New Guidelines for 'Fatigued' Pigs
US - USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has set new guidelines for the handling of pigs that are reluctant to move at the packing plant.

Guidelines for Food-Animal Species Underway
US - A long-time fixture within the animal-handling issue, Temple Grandin, is launching a new certification program to evaluate both sustainable and humane practices of a food-animal production system....

Moving Market Pigs with Less Stress
US - Dr Matt Ritter (Elanco Animal Health) and Dr Nick Berry (Cargill, Inc.) have studied the effects of moving market weight pigs in different group sizes during loading on stress responses and transport...

Piglet Feed Supplements Support Immune Systems
US - As feed costs rise and the production of ethanol from corn grain increases, swine producers have ramped up their search for new feed supplements for younger swine.

HOD Revises Antimicrobials in Livestock Feeds Policy
US - Several AVMA Bylaws amendments and policy proposals were on the agenda for the second regular winter session of the House of Delegates, which convened 10 January in Chicago as part of the AVMA Veterinary...

Six TQASM Advisor Training Workshops Scheduled
US - The Pork Checkoff is offering six Transporter Quality Assurance (TQASM) advisor training workshops in 2009.

Snipping Out the Money Genes in Livestock
US - The livestock industry accounts for almost $100 billion of the annual agricultural gross domestic product.

National Pork Board to Meet in North Carolina
US - The National Pork Board will be in Raleigh, North Carolina, 3-5 February to meet with local producers and to develop a better understanding of the nation's second-largest pork producing state.

New Diet a Breath of Fresh Air to Animal Facilities
US - As populations expand into rural areas, more people are turning up their noses at malodorous livestock operations.

Pork Board Prioritises Humane Euthanasia of Pigs
US - With regards to animal welfare, the pork industry has taken several steps to improve production methods in recent years.

Pfizer to Acquire Wyeth, Creating the World's Premier Biopharmaceutical Company
US - Pfizer and Wyeth today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Pfizer will acquire Wyeth in a cash-and-stock transaction currently valued at $50.19 per share,...

NBAF Fit For Kansas
KANSAS - Much has been written about the advantages and disadvantages of locating the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, or NBAF, on the mainland of the United States.

Amendments Made to Enhance Disease Traceability
US - The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to amend its domestic livestock regulations in order to enhance the traceability of animals in the United States.

Behaviour and Performance of Weaned Pigs
US - From the University of Minnesota, Li and Johnston have published a paper on the behaviour and performance of pigs previously housed in large groups. They highlighted possible welfare issues when mixing...

Monitoring Nutrient Deficiencies in Pigs
US - A new South Dakota State University publication explains how to monitor certain nutrient deficiencies in starter, growing, and finishing pigs.

Alpharma Announces Video Contest Winners
US - Students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison are to receive the $5,000 grand prize in Alpharma's Student Video Contest.

NPB: Hormel Foods Commitment Applauded
US - The National Pork Board recognizes Hormel Foods for its commitment to the Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) and Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) programs.

Comment Period on Animal Welfare Act Extended
US - The USDA is extending the comment period for its proposed rule that would amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations to add requirements for contingency planning and training of personnel by research...

USDA Releases NAIS Veterinarian's Toolkit
US - The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) yesterday released A Veterinarian’s Toolkit for use with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

Potential Benefits for Ethanol, Paper and Feed
US - Cellulose is a key component of plant cell walls that can be converted into ethanol and other products. New findings from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) could help make that conversion process...

Voting Starts for Alpharma Video Contest
US - The videos are posted and voting can now begin in the Alpharma Student Video Contest. Anyone can visit the Web site to view the videos and cast a ballot. Voting ends on December 19, 2008 with the...

Conserve Energy in Hog Barns This Winter
US - With cold weather underway and increased heating costs, energy conservation is key in minimizing the cost of raising pigs. Substantial savings can be realized by evaluating and investing in ventilation,...

Husbandry Practice to Improve Piglet Welfare
US - USDA researchers have studied how best to perform various husbandry procedures on piglets in order to minimise stress to the animals and improve welfare.

Swine Flu Virus in Texas Patient Reported
US - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in its latest update on the nation's seasonal influenza activity, reported on a person who was infected with a swine influenza virus following...

Report: Unsustainable Livestock 'Eating our Future'
US - Current trends of industrial animal production have been branded as unsustainable in a new report released by an animal welfere association.