25 million grant to enhance its cattle feed laboratory testing and inspection programmes that are directly related to animal and human health.

The federal funds will enhance the Department's ability to locate and inspect companies involved in the manufacture, distribution and transportation of animal feed, as well as operations feeding ruminant animals.

The additional funds will also allow a significant expansion of laboratory feed safety testing programmes, including surveillance for ruminant protein, mycotoxins, antibiotics, heavy metals, pesticide residues and animal-human pathogenic bacteria.

Researchers at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Northern Ireland are looking to improve forage grass disease resistance.

The main diseases occurring on perennial ryegrass in the UK and Ireland are mildew, crown-rust and leaf spot. These diseases are weather-related and more intense in some years than others.

With a high percentage of the UK's agricultural output dependent upon grass, a steady supply of improved, high yielding and disease resistant varieties, able to cope with changes in farm management or environmental factors, are essential to the future of the industry.

Finally, there are increasing concerns for grain prices, as a recent Rabobank report has suggested that significant risks in the US, China, Russia and the Southern Hemisphere could push grain prices higher in the coming months.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 4 new features this week:

Using Genomics To Improve Business
One farmer in the UK aims to produce the perfect steak, and he is using genomics to do this. Charlotte Johnston, TheCattleSite junor editor speaks to Paul Westaway.

US Livestock and Dairy Outlook - September 2010
Demand, both foreign and domestic, continues to recover but price increases will be modest. Both cow numbers and production per cow are expected to rise, increasing milk production next year. Butter prices should moderate next year due to higher milk production, according to the latest Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook from the USDA's Economic Research Service.

New Zealand - Livestock and Products Annual 2010
The beef cattle inventory has been reduced and exports are likely to follow, according to David Lee-Jones in the latest GAIN report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

VLA Update June 2010
Ketosis and fatty liver syndrome are frequently diagnosed during the summer months, particularly among dairy cows, says the Veterinary Laboratory Agency's UK animal health update.