NEWS
Positive Responses to Public Relation Problems
This year's videos of downer dairy cows at slaughter plants in 5 different states, California, New Mexico, Maryland, Texas and Pennsylvania, have heightened the concern of the general public about farm animal production and processing.
The dairy industry and farm bureau have responded by expanding educational efforts about animal welfare issues and proper animal handling procedures for both producers and the general public (see below).
In Colorado, Dr. Noa Roman-Muniz, the new Colorado State dairy extension specialist who assumes her position August first, will be conducting a course for dairy workers in Spanish on the proper handling of animals as part of her DMPS series. Be on the look out for a more detailed announcement.
National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative
The National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative is a producer-led effort to build consumer trust and confidence in the dairy industry's commitment to animal well-being that began organization in 2005. Their aim is to protect their freedom to operate by demonstrating that they recognize their ethical obligation to care for animals and that they have programs in place to meet that obligation. They want to create an umbrella of well-being principles and guidelines that will provide uniform validation of their commitment, regardless of which dairy well-being program a producer uses.
The proposed guidelines drafted during World dairy Expo 2007 are available for review on the internet at:
http://www.dairywellbeing.org/guidelines.php
They will be finalized at World Dairy Expo 2008.
Conversations On Animal Care
To address consumer concerns about the care provided to farm animals in the production of meat, milk and eggs, the American Farm Bureau Federation launched the Conversations on Animal Care initiative this month. Conversations on Animal Care is a comprehensive effort that supports farmers and ranchers who are eager to engage consumers in a positive dialogue about animal care.
This action is based on research in a national survey conducted online in January 2008 by Harris Interactive on behalf of AFBF. Nearly 3,500 likely voters were asked if they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: "Farmers and ranchers in your state treat their animals humanely." A majority of voters, 57 percent, said they agreed or strongly agreed with the statement. However, 34 percent of those surveyed responded "not sure." While a majority of consumers who participated in the research believe farmers are doing a good job, one-third of those surveyed didn't have enough information to even have an opinion, according to AFBF Public Relations Director Don Lipton.
Survey participants were then exposed to a series of educational statements and messages about food-animal production. At the conclusion of the survey, participants again were asked if they agreed or disagreed that farmers and ranchers in their state treat animals humanly. This time, 72 percent agreed or strongly agreed a jump of 15 points. "This tells us that, when presented with basic information about the practical and ethical standards farmers and ranchers maintain, consumers respond positively," Lipton said. "The Conversations on Animal Care program is intended to give farmers and ranchers the confidence and tools to do just that."
 Click here to visit the Conversations on Animal Care Website
Developing the Best Manure Management Practices
Dairies are important to the rural economies of Colorado, and manure management and nutrient recycling are increasingly important to this industry. For this reason, the Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) and Colorado State University Extension have formed a team whose objective is to assist dairy producers in choosing the best practices for manure management for their operations but first they need your assistance.
Click here to download the Survey
Information from the Department of Energy on the Food vs Fuel Debate
Senator Jeff Bingamam of New Mexico, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested information from the Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture regarding the use of feedstock to produce biofuels and the impact on food prices. The Departments of Energy and Agriculture responded to his questions in a 12 page letter.
Click here to read more
DAIReXNET
Launched in October 2007 at World Dairy Expo, this website is growing and maturing rapidly. eXtension is unlike any other search engine or information-based website. It's a space where university content providers can gather and produce new educational and information resources on wide-ranging topics. It's available to students, researchers, clinicians, professors, as well as the general public, at any time from any Internet connection. Be sure to check it out www.extension.org/Dairy_cattle
Twenty-two state dairy newsletters including the Colorado Dairy News, are now linked through the following page.
www.extension.org/pages/Dairy_Newsletters
Colorado AgrAbility Project: Bob Fetsch's fall schedule announced
Dr. Robert Fetsch is one of two cooperative extension specialists employed by of CSU's Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Each fall he travels throughout the state to provide workshops for farm and ranch families who want to overcome their disabilities and continue working on their farms and ranches.
The workshops this fall focus on multiple sclerosis.
Click here for the fall schedule
NAHMS Dairy Study 2007
Many readers may have heard or seen the term NAHMS at a meeting or in a magazine article and not known to what the person or writer was referring. Dr. Jason Lombard who obtained his DVM at CSU-CVMBS and his master's degree with ILM has written an article to introduce NAHMS and explain the 2007 Dairy Study.
NAHMS is the only USDA organization that routinely collects, evaluates and publishes information on animal health and related practices on U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture operations. Much of this information is used by extension personnel to educate producers and by animal scientists and veterinarians as a reference for conducting their own research. The information is also used by USDA to strengthen government animal-health programs and to predict how diseases newly introduced to the United States may spread.
Click here for more information
Publications from NAHMS Dairy Study 2007
Dairy 2007 is NAHMS fourth study of the dairy industry. Previous studies were conducted in 1991-1992, 1996 and 2002. The 2007 study was conducted in 17 states (see map), and participants represented 79.5 percent of U.S. dairy operations and 82.5 percent of U.S dairy cows.
Click here to read more
Publications from analysis of the Dairy 2007 study have been published and will be published over the next year.
The best way to keep appraised of these publications is here: http://nahms.aphis.usda.gov/dairy/dairy07/
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EVENTS CALENDAR |
August 21 - September 7, 2008
Colorado State Fair and Rodeo
Pueblo, Colorado
CLICK HERE FOR THE INFO
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September 30 - October 4, 2008
World Dairy Expo
Madison, Wisconsin
CLICK HERE FOR INFO
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October 21 - 23, 2008
69th Cornell Nutrition Conference
East Syracuse, New York
CLICK HERE FOR INFO
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November 7 - 8, 2008
Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council
Omaha, Nebraska
CLICK HERE FOR INFO
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November 11 - 13, 2008
2008 Elite Producer Business Conference
Las Vegas, Nevada
For more info, contact Ramona Rei Farm Journal Media at
(816) 889-8402
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November 12 - 13, 2008
Penn State Dairy Cattle Nutrition Workshop
Grantville, PA
CLICK HERE FOR INFO
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Click here for more
information about ILM activities
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Colorado Dairy News is published monthly as a service to those people interested in the health and welfare of the Colorado dairy industry.
Issues from 1995-2006 are available on the ILM website.
For further information, contact:Dr. Ragan Adams, Editor, ILM, CSU-VTH 300 West Drake Rd Ft Collins, CO 80523 (970)297-0371; radams@lamar.colostate.edu
Material published in the Colorado Dairy News is not subject to copyright. Permission is therefore granted to reproduce articles although acknowledgement of the source is requested. |
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