June 12, 2008
Rome/Beirut (FAO) – Farmers in Southern Lebanon are receiving the first batch of 200 cows and 1 600 goats to help them recover from losses of livestock during the war in July and August 2006, FAO announced today. The delivery is part of a first phase FAO emergency project to assist poor farmers affected by […]
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June 11, 2008
Brussels (EU) – The European Commission adopted a Regulation that will help improve the health of horses, donkeys and other members of the “equine” family, as it creates a better and clearer identification system. All equidae will now have to acquire their individual passports within six months after their birth. At the same time, when […]
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June 10, 2008
Hong Kong (aho) – In light of the presence of H5N1 avian influenza virus in environmental samples taken from Po On Road Market in Sham Shui Po during regular surveillance earlier, the Government has adopted special measures promptly to protect public health, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (June 9). “We […]
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June 5, 2008
London (DEFRA) – Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens has today confirmed that the strain of Avian Influenza found on the premises near Banbury in Oxfordshire is highly pathogenic H7N7. Preliminary analysis also indicates that this H7N7 strain is likely to be related to viruses which have occasionally been detected in domestic poultry and wild birds […]
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June 4, 2008
London (aho) – Following further laboratory results, the Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed that the strain of H7 Avian Influenza present in laying hens at the farm in Banbury (Oxfordshire) is highly pathogenic. Further laboratory tests are in progress to identify the N type and possible relationships with previously identified viruses. A detailed epidemiological investigation […]
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June 4, 2008
Springdale (aho) – Tyson Foods Inc., the second largest U.S. chicken producer, on Tuesday said that a flock of breeder hens (15,000 animals) at the farm of one of its contract poultry producers in northwest Arkansas has been exposed to a low pathogenic strain of avian influenza (AI). Preliminary tests on the flock indicate the […]
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June 3, 2008
London (DEFRA) – The Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, has today confirmed Avian Influenza in chickens on premises near Banbury in Oxfordshire after preliminary tests were positive for the H7 strain. All birds on the premises will be slaughtered as a precautionary measure. Laboratory testing continues and results which will allow confirmation of whether the […]
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June 3, 2008
London (DEFRA) – The law on dangerous dogs will today be spelt out by Lord Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food, Farming and Animal Health at the RSPCA Conference on Dogs. Lord Rooker is publishing a Defra leaflet which provides clear, concise and accessible information regarding the law on dogs which are dangerously out of control […]
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May 14, 2008
Parma (EFSA) – The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a survey on Salmonella levels detected on commercial turkey farms across the European Union in 2006-2007. The full range of Salmonella types were estimated on average to be present in almost one third of turkey flocks reared for human consumption (30.7%) and in 13.6% […]
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April 30, 2008
Press Release WASHINGTON, DC—Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement in response the release of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production report on public health aspects of antimicrobial use in food animals. “The Pew Commission report makes clear that strict controls are needed […]
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April 30, 2008
London (DEFRA) – Environment Secretary Hilary Benn today announced that the first batch of Bluetongue vaccine, ordered from Intervet last year, is being released to wholesalers and is ready for distribution to the Protection Zones in England. The first batch of one million doses of the vaccine is now available in 20-dose bottles. A larger […]
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April 25, 2008
London (DEFRA) – A case of rabies has been confirmed in a puppy in quarantine. A puppy was imported from Sri Lanka and entered the UK into licensed quarantine premises in the south east of England on 18 April. The puppy became ill and died yesterday in quarantine. Initial tests have been carried out and […]
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April 22, 2008
Brussels (aho) – Following the confirmation of classical swine fever (CSF) in domestic pigs in Slovakia about ten days ago and the adoption of interim protection measures by the Commission (see MEMO/08/261), the disease situation has been discussed at today’s meeting of the veterinary experts from the Member States at the Standing Committee on the […]
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April 22, 2008
Brussels (aho) – The European Commission adopted today a Regulation raising the age limit at which the vertebral column must be removed from beef from 24 to 30 months. Following the 3 month scrutiny period by the European Parliament, the Regulation has been finally adopted by the European Commission. The Regulation, based on scientific advice […]
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April 17, 2008
PITTSBURG, Texas, April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. (NYSE: PPC) today said it plans to reduce weekly chicken processing by approximately 5% in the second half of fiscal 2008 when compared to the same period a year ago, as part of its continuing effort to better balance supply and demand amid record-high costs for […]
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March 26, 2008
Rome (FAO) – Ducks, people and rice paddies – rather than chickens – are the major factors behind outbreaks of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Thailand and Viet Nam, and are probably behind outbreak persistence in other countries of the region such as Cambodia and Lao PDR. In “Mapping H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza […]
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March 14, 2008
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced legislation that would shut down slaughter facilities that repeatedly process downed animals and offer stiff fines and temporary one-year shutdowns for first and second time violators. “Animals that are sick and too weak to stand or walk on their own should not be slaughtered and […]
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