Vet strike threat brings fear of meat shortage in Israel

Poultry veterinarians in Israeli cities are threatening to go on strike October 26 in protest over changes to food safety inspections of meat and fish. Shortages could occur if the strike lasts more than 1 or 2 days and, already, there has been a jump in wholesale meat and fish prices, reports Haaretz.
The Ministry of Agriculture announced this week that a strike would reduce the number of poultry sent to slaughterhouses by about one-quarter, adding that processors were already working at full capacity in order to mitigate the effects of any strike on supplies.
At the heart of the dispute is the “Cornflakes Law,” which was passed to bring more competition to the country’s food industry. One of its clauses shifted responsibility for meat inspection from municipal veterinary authorities to local government. A new joint venture has been set up between the agriculture and health departments to oversee the handling of animal products, with the aim to reduce regulations and costs. Instead of taking place at municipal borders, inspections will be carried out at retail level in future by the veterinarians in the new service. This will allow meat processors to use their transport fleets more efficiently and to maintain the cool chain by ending the need for trucks to be opened for inspection at each municipality boundary.
“We want the products to be inspected, but at the end point and not in the middle of the process,” said Avshalom Dolev of the poultry wholesalers association, whose members account for about half of the country’s slaughterhouses. “We’re even ready to pay for the inspections, as is written in the law, and take responsibility for the products until they reach the grocery store.”
Veterinarians say that the new legislation does not advance reform. Furthermore, the government pays less than the municipalities and they will have to work longer and more flexible hours.

Young Poultry Veterinarian of the Year announced

The World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA), together with Zoetis, is proud to announce the winner of the WVPA Young Veterinarian of the Year 2015. He is Dr. Maximillian Sim Kwang Hui, Commercial and Technical Consultant, Southeast Asia, Amlan International. The award was presented at the Association’s Global Congress in Cape Town.
Dr. Sim was chosen by an independent panel of poultry experts who selected him for his outstanding contribution to poultry health in Southeast Asia, and in particular his passion for incorporating natural feed additives with conventional drug therapies. He will receive a $5,000 contribution towards attending international scientific or continued professional development meetings.
Nigel Horrox, President of the WVPA, said the association received a high standard of nominations from all around the world – reflecting the nature of the global poultry industry.
“It is pleasing to see that over the last four years the four award winners have come from four different continents. In Maximillian we have an outstanding individual who is a credit to our profession and to Malaysia.”
Dr. Sim works for a US-based animal health company, liaising with the top 10 poultry producers in Southeast Asia to offer effective, natural, gut health solutions, as well as effective control to various mycotoxicosis. He also believes in the importance of education and travels within Southeast Asia to work with local veterinarians, broiler and layer producer associations, and visits poultry farmers in rural areas to conduct seminars in disease prevention and farm management.
A volunteer within the Veterinary Association of Malaysia, Dr. Sim also assists in establishing guidelines and documentation for professional development programs.
He says: “I’m honored and humbled to receive this award and be recognized by my colleagues in the industry. Across my career to date I have worked to promote preventative gut health and I’ve enjoyed working with producers, veterinarians, integrators and others within the poultry sector. I’m proud to receive this award.”
Dr. Sim began his career traveling Malaysia and Asia to introduce the concept of natural feed additives to promote gut health as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. He has helped many poultry farms across the region to achieve effective control of coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis through the incorporation of natural feed additives. He also worked with the top 50 poultry producers in China, promoting the concept of ‘Safe Feed for Safe Food’.
Zoetis poultry marketing director Erik Uyttebroek said Dr. Sim has demonstrated a passion for the poultry industry through his work promoting holistic gut health, and has shown a deep commitment to ensuring smaller producers have access to latest technologies and health management tools.

Zoetis’ Neuberger earns veterinarian of the year honor

Darrell Neuberger, DVM, was honored as the Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) annual meeting, held in March in Dallas. This recognition is given annually to the technical services or allied industry veterinarian who has demonstrated an unusual degree of proficiency and effectiveness in veterinary service to their company and its clients as well as giving tirelessly in service to AASV and the swine industry.
Dr. Neuberger has spent his career working in the swine industry in Iowa. Since 2009, Dr. Neuberger has served as a senior manager in Technical Services for Zoetis. Prior to joining Zoetis, he worked as a technical services veterinarian for Fort Dodge Animal Health and in a mixed-animal veterinary practice. Dr. Neuberger received both his undergraduate degree and doctorate of veterinary medicine (DVM) from Iowa State University (ISU).
"Dr. Neuberger is dedicated to improving the lives of the people and pigs around him, and that dedication has been duly acknowledged with this well-deserved award," said Shelley Stanford, DVM, director, U.S. Pork Technical Services, Zoetis. "We consider ourselves very fortunate to have Dr. Neuberger and his years of committed service to veterinarians, producers and the swine industry as part of our team."
 In addition to his daily responsibilities of supporting veterinarians and producers, Dr. Neuberger enjoys mentoring veterinary students at ISU, as well as coordinating the Zoetis Summer Veterinary Student Intern Program. He also continues learning as he helps educate students, other veterinarians, producers and caregivers. Dr. Neuberger has been involved in countless research projects and completed the University of Illinois Executive Veterinary Program in 2000.
"I am most humbled to receive this recognition," Dr. Neuberger said. "The swine industry is a wonderful community to work in, and I am honored to be spending my career as part of it. I would like to sincerely thank those who nominated me and the talented Zoetis team that I share this recognition with."
Outside of work, Dr. Neuberger and his wife, Diane, keep busy by traveling and visiting their three daughters and four grandchildren. Dr. Neuberger also is an avid fisherman and Iowa State Cyclones fan.

IPVS Congress makes last call to submit abstracts

The International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS) is making its final call for people to submit abstracts for the 2014 IPVS Congress. The deadline to submit an abstract has been extended to 11:59 p.m. February 28.
The IPVS Congress, in its 23^rd year, is scheduled for June 8-11, in Cancun, Mexico. The IPVS Congress will showcase research and topics of swine health and production interest from around the world.
Abstracts must be submitted online through the IPVS website.
Presentation venues include oral, corner and poster presentations.
The program is organized around the following topics: bacteriology, virology, immunology/vaccine/diagnosis, epidemiology/public health, breeding/genetics, nutrition and production, management/housing/economics, food safety/pork quality, welfare, practitioners' line and miscellaneous.

Nominations open for 2014 Young Veterinarian Award

Zoetis announced that it will once again be supporting the World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) Young Poultry Veterinarian Award, and nominations are now open.
As in previous years, the 2014 award is open to poultry veterinarians from anywhere in the world who are under the age of 35 on January 1, 2014. The prize is a contribution of $5,000 towards attending international scientific or continued professional development meetings.
The WVPA is asking for nominations to be made on behalf of young veterinarians who not only display a commitment to bird health and customer care, but who demonstrate a real passion for the poultry industry.
"The two previous winners have been exceptional young veterinarians who are a credit to our profession," said Dr. Trevor Bagust, president of the WVPA. "We have been very impressed by the standard of nominations in the past, and I expect 2014 to be the same or even better."
The award will be judged by a panel of global poultry experts, and the winner will receive his or her award at the WVPA Asia Meeting in Bangkok in September.
Hector Badillo, global marketing director at Zoetis, believes that encouraging young veterinarians is important for the future of the poultry industry:
"Maintaining the health and therefore the productivity of flocks is absolutely central to the success of modern poultry businesses, and veterinarians are an essential part of that success.
"Zoetis is proud to support the WVPA Young Poultry Veterinarian Award for the third consecutive year, and to encourage and recognize those veterinarians who will safeguard the future of the poultry industry globally."
Nominees/applicants are asked to demonstrate their role and achievements in the industry and explain why they believe they should win the award in 500 words or less. The closing date for nominations is May 16, 2014. Entries can only be made via the WVPA Young Veterinarian of the Year 2014 website, which also has full details of the award.

RVNs to benefit from newly developed university qualifications

A registered veterinary nursing program is being offered at Solihull College in the United Kingdom.
A unique and prestigious higher education route for registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) will be offered at the UK's Solihull College, beginning September 2014. Two new university level qualifications for RVNs can be studied at Solihull College, who have an impressive and vast animal care and land-based facility at their Blossomfield campus.
Both the foundation degree (FdSc) in advanced veterinary nursing studies and BSc (Hons) in advanced veterinary nursing studies (top-up year) have been developed alongside Abingdon and Witney College and will be delivered in partnership with Oxford Brookes University. This is a unique program that focuses on developing veterinary nursing knowledge and skills, above and beyond those acquired for RVN status.
"There are currently very few higher education opportunities for RVN's and these exciting new qualifications will aid a graduate to pursue employment in clinical nursing roles requiring specialized expertise," said Rosie Godfrey, land-based HE leader at Solihull College.
The animal care facility at the college has been described by staff as "one of the best kept secrets on campus" and - in the West Midlands - is very unique in what it offers learners. The facility encompasses a three-story building, complete with specialist rooms for exotics, reptiles and an aviary. In addition to this there are also two external paddocks to house the college's larger animals including donkeys, goats and pigs.
This is an historic move for Solihull College in being able to offer higher education qualifications in one its most popular further education subject areas. The foundation degree includes the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) diploma in advanced veterinary nursing being embedded into the second year.
Along with this, newly qualified RVNs can gain a year of clinical experience needed to undertake this RCVS qualification in their first year of the foundation degree.
"I am delighted that the team at Solihull College has been successful in the validation of these higher education qualifications. The vet nursing team at the college can be commended on their dedication to drive forward the profession and there is no doubt these qualifications will prove to be highly popular," said Prof. David Evans, head of biological and medical sciences at Oxford Brookes University.
The new qualifications will be an addition to the college's University Centre, which delivers higher education degrees in partnership with various partner universities, including Oxford Brookes. Learners are able to study subjects including fine art, early years and childhood studies, health and social care.

AVMA salutes US Senate for unanimously passing veterinary medicine mobility bill

In a move that brings Congress one step closer to allowing veterinarians the complete ability to provide care to their animal patients beyond their clinics, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) praised the U.S. Senate today for its passage of the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act (S. 1171). Sponsored by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Angus King (I-Maine), this commonsense legislation will give veterinarians who treat their patients on the farm, in the wild, at a client's home or in any other mobile setting, the ability to bring and use controlled substances to provide pain management, anesthesia or euthanasia.
"The Senate's action proves that our nation's leaders are listening to the veterinary profession and are diligently working to ensure that animals in all settings continue to receive the best quality care," said Dr. Clark Fobian, president of the AVMA. "To be a veterinarian, you must be willing to go to your patients when they cannot come to you, and this means being able to bring all of the vital medications you need in your medical bag. We are pleased that the Senate has taken action to fix a loophole in federal regulation, which has concerned veterinarians over the past few years, and urge the U.S. House to swiftly follow suit."
"The passage of the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act today is a step in the right direction for the licensed practitioners who help ensure public safety and care for animals in Kansas and across the country," Sen. Moran said. "By legalizing the transportation and dispensation of controlled substances, this legislation makes sure certain veterinarians are equipped with the tools they need and is particularly important for practitioners who work in rural areas, conduct research or respond to emergency situations."
"I am very pleased the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act passed the Senate," Sen. King said. "Working in a rural state like Maine often requires veterinarians to travel long distances in order to provide care to animals on farms, in homes and at shelters. This bill will grant properly licensed veterinarians the right to carry and administer controlled substances, including important medications, allowing them to do their jobs."
Since November 2009, the Drug Enforcement Administration has informed the veterinary profession that the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) does not permit registrants to take controlled substances beyond their registered locations, such as a clinic or home in a veterinarian's case. This narrow interpretation of the law is problematic for those veterinarians who care for animals in a variety of settings and also for those who live on a state border, therefore providing care in two states, but only having registered in one state. The DEA has indicated in the past that without a statutory change to the law, some veterinarians may be practicing outside the confines of the law.
AVMA's Governmental Relations Division has been actively engaged with Capitol Hill staff to amend the CSA and has embarked in a year-long advocacy campaign to educate the public and the profession about how this regulation directly impacts veterinarians' ability to protect the health and welfare of our nation's animals.
AVMA's members have sent more than 24,000 letters to Congress this year in support of the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act, and the bill has the support of more than 130 veterinary medical and other organizations. The House version of the bill (H.R. 1528) has more than 140 cosponsors and is endorsed by the House Veterinary Medicine Caucus, led by veterinarians Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) and Ted Yoho (R-Fla.).

Association of Veterinary Consultants raises concerns on EFSA's proposals to address Bacillus safety

The Association of Veterinary Consultants (AVC) has joined the public debate launched by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on how best to assess the safety of Bacillus strains used in the EU food chain.
The AVC said that the same Bacillus strains may be used as human food and animal feed supplements, and that EU member states increasingly look to the EFSA for guidance on issues common to food and feed, driven by food-feed hygiene and other EU regulations. For this reason the AVC said it recommends that EFSA food and feed panels work together to enlarge such public consultations, stimulate more robust and better-quality scientific inputs from a wider expert community, and ensure common grounds for food-feed safety criteria.
The AVC supports the EFSA's objective to use in vitro safety assays wherever possible, to reduce, refine and replace the use of laboratory animal tests, but said it recommends that in vitro tests be internationally validated prior to adoption by the EFSA. The AVC is also concerned that the in vitro tests suggested by the EFSA may yield false positive or false negative results and has made a number of detailed proposals to improve the EFSA's approach:

• For strains already used in the EU food chain, accept these based on a safe history of use and any existing in vitro and in vivo safety data.
• For new strains proposed for use in animal nutrition, use validated in vitro tests as an initial strain-selection filter, followed, if necessary, by suitable tolerance testing in target animals, combined with the already required dose-response and efficacy studies.
• For new strains to be used in food supplements, use validated in vitro tests as an initial strain-selection filter, followed, if necessary, by suitable laboratory animal studies. This approach is coherent with the EFSA's and other regulatory bodies' requirements for genotoxicity testing.

APHIS reorganizes Veterinary Services program

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reorganized its Veterinary Services (VS) program.  Under the new structure, VS is organized into four strategically focused units.
The new units include:

• Surveillance, Preparedness and Response, for animal health needs in the major animal commodity groups
• National Import Export Services, for import and export initiatives from policy setting to inspection at ports of entry
• Science, Technology and Analysis, building on scientific, technical, and analytical foundation to support VS in meeting its mission
• Program Support Services, for providing key support services for VS personnel and stakeholders.
  Additional information describing the APHIS Veterinary Services reorganization is available on the APHIS website.

Zoetis presents Kansas veterinarian with Science in Practice Award

Lisa Tokach, DVM, has been named the recipient of the 2013 Allen D. Leman Science in Practice Award. The award was presented by Zoetis at the 2013 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, hosted by the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn.
Tokach is a practicing veterinarian at Abilene Animal Hospital in Abilene, Kan., where she helps producers understand science and research to grow healthy pigs. Dr. Tokach has been honored for her work as the Swine Practitioner of the Year in 2008 by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. She has served on the American Association of Swine Veterinarians board of directors, including serving as president in 2002, and she recently completed a term as the swine representative to the American Veterinary Medical Association. She currently holds a position on the Pig Welfare Committee for the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.
The 2013 Allen D. Leman Science in Practice Award is named after the former University of Minnesota veterinarian who dedicated his career to improvements in swine production and the education of practicing veterinarians. After his death in 1992, the annual conference that he co-founded was named in his honor.