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News: 150 days from birth is the average time you need to sell your pigs for slaughter and it is about 85 kgs on average.
 
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Author Topic: World Cattle News:  (Read 21346 times)
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mikey
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« Reply #15 on: May 08, 2008, 08:25:26 AM »

Wednesday, May 07, 2008Print This Page
Brazil Puts a Foot in Milk Export Doorway
BRAZIL - Brazilian milk exports have always shown a small and undeveloped representation of the total milk production, averaging just five per cent. However, with the recent turmoil in major exporting countries such as Australia and New Zealand, Brazilian exporters have seized the opportunity to take advantage of the left over demand.


According to market analysts, Scot Consultoria, the country left the importer position – registering a deficit up to US$350 million in 2000, for example – to present a balance of more than US$40 million with the shipping, only in three months (January to March 2008). See table 1.

Year  Exports  Imports  Balance 
2000  13.36  373.10  -359.74 
2001  25.03  178.60  -153.57 
2002  40.24  247.21  -206.96 
2003  48.51  112.29  -63.78 
2004  95.38  83.92  11.46 
2005  130.09  121.19  8.90 
2006  138.50  154.64  -16.14 
2007  273.25  150.77  -122.48 
2008*  90.07  46.28  43.79 
Source: MDIC, elaborated by Scott Consultoria * 2008 - untill March


The accumulated, in revenue, with exports in 2008 (more than US$90 million) is almost the whole receipt of 2004, the first year that Brazil’s exports were higher than imports.


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« Reply #16 on: May 08, 2008, 08:27:13 AM »

Wednesday, May 07, 2008Print This Page
Feeding Animals to Animals: EU May Lift Ban
EU - It is believed that if the EU go ahead with contraversial plans to relax current safety measures on pig and poultry feeds, which outlaw animal proteins, then vast amounts of money could be saved by EU farmers.



The move comes 14 years after the practice was banned at the height of the BSE crisis, with the European Commission set to make a final decision on the ban in 2009, reports Farmers Guardian.

The farming magazine says that, under the plans, the ban on feeding animal remains to ruminants would remain in place, but would be lifted for pigs and poultry.

It would provide an alternative source of feed for many farmers who have been hit by rising input costs, and could slash the cost of animal feed.

The move is likely to cause concern in the industry, with farmers keen not to alienate consumers by going back to a practice which received wide public criticism at the height of the crisis.

European Commissioners are also concerned that should the ban be lifted, contamination could still lead to animal proteins finding their way into cattle feed.

EU scientists are currently completing research on the subject which will be presented to Commissioners at the end of the year before a final decision on the ban is made.



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« Reply #17 on: May 09, 2008, 08:30:57 AM »

Thursday, May 08, 2008Print This Page
Russian Livestock Market Opens to US
WASHINGTON, US - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that the United States will begin exporting breeding cattle, bovine embryos; breeding, fattening and slaughter swine; and breeding and sport horses to Russia. Russia will accept cattle born on or after implementation of the United States' 1997 ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban.



"Russia's decision demonstrates our trading partners' confidence in our ability to effectively protect animal health and food safety," said Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. "This decision opens up a new market for U.S. livestock producers, and we are pleased that such an important trading partner is looking to the United States to help establish a significant livestock market."

Russia is turning to the world market to import livestock and genetics to restore its livestock herd, which has been declining during the last 15 years. The value of these new markets for U.S. exporters is substantial. The new live animal protocols will allow U.S. exporters to participate in Russia's $300 million market for live animal imports.

USDA has worked closely with Russia and other trading partners to establish full market access for U.S. livestock. USDA will continue to encourage other countries to take steps to align their requirements with international standards.




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« Reply #18 on: May 09, 2008, 08:33:08 AM »

Thursday, May 08, 2008Print This Page
Oz Cattle Races to Another Record Quarter
AUSTRALIA - Live Australian cattle shipments broke previous first quarter records this March as the county continued its surge into foreign markets such as Indonesia. Australia is fueling its foreign expansion by tapping cattle supplies from the North that are becoming increasingly suitable.


Exports for March totalled 73,893 head, up 59% year-on-year, pushing shipments for the first quarter of 2008 to a record 197,796 head (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

Indonesia received 133,010 head of Australian cattle during the first three months of 2008, an increase of 50% on the same period last year, with volumes for March at 53,557 head. Indonesian demand for Australian cattle continued unabated into 2008, following a record 517,000 head sent during 2007. Assisting the record shipments during 2008 has been dry conditions across parts of northern Australia, particularly through the Northern Territory, which has seen an ample number of suitable cattle being made available.

Israel was the second largest market during the first quarter of 2008, receiving 23,876 head – more than double the same period last year. Increased shipments for the three months have also been registered to Libya (8,959 head), Japan (6,291 head), China (4,498 head) and Saudi Arabia (2,000 head).

March also saw the first shipment of cattle to the Philippines since August last year, at 3,762 head, while 1,500 head was sent to Malaysia.



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« Reply #19 on: May 09, 2008, 08:35:26 AM »

Thursday, May 08, 2008Print This Page
Delegation Watch the Brazilian Powerhouse Tick
US - A US delegation have recently completed a tour through Brazil and Argentina to discover how the beef, corn and ethanol industries work. In doing so they hope to gain a deeper insight into the market they hope to work and compete with.

 

The delegation, which consisted of nine U.S. state corn board executives, was led by the United States Meat Export Federation's vice president of industry relations, John Hinners and and Ricardo Vernazza-Paganini, USMEF’s director of Central/South America & Global Strategic Coordination

“These corn organizations are an integral part of USMEF’s membership base,” said Hinners. “They invest more than $1 million annually of their corn checkoff funds into USMEF red meat programs.


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"While Brazil is a global beef powerhouse, we also saw firsthand that it is very committed to ethanol" 
United States Meat Export Federation's vice president of industry relations, John Hinners.
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“This was a very educational visit for our team,” Hinners added. “While Brazil is a global beef powerhouse, we also saw firsthand that it is very committed to ethanol because, historically, 80 percent of that country’s energy has been imported.”

Based on a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecast, Brazil is expected to increase beef exports 27 percent from 2007 to 2017. This equates to an additional 651,000 metric tons (1.43 billion pounds) over the next 10 years with exports totaling 3.05 million metric tons (more than 6.7 billion pounds) in 2017. That is compared to projections that U.S. beef exports will total 1.2 million metric tons (2.64 billion pounds) in 2017, an 88 percent increase over 2007 levels.

The team’s visit to Argentina enabled it to see some of that nation’s meat processing industry, which is composed of more than 500 packing plants, many small and family owned. Since March 2006, the government of Argentina has restricted beef exports to ensure that it can meet domestic beef demand. An annual export quota of 480,000 metric tons was established at the end of 2006, following a 6-month ban, but exports were stalled again earlier this year amid rising prices and renewed concern over domestic availability. This Monday the Argentine government announced the reopening of beef exports but it is not clear whether export permits (ROEs) are being issued at this time.

Argentina currently has the world’s highest per capita beef consumption rate: 154 pounds per person annually. They supplement that with 66 pounds of poultry and 17.4 pounds of pork per person.


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« Reply #20 on: May 09, 2008, 08:39:48 AM »

Thursday, May 08, 2008Print This Page
US Shakes a Weary Head at More Cow Abuse
US - This week animal welfare group, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), revealed further mistreatment of sick and injured cattle in its ongoing probe into the cruelty of factory farming practices. The recent insight into injured animals at a cattle market being abused by industry middlemen has caught the attention of the whole industry.


 
Photo: Humane Society of the United States

According to the HSUS, the shocking abuse of "downer" cows occurs not just at slaughter plants, but may be an everyday happening at livestock auctions and stockyards around the country - the midpoints between farm and slaughter - as shown in an expanding undercover investigation by The Humane Society of the United States.

"Downer" cows are those too frail to stand on their own - dragged and prodded with inhumane handling methods, and increasing the threat of carrying and passing disease.

During April and May, HSUS investigators visited auctions in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas and videotaped downer cows at each stop - animals left to suffer for hours and in one instance overnight. Executives of The HSUS brought preliminary evidence of the abuse to the attention of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer last week at a face-to-face meeting, and Secretary Schafer has promised to examine the issue. The HSUS looks forward to working with USDA to address the problem.

"This has to stop immediately," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "Our earlier investigation into the callous and abusive treatment of live animals at a slaughter plant in California appalled the nation and led to the largest meat recall in U.S. history. These new video images show that the rot in the factory farming system of raising animals goes much deeper. The problems are systemic, the laws and regulations are inadequate, and the industry's resolve insufficient."

The HSUS urged Secretary Schafer to expedite regulations that would require more humane treatment of animals destined for the food supply, at every step from producer to slaughter. The HSUS particularly urges USDA to close the risky loophole that allows some downer cows to be slaughtered for consumption.

Ed Schafer recently replied to the call: "Late last week, the Humane Society of the United States notified me that they were in the early stages of an investigation into the mistreatment of farm animals transported to livestock auctions and stockyards. The dairy cattle shown in the video were non-ambulatory and were abandoned in parking lots of these auctions and yards. These animals were not in slaughter facilities. However, even though this is not a food safety issue, these actions of animal cruelty are not acceptable.

"USDA's authority to regulate the treatment of animals includes the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and the Animal Welfare Act. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act protects animals when they are presented for slaughter at federally inspected establishments. The Animal Welfare Act allows us to ensure the proper care of live animals when used in biomedical research, testing, and exhibition. When animals fall within our authorities, USDA has acted to prevent animal cruelty such as this."

Policies for humane handling of animals, however, consist of a combined effort of federal, state, and local authorities, as well as private industry. Since learning about this investigation, the US have said that they are reaching out to states and industry groups to address this issue.

"In my conversation with the Humane Society last week, I expressed my sincere desire to work with them to resolve these atrocities, and I trust USDA was given all the information HSUS has on this issue so we can thoroughly address it. It is essential that we work together in good faith to address these issues, and ensure that animals are treated with care and dignity."

The HSUS say that until the loophole is closed, producers and middlemen in the supply chain have a financial incentive to push sick and injured animals to the brink - and in many cases to torture them beyond the brink - in attempts to turn them into profitable beef. Until the federal government steps in to assume firm jurisdiction, the food supply will be subject to the patchwork vagaries of local and state regulation, which can mean no oversight at all.

The National Beef Association also issued a statement over the incidence. They said that they are committed to working with every segment of the food production chain to ensure all livestock are treated humanely.

"We strongly support strict compliance with and enforcement of all state and federal animal welfare laws. Appropriate cattle care includes close supervision of cattle health and wellbeing. We believe it’s important to promptly attend to animals that appear non-ambulatory", the statement read.

"To date, in cooperation with the nation’s livestock markets, we have distributed more than 2,000 cattle care and handling training videos to the nation’s 1,250 livestock markets and other cattle sales locations, as well as veterinarians who work with these operations. Additionally, we are in the process of conducting hands-on staff training sessions at livestock markets led by cattle handling experts.

Beef producers and livestock market owners understand that animal care and raising cattle go hand-in-hand. We know that giving animals the proper care and supervision they deserve is an obligation, not an option, and also is smart business."

The HSUS has plans for more investigations for the future. Details of the new undercover HSUS investigation include:

At the Livestock Exchange (LSX) in Hereford, Texas, HSUS investigators videotaped two downed cows left in the parking lot for four hours. Neither cow could lift her head. They were still alive in the parking lot at closing time. HSUS had received a complaint from a passing motorist about live, downed cows at LSX hanging from their legs by chains attached to a front-end loader.


At the Westminster auction in Maryland, HSUS investigators documented a downed cow abandoned outside of the auction barn, left to suffer through the night. HSUS investigators contacted agents with the Carroll County Humane Society. An officer expertly ended the cow's suffering.


At the Clovis Livestock Auction in New Mexico, two downed cows were filmed over a period of five hours. One was suffering from obvious pain, flailing her legs as she expelled watery feces into the pen where other cows were held for auction.
At the Greencastle Livestock Auction in Pennsylvania, HSUS investigators documented a calf only days old who was unable to stand and left to die.


In 2002, Congress directed the USDA to investigate the question of downed animals at livestock auctions and markets - including the scope of problems, the causes, and the resulting cruel treatment of animals. Further, Congress ordered the USDA to follow up with "regulations to provide for the humane treatment, handling, and disposition of nonambulatory livestock by stockyards, market agencies, and dealers."


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« Reply #21 on: May 09, 2008, 08:43:43 AM »

New on-farm quick test for foot-and-mouth
News | 8 May, 2008

A RAPID on-farm test has been developed to detect the foot-and-mouth disease.

The device uses the same technology as home pregnancy tests and can reveal if foot-and-mouth is present within 10 minutes of taking a sample.

A rapid test was rejected by the Ministry of Agriculture at the height of the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak, which meant thousands of animals had to be slaughtered before test results were revealed to be negative.

Dr Nigel Ferris of the Institute of Animal Health’s Pirbright Laboratory has been helping to develop the technology for six years and he hopes the device could save mass slaughter in future outbreaks.

“In effect, we are taking the laboratory to the farm, for on-the-spot testing to support clinical diagnosis,” he said.

The hand-held device takes a small sample of tissue from a suspect animal, the sample then flows up the device and if foot-and-mouth is present, a line forms within 10 minutes.

According to experts, more than one-third of sheep farms and 23 per cent of all livestock premises were wrongly diagnosed of having foot-and-mouth in 2001.

A rapid detection device from the US was rejected at the time because it had not been validated in the UK.


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« Reply #22 on: May 11, 2008, 10:10:42 AM »

Friday, May 09, 2008Print This Page
Government Helps China Feed Itself
CHINA - The government of China have declared a new initiative giving support to farmers around the country in the latest bid to meet the population's ever increasing food demand.



One of the programmes main points of interest will be in to the production of grain, which they hope will offset the rising price of livestock feed; essential when considering predicted meat consumption.

"Unprecedented" emphasis is being placed on farming, Minister of Agriculture Sun Zhengcai said in a question-and-answer statement on a government Website. Financial and policy support, coupled with technological progress, will help the country feed itself, Sun added.

China's demand for food contributed to record gains in agricultural commodities this year, Bloomberg News said. Increased domestic production may boost stockpiles of grain and reduce import needs, while helping to ease inflation that reached an 11-year high in February.

"Agricultural infrastructure is still fragile," Sun said. It's becoming increasingly difficult to achieve self-sufficiency in grains and other products, he added.

China has 226 million registered rural residents working in urban centers, buying food instead of growing it, the minister said. In the past 10 years, city dwellers' food spending rose 80 percent, stoking demand for meat and feed grains, he said.

Damage from natural disasters, higher costs, declining profits and lack of transport for grain are some of the immediate concerns, Sun said.

In the long run, consumption of grain will rise because of increased demand for food, animal feed and industrial usage, as well as population growth, Sun said.

Spending to support agriculture this year gained 85 percent from a year ago to 95 billion yuan (US$13.6 billion), Sun said.

While the world faces a possible food crisis, China has seen only "reasonable" gains in agricultural product prices, Sun said. Food stockpiles are twice the world average, and include about 40 million to 50 million tons of rice, he said.

"We have food in our hands, so no stress in our hearts."



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« Reply #23 on: May 11, 2008, 10:12:50 AM »

Friday, May 09, 2008Print This Page
Exports to Egypt Resume in Face of Cruelty
AUSTRALIA - Australia has agreed to resume live cattle exports to Egypt after a two year ban, which was put in place as a protest after allegations of cruel Egyptian animal treatment.



According to the International Herald Tribune the Australian Agriculture Minister Tony Burke, who planned to announce the agreement later Friday, told Fairfax newspapers that resumption of exports will be subject to strict conditions, including the cattle being handled according to international standards and slaughtered only at a new "high-quality" facility.

Exports were halted abruptly in 2006 after the previous government reacted to a television documentary showing cattle having their tendons slashed and their eyes poked out by Egyptian cattlemen.


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"Vision showed cattle being pushed off trucks and stabbed in the eyes and tendons" 
RSPCA Australia Scientific Officer, Melina Tensen
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The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has already condemned the recent decision, labelling it a commercial move and saying there was no guarantee that the animals would be handled and slaughtered humanely.

“The Rudd Government should be phasing out the export of live animals for slaughter, not expanding the trade into regions with a proven record of disgraceful animal cruelty,” RSPCA Australia Scientific Officer, Melina Tensen said.

“Public pressure forced the Government to suspend the trade to Egypt after revelations of shocking treatment of cattle in that country. Vision showed cattle being pushed off trucks and stabbed in the eyes and tendons.

“The sad reality is that cruel handling practices are occurring right now all throughout the Middle East, yet the Rudd Government not only allows the trade to continue but is supporting its expansion.

“The Government is doing this on the assumption that the live export industry is vital to the Australian economy despite the fact that there has actually been no proper economic analysis into an alternative meat-only trade.

“Both the Government and the live export industry also conveniently ignore the fact that during the suspension to Egypt, beef exports from Australia to Egypt doubled to the value of more than $2.3 million in 2006/07.

“While the Government claims the new abattoir in Egypt meets international animal welfare standards, there is absolutely no guarantee that, without continuous close monitoring, animals will be handled and slaughtered humanely.

“RSPCA Australia is calling on the Government to stop stalling and put animal welfare ahead of the bottom line.”



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« Reply #24 on: May 11, 2008, 10:15:54 AM »

Friday, May 09, 2008Print This Page
Contributing to Global Warming
While ruminants can be blamed for significant emissions of methane and nitrous oxide into the earth's atmosphere, vegetable and cereal production also contribute to global warming.



This was one of the main conclusions from a BBC radio programme broadcast this week.

The programme in the Costing the Earth series looked at the theory often put forward by the vegetarian lobby that if there were no farm animals reared for meat methane emissions would be reduced and it would be better for the climate.

However, the programme showed that growing crops also had an effect on global warming through the loss of carbon by tilling the soil.

It also showed there was a loss of biodiversity without grazing animals.

The programme said that Oxford University's Farm Animal Initiative shows a 50 per cent reduction in birds, bees and butterflies on ungrazed land on its research site.

"So eating meat is perhaps not as bad for the planet as it may at first seem. And surprisingly, some forms of intensive farming score better than extensive," the BBC said.

"Chickens raised indoors are far less environmentally damaging than those allowed to roam free range. That's because they need less feed to keep them warm, and they grow quickly, making them the most efficient converters of food into meat.

"Dairy products from intensively reared cows are also much more climate friendly, as those gaseous emissions from bovine mouths and behinds can be far better controlled by keeping cattle indoors."



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« Reply #25 on: May 11, 2008, 10:17:58 AM »

Friday, May 09, 2008Print This Page
Bluetongue Protection Zone Extended
UK - DEFRA has announced that the bluetongue protection zones will be extended on Monday 12 May, following the delivery of additional doses of bluetongue vaccine.Vaccination is only permitted within the protection zone.


To extend the coverage of the vaccination programme the two current protection zones are being merged, taking in all of Hampshire and West Sussex.

The protection zone will also be extended into all of Lincolnshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.The surveillance zone is unaffected.A further 1 million doses of vaccine, available in 50-dose bottles, are available for use in the protection zone.Livestock keepers in the areas coming into the protection zone on Monday (12 May) will be able to obtain vaccine from that date.

They are encouraged to order vaccine now so that they can protect their livestock at the earliest opportunity.Animals can only be moved out of the protection zone if they are vaccinated, naturally immune or for slaughter, subject to meeting certain conditions.



Source: FarmersWeekly
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« Reply #26 on: May 12, 2008, 07:21:22 AM »

Friday, May 09, 2008Print This Page
Feeders Could Bring Factory Cartel to It's Knees
UK - The Irish Farmers Association, National Livestock Chairman, Michael Doran, said to break the factory cartel on cattle prices, winter feeders should realise the strength of their bargaining position and stop selling cattle at current quoted prices.



Feeders can insist on a minimum base price of €3.50/kg for next week, the same price that was available three weeks ago.

Michael Doran said the factories are controlling numbers to control prices. He said the only way to break this cartel is for feeders to put an immediate handbrake on supplies and insist on a minimum based price for next week.

The IFA livestock leader said all the facts favoured the feeders and prices can rise significantly over the coming weeks. - Cattle supplies in Ireland and the UK are extremely tight. At best factories have 1 to 2 days kill ahead of them. - Market prices in the UK, our main market are up 20c/Kg over the last two weeks and continue to rise. - Sterling has strengthened from 80.8p to 78p against the Euro in the last two weeks. - There are no supplies of South American beef imports available on the market.

The IFA man said costs have rocketed this year, up 50c to 70c/Kg after feeding cattle. For a six-month winter, feeders are not going to allow the factories control prices at this critical stage.

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« Reply #27 on: May 12, 2008, 07:23:19 AM »

Friday, May 09, 2008Print This Page
Cows Gone! What Now?
CANADA - When the last cow finally leaves the ranch, a lot of perennial forage remains. The reasons for herd reduction are varied, one of which is slumping feed margins mainly due to rising feed costs.

 

In relation to the current grain outlook, this may pose an opportunity to grow something different, if the proper machinery and resources are available.

“On the Canadian prairies, direct seeding of annual crops into unwanted pasture and hayland is an emerging trend,” says Ron Heller, extension agronomist with Alberta Reduced Tillage LINKAGES (RTL), Vermilion.

“Commonly referred to as sod seeding, this practice has achieved a high degree of success in different soils and crops. Technically feasible, the economics surpass traditional tillage-based removal methods, such as plough and disc, mainly due to an extreme savings in fuel, time and machinery.”

Sod seeding research done in Western Canada stipulates three conditions in order to maximize profit:

forage termination initiated in the year ahead of seeding, with herbicide
adequate forage and weed control achieved before seeding
subsequent in-crop strategies to control volunteer forage and weeds
“There is still more to discover about sod seeding and its fit in further diversifying crop rotations,” says Heller. “For example, some forgotten data from old research work indicates superior yields for peas. In two Alberta studies (Keng and Sprout, 1995-97), sod seeding peas into fall-applied glyphosate forage stands was consistently best when compared with spring-applied or tillage treatments of barley or canola. This advantage is likely due to large seed size of pea and low fertilizer-N needs - peas being a crop that fixes its own nitrogen.”

According to most trials Heller has seen, forage termination last August would have been the preferred strategy to start the important decomposition and moisture-saving benefits that make sod seeding work so well. “However, peas can be seeded earlier or later than just about any other crop,” he says, “provided the sod has been properly terminated and weeds have been controlled, especially perennials such as quackgrass and dandelions. If time and opportunity permit a grower to terminate perennial forage in the spring, peas’ short-maturity nature might benefit with such an approach.”

Planning and preparation for cropping a spring-terminated forage stand can be intense, but possible. A plus for peas into sod is that only simple single-shoot machinery is required if no fertilizer is used, except for perhaps some seed-placed starter amounts.

“Old sod tends to be nutrient deficient, so growers should have a soil test to determine if there are any nutrient deficiencies and that crop needs will be met. Finding clean seed and inoculants might be the biggest problem,” warns Heller. “There normally shouldn’t be any carry-over danger for peas in sod from herbicide residue, disease pathogens, or insect pests. Agronomically, peas fit better than canola or wheat, but there is always the question of growing season outcome if peas go in the ground too late, the risk for any crop, but certainly more so on spring-killed sod.”

Another common practice in peas is to roll the field before emergence. Rolling helps at harvest since peas often lay down when mature. This practice will certainly be important for seeding into freshly terminated sod this spring.

“The difference between well-rotted sod sprayed out the previous fall and a spring-time termination will be most evident in the way the seeding implements perform and field-finish,” adds Heller. “It is likely best to slow down and run as shallow as possible without stranding the seed in the thatch layer. It’s vital that seed is set and covered in moist soil. Some direct seeding systems achieve this better than others. Experience counts, although the best way to learn is to try, so maybe start with only a small field.”

Growers considering sod seeding for the first time may want to discuss it with someone who has done it. “RTL’s Farmer-to-Farmer direct seeding network is a great way for novice sod seeders to get some inside-training,” says Heller. “We can match someone to their circumstances, almost like a mentor. Based on experience, machinery and location, what works, what doesn’t and why can quickly be identified.”

Sod seeding of peas and even Round-Up Ready corn are two different, but good cropping options with rotation potential for direct seeders or the cattleman who wants to try something different.



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« Reply #28 on: May 13, 2008, 08:02:18 AM »

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Monday, May 12, 2008Print This Page
DNA Animal Tracing Coming to US Shores
US - A company that can trace meat back to the original animal using DNA technology, in order to verify label claims, has begun to target US retailers.



According to USA Today, the Irish based company, IdentiGEN Ltd., which has opened U.S. operations in Lawrence, Kan., wants retailers here to use its DNA TraceBack technology on hamburger, steak, pork and other meats that end up in stores. The company says the technology can determine not only where the meat came from, but whether it's organic or Angus or whatever the label says.

IdentiGEN, which takes DNA samples at slaughterhouses and again in stores, has been using its technology since 2000 in Europe, where company officials say they've made a major impact improving customer trust since the mad cow outbreaks. Now, it has the approval of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"If you see DNA TraceBack label, believe it," IdentiGEN Chief Executive Officer Don Marvin was quoted as saying "It's true. It's DNA."


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"Here's a pretty powerful tool to help the market here in Kansas and in this region of states to say 'here's a product that is not just perceived as safe and secure, it actually is." 
Kastner, a professor of animal sciences and director of the school's Food Science Institute
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Marvin said it's the first program successfully deployed for real-time DNA traceability of the entire supply chain. Bovigen LLC, a Louisiana-based company recently purchased by Pfizer Animal Health, also has Agriculture Department approval for its DNA collecting process, but the company plans to use it only to help livestock producers identify beef cattle for specific traits for breeding purposes, said spokesman Rick Goulart.

The story goes on to say that IdentiGEN has just entered the North American market, so it will have to convince some within the industry that the technology is needed. Dave Schafer, executive director of the Kansas Meat Processors Association, was cited as saying he remains skeptical, because there is no proof of a lack of safety in the industry, which might not want to add even more costs to already high food prices.

But Marvin said IdentiGEN's technology could have helped reduce how much meat had to be recalled when humane violations were discovered at Westland/Hallmark Meat in Chino, Calif. IdentiGEN already counts British grocer Tesco, Ireland-based Superquinn and Dunnes Stores as customers and plans to announce at least three major U.S. companies in the next few months. Both Tesco and Superquinn launched marketing campaigns after implementing the DNA TraceBack, but the U.S retailers haven't publicly announced their use of the product.

Kansas State University professor Curtis Kastner was cited as saying the DNA tracking is an enhancement to ear tags on cattle now used by many farmers. Kastner, a professor of animal sciences and director of the school's Food Science Institute, said besides the safety and consumer confidence advantages, the meat could also be marketed to other countries.

"Here's a pretty powerful tool to help the market here in Kansas and in this region of states to say 'here's a product that is not just perceived as safe and secure, it actually is,"' Kastner added.


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« Reply #29 on: May 13, 2008, 08:04:18 AM »

Monday, May 12, 2008Print This Page
Help Needed for Surviving Livestock of Cyclone
MYANMAR - An emergency veterinary team from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is on stand-by in Thailand awaiting authority to enter cyclone struck Myanmar to assess and then relieve the suffering of thousands of animals that human survivors depend on for food and their livelihoods.



WSPA is receiving daily updates from The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) while preparing its Rapid Assessment and Response Team.


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"If those that survived die, so too will the livelihoods of thousands of people." 
Philip Russell MBE, WSPA's Director of Disaster Management
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Philip Russell MBE, WSPA's Director of Disaster Management, said: "No-one else, Governments, humanitarian NGOs or owners have the resources to care for these animals, most of which are owned by poor impoverished families. If those that survived die, so too will the livelihoods of thousands of people."

He added that, as WSPA so often finds, when operating in emergencies many families will have or be in the process of selling off their remaining livestock at severely reduced prices to ensure some monetary value for immediate subsistence, mainly because they cannot now keep them alive.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are also planning to join WSPA's emergency response team in assessing and responding to the needs of animals.

One way of helping to stop the spread of disease is to separate animals into temporary holding pens. Emergency feed will also be needed as it is unlikely that there is any food for surviving livestock in and around camps, or spare hay of any type will be available in Myanmar. Any precious grass that is not ruined by the flood will be owned by individuals and will not be for sale.

Wet conditions, lowered immune systems, endemic disease such as Foot and Mouth and overcrowded camps create a highly disease prone and contagious environment. WSPA will seek to advise government livestock veterinarians on the need to deliver veterinary checks to enable preventative treatment in the form of antibiotics, vaccinations and de-worming.

"WSPA works to align animal welfare and humanitarian agendas to reduce poverty, hunger and disease in humans. Equally, by complimenting humanitarian efforts in this way we increase the number of animals we protect," said Russell.



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