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How farm dams can maintain biodiversity on farm
This is the hypothesis University of New England aquatic biologist Dr Debbie Bower is about to test as part of a $425,469 Australian Research Council grant. While their primary role is for agricultural water storage, there is evidence that over two million farms dams in Australia – which ac...Read more -
Health and safety do’s and don’ts for farmers
“Health and safety is a critical component that should be central to every business strategy. After all, healthy workers are the heartbeat of any business,” says Jahni de Villiers, director at Labour Amplified. To this end, she adds, it is essential that employers adhere to the requirements of th...Read more -
Grazing management of salt marshes contributes to coastal defense
Combining natural salt marsh habitats with conventional dikes may provide a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative for fully engineered flood protection. Researchers of the University of Groningen (UG) and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) studied how salt marsh nat...Read more -
A Minimally Replicative Vaccine Protects Vaccinated Piglets Against Challenge With the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus
Citation:Singh G, Singh P, Pillatzki A, Nelson E, Webb B, Dillberger-Lawson S and Ramamoorthy S (2019) A Minimally Replicative Vaccine Protects Vaccinated Piglets Against Challenge With the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus. Front. Vet. Sci.6:347. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00347 Porcine epidemic diar...Read more -
Global Roundtable Commits to Reduce Net Global Warming Impact of Beef 30% by 2030
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), announced the launch of its global sustainability goals – commitments to advance and improve the sustainability of the global beef value chain. Established by GRSB, the goals will be led and implemented by members of the Roundtable. One of the bi...Read more -
Genome technology is blueprint to more productive herds
Genome technology has unlocked new cattle breeding methods which could improve fertility and lead to increases in profitability, sustainability and productivity. University of Queensland researcher Professor Ben Hayes co-developed the technology – called genomic selection – which could produce di...Read more -
From meadow to plate The cultured meat that replaces animals with grass
An affordable lab system that uses grass blades to turn cells into cultured meat has been developed at the University of Bath in the UK. Researchers have successfully taken grass from the university’s campus and used it to create a scaffold that animal cells can attach to and grow on. The r...Read more -
Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan in China Visit Chongqing Fangtong Animal Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd
On July 7, 2021, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan in China and president of China Uzbekistan Business Association, made a special trip to Rongchang District,Chongqing City to investigate the development of animal husbandry and biopharmaceutical industry. Accompanied by relevant gover...Read more -
Boost productivity with heifers
Good heifer management should aim for early puberty, a higher weaning rate, low mortality and early identification of female animals for turn-off. The goal is to ensure that only efficient first-calf cows enter the main cow herd at three years of age. Heifers have greater nutritional demands than...Read more -
5 ways animals help reduce global poverty
One in eight people around the world will go to bed hungry. At Heifer International, we believe livestock has a really important role to play in ending global hunger and poverty. Here are 5 reasons why. 1. Animals provide nutritious food In poor countries, many people — especially women and girls...Read more -
Aberdeen Angus
Aberdeen Angus History The Aberdeen Angus breed (or Angus as it is known internationally) was developed in the early part of the 19th Century from the polled and predominantly black cattle of North east Scotland known locally as “doddies” and “hummlies”. As with oth...Read more -
Africander
Africander History Africander cattle (also known as Afrikaner), were developed from the native Khoi-Khoi cattle of the Cape of Good Hope which are thought to have arisen from the longhorned Zebu and the Egyptian longhorn and is a native South African breed. The Africander belongs to the Sanga typ...Read more -
Gene-edited livestock ‘surrogate sires’ successfully made fertile
For the first time, scientists have created pigs, goats and cattle that can serve as viable “surrogate sires,” male animals that produce sperm carrying only the genetic traits of donor animals. The advance, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Sept. 14, could speed ...Read more -
Genetic link between cattle temperament and autism
A strong association between the genes influencing cattle temperament and autism in humans has been discovered by University of Queensland researchers. UQ genomic expert Professor Ben Hayes said the research by his interdisciplinary team headed by Dr Roy Costilla could lead to improved animal wel...Read more -
Revealing the diversity of genes behind better alfalfa hay
Alfalfa is a major Northwest crop and an important food source for dairy cattle and other livestock worldwide. Scientists at Washington State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and partner institutions have identified 10 genetic markers and promising parent varieties that could boost...Read more -
Influenza A Virus in Swine: Epidemiology, Challenges and Vaccination Strategies
itation:Mancera Gracia JC, Pearce DS, Masic A and Balasch M (2020) Influenza A Virus in Swine: Epidemiology, Challenges and Vaccination Strategies. Front. Vet. Sci.7:647. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00647 Influenza A viruses cause acute respiratory infections in swine that result in significant econo...Read more -
The importance of sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing bovine mastitis
Have you ever received a “no growth” result in a bacterial culture when trying to diagnose mastitis? About 40–50% of clinically abnormal milk samples tested with traditional culture will come back with a “no growth” result, leaving dairy farmers right where they started—with a mastitic cow and no...Read more -
The importance of breeding seasons and good male genetics
Young animals, especially lambs, stand little chance of survival if born during winter, when night temperatures in some areas can drop far below zero. Ewes and dams will also struggle to produce milk in the absence of nutritious green or cultivated pastures. In addition to planned breeding season...Read more -
Tackling a widespread pig zoonosis
A zoonosis is a disease that can pass from animals to humans. The effects can range from mild, such as ringworm, to deadly, such as rabies. The World Organisation for Animal Health highlights a number of disturbing statistics: No less than 60% of existing human infectious diseases are zoonoses. A...Read more -
Regenerative farming for livestock farmers
Faced with increasing financial and ecological pressure, livestock farmers have no other option but to become more sustainable and resilient. Fortunately, explains independent agricultural consultant Dr Louis du Pisani, the solution can be found in well-managed veld, which also contributes direct...Read more -
Pregnancy checking replacement heifers helps protect investment
Cattle producers who breed spring-calving replacement heifers about a month ahead of mature cows need to determine which heifers failed to conceive in their first breeding season, according to Oklahoma State University recommendations. Many Oklahoma cow-calf operators like to use a shortened 45- ...Read more -
Managing a sheep flock before, during and after drought
As every South African farmer knows, droughts are a frequent reality in the country. According to Prof Tertius Brand, a specialist scientist in animal nutrition at Elsenburg and a presenter during a recent webinar on drought recovery, parts of South Africa are hit by droughts at an average rate o...Read more -
Inbreeding, outcrossing, line breeding and hybrid vigour
Inbreeding, outcrossing, line breeding and hybrid vigour are well understood by racehorse breeders. When closely related individuals mate, their offspring are generally smaller, less viable or less fertile than the rest of the population. Examples of inbreeding are mating full brothers to sisters...Read more -
High demand for Boer goat meat brings opportunity
André and Brenda Swanepoel’s 9ha smallholding on the outskirts of Mbombela in Mpumalanga is the ideal home for their Boer goat meat production enterprise: it is sufficiently large for their flock and perfectly placed to service the demand for goat meat in the area. One drawback is the subtropical...Read more
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