Amlan International unveils new website to reflect commitment to gut health solutions for livestock

Amlan International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oil-Dri Corporation of America, unveiled its new website to stress its commitment to gut health in livestock. The website exemplifies the company's breadth and depth of product research along with timely news on industry topics related to animal health and disease management.
Since the launch of the animal health division in 2007, Amlan International has grown in its product offerings, gut health research and expert team of sales, marketing and technical staff. As part of the Oil-Dri Corporation of America, Amlan International recently expanded its global operations and will open new offices in Shenzhen, China this spring.
Dr. Ron Cravens, president of Amlan International, said, "We provide practical, effective and proven gut health solutions for livestock producers who are focused on optimizing their operational efficiency. The foundation of optimal animal health starts with healthy gut function. Without proper digestive health, livestock do not reach their full potential and producers never realize peak operational performance.
"With the launch of this new website, we open the door for increased discussion and education. This is an exciting time for customer contact as many online and social media tools are used to share knowledge and address animal health issues in real time. We intend to take full advantage of these tools."
The website offers new functionality including a Twitter feed, blog posts, new company videos, and research to help educate livestock producers on effective disease management solutions.

UAE expands Asia poultry import requirements

The United Arab Emirates has issued new import rules for all live birds and poultry products coming from Asian countries, implementing wider monitoring mechanisms in response to increasing cases of avian influenza being reported, according to Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, UAE minister of environment and water.
The new rules affect all live birds, their meat products, hatching eggs and one-day-old chicks from all Asian countries to the UAE. “The exporting country should be free of bird flu for at least 12 months before the date of shipment, with certificates and documents from government agencies to prove that the products are free from virus or contamination,” said a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Environment and Water. “The shipment of live birds should carry veterinary health certificates from competent authorities of the exporting country to ensure that they are not infected with any type of infectious disease. Also, the importer should produce a certificate issued by an accredited laboratory within a period not exceeding 21 days of the export that the birds or products have been tested clinically."
According to the ministry, any product not meeting the new conditions will be rejected or confiscated and destroyed.

Belgium establishes farm animal antibiotics knowledge center

A knowledge center on the consumption of antibiotics in farm animal production and antibiotic resistance has been started in Belgium by a consortium of Belgian organizations related to agriculture.
Known as AMCRA (Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance in Animals), and based in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Ghent for an initial period of five years, the center aims to collect and analyze all available data concerning antibiotics given to animals in Belgium as a guide to future policies.
Results on antibiotic utilization will be supplied by the existing Belgian veterinary surveillance unit BelVetSac, while information on national sales will come from the Pharma.be organization that represents nearly all Belgian producers or distributors of such products. National feed association Bemefa is adding data for medicated premixes and complete feeds manufactured by its members. Various statewide programs will be the source of inputs on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance nationally.
The initiative also has the backing of farmers' unions from both the Flemish and the Walloon parts of Belgium and the association of veterinarians, along with federal agencies covering food safety and consumer protection.

South Korea imposing ban on antibiotics in animal feed

South Korea is implementing a "total ban" on mixing antibiotics with animal feed that will go into effect in July, according to the government.
The ban will enhance the safety of local meat and dairy products, according to the industry. In accordance with the new rules, the use of eight varieties of antibiotics will be prohibited, along with one antimicrobial agent. Prior to 2005, the country allowed 44 varieties of antibiotics to be mixed with feed.
The ban will not affect the ability of veterinarians to inject antibiotics into sick animals.

International Regulator’s Roundtable Meeting covers major issues

The 4th International Regulator’s Roundtable Meeting was held concurrently with the 2011 International Feed Exposition in Atlanta. The meeting was attended by 80 industry and regulatory officials from 20 countries.
The major issues comprised the formation of a Codex and Alimentarius Commission Task Force on Animal Feeding. The group considered risk assessments in relation to animal feed and the definition and characterization of global hazards. The second concern related to requirements for ingredient approval in North America and the EU.
Presentations were made on changes to U.S. and EU regulations including the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act and the EU Feed Regulations and Catalog for Feed Materials. For additional information access the International Feed Industry Federation website or the Vice President of the AFIA, Richard Sellers at rsellers@afia.org.

States to take lead in new animal disease tracing system

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that states will take the lead in developing a new system to track disease in livestock, replacing plans for a nationwide animal identification system that the U.S. Department of Agriculture scrapped in February.
According to the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal, Vilsack said that the USDA will cooperate with state agencies under the new system to trace the origins of animal disease outbreaks, but the federal department will not store information about animal movement.
“We’re not going to aggregate all this information and turn it over to some other government entity or agency. The information needs to stay with the states,” he said to a meeting of the National Farmers Union in Rapid City.
Kenny Fox, president of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, said his organization supported a state-based tracing system, but remained concerned about animal diseases coming in with livestock from Canada and Mexico.