Veterinarians are farmer's best friend.

Veterinarians are farmer's best friend,according to a new study carried out by staff at Ulster University The study shows that farmers are more likely to off-load any worries they have to veterinarians than other professionals they come in contact with. The study according to lead author shows that veterinarians significantly outscore GPs when it comes to farmers discussing stress-related matters.Farmers obviously regard vets as a very trusting group of professionals. Farmers and their spouses have been shown to suffer more anxiety and depression than non-farmers. Suicide is the second most common cause of death, after accidents, involving young farmers. In addition, suicide is also a significant cause of mortality in older and retired farmers and amongst farmers’ wives. see The major stressors were coping with red tape and bureaucracy and occupational stress,though not limited to farming but of higher incidence in farmers. source

Disinfectants and cleaners for greenhouses.

Disinfectants and cleaners for greenhouses.Cleaning and disinfecting your buildings and equipment such as waterlines, header tanks, benches, walkways, etc. will help minimize the risk of spreading disease by ensuring that your environment is a place where biofilm is regularly attacked and eliminated. Disinfectants include; 1) Biosentry-904. 2) Virkon-greenhouse. more

Growing greenhouse produce on a polymer film.

In Japan ,a scientist has shown how to grow fruits and vegetables on a polymer film.Film farming is the brainchild of Yuichi Mori, the chemical physicist who founded Mebiol in 1995. Mori spent the majority of his career developing polymer technologies for the medical industry. However, he had long been fascinated by plant biology and found inspiration in the adaptability of the vegetable kingdom. He began by growing a small patch of grass on hydrogel film under LED lights. After more than a decade of experimentation, Mori and his colleagues developed a soil-free farming system that could be used to cultivate crops in greenhouses on a large scale. The polymer film is the key to a cutting-edge farming method that makes it possible to grow fruits and vegetables on practically any flat exterior. Made of hydrogel – a super absorbent material typically used in household products such as disposable diapers – the film works by soaking up water and nutrients through a multitude of nano-sized pores measuring one millionth of a millimetre in diameter. Plants grow on top of the film, but instead of digging into the ground, the roots spread across the surface of the membrane in wispy, fan-like formations. more

Veterinary diagnostics: how to use MRI to manage hock,suspensory ligament injuries in horses.

Veterinary diagnostics comes in handy when presented with an injured horse. MRI is magnetic resonance imaging and it aids diagnosis of cases of injured hock and suspensory ligaments and fractures . Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields to create cross-sectional and three-dimensional images of both bony and soft tissue structures, allowing easy visualization of multiple tissue types at once. MRI is used to assess shape of internal structures' ,to check for fractures or tears and size of structures to determine if its inflammation or atrophy, and also used to examine the intensity which can indicate edema or fluid collecting in bones or soft tissue. The MRI should be done on affected limb and opposite limb for comparison ,the MRI is usually carried out when proper lameness examination has been carried out. MRI can be used to visualize damage to the articular surfaces of the upper and lower hock joints. The MRI has been used to identify horses with lower hock cartilage/bone damage associated with the joints, as well as the bones surrounding the inter tarsal ligaments.

Protecting pets from seasonal allergies.

Pet allergies can be triggered by grasses, pollen and dust mites that manifest as skin and ear problems or other issues. Seasonal allergies are very disturbing not only to pet but owners as well. It often starts with an itch after contact with allergen then the itching progresses to soft spots which are often foci for infection. The signs of seasonal allergies are skin conditions such as red spots, skin infections, and recurring ear infections. Seasonal allergies can be dealt with if only the allergen is identified using allergy testing by blood test,when this is determined then the allergen is prepared as an oral medication and given to the pet to promote tolerance to the allergen when encountered. <

Concerns about hepatitis E virus in pork in UK.

British doctors have reported that consumers have been found infected with hepatitis E that can be found in pork that is produced in mainland Europe. The Sunday Times reported about a publication by Public Health England (PHE), in which a new strain of hepatitis E (HEv) is linked to pig farms in France, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. Reportedly, it has infected over 60,000 people in the UK per year. The strain may have ended up in about 10% of sausages. Public Health England showed the number of severe cases had almost trebled since 2010, with 1,244 reported in 2016 to 368 6 years earlier. The strain used to be mainly a tropical disease but has now mutated to infect livestock. It causes an illness in humans that looks like influenza. It is only killed in the meat if consumers cook the food for longer than normal. The virus commonly referred to as Brexit virus attacks the liver and nerves . It is particularly dangerous for people with suppressed immune systems such as those who have had organ transplants and possibly cancer. more

Breaking into the milk market: India’s top dairy alternatives

Breaking into the milk market: India’s top dairy alternatives: Vegetarian-friendly plant-based milk alternatives are poised to put pressure on traditional dairy in heavily vegetarian India.