Beef Buzz News
Threats Posed by FMD Outbreak Potentially Catastrophic, NCBA Insists a Vaccine Bank is Imperative
Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:33:45 CDT
One foreign animal disease that will keep producers up at night - is Foot and Mouth Disease. According to Dr. Kathy Simmons, chief veterinarian for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, FMD has not appeared in the United States since 1929. But if it ever did show up again, Simmons tells Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays, the highly contagious, infectious viral disease could potentially wreak havoc on US livestock and wildlife populations.
"Our swine populations, our cattle populations, goats, some wildlife will all be at risk," she said, trying to explain that FMD only endangers cloven-hooved, or two-toed animals, and poses no actual health risk to humans. "So, we need to be prepared."
Simmons explains that depopulation used to be the answer to controlling an FMD outbreak, because livestock populations at the time were much smaller than they are today. Now, if FMD was found in a feedyard with 100,000 head of cattle - depopulation would no longer be a viable option. Instead, vaccines have become more commonplace in the modern era. However, FMD vaccine is limited in its production around the world and is complex - in the sense that there are multiple strains of the disease and no one cross-protection from them all. If FMD were to ever appear in the US, it could be catastrophic to the livestock industry and the agricultural economy throughout. Currently, Simmons reports that NCBA is working with other livestock groups like the pork industry, to lobby for funding to establish a modernized vaccine bank with adequate supplies in preparation for an untimely emergency, looking at the next Farm Bill as a vehicle for that necessary funding.
"We need to prepare now," Simmons said, "because, we may not be able to buy our way out of it if we're in a crisis."
Listen to NCBA's Dr. Kathy Simmons and Farm Director Ron Hays discuss the importance of having a vaccine bank made available for the potentiality of an FMD outbreak in the US, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Listen to Simmons and Hays discuss the importance of being prepared for an FMD outbreak, below.
right-click to download mp3
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Beef News
NCBA's Ethan Lane Voices Concerns with the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022 Fri, 24 Jun 2022 08:57:35 CDT
Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022 Passes with Objections Thu, 23 Jun 2022 13:14:46 CDT
Notable Increase in the Cost of Gain in Feedlots for 2022 says Dr. Glynn Tonsor Wed, 22 Jun 2022 16:13:24 CDT
Dan Halstrom Anticipates More Billion-Dollar Sale Export Months for Beef Exports but Warns of Headwinds Tue, 21 Jun 2022 09:57:08 CDT
USMEF's Dan Halstrom Sees Signing of Ocean Reform Act Helping U.S. Meat Exporters Be Reliable Suppliers Mon, 20 Jun 2022 13:23:18 CDT
A.J. Tarpoff Provides Medical Explanation for Cattle Deaths in Kansas Fri, 17 Jun 2022 10:13:21 CDT
Unusual Heat Conditions in Southwestern Kansas Result in Feedlot Cattle Deaths Thu, 16 Jun 2022 09:22:24 CDT
Montie Soules, CEO of the American Shorthorn Association, Promotes America's First Breed Wed, 15 Jun 2022 10:23:32 CDT
Cattlemen's Congress: The Show by Cattle Producers for Cattle Producers Tue, 14 Jun 2022 10:08:29 CDT
New Potential Listing Under Endangered Species Act to Cause More Regulatory Burden for Producers Mon, 13 Jun 2022 10:20:48 CDT
Derrell Peel Analyzes Multiple Reasons Ground Beef Market Holding Strong Fri, 10 Jun 2022 09:52:14 CDT
NCBA Hopeful the Supreme Court Will Provide Clarity on What is a WOTUS Thu, 09 Jun 2022 10:23:34 CDT
Cattle Producers Voice their Concerns at WOTUS Roundtable Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:12:49 CDT
Dr. Wesley Tucker Advises Ranchers Against Overstocking to Increase Revenue in the Long Run Tue, 07 Jun 2022 09:37:16 CDT
New Technology Allows Ranchers to Control Mesquite Better than Before, says Brian Cain with Bayer Mon, 06 Jun 2022 13:36:29 CDT
Cattle Numbers and Prices to be Impacted by Poor Pasture and Range Conditions Fri, 03 Jun 2022 10:35:00 CDT
OCA Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey Believes Attorney General O'Connor is a Good Fit for Agriculture Thu, 02 Jun 2022 10:10:35 CDT
China Phase One Trade Deal a Success for U.S. Beef Wed, 01 Jun 2022 09:30:45 CDT
Robin Reid Urges Producers to Sign up for the USDA's LFP Program to Receive Assistance During Drought Tue, 31 May 2022 15:21:05 CDT
Congressman Frank Lucas Waits on DOJ Decision on Possible Criminal Wrongdoing by Big Four Packers Mon, 30 May 2022 09:32:15 CDT
David Lalman Stresses the Value of Being Proactive Before Poor Forage Condition Arise Thu, 26 May 2022 11:01:27 CDT
NCBA's Mary Thomas Hart Wants to Push Back Proposed SEC Reporting Rule Wed, 25 May 2022 10:41:26 CDT
Strong Marketings Key to Working Through Record Cattle Numbers in US Feedlots Tue, 24 May 2022 08:06:28 CDT
Cattle on Feed Report Shows Biggest May First Inventory Since 1996- Drought Pushing Cattle Into Feedlots Sat, 21 May 2022 15:01:06 CDT
Lance Zimmerman with Cattlefax Offers Cow Calf Producers Strategies for Success Fri, 20 May 2022 08:44:10 CDT
Kent Bacus says NCBA is Committed to Promoting Trade to Benefit US Cattle Producers Thu, 19 May 2022 09:54:10 CDT
John Butler with the Beef Marketing Group Communicates to Consumers that the Beef Industry is Sustainable Wed, 18 May 2022 09:46:15 CDT
John Butler with Beef Marketing Group Aims to See All Segments of the Beef Industry Working Together Tue, 17 May 2022 09:44:42 CDT
Fewer Pounds of Beef Coming in the Beef Pipeline Mon, 16 May 2022 09:02:35 CDT
NCBA's Colin Woodall Gives Credit to Cattle Producers for Always Being Sustainable Fri, 13 May 2022 11:08:03 CDT
Dakota Moss Describes Benefits of Utilizing an LRP Program for Cattle Producers Thu, 12 May 2022 09:53:54 CDT
Historically Poor Pasture Conditions to Hit Beef Supplies Ahead Wed, 11 May 2022 11:31:21 CDT
Six Years After Repeal, Senator John Thune Still Wants Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling Tue, 10 May 2022 09:39:50 CDT
USMEF's Erin Borror Suspects Increased Herd Liquidation May Lead to Tighter Supplies in the Future Mon, 09 May 2022 12:29:27 CDT
USMEF's Erin Borror Sees Growth in US Beef Exports for the Remainder of 2022 Fri, 06 May 2022 10:13:22 CDT
