-
Harmless or deadly New study examines evolution of E. coli bacteria
Genetic material from E. coli bacteria in farm animals could be contributing to the evolution of deadly pandemic strains of E. coli in humans, new research shows. E. coli usually live as harmless bacteria in the gastrointestinal tracts of birds and mammals, including humans. They also reside, ind...Read more -
Gene-edited pigs are resistant to billion-dollar virus
Scientists have produced pigs that can resist one of the world’s most costly animal diseases, by changing their genetic code. Tests with the virus — called Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, or PRRS — found the pigs do not become infected at all. The animals show no ...Read more -
Farmers Urged To Take Advantage Of Long Rains
Farmers in Kirinyaga have been advised to take advantage of the expected rains and maximize on crop production through appropriate farming and land use management procedures. Kirinyaga County Director of Metrological Services Peter Wambugu said farmers from different areas of the county should li...Read more -
Farmer Groups Venture Into Commercial Animal Feeds
Following rising demand in commercial animal feed, farmers’ groups in Kirinyaga which have hitherto been making dairy feeds have ventured into full commercial feed production. Two of the groups which were supported by the County government of Kirinyaga are now manufacturing poultry feeds to tap i...Read more -
FAO Launches A Month-Long Vets Training In Baringo
The Directorate of Veterinary Services in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched a month-long training for field frontline animal health professionals from 25 counties. Presiding over the launching at Kenya School of Government (KSG), Baringo campus, FAO head of E...Read more -
Drinking water study shows beef cattle can tolerate high levels of sulphates
Scientists at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have published a study that shows beef cattle can tolerate higher concentrations of sulphates in drinking water than previously believed. “There are clear and significant implications for healthy animals from the research,” said Dr. Greg Penn...Read more -
Chickens and pigs with integrated genetic scissors
Researchers at the TUM have demonstrated a way to efficiently study molecular mechanisms of disease resistance or biomedical issues in farm animals. Researchers are now able to introduce specific gene mutations into a desired organ or even correct existing genes without creating new animal models...Read more -
The Best of Both Breeds UConn studying best feeding practices for crossbred calves
Cattle farmers have historically raised cattle specifically suited for either dairy or beef production. But farmers are now looking to get the best of both worlds with crossbred calves who will produce better beef than purebred dairy calves. University of Connecticut associate professor of animal...Read more -
Sexed semen a game changer for Damara stud
Using sexed semen in an artificial insemination programme carries a 90% assurance that the surrogate animal will deliver offspring of the desired sex. Annelie Coleman spoke to Damara farmer Stan Burger and embryo-flushing expert Dr Fanie Steyn about the technical process and how to prepare the su...Read more -
Santa Gertrudis bulls show their value in extended veld tests
The motto of the Bosveld Santa Gertrudis Study Group is: We think differently. The group’s quest is to provide the best possible veld-adapted genetics to the South African beef cattle industry. To that effect, the group has implemented innovative bull veld tests coupled with strict selection proc...Read more -
Antibiotic-resistant strains of staph bacteria may be spreading between pigs raised in factory farms
DNA sequencing of bacteria found in pigs and humans in rural eastern North Carolina, an area with concentrated industrial-scale pig-farming, suggests that multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains are spreading between pigs, farmworkers, their families and community residents, and represe...Read more -
Pharmaceutical residues in sewage sludge and cattle manure do not have the feared effect
Pharmaceutical residues and chemicals from personal care products in sewage sludge and cattle manure do not have a detectable toxic effect on nematodes living in agricultural fields, according to 14-year-long experiments by the University of Copenhagen. At the same time, manure and sewage sludge ...Read more -
New study says dairy calves are social animals
A new study in JDS Communications® explores young calves’ motivation to seek companionship Most dairy calves are housed individually in the first weeks and sometimes months of their lives, a practice that has come under scrutiny for its effects on animal behavior, welfare and health. Despite grow...Read more -
Medical breakthrough could help produce more beef
A recent research breakthrough in human medicine could help a Texas A&M Department of Animal Science researcher find a way to increase beef production to help meet the demands of global population growth. Bos indicus cattle breeds are very important to global beef production due to their adap...Read more -
Fast food gobbling larvae could replace soy in livestock diet
Larvae such as those of the black soldier fly (BSF) can form an important new link in circular agriculture. They grow well on unused waste streams such as catering waste or pig manure, which are currently not yet permitted to be fed to insect larvae. This allows us in the future to utilize nutrie...Read more -
Estimating and Supplying Equine Forage Requirements
During the winter, horse owners may wonder if they have enough forages to last their until warm-season pastures regrow. The best practice for determining forage needs over the winter is to calculate the horse’s body weight, estimate intake, and calculate how many months hay will be fed. These sim...Read more -
Embryo flushing Fast-tracking herd genetics is worth every cent’
Last year, the Stofbergs, who own the Platfdrif Sussex Stud and farm near Rawsonville in the Boland, became some of the first Sussex cattle breeders in South Africa to use embryo flushing. Owner Nollie Stofberg says the family took this step in memory of his second-eldest son, David, who died in ...Read more -
Common Diseases of Dairy Goats and Sheep
Abortion Many things, including toxic agents, congenital abnormalities, and infectious diseases, can cause abortions. The most common infectious microorganisms that cause abortions in goats and sheep are the following: chlamydiosis (Chlamydia psittaci) query or Queensland (Q) fever (Coxiella bur...Read more -
Botswana beef farmers ‘at the mercy’ of cattle buyers
That country’s cattle population had declined from around three million head in 2012 to one million in 2021, and 80% of its cattle were farmed by smallholders, according to recent statistics from Botswana’s agriculture ministry. In interviews with Farmer’s Weekly, smallholder beef farmers in Bots...Read more -
Beef Herd Management Strategies
Learn key management practices to improve sustainability in small herd operations. Cow-calf operation sustainability involves the efficient use of resources on-farm to improve herd profitability and farm productivity now and for future generations. For operations with less than fifty head of catt...Read more -
WHAT IS ANTHRAX AND WHAT CAUSES IT
Anthrax is a naturally occuring disease with worldwide distribution. It is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming bacteria that can remain alive, but dormant in the soil for many years. The bacteria can “bloom” and contaminate surface soil and grass after periods of wet, cool w...Read more -
Understanding parturition a risk management tool for cow-calf operations
A review of the stages of parturition can help lessen anxieties of cow-calf operators and protect producer investment in their animals during the upcoming calving season, said Oklahoma State University Extension experts. There are three stages to parturition. It is not unusual for stage one – the...Read more -
Turning young bulls into productive herd sires
Environmental factors, of which herd management forms an integral part, exert a 70% influence on the performance of an adult bull, whereas genetics account for only 30%. This means that the nutrition of young bulls is crucial to ensuring a top-performing adult animal, according to Dr Francois van...Read more -
Tips for a Successful Dry-Off Using Selective Dry Cow Therapy (SDCT)
Why Selective Dry Cow Therapy (SDCT)? Keep Mastitis and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) Low Dairy farms around the world are shifting to selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) to improve the judicious use of antibiotics without compromising cow health or welfare. Mathijs Bakker, dairy veterinarian and consult...Read more
mobile station