Editorial: Health And Climate Change Present Challenges

A new vaccine in the US has proven to reduce the spread of the E.coli O157 bacteria which has been haunting the meat industry. Although only preliminary tests have been carried out, the outcome looks promising.

Following the success of the compulsory bluetongue vaccination campaign last year, Scotland has announced that vaccination will be voluntary next year.

This news comes as Tunisia reports five bluetongue outbreaks to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Bad news this week emerged for the Chinese dairy markets, as authorities have uncovered more melamine-tainted milk powder. In this revelation, employees from the Shaanxi Jinqiao Dairy Co have been detained and accused of producing and selling toxic food.

Climate change has been topical this week, as talks have taken place in Copenhagen. Livestock and dairy production have been somewhat hard hit with accusations regarding levels of greenhouse gases over recent months.

The US declared earlier this week that its dairy industry will cut greenhouse gases by 25 per cent by 2020.

A report in the UK has said that cutting down consumption of dairy products will not only help combat climate change but lead to a healthier lifestyle. This has provoked an angry response from Dairy UK, who reminded the authors of the report that milk and dairy production adds around £8bn to the UK economy every year and employs more than 70,000 people. On top of this processors have saved more than 130,000 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere in the last 10 years.

Next week's newsletter will appear on Wednesday 23 December.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

Company News

News Headlines on Video from eFresh - 18 December
GLOBAL - TheDairySite brings the latest video news headlines covering the dairy sector from eFresh.com.

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Connecting South Asian Dairy Markets
INDIA - From 1 to 3 February 2010, VNU Exhibitions and Inter Ads will finalise an exciting period of hard work with the opening of VIV India 2010.

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Global Dairy Cattle Industry News

   European Union

 » BLUETONGUE: Voluntary Vaccination in 2010
 » Council Discusses Animal Welfare Labelling Scheme

   United States

 » US Feed Suppliers Welcome EU Biotech Approvals
 » Researchers Evaluate Crop Management
 » Feed Additives Sales in US Down by 12 Per Cent
 » Novus Intends to Acquire Albion
 » Weekly Outlook:Crop Supplies And Consumption Projections
 » ARS Develops New Test for Staph Toxin
 » NCBA Recommends Major Stucture Change
 » Weekly Roberts Report
 » Fremont Corn Expo Offers Growers Solutions
 » USDA Revises Veterinary Accreditation Programme
 » CME: Can Firms Be Made More Competitive?
 » US Combat Climate Change
 » US Dairy Producers To Cut GHG
 » Replicating Climate Change To Forecast Its Effects
 » Vaccine To Reduce E.Coli
 » Bringing Agricultural Products To Market
 » CME: Larger Inventory of Cattle in Lots Expected
 » Turkey Officially Lifts Ban On Biotech Imports

   United Kingdom

 » Carbon Footprinting Saving Farmers Money
 » UFU Disappointed with DARD TB Strategy
 » Improved Efficiency Is Key To Reduced Emissions
 » Narrow Consumption Cuts Are Not The Answer
 » Cutting Meat And Dairy Will Save The Planet?
 » University Of Oxford Offers Masters In Welfare
 » Good Practice: Changes In Testing Cattle For TB
 » Protect Our Clean Areas From Bovine TB
 » Drumlin: New Hybrid Grass from AFBI
 » Find Out About Changes To TB Testing
 » UFU Stays Positive About Future Milk Prices
 » Scotland Protect TB-Free Status
 » NFU Lobbies Against Environment Agency Price Hikes
 » Dairy Farmers Must Benefit From EU Fund
 » HSA Opens Welfare Award Nominations
 » Voluntary Bluetongue Vaccination in 2010

   New Zealand

 » Changes To Dairy Regulations
 » New Zealand Works with China on Food Safety
 » NZ Farming Systems Outlook Improves on Milk Prices

   General

 » EFSA and Japan Sign a Memorandum of Cooperation

   Canada

 » Influence of Anaerobic Digestion Efficiency on Manure

   China

 » China Uncovers More Melamine-Tainted Milk Powder
 » China Bans Exports Of Ractopamine Hydrochloride

   Australia

 » Cattle Die From Salmonella Poisoning
 » Korean Beef Market Beneficial To Australia

   India

 » Bill Proposed to Prohibit Cow Slaughter

   Germany

 » EuroTier 2010: Top Event for Animal Farmers

   Ireland

 » Ireland Calls For Caution On Milk Markets
 »  €1.185M Funding For Animal Welfare Organisations

   Tunisia

 » Tunisia Reports Five Bluetongue Outbreaks

That's all for this week!

Ed.