All articles tagged with #cattle
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall blamed President Biden for a screwworm outbreak in U.S. livestock, arguing immigration contributed to the parasite’s spread and praising Trump’s efforts to combat it; the piece notes ongoing USDA/APHIS monitoring and sterile-fly releases, plus a May ban on live cattle shipments from Mexico that affects about 1 million head annually.
The USDA confirms three additional New World screwworm cases, including one in New Mexico, signaling the parasite’s spread beyond Texas. Authorities have quarantines around affected areas and are ramping up sterile‑male fly releases as part of a long‑term program to halt the outbreak, while researchers seek faster sterile‑fly production and a potential Texas fly factory. Beef prices remain steady for now, but the parasite threatens the U.S. cattle industry if containment fails.
Texas has confirmed the first U.S. case of New World screwworm in a 3‑week‑old calf from Zavala County, prompting federal and state actions. While meat isn’t at immediate risk, the outbreak could cost up to $1.8 billion to Texas’ cattle economy and push beef prices higher. Officials are using sterile-fly release programs, quarantines, and enhanced border surveillance with Mexico and Panama to eradicate the pest, building on a historic eradication effort from the 1960s. Hunters and pet owners should monitor wounds on animals and report suspected screwworms to a veterinarian; FDA-approved treatments exist, though medicated feed is not yet approved.
A New World screwworm case has been detected in Texas six decades after eradication in the U.S., triggering an aggressive response due to fears of significant disruption to the livestock industry.
A New World screwworm was found in a three‑week‑old calf in Texas, marking the first animal case in the U.S. since the pest was eradicated in 1966. The larvae can devastate livestock and, if the outbreak spreads, could push beef prices higher amid concerns for the cattle industry. Authorities have quarantined the farm, begun treatment, and plan sterile‑male releases to curb the fly population. Humans can be infected, but such cases are rare; the larger concern is potential livestock losses and broader trade/price impacts if the outbreak grows.
Beef prices are at or near record highs as the U.S. cattle herd remains near multi‑decade lows due to drought and aging ranchers, while demand for protein stays robust. Producers are raising prices, and rebuilding the herd will take years, creating a persistent gap between supply and rising consumer appetite for beef.
DNA from Amsterdam Island’s five founding cows shows mixed Jersey and Indian Ocean zebu ancestry, meaning the tiny herd did not shrink via rapid island dwarfism but started small with enough genetic diversity to rebound into thousands; the study, based on eight whole genomes, upends a 2017 dwarfism claim and suggests the founders carried traits favorable for isolation, despite about 30% inbreeding, before the herd was ultimately removed to protect native species.
Drought has pared the U.S. cattle herd to its smallest size in 75 years, lifting feed costs and keeping beef prices elevated for years as it takes several years to rebuild herds.
A Derbyshire cattle farmer plans to cross-breed his Highland herd to make the cows less photogenic and deter visitors who hug or film them, citing a growing social-media trend and safety concerns; the Peak District authority warns hugging cows is dangerous, and the farmer says the change is not taken lightly but necessary.
Live cattle futures settled at $2.51 per pound—the highest on record dating back to the 1960s—driven by shrinking U.S. herds and slower slaughter. Beef production fell, ground beef价 near $6.70 per pound in March, and input costs for farmers rose, helping keep beef inflation elevated even as demand remains resilient; restaurants could face weaker sales amid higher beef prices.
The USDA is using scenes from the film 'Marriage Story' featuring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver to scare wolves away from cattle by playing alarming sounds and using drone technology, aiming to reduce wolf attacks on livestock.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, Cornell University, and the USDA have discovered CoRSIVs (correlated regions of systemic inter-individual variation) in cattle, similar to those found in humans. These regions, marked by DNA methylation, could help predict and select desirable traits in cattle, such as milk production and disease resistance, potentially improving agricultural efficiency and sustainability.
An avian flu outbreak has affected over 40 cattle in Minnesota, marking the spread of the virus to the state. The herd has been quarantined, and the USDA confirmed the positive tests. This follows earlier outbreaks in Kansas and Texas, with over 80 dairy herds infected across 11 states. The virus has also led to human infections, though it is not believed to transmit between humans. The economic impact is significant due to the higher cost of raising cattle compared to poultry.
Archaeologists have discovered the earliest evidence of cattle herds in northern Europe at Swifterbant, Netherlands, dating back to 4240 BC. Using stable isotope analysis, they found that early farmers managed livestock in complex ways, with different herds grazing in forests or on manured fields and salt marshes, indicating advanced animal husbandry practices.
A lightning strike killed Colorado rancher Mike Morgan and 34 of his cattle while he was feeding them from a trailer. The incident occurred in a pasture near Rand, stunning the tight-knit community. Morgan's father-in-law and wife, who were nearby, survived the blast.