Environment and climate change:
technology to address ammonia in agriculture
A team of UK scientists is using technology developed for space research to tackle the amount of ammonia agriculture releases into the atmosphere. The work will use a reliable way to monitor and analyze ammonia emission so mitigation procedures can be introduced.
Poultry: Reading the red mite genome leads to control options
An international research team, led by UK scientists, has successfully sequenced the red mite genome - an ectoparasite that can spread a large number of diseases in poultry and causes substantial economic losses for poultry farmers. Unravelling the genome helped researchers understand what drives the physiological process of the mite and determine what processes could be used to control it.
Poultry: Transgenic chicks are flu-resistant
British scientists are developing gene-edited chickens to be resistant to flu in a new approach to try and stop the next human pandemic. Using CRISPR technology, the birds' DNA has been altered to remove protein that the flu virus depends on, making the chicken's completely flu-resistant.
Poultry: New global poultry research hub launched
The One Health Poultry Hub is a new global hub that will focus on reducing the risk of animal-to-human diseases including food poisoning, avian influenza and misuse of antibiotics. The group will be led by London's Royal Veterinary College with partners in Asia, Australia, Europe and the UK, working in Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Swine: Meat inspection data can improve animal welfare
Dutch researchers analyzed meat inspection data and suggest there is a genetic variation for common indicators of poor animal welfare. They reviewed carcass slaughter remarks on more than 140,000 finisher pigs in Germany and have developed a selection index to identify boars that can be used to enhance animal welfare on pig farms. This work demonstrates cooperation along the pork value chain to enhance animal welfare.
Swine: Scoring herd vulnerability to PRRS
A team of researchers at Iowa State University have found a way to give farms a Biosecurity Vulnerability Score (BVS) based on surveys from its PRRS outbreak program. The research shows that farms with higher BVS had PRRS breaks more frequently. The team validated the BVS by surveying biosecurity practices and PRRS outbreaks in 125 breed-to-wean herds in the US.
Swine: New training tool for on-farm euthanasia
A new training tool is the first interactive euthanasia training programme for the US swine industry with the potential to improve timely and on-farm pig euthanasia. The innovative computer-based program covers breeding stock, piglets, and wean to grower-finisher pigs.
Beef: Lessons from a neonatal disease survey
A comprehensive survey with western Canadian veterinarians and their clients looked at the incidence of early calfhood diseases including scours, pneumonia and navel infections. The survey provides a good synopsis of what issues the industry is facing and accepted practices being used in the field.
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Dairy: Innovative packaging reduces milk degradation
Food tech startup Noluma has developed a unique technology that can be used to measure the light protection of milk packaging. Food scientists know that when milk is exposed to light, Vitamin A losses occur after just two hours. The startup partners with food companies on the design of light-protected packaging to keep product contents' intact.
Dairy: New living laboratory to study dairy production
A team of researchers at the University of Bristol will help establish the John Oldacre Centre for Sustainability and Welfare in Dairy Production to tackle the global challenge of ethical food security. The new state-of-the-art living laboratory will train the next generation of veterinarians and agriculturalists to help address the major issues facing agriculture.
Dairy: Investigating transition cow health
Researchers at the University of Guelph are investigating two situations in late-pregnancy cows that are harmful to the cow and her unborn calf. Pregnant cows reduce feed intake just before calving, and simultaneously experience chronic, low-grade, body-wide inflammation. The research team is trying to determine how these conditions affect each other so they can prevent metabolic inflammation that may contribute to health problems.
Sheep: Canadian industry moves lambs on blockchain
A new field trial demonstrated how the Canadian sheep industry can use traceability framework to add value
to Canadian lamb. The trial, named SheepTrace, makes Canada the first country to trace lambing from pasture to plate on blockchain - using existing traceability technologies with new digital tools.
