Idaho alpacas are first in the world to be infected with bird flu
Four alpacas in a small Idaho herd were infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus — the first known infection of alpacas in the world, said the Agriculture Department on Tuesday. The alpacas were on the same backyard farm that culled its poultry earlier this month due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Feed ingredient that reduces methane from dairy cows is approved for U.S. sale
With FDA approval in hand, Elanco Animal Health said on Tuesday it will sell throughout North America its feed ingredient that reduces methane emissions from lactating dairy cows by 30 percent, with sales beginning in the third quarter of the year. Farmers could use carbon contracts to offset the cost of the ingredient, “a few cents a gallon of milk,” the company said.
AFR LATEST
How Stalin, Putin, and climate change turned a desperate Norwegian fishing village into a global seafood hub
In Bugøynes there’s no longer talk of a mass exodus. Its fishermen, including [Leif] Ingilæ, describe a comfortable life complete with annual vacations to the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. Whatever doesn’t get exported forms the backbone of a growing crab-themed tourism industry. For Ingilæ the turnaround has yielded a rare sight among fishing towns everywhere these days: Both his son and grandson work on his boat. Today his younger peers can scarcely imagine a time without the crabs. There are, however, some signs that they might have to.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
The Netherlands plans poultry vaccination: Dutch authorities reported “a very important step” toward their plan for large-scale vaccination of the country’s poultry flocks with the successful test of two bird flu vaccines on newly hatched chicks; additional tests are planned for the next year and a half. (Reuters)
Rural hospitals use discount provision: Rural hospitals say the so-called 340B program, which allows them to buy drugs at a discount, is a better deal than initiatives, such as the rural emergency hospital program, that are intended to help financially struggling facilities. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Disaster assistance ‘decision tool’: The USDA and FarmRaise launched an online “decision tool” to help producers understand the eligibility and application requirements for the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program, available to producers who suffer natural disasters. (USDA)
