Reading Time: 3 minutes We have all heard of corona virus being one of the main causes of viral scours in our newborn calves. It and a couple of strains of rotavirus are the two main viruses we see in our scours vaccines. (It also causes a winter dysentery bloody diarrhea in mature cattle, especially housed dairy cattle in […] Read more
Watch for newer respiratory pathogens
Beef 911: Corona virus and B. trehalosi bacteria aren’t always easy to spot
VIDO to develop vaccines against TB and Johne’s
Reading Time: < 1 minute The hunt is on for new vaccines that would protect cattle and bison against bovine TB and Johne’s disease. The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) has developed a number of vaccines since its founding 40 years ago. The University of Saskatchewan-based centre has now been given $2.9 million from Genome Canada […] Read more
USDA moves to build vaccine stockpile for bird flu return
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday it has put out a request for proposals to help the nation’s veterinarians have access to bird flu vaccines for poultry this fall, in preparation for the potential return of the fast-spreading avian influenza virus. The agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) […] Read more
Anthrax warning issued after two bison die near North Battleford
There is a greater risk of anthrax in dry conditions and a sudden unexplained death is the key warning sign
Reading Time: 2 minutes Authorities are warning that the anthrax danger is higher after two bison northwest of North Battleford, Sask. recently died after contracting the highly contagious disease. “Whenever we have drier summers, anthrax is always a higher risk,” said Dr. Kent Weir, associate veterinarian with Weir Veterinary services in Lloydminster. Anthrax spores can survive for decades in […] Read more
USDA refuses farmers’ requests on avian flu vaccine
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it would not allow commercial release of a poultry vaccine to fight the worst outbreak of bird flu in U.S. history because it was not effective enough. The agency said in a notice that additional criteria must be met before a vaccine can be […] Read more
U.S. bird flu causes egg shortage, emergency measures
Chicago/New York | Reuters — As a virulent avian influenza outbreak continues to spread across the Midwestern U.S., some egg-dependent companies are contemplating drastic steps — importing eggs from overseas or looking to egg alternatives. A spokeswoman for Archer Daniels Midland said that as egg supplies tighten and prices rise, the food processing and commodities […] Read more
U.S. could use vaccines being developed to fight bird flu in poultry
Chicago | Reuters — Faced with a deadly bird flu outbreak that has infected millions of chickens and turkeys, the U.S. Agriculture Department could turn to what it has always seen as a last resort: readying and deploying a vaccine to fight the disease. Up to now, USDA has said it would prefer not to […] Read more
U.S. developing bird flu vaccine, no distribution plans yet
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. government is developing a vaccine to protect poultry from new strains of avian flu that have recently killed birds from Arkansas to Washington state. Within two months, scientists at a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research lab in Georgia will test the vaccine on chickens to see how well […] Read more
E. coli vaccine not effective in feedlot cattle
Study at two commercial feedlots finds minimal reduction of E. coli 0157
Reading Time: < 1 minute A study of a vaccine for controlling E. coli 0157 in the feces of feedlot cattle has found it was not effective. The study was conducted with cattle from two commercial feedlots to evaluate to see if the vaccine would reduce the number of E. coli 0157 shed in cattle feces. If the cattle carried […] Read more
Highly contagious IBR on the rise in cow herds
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis causes abortions and leads to massive losses in a naive cow herd
Reading Time: 2 minutes Sooner or later folks say, everything old is new again. In the case of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), that is not what a cattle producer wants to hear. “We are seeing IBR raising its head again in cow herds,” says Dr. Cec Ruschkowski of Oyen Veterinary Clinic. The disease is often viewed as a feedlot […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
