http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday RSS Feed for John Maday en-us Fri, 17 May 2013 15:59:51 GMT http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday/Cattle-temperament-immunity-and-performance-207611981.html Flighty cattle are difficult and sometimes dangerous to handle, and according to a report from USDA and university researchers, they could be better at concealing disease. According to a recent article in Agricultural Research magazine, from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, reducing adverse consequences of stressful incidents and identifying animals that may react differently to stressors may benefit cattle’s growth and health. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday/NAHMS-report-profiles-small-feedlot-practices-207449171.html A significant percentage of operators of small feedlots are not familiar with the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, according to the new feedlot report from the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS). The numbers suggest opportunities for further education, particularly as cattle feeders who are familiar with the BQA program appear to place more importance on BQA practices than those unfamiliar with the program. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday/NAHMS-feedlot-reports-indicate-informational-opportunities-207284101.html Cattle feeders strongly believe in the effectiveness of pre-arrival management practices such as weaning vaccines, parasite control and weaning four weeks prior to shipment, but they often do not have access to management history on cattle they feed. That’s one example of opportunities for improvements in information sharing and education revealed in a new feedlot report from the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) a division of APHIS Veterinary Services. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday/Tyson-expanding-FarmCheck-program-to-beef-206837781.html Tyson foods is in the process of developing an audit system for its beef suppliers this year, with a plan to launch the beef version of its “FarmCheck” program in 2014. The program will involve audits of beef operations along the supply chain, focusing largely on animal welfare. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday/Opening-packing-house-doors-206824141.html AMI’s Jane Riley discusses the response to its “Glass Walls Project,” developed with Dr. Temple Grandin to offer the public an objective, non-scripted look at livestock slaughter. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday/A-frank-discussion-in-Fort-Collins-206666531.html Proposed new rules for veterinary oversight of antimicrobials in animal agriculture attracted a mix of comments and questions as representatives of the FDA and USDA/APHIS held a public meeting on the subject in Fort Collins, Colorado. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday/College-Aggies-Online--This-years-winner-206655761.html College Aggies Online is an advocacy program managed by the Animal Agriculture Alliance, encouraging college students to tell ag’s story. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday/Rename-FMD-206490021.html Words, as we know, have the power to foster understanding and also the power to confuse or mislead. In the realm of disease, that confusion was evident during the 2010 pandemic of H1N1 influenza, when use of the term “swine flu” damaged pork demand as consumers feared they could contract the disease from pork. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday/Activists-at-the-door-206482181.html At the Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholder Summit last week, the alliance’s president and CEO, Kay Johnson-Smith describes the theme of the summit, which focused on animal welfare, activists and consumer perceptions. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/editorial/john-maday/206446631.html