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Deer Farmers’ Digest Newsletter |
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June 2002 - Vol. 3, Issue 6 Welcome to the JUNE 2002 edition of the Deer Farmers' Digest, a monthly electronic newsletter published for those interested in raising deer, elk and reindeer. This Digest (ISSN 1499-1357) is distributed via e-mail to over 2,800 readers in 28 countries. A copy of ALL the issues of the Deer Farmers' Digest can be found at http://digest.deerfarmer.com or http://www.deer-digest.com and in the National Library of Canada at http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/201/300/deer_farmers_digest/. Please forward this copy of the Deer Farmers' Digest to your friends and any other people who may be interested in deer, elk or reindeer. To ADD or REMOVE your name from our mailing list, please see Subscription Services below. IN THIS ISSUE 1. Biosecurity and disease prevention
* * A D V E R T I S E M E N T * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Deer Farmers' Store at http://store.deerfarmer.com where you will find sample business plans, Digest print subscriptions and binders, Deerfarmer.com knives and Qeva elk velvet antler capsules. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1. BIOSECURITY AND DISEASE PREVENTION [This article prepared by Russell Sawchuk from information provided by Dr. Colin Macaldowie, Moredun Research Institute in the United Kingdom, and as published in the Winter 2001 edition of Deer Farming, the Journal of the British Deer Farmers Association.] Every responsible cervid producer today must develop and implement strategies and procedures for disease control and eradication on their farm. With CWD and FMD seemingly spreading so easily, caution and appropriate steps are essential to protect the health of your herds. In this article, we will look at the steps you can take to protect your animals from infectious diseases. Livestock purchases 1. Ask yourself: is it really necessary to buy animals in the first place, or can you enhance your genetics with A.I. or embryo transplants? 2. Try and buy direct from as few farms as possible. Arrange a pre-purchase visit so the animals can be seen and the management standards assessed. Look critically at the best and the worst animals. Much information on the health status of livestock can be gained by looking at why you wouldn't want to buy! 3. The ideal is to always try and buy home-bred stock from one farm. If you are looking for pedigree animals, it should be easier to select from farms that breed their own replacements. 4. Animals covered under a health scheme (CWD monitoring program, TB Free Certification) should always be selected in preference to suppliers who do not subscribe to these programs. 5. Always record the exact origin of every animal. Such information may be of use if subsequent disease problems arise. 6. Ask about the disease and health history of the stock to be purchased as well as others on the farm. With the vendor's consent, corroborate this with information from other sources such as the vendor's vet. 7. Request and examine all documents relating to the health of the animals for sale including medicine books, health scheme certificates, etc. Request copies of all documents relevant to the animals you are about to buy. 8. If documentation is insufficient or if you have concerns about specific diseases, discuss with your own veterinarian whether any lab tests for disease need to be carried out before purchase. Seek advice on the accuracy and limitations of the tests as well as the number of animals that need to be tested to allow meaningful interpretation of the results. Have the vendor's vet do any pre-sale tests. 9. Decide on any vaccinations and other preventative treatments before removal from the source farm. If possible, arrange for treatments to be given before moving. 10. When transporting livestock, always use your own vehicle or one belonging to a reputable hauler. Always ensure that the vehicle is thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated with disinfectant before loading and after movement is complete. Whenever possible, arrange for animals to be transported direct from the point of sale to the destination farm. Avoid mixing animals from different sources on the same vehicle. 11. If buying at an auction, always buy through the ring to ensure traceability. Allow plenty of time for pre-sale inspections. Carefully examine the best and worst "draws" a seller has to offer. Again, always select health scheme accredited animals and ask to see all available health documents before bidding. 12. Always be prepared to walk away if problems or obstructions are encountered at any stage of the purchase process. However, always make sure that the vendor is never left with out-of-pocket costs. Quarantine 1. The actual length of quarantine varies depending on the disease in question. As a general rule, six weeks should be sufficient to detect the presence of most acute disease problems. 2. For breeding requirements, six weeks is the minimum period. Ideally, they should be kept separate until after they have been tested or have successfully calved to guard against the possibility of spreading infectious abortions. Some diseases take months or years (CWD) to detect, so risk is never completely eliminated. This is why animals from a recognized health scheme are better choices. 3. Quarantine means complete isolation. To be successful, the area chosen must be completely secure from existing stock. Use a separate building or a double-fenced paddock with at least 10 feet separation from other stock. It is important that animals do NOT have nose-to-nose contact at any point. 4. People handling quarantined animals should have separate footwear and overalls. If at all possible, staff feeding quarantined animals should not handle other stock. 5. Upon arrival, dose all animals with an anthelmintic that is effective against inhibited and resistant gastro-intestinal worms. Yard or house them for 24 hours to ensure all worms are killed before turnout. 6. Regularly examine the animals during the quarantine period for signs of infectious disease. If you have any concerns, consult with your vet. Be sure everything is satisfactory before mixing new animals with existing stock. Farm security 1. At farm boundaries, it is important to maintain a good stock-proof barrier, either by erecting, and properly maintaining, walls and fencing, or by making the best use of existing geographical features such as woodland, rivers and streams. Water may act as a good physical barrier, but it may also carry water-borne infectious agents e.g., salmonella and cryptosporidia from neighbouring farms, so it may be necessary to fence stock away from it. 2. Discourage the general public and other visitors from coming into direct contact with the livestock. Discourage unauthorized access to farm buildings by erecting signs citing disease prevention measures as the reason, and if necessary, secure building entrances and gates with locks. 3. Have a guest book or register where visitors (including your vet) sign in. If an infectious disease develops on your farm, this information may be useful in tracing the source and letting others know about it. 4. Ensure that contractors and visitors (including vets) coming onto the farm maintain high standards of hygiene and disinfect all equipment before use. Provide separate vehicle parking and a disinfection area near each entrance and well away from animal accommodations. Maintain stocks of disinfectant and provide hoses, clean water and brushes to allow boots and vehicles to be thoroughly cleaned of any mud or manure before applying disinfectant solutions. Refuse access to anyone who is not prepared to comply with your regulations. Remember to regularly clean and disinfect vehicles used within farm boundaries to stop disease from being carried around the farm. 5. Always consider security risks posed at other sites when stock is held away from home. Examine animals carefully when they return and always quarantine them as with newly purchased stock. Hygiene and farm environment 1. Ensure provision of fresh clean water at all times to prevent animals wading through and drinking from contaminated watercourses. 2. Move feeders regularly to prevent excessive poaching of ground and associated contamination with manure. Remove or turn feeders over after use to prevent contamination with bird or animal faeces. 3. Try and adopt rotational clean grazing policies wherever possible to keep exposure to gastro-intestinal and lungworms to a minimum. Remember, "clean" grazing means grass that has not been grazed on for at least 12 months. 4. Adopt good pasture management practices to ensure grass is not overgrazed or allowed to become too infested with toxic plants such as Ragwort and St. John's Wort, or with thistles and thorns, which may cause foot abrasions leading to increased lameness problems. 5. Place disinfectant footbaths at the entrances to buildings and between separate areas within buildings. Fill regularly with approved disinfectant and replace every week. Make sure everyone uses them so that standing in a footbath becomes automatic. 6. Provide adequate, easily-cleaned and waterproof protective clothing for personnel handling animals. Use disposable gloves when handling or examining animals to reduce the risk of picking up and transferring infectious organisms, some of which may be harmful to humans. Always wash your hands thoroughly before leaving any animal accommodation area. 7. When possible, design or modify pens to allow animals to be kept in small batches depending on age, background and clinical or management history. This way, if a disease breaks out, it can be contained. 8. Keep the farm as tidy as possible to reduce the presence of vermin. Keep farm dogs under control and make sure they are wormed regularly. 9. Ensure that feed stores are secured against vermin, birds and cats and that they are watertight to guard against damp-induced spoilage of feed. Concentrates should be stored off the ground, preferably in sealed bags or pallets or in dedicated silos. 10. Feed only good quality conserved hay and silage that has been stored properly to prevent problems associated with fungal toxins or listeria bacteria. Surveillance and response readiness 1. Prepare a written herd health plan outlining routine disease prevention measures such as vaccinations and anti-parasitic treatments. Update this plan on an annual basis. 2. Have regular visits from your vet to discuss your health plan and other disease prevention issues. Discuss the possibility of laboratory testing to identify certain infectious diseases that may be already on the farm. 3. Keep scrupulous records to detect problems with herd performance that may be attributed to the presence of infectious diseases. Keep records of all disease occurrences, medications, treatment programs and results. Ensure that your records system can retrieve and analyze all relevant data when required. 4. Try and develop a contingency plan in case a disease outbreak occur. It is usually easier to give cost-effective advice on how to limit losses if health risk factors can be identified in advance and problems tackled early, rather than attempting to respond with a reactive approach to disease control. These contingency plans should include provisions for insurance or access to government programs to cover costs due to disease losses. Unfortunately, livestock diseases have now gone global. Prudent deer and elk producers must take the appropriate biosecurity measures to protect the health and wellness of their herds.
2. BSE NOT TRANSMISSIBLE TO MAN OR COW [By Benjamin Parish MSc. and Anthony Parish PhD, UK mailto:antparish@cwcom.net ] Summary We can also prove that BSE was never experimentally transmitted. What appeared to be transmitted was in reality induced putrid protein poisoning. Bio-accumulated neurotoxic residues that survived in the fat component of the newly introduced solvent-free fat extraction process triggered the British 1986 BSE epidemic. Spongiform Encephalopathies Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was first documented as recently as 1985 and marked the beginning of an epidemic, which swept across the country resulting in almost 180,000 cases to date. We claim BSE always existed in older animals as a rare disease, but like CJD, it went unrecognized until the 1920s. Another disease that went unrecognized was cot deaths. Over 1,500 babies died each year in Britain alone, yet it was not medically defined until 1969. BSE is not spreading to Europe. They are just finding it! Current Scientific Opinion This is from a Daniel C Gajduseks 1976 press release: "Ten percent of all cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease have a hereditary background. Also from these cases an infectious agent can be isolated. The finding that a hereditary disease had an infectious origin was completely new and unexpected." This finding cannot be correct -- a genetic hereditary disease must be endogenous. We are being asked to believe the impossible. Professor Stanley Prusiner won his Nobel Prize in October 1997 for his alternative prion hypothesis. Our March 1996 an Internet published discovery appeared in many ways, to be similar. He, however, attempted to explain how the infectious prion could replicate. He also claimed the disease is transmissible horizontally. From Prusiner's 1997 press release quotes: "The infectious prion particle forms within the body." "Prions exist normally as innocuous cellular proteins." "Prions are much smaller than viruses. The immune response does not react to prions since they are present as natural proteins from birth." http://www.nobel.se/medicine/laureates/1976/index.html This quotation confirms our discovery. The second Nobel Prize proves the first was wrong Transmission Studies Kuru Changes in the feed rendering process The epidemic can be explained by understanding the rendering process. MBM is a by-product of waste animal carcasses mainly from abattoirs. To remove excess fat from this ground-up compound it was subjected to a solvent wash. This solvent fat removing process was discontinued mainly in England because the price for tallow had dropped. The new process increased the final fat content which now also contained the previously removed toxic residues. These were in the form of bio-accumulated free radicals i.e. dioxins and insecticide. The final stage of the solvent extraction process was a high temperature solvent blow-off which also assisted in the removal of the other toxic residues mentioned. The cattle then chronically ingested the insidious poisonous residue. This triggered the 1986 BSE epidemic. Other toxic farm practices probably contributed and may still be promoting the disease today. The pathogenesis and pathology of the British BSE epidemic was different from old age related spongiform diseases because the toxins were transported by blood from cow to calf in the womb (teratogenesis), and then again via the feed. MAFF and SEAC have secretly acknowledged this discovery because cows are now slaughtered before reaching the age of thirty months, proving our claim that this disease of old age has begun to affect the young. Dioxins Dioxins can also be formed when household trash is burned and during forest fires. Animals can take up dioxins deposited on plants and concentrated in the food chain. Those animals then have higher concentrations than plants. Dioxins tend to accumulate in fat. About 95% of exposure to dioxins occur through consumption of food, especially food containing animal fat. Organophosphate pesticides Many American elk and deer, like sheep, can also become infested with ticks. An illusion The phantom strikes again "Traditional butchery practices are the most likely cause of Britain's first variant CJD cluster," say experts. Clearly, we disagree. This blunder alone should be sufficient to demonstrate to the world the truth of our discovery. If you - the reader - cannot grasp this flagrant example, I will quote an American expression: "If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem". Similarity of SEs with Alzheimer's Researchers in Washington D.C. have discovered that a high-fat diet during early and mid-adulthood may be associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. When this research is combined with this proposal, the 1996 discovery is yet again clearly proven because independently each study reaches the same polyunsaturated fat, free radical damage conclusion. This we claim was the British BSE epidemic pathogen and trigger factor. Conclusions We have proven the disease is not transmissible. A poisoning is not a transmissible disease, but an injury. The prion is a symptom, not the cause! Two Nobel Prizes have been awarded, both claiming the disease is transmissible. We affirm again our 1996 discovery that Spongiform encephalopathies are not transmissible to man or beast, unless aided by the intervention of man. For more evidence go to: http://www.onshop.co.uk/bse/us_bse.htm References Bradley R. (1996) Experimental Transmission of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Prion Diseases, Elsevier: Paris, 1996, pp 51-56. Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies. SEAC. London HMSO. September 1994. World ©Copyright 2000 A R Parish ProtectRite Registration #: R692-5607. Tel. 44-(0) 1603-461316 E-mail mailto:antparish@cwcom.net 14 November 2000 Contact Address: 41/c Goulding Place Norwich, Norfolk NR2 4BD United Kingdom.
[By Brian Adelhardt, reprinted from the R.O.B.A. Review, Jan-Feb. 2002] Babesiasis (babesia) is a tick-born, parasitic disease of mammals caused by protozoa of the genus Babesia. The disease is characterized by high fever, anemia and reddened urine (hemoglobinuria). Many discussions of the disease also mention Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Tick Fever, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, as being similar to Babesiasis. Although different organisms cause each of these diseases, the common thread that connects them is that they are all pathogens that are spread by ticks. For this reason, they may be referred to as "Tick Fevers." Specific organisms have been determined to infect specific mammals. For instance, Babesia felis is known to infect cats, and Babesia odocoilei is found in white-tail deer. However, the organisms are not all spread by the same tick. Consequently, the disease present in a particular location will depend on the variety of tick found in that area. In most cases, these diseases can be spread only through ticks, and not from mammal to mammal. To complicate the situation, some ticks can carry several different types of organisms simultaneously so that once infected, the animal may have two different diseases at the same time. Often cervids with parasites may not be properly diagnosed. For this reason, it is important for producers to determine what kind of ticks are present in their areas, and which specific organisms may be transmitted to their animals by these ticks. Entomologists from local universities, or from state departments of agriculture, can probably supply this information. These same people can probably identify the seasons during which the ticks are most likely to spread the disease. Not all diseases can be transmitted by ticks in all stages of development. Knowing the time of the year that the tick is most likely to transmit the disease will be helpful in preventing and diagnosing the disease. Symptoms Treatment While Imizol will usually kill the parasite, the producer may have to treat other problems such as anemia and kidney failure. As soon as treatment is started for parasites, begin forcing fluids by mouth or stomach tube to keep flushing the kidneys. Acute kidney failure is a serious side effect that must be addressed, but it is curable in most instances. Recovery time will vary from a few days to a month or more, depending on the age of the animal, and how far the disease has progressed before treatment was started. Prevention Producers should be aware of the parasites that ticks carry. Be sure your vet is aware of the presence of this problem. If it is not readily available locally, keep a good supply of Imizol on hand. [The government of Queensland, Australia maintains an excellent website on tick fever -- http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/tickfever/ ]
CCC hires public relations agent North American cervid industry congress meeting The goals of the meeting are to:
The meeting is open to invited individuals only - two representatives from each state association (and selected people at large). This event will be held on June 25-26, 2002 at the Comfort Suites in Green Bay, Wisconsin. For more information, contact NADeFA at mailto:info@nadefa.org Elk Commission proposed for Alberta Iowa forms whitetail deer association The new board of directors are: President - Rick Grooms, VP - Mike Hine, Secretary - Fred Huebner, and Treasurer - Judi Collora. Tom Brakke, Barry McGrew, Scott Ken, Chad Machart and Rod Schmidt were elected as members at large. For more information, contact the IWDA office at Box 173, North English, IOWA 52316-0173 or the secretary, Fred Huebner at mailto:circleh@netins.net Venison promotion in Alberta The AEA is seeking help from its members to identify all types of venison distributors from commercial businesses to "farm-gaters." AEA is especially interested in finding the names of caterers, restaurants, valued-added product makers and meat vendors (retail and wholesale). For more information, contact the AEA office at 780-980-7582 or mailto:info@albertaelk.com No more CWD found in Alberta
Here is a list of upcoming events of interest to deer, elk and reindeer farmers. NORTH AMERICAN CERVID INDUSTRY CONGRESS MEETING will be held at the Rock Gardens / Comfort Suites in Green Bay, Wisconsin USA on June 25 - 26, 2000. For more information contact NADeFA at mailto:info@nadefa.org or phone 920-734-0934 IOWA ELK BREEDERS ASSOCIATION SUMMER MEETING will be held at the Guthrie Center, Iowa on June 29, 2002. For more information contact Peni at mailto:tusseyelk@yahoo.com or phone 641-782-2903 SASKATCHEWAN ELK VELVET CLASSIC competition will be held on July 12 and 13, 2002 on the Exhibition Grounds in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. This NAEBA recognized event will see class winners go on to the International Competition to be held in Kansas City in August. For more information, contact SEBA at 306-337-1530 or mailto:seba@sk.sympatico.ca ALBERTA ELK EXPO 2002 will be held in Vermilion on July 19 and 20, 2002. The event will be hosted by the Elk Point Chapter of the Alberta Elk Association. For more information contact the AEA office at 780-980-7582 or mailto:info@albertaelk.com NAEBA INTERNATIONAL ANTLER COMPETITION will be held at the KCI Expo Center, Kansas City, Missouri USA Aug. 2 to 4, 2002. For more information contact Peni at mailto:peni@naelk.org or phone 816-431-3605 or 641-782-3765 FIFTH INTERNATIONAL DEER BIOLOGY CONGRESS will be held August 25-30, 2002 in Quebec City, Canada. For more information contact Michel Crete at 418-521-3955 TEXAS DEER ASSOCIATION 4TH ANNUAL CONVENTION AND AUCTION will be held September 6-7, 2002 at San Antonio, Texas USA. For more information call 210-767-8300 or visit http://www.texasdeerassociation.com NORTH AMERICAN ELK BREEDERS ASSOCIATION (NAEBA) Convention will be held Feb. 5-8, 2003 at St. Louis Missouri USA. Contact the NAEBA office at mailto:info@naelk.org or visit http://www.naelk.org for more information. SECOND ANTLER SCIENCE AND PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM will be held in February 2004 in Queenstown, New Zealand. For more information contact Mark O'Connor at mailto:mark.oconnor@nzgib.org.nz or phone +64 4 473 4500.
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We are always looking for articles and news about deer, elk and reindeer farming that we can print in this newsletter. E-mail, fax or mail your ideas and articles to the Editor as per below. For more general information, comments and suggestions, please contact: Russell Sawchuk E-mail: mailto:editor@deerfarmer.com DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for general information only. It should not be relied upon to make business or farming decisions without first obtaining professional advice. Accordingly, we cannot accept liability for loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from any advice, opinion, representation or omission, whether negligent or otherwise, contained in this newsletter. ©2002 Deerfarmer.com. The Deer Farmers' Digest may only be redistributed in its unedited form. Permission from the editor must be obtained to reprint or cite the information contained within this newsletter. All articles are written by Russell Sawchuk (Editor) unless otherwise noted. Deerfarmer.com is a division of Steppingstones Partnership, Inc. ( http://www.steppingstones.ca). ISSN 1499-1357 Deer Farmers' Digest (Online). All issues of the Deer Farmers' Digest (print and electronic) are archived and catalogued at the National Library of Canada. On-line copies can be found at http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/201/300/deer_farmers_digest/. |
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