In England, new Agriculture Minister Jim Paice has confirmed that there will be a science-led cull of badgers to combat bovine tuberculosis (bTB).

He stressed that the cull would be part of a comprehensive package of bTB measures.

Elsewhere in the UK, it has been confirmed that wild boar carry the causative agent of bTB. It is, at the moment, unclear of the role that wild boar have in the epidemiology of bTB in the UK.

However DEFRA, the government agricultural body has said that the risk to domestic livestock is low.

A video showing shocking footage of farm workers subjecting dairy cows and calves to vicious abuse has presented another challenge for the industry.

The video released by animal advocacy group, Mercy For Animals was captured on a hidden camera at Conklin Dairy Farm in Plain City, Ohio, US.

The American Humane Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation and other industry leaders have all condemned actions of cruelty against farm animals, saying that these practices are unacceptable.

"As members of the agricultural community, it is our responsibility to stop any such actions if and when they are brought to our attention, including alerting appropriate law enforcement officials," said Bob Stallman, President of the AFBF.

Those, who don't report such incidences, are detrimental to an industry, which is working hard to ensure high standards of welfare in animal production.

This Week's Feature Articles

Company News

Liver Fluke Spreading Eastwards Say Vets
UK - Increasing numbers of vets in the east of Britain report that they are seeing more cases of liver fluke than ever before.

---

Acquisition Of Pfizer Assets By Lilly Cleared
EU - The European Commission has cleared the acquisition of animal health assets of Pfizer by Eli Lilly & Co.

---

Global Dairy Cattle Industry News

   General

 » FMD NEWS: Japan Reports 87 New FMD Outbreaks

   United Kingdom

 » Badger Cull To Go Ahead In England
 » Milk Auction Up Again
 » TB Found In Wild Boar Population
 » Unexplained Calf Deaths Should Be Questionned
 » RABDF Calls For Immediate Milk Price Rise

   Russian Federation

 » AgroFarm 2010: Over 200 Exhibitors From 19 Countries

   France

 » New President for Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation

   Nigeria

 » Call For Specialised Research Institutes

   Canada

 » Producers Urged To Guard Against Risk Of FMD

   United States

 » US Cattle On Feed Down Three Per Cent
 » Vilsack Announces National Fluid Milk Board Appointments
 » CME: 2010 Corn Planting Substantially Complete
 » Novus Acquires IQF Group
 » Model Developed For Manipulating Vitamin D Levels In Calves
 » ARS Detects 700 Antimicrobial-Resistance Genes
 » Cattle Abuse Video Causes Outrage
 » Keep Safety in Mind When Working With Bulls
 » AFBF Condemns Video Revealing Animal Cruelty

   Ireland

 » Farm Walk On Expanding Family Dairy Farm



That's all for this week!

Ed.