Tag

Livestock

All articles tagged with #livestock

science1 day ago•11 min saved

Tiny on the scales: all wild land mammals weigh about 20 million tonnes, far less than humans and livestock

A 2023 study estimates the total wet biomass of all wild land mammals at about 20 million tonnes (roughly 3 kg per person), which is far smaller than humanity’s ~390 million tonnes and well below the combined weight of livestock (~630 million tonnes). The weight is concentrated in a few species—white-tailed deer, wild boar, and African elephants—with bats representing the majority of individuals but only a small fraction of total weight. The figure is uncertain and should be read as a ratio illustrating humans’ dominance and livestock impact, not a full biodiversity assessment.

via Space Daily|

#biodiversity #biomass #conservation

science7 days ago•5 min saved

First bluetongue case in Scotland sparks vaccine scramble

Scotland records its first bluetongue outbreak in Creetown after a lamb on Fiona Johnson’s farm tests positive, leading to euthanasia and affecting nearby farms; experts say windborne midges likely carried the virus from England, prompting a vaccination push though supplies are running short and potential movement restrictions could hit farmers financially.

via BBC|

#bluetongue #farming #livestock

science13 days ago•4 min saved

Scotland records two more bluetongue cases as vaccination drive intensifies

Two more bluetongue virus cases confirmed on neighboring farms in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, after the first case; all affected animals euthanised and farms under restrictions. Officials say infected midges likely blew in from outbreaks in Ireland and northern England, and vaccination is urged to prevent further spread. The UK has reported hundreds of BTV3 cases this season, though the disease does not affect humans.

via BBC|

#bluetongue #btv3 #livestock

africa1 month ago•12 min saved

Africa's camels tested by record heat and drought

Extreme heat—often above 50C—and prolonged drought across the Horn of Africa and North Africa are driving camel stress, disease, and rising deaths, while reducing milk yields and pushing herders to move their herds in search of water and shade; scientists warn climate change is intensifying heat stress and underscore the need for better veterinary care, water provisioning, and shade to protect these desert-adapted animals.

via BBC|

#africa #camels #climate-change

health1 month ago•187 min saved

Screwworm comeback: a dinner-safe scare, but beef prices could rise

The New World screwworm has reappeared in the United States and targets living tissue in livestock, but public health officials say it does not threaten food safety—meat is still considered safe thanks to veterinary care and strict inspection; the bigger impact is economic, with potential billions in damage to the southwestern US and potential higher beef prices, since infestations affect livestock health and supply rather than the safety or quality of meat already in the food chain.

via CNN|

#beef-prices #food-safety #health

agriculture2 months ago•11 min saved

Screwworm comeback tests U.S. livestock defenses

An outbreak of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that infests warm-blooded animals, has returned to the United States with 15 confirmed cases in Texas and New Mexico, mainly affecting cattle. Officials are deploying sterile flies, expanding surveillance, and tightening border and movement controls to contain it, warning the outbreak could cost billions if it spreads, even as human risk remains low. The situation echoes the historic success of the sterile-insect technique used to eradicate the pest decades ago.

via CNN|

#agriculture #beef-industry #biosecurity

agriculture2 months ago•2 min saved

Screwworm Outbreak Expands Across Texas and New Mexico, Raising Biosecurity Alarm

US screwworm cases rise to 12 across Texas and New Mexico as the parasite spreads beyond initial zones, affecting cattle, goats, sheep and a dog; USDA is releasing millions of sterile flies and deploying the Screwworm Adult Suppression System (Swass) to curb spread, while Pennsylvania imposes import quarantines; officials say the food supply remains safe but the beef industry could be impacted if containment fails.

via The Guardian|

#agriculture #biosecurity #livestock

local-news2 months ago•25 min saved

Pa. imposes quarantine amid confirmed U.S. screwworm cases

Pennsylvania agriculture officials have issued a quarantine order and urged farmers and pet owners to strengthen biosecurity measures after confirmed New World screwworm cases in the United States.

via WGAL|

#agriculture #biosecurity #livestock

local2 months ago•28 min saved

Texas Adds Two More Screwworm Cases, U.S. Total Reaches Nine

Federal officials confirmed two additional New World screwworm cases in Texas, bringing the state's total to eight and the nationwide count to nine, as authorities monitor the outbreak and its impact on livestock and agriculture.

via KEYE|

#health #livestock #local

usnews2 months ago•7 min saved

Texas Expands Screwworm Outbreak as Federal War on Screwworm Goes 24/7

Three more New World screwworm cases were confirmed in Texas (a calf in La Salle County, a dog from a New Mexico household, and a goat in Gillespie County), bringing the total to five. Federal and state officials, led by the USDA and Gov. Abbott, launched a wide‑scale response called the “War on Screwworm,” opened a 24/7 emergency command center, and are weighing options including ivermectin in animal feed as they warn the outbreak could threaten the cattle industry with as much as $1.8 billion in potential losses. The administration also announced a new federal adviser, John Bellinger, to help coordinate preparedness and response.

via The Texas Tribune|

#livestock #outbreak #screwworm

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Screwworm resurges in the U.S., forcing a restart of the sterile-fly program

The United States confirmed a natural incursion of the New World screwworm in Texas cattle—the first since 1982—after decades of eradicating the pest with mass releases of sterile male flies. Facing potential billions in economic impact from livestock losses, the USDA is funding a $750 million facility in Texas to produce about 300 million sterile screwworms per week by 2027. While the comeback mirrors the historic campaign, experts note aging facilities elsewhere and a growing debate among bioethicists about using genetic modification to wipe out the species, a method not yet ready for deployment.

via NBC News|

#bioethics #livestock #science

science2 months ago•2 min saved

Second Texas Case of New World Screwworm Triggers Border Measures

The USDA confirmed a second case of New World screwworm in a one‑month‑old calf in Zavala County, Texas, near the first case, within a movement‑control zone where sterile insects are released. Canada will temporarily restrict imports of U.S. livestock from affected areas. The USDA says the U.S. food supply remains safe and no meat is at risk, with eradication efforts continuing and heightened vigilance urged for livestock owners.

via CNBC|

#canada #livestock #science

science2 months ago•0 min saved

Texas confronts revived flesh-eating screwworm, rattling cattle sector

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.

via The Washington Post|

#cattle #eradication #livestock

world2 months ago•18 min saved

New World Screwworm Returns to the U.S.; Sterile-Fly Program Ramps Up

The New World screwworm fly has reappeared in the United States, signaling a potential northward spread that could threaten livestock. In response, authorities are expanding a sterile-fly program, including a facility in Edinburg, Texas, where dyed fly pupae are used to rear and release sterile males to curb the population.

via AP News|

#edinburg-texas #livestock #new-world-screwworm

science2 months ago•3 min saved

USDA probes suspected screwworm case in South Texas

The USDA announced a suspected New World screwworm case in South Texas and is testing a sample at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. Officials have activated field personnel and are coordinating with local partners to curb a potential outbreak, relying on ongoing sterile-fly eradication efforts and border controls amid regional vigilance as authorities work with Mexico and Panama to prevent spread and protect the cattle industry.

via The Texas Tribune|

#livestock #science #screwworm