Issue 17 - Welfare for Animals 

Cattle Welfare

The cattle industry has been bombarded with media attention regarding welfare of animals. Unfortunately the focus has been slanted against the hard working animal care givers. Bad situations and events have been portrayed as the norm. This is not the case with the industry and operations that we proudly serve at API.

Sometimes it seems like we are alone in responding to the negative publicity. We all need to do our part in discussing the level of care that we have for our animals with people that do not understand animal agriculture. Yes, we always need to be open to doing things better and listen to concerns. I recently was given a site http://www.humanewatch.org/ that is working to inform the general public about the true agenda of the Humane Society of the United States, a group that is undermining agriculture and other animal industries. Please review the information and educate yourself and spread the word.

I have had several discussions lately about the need to educate and have zero tolerance for blatant mistreatment of cattle. Farmers, ranchers and dairymen need to keep their eyes open and make sure that everyone on the operation understands that abuse will not be tolerated. We know that with proper care and comfort comes better health and performance from the animals in our care.

At API we have always promoted practices that utilize "management over medicine" and this includes animal handling and care. We appreciate the industry and are proud to offer our services.

Thanks for reading Herd Mentality!

Sincerely,

Bruce W. Hoffman, DVM
President
 Animal Profiling International, Inc
877-278-1344


Spring Program with Destron Fearing

API is partnering with DF to educate cattlemen across the country about the benefits of testing and eliminating PIs. Cattlemen who purchase any bag of DF visual or electronic ID tags will receive discounted prices on either group PCR or individual ELISA testing. This offer ends 6/30/10.


New BVD PI ELISA testing offered 

In an effort to provide multiple tools to control and eradicate BVD, API has added individual ELISA testing. Sensitivity is the same as our pooled PCR methodology at 99%. Price includes positive confirmation follow up and next business day results. Call us to get more info about this new tool.

Optimism for the long haul...

The world needs to double its output of meat by 2050 to meet growing demand, the U.N. Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a new "State of Food & Agriculture" report. Globally, the livestock sector now produces 228 million metric tons of meat. To meet rising demand, this will need to double in 40 years, putting added pressure on industry and governments to find answers to problems impeding one of the "fastest-growing" parts of agriculture, according to FAO. "Rising incomes, population growth and urbanization are the driving forces behind a growing demand for meat products in developing countries. To meet rising demand, global annual meat production is expected to expand from 228 mmt currently to 463 mmt by 2050, with the cattle population estimated to grow from 1.5 billion to 2.6 billion and that of goats and sheep from 1.7 billion to 2.7 billion," according to FAO estimates.

Livestock contributes 40% of the global value of agricultural production and supports the livelihoods and food security of almost 1 billion people. Globally, livestock contributes 15% of total food energy and 25% of dietary protein. Products from livestock provide essential micronutrients that are not easily obtained from other plant food products," FAO said in its report published in Rome, Italy.


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© 2005. Herd Mentality is produced and distributed by Animal Profiling International, a technology company dedicated to animal health. You can subscribe to the newsletter at the Animal Profiling International Website.