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THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 3, 2020
UK to start bTB cattle vaccine trials TRIALS of a Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) cattle vaccine are set to get underway as the UK Government seeks to drive down herd incident rates and phase out badger culling in England. Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) said the breakthrough by Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) scientists could see the vaccine being rolled out by 2025. Cattle vaccination was highlighted as a key element of Defra’s 25-year bTB strategy, alongside badger culling, badger vaccination and improved testing and cattle movement controls. However, last year the Government signalled its intention to phase out badger culling in England in favour of vaccination, a move criticised by farmers and the unions. Defra Secretary George Eustice said: “As wider preventative measures such as cattle vaccines are introduced, we will accelerate other elements of our strategy and start to phase out badger culling, as noone wants to continue the cull of a protected species indefinitely.”
National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Minette Batters welcomed the news, but reinforced the need to use a range of measures to get on top of the disease. “We eagerly await the outcome of these trials to further understand the potential role of cattle vaccination as part of a complete bTB eradication strategy,” she said. Sir Charles Godfray, who reviewed the Government’s 25-year strategy, concluded a ‘combined approach’, including badger and cattle vaccination, was needed to eradicate the disease by 2038. UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss agreed a multi-pronged approach was key and praised the work of Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) vets, who were also working on new diagnostic tests which could be exported around the world. The field trials will be conducted over the next four years on behalf of Defra, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government, following 20 years of research into bovine TB vaccines and diagnostic tests. UK Farmers Guardian
Cow-only approach to bTB ‘doomed to failure’ A VETERINARY expert has warned Defra that a “blinkered, cow-only approach” to eradicating Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) , without bearing down on the disease in wildlife, is doomed to failure. Defra announced a “major breakthrough” in its 20-year pursuit of a cattle vaccine when it revealed that world-leading field trials would soon get under way in England and Wales. But Cheshire-based TB veterinary expert Den Leonard said Defra’s approach would ultimately fail if it stopped controlling the population density of the wildlife reservoir, in this case badgers. “TB is a multi-mammal issue and the worldwide evidence is plain that a blinkered, cow-only approach, in the presence of an infected wildlife reservoir, is doomed to failure,” he said. Scientists from the Animal and Plant Health Agency and others have now developed a test which they say can differentiate between vaccinated and unvaccinated animals, known as a Diva test. Researchers will trial the Diva test alongside the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in the field over the next four to five years. They aim to find a viable cattle vaccine and associated
Diva test by 2025, which can be licensed and available for deployment in beef and dairy herds across the UK – and even around the world. Defra said it hoped the introduction of a cattle vaccine would eventually lead to the phasing out of badger culling. Leonard said moving towards a cattle vaccine-only approach represented a “dereliction of our duty” to reduce the density of this bacterial pathogen in the wider animal population. “This vaccine pathway only exists because of politics in that we refuse to take seriously the need to reduce the badger population to a level where all mammals (badgers, cows, pets and humans) have a reduced risk of TB,” he said. “Even if we vaccinate our cows, this high population density of infected carrier animals (badgers) that excrete large numbers of bacteria into and around our landscape will continue to put at risk pets, pigs, llamas, zoo animals and ultimately humans,” Leonard said. Adding cattle TB vaccines did not fully prevent infection and therefore any new vaccine and test
Headway in methane-cutting feed additive for dairy cows SCIENTISTS have got closer to understanding the optimal level at which a methanereducing feed additive could be included in commercial dairy cattle diets. The substance 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) cuts methane emissions by 36% when included in diets at 100-200mg/kg, with 150mg/ kg being optimal and milk fats being higher. Methane emissions were 16-36% lower across a range of 3-NOP inclusion levels during the Penn State University trial. No dry matter intake or yield change was reported. Researchers hope the relatively low dosage rate will make the compound affordable, but stress that its manufacturer – Dutch feed giant DSM – is yet to set a price. A population of 49 cows were fed a total-mixed ration in which 3-NOP was included at 40mg, 60mg, 80mg, 100mg, 150mg and 200mg/kg on a dry matter basis. Methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen were measured after a 14-day adaptation period. Milk fat concentration increased due to higher concentrations of de novo
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FLAWED PLAN: TB veterinary expert Den Leonard said Defra’s approach would ultimately fail if it stopped controlling the population density of the wildlife reservoir.
combination would not eradicate the bacteria in herds. “The vaccine only reduces the pathology in the animal. This means there’s a risk that bacteria will be spread further in undetected vaccinated carrier cows, which defeats the object.” UK Farmers Weekly
agrievents Monday 10/08/2020 Dargaville Blood Drive Do your bit – give a bit of blood or plasma Venue: Dargaville Town Hall, 37 Hokianga Road, Dargaville Time: 1.00pm to 6.00pm Please remember to bring your Donor Card or suitable photo ID. To donate contact us to book your appointment 0800 448 325 - www.nzblood.co.nz Muster 2020 Share a meal on us! The Pride in Our Land campaign acknowledges farmers, rural families and those in the primary sector for their determination. We know it’s tough out there. Muster 2020 is just for you and your better halves. • Tuesday August 4 - Palmerston North Golf Club • Thursday August 6 - Murrayfield Museum & Cafe, Levin • Friday August 7 - Rangatira Golf Club, Hunterville • Thursday August 13 - Halcombe Tavern, Halcombe • Friday August 14 - Taihape Golf Club, Taihape • Saturday August 15 - Makoura Lodge, Apiti You can register via: Email: prideinourland@gmail.com For more info 027 372 2645
ADDITION: The substance 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) cuts methane emissions by 36% when included in dairy cattle diets.
synthesized short-chain fatty acids in the milk. Previous work found milk fat percentage hit 4.35% in milk from cows fed 3-NOPtreated diets compared to 4.05% from conventional diets. Professor of dairy nutrition Alex Hristov said the issue of cows belching had been derided in the US, but was taken much more seriously in other countries. “I think it’s a fine line with the politics surrounding
this subject,” he said. “Do we want to look at this? I definitely think that we should, and if there is a way to reduce emissions without affecting profitability on the farm, we should pursue it.” He stressed that the public would need to accept the feed additive, adding that 3-NOP was a very small synthetic molecule that is metabolised quickly and falls apart into compounds that are naturally present in the rumen. UK Farmers Weekly
What is 3-NOP? • 3-Nitrooxypropanol is an organic compound • The compound inhibits the enzyme methyl coenzyme M reductase, which is critical in the final step of methanogenesis – the production of methane • It is known to reduce methane production in ruminants • It looks like a fine, white, grainy powder
Wednesday 12/08/2020 & 19/08/2020 Beef + Lamb New Zealand & Agri-Women’s Development Trust Know your Mindset. Grow your Influence. A practical personal development workshop created for farmers to respond to pressures with meaningful action. Presented by Clinical Psychologist Dr Nigel George and AWDT Founder Lindy Nelson More info and to register: www.beeflambnz.com/events AWDT Future Focus Programme designed for red meat farming partnerships to plan their business together. 2 full-day workshop delivered over two months. Locations and dates (2 modules): • Gore: 28th Jul & 25th Aug Website: To register visit www.awdt.org.nz/programmes Contact: keri@awdt.org.nz or 06 375 8180 for more info
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