Model assesses interventions for bovine tuberculosis in Morocco.

Researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have used a disease modeling approach to analyze the cost and effectiveness of interventions aimed at bovine tuberculosis among cattle in Morocco. In many developing countries, a significant fraction of the tuberculosis burden comes potentially from the tuberculosis bacteria carried by animals, essentially cattle. The efforts to reduce the tuberculosis burden therefore, must include strategies to reduce incidence of the bacteria in animals using "One Health" approach. Around 18 percent of cattle in Morocco carry Mycobacterim bovis, which can cause tuberculosis in humans who catch the bacteria from consuming raw milk or being in contact with infected animals. One previous study found that 17.8% of drug resistant TB among humans in Morocco was due to M. bovis rather than the classic Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The main strategy to control bovine tuberculosis (BTB)in Morocco is based on a test and slaughter scheme, but testing is not mandatory. In the study,researchers used a mathematical model of Bovine tuberculosis transmission from cattle to cattle and cattle to humans in order to assess the disease cost and simulate interventions. They assumed a prevalence of 18% among cattle and used annual data on cattle numbers collected by the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture. The model showed that the time for bovine tuberculosis elimination ranged from 12 years -- with a hundred percent tested -- to 75 years -- when only 20 percent of cattle were tested annually.The simulation also suggested that using a more conservative cutoff for a positive skin test for Bovine tuberculosis would result in cheaper and quicker elimination of the disease.

FRESH-AIR MEAT.

Fresh air meat refers to products derived from pastured livestock,animals raised by sustainable methods.This is the story of a farm raising animals in a sustainable manner ,with increased yield and profit. Continue

AVIAN INFLUENZA: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.

In 1996, an H5 avian influenza was identified in geese in Guangdong, China. Almost 20 years later, a variation of that virus wiped out 48 million birds in the U.S. How did the virus get from China to the U.S.? Why did it take 20 years? And how did it spread so rapidly? Those are questions that Travis Schaal, internal technical services manager at Hy-Line International, is trying to answer to ensure that the devastation caused by the virus from 2014 to 2015 isn’t repeated again. continue

COW FERTILITY, SOIL HEALTH, AND COW EFFICIENCY.

Cow fertility: This is one of the left-behind traits of the cattle industry, says Megan Rolf, an animal breeding professor at Kansas State University. While many cattle traits, such as daily gain and muscle quality, have benefited greatly from research, fertility traits like pregnancy rate and calving percentage have stayed fairly stagnant over many years. “What we need to do is find out how to get more cow pregnancies early in the breeding season, and then maintain more of them to term,” says Rolf. A growing database of genomic information on animals assists her and colleagues at other colleges have a project that will use the power of data and computers to plan matings of cows and bulls to eliminate some that could have a lethal ending because of a recessive gene trait. This would enhance fertility – more cows that get bred stay bred. The cattle breed associations control most of this genetic data and will impact how soon this system makes its way to your ranch. A group of animal geneticists from around the country is conducting a study to find if there is a genetic connection to bovine respiratory disease (BRD), the biggest disease scourge to the beef industry. Alison Van Eenennaam of the University of California-Davis tells beef producers that 1.4% of feedlot cattle die before harvest, many of them of BRD. Continue

3 circular principles for healthy agriculture.

3 circular principles for healthy agriculture.Proponents of the regenerative economy are realizing that it is dependent on the circular economy of soil. The soil is one of the key natural capitals on which we all depend. Its loss is our demise. Three ways to move towards regenerative agriculture: 1) return farming systems to harmony with nature’s cycles. 2) make and use biochar. 3)implement holistic management across the world’s grasslands. Most of the climate crisis results from burning fossil fuels, but almost a quarter of the problem derives from agriculture. After 150 years of unsustainable practices, the earth’s soil has been depleted. Modern agriculture worsens climate change. Unchecked, climate change will destroy our tenuous ability to feed ourselves. For every 1 degree Celsius rise in temperature above the norm, yields of wheat, rice and corn drop 10 percent. Given that more than a billion people in the world already suffer from malnutrition. Soil that has been de-carbonized (lost its organic matter) requires large amounts of fossil fuel-based fertilizer if it is to grow crops at industrial scale. Petrochemical use in fertilizer releases greenhouse gasses (GHGs), especially nitrous oxide, a gas 300 times more potent per ton in causing global warming than CO2. Plowing and poor nutrient management release the nitrogen from soils in quantities. When out of place, both carbon and nitrogen, key building blocks of life in nature, are serious threats to the stability of the climate. continue

PetLife Pharmaceuticals Producing Cancer Drug From Venom Of The Caribbean Blue Scorpion.

PetLife Pharmaceuticals, Inc a developer of a new generation of high potency veterinary cancer medications and nutraceuticals for pets. PetLife Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (OTC:PTLF) is launching a new generation of all natural veterinary cancer medications and nutraceuticals, based on the venom of the Caribbean Blue Scorpion. This treatment is based on the same patented formula and production processes used in the human formulation known as Escozine™. PetLife's mission is to bring its new, scientifically proven, non-toxic, potentiated bioactive nutraceuticals and prescription medication, Vitalzul™, to the world of veterinary oncology—with the ultimate goal of preventing cancer and extending the life of pets suffering from cancer while improving their quality of life. In the US alone, consumer spending on domestic companion animals reached over $60 billion in 2015 with over $29 billion spent on veterinary care and medications. WHAT IS VITALZUL™? see more

Fish oil asthma benefits may be blocked by medication

Fish oil asthma benefits may be blocked by medication: Omega-3 fatty acids could reduce the production of antibodies that cause allergic reactions and asthma symptoms. But the possible benefits are reduced by asthma medication, say researchers.