Category: Government

Congress votes to make bison the US national mammal

Legislation approved by Congress would elevate the bison to a stature approaching that of the bald eagle, long the national emblem.

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FDA issues guidance on feed safety

As with other FDA guidance documents, GFI 203 does not create any new regulations regarding feed safety, but provides recommendations based on FDA’s current thinking on how to avoid unacceptable levels of feed contaminants on the farm

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Make plans for veterinary feed directive changes now

The new ruling will demand some veterinarian and client interactions that weren’t required before regarding the use of medically important antibiotics in feed and water, said Apley, a veterinarian who specializes in beef production medicine.

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Veterinary Feed Directive Final Rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its animal drug regulations regarding veterinary feed directive (VFD) drugs.

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WHO Opposes Global Control of Ketamine

Faced with the possibility of losing ketamine access, U.S. veterinary professional organizations advised their memberships to submit comments about the Chinese request to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ketamine is probably the most widely used veterinary anesthetic in the world, primarily because of its safety, says René Carlson, DVM, president of the World Veterinary Association and 2015 president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

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Walking horse groups miss deadline to adopt inspection rules

The federal government could soon decertify three organizations that regulate the walking horse industry for not adopting new inspection rules.

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USDA decertifies Tennessee walking horse group

A Tennessee walking horse group that is suing the U.S. Agriculture Department over new rules to stop soring says it has received notice of decertification from the USDA.

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N.J. closer to banning horse slaughter

A bill prohibiting the slaughter of horses for human consumption passed the New Jersey Senate on Monday, with a vote of 35-4.

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Tennessee Walking Horse group sues USDA over minimum fines

Earlier this month, the USDA announced it would put in place a rule requiring organizations that inspect horses to assess minimum penalties to violators of the Horse Protection Act, the 1970 law that makes it illegal to show or transport a sored horse.

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Genetically modified grass kills cattle herd in Texas

A mysterious mass death of a herd of cattle has prompted a federal investigation in Central Texas.

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More than a Farm Bill, US Ag official says

When people talk about the federal Farm Bill, they’re not covering nearly enough territory. That’s the opinion of an authority on the matter — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

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USDA moving toward mandatory penalties for horse soring

On the heels of a televised Humane Society of the United States video showing abuse of Tennessee Walking Horses, the federal government is moving toward stiffer, mandatory penalties for horse soring and other related violations.

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FDA Ordered to Reconsider Petitions on Antibiotics

As part of its defense, the FDA has pointed to its new voluntary guidance promoting the judicious use of antibiotics in food animal production

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FDA report outlines food safety deficiencies at Diamond Pet Foods plant

Diamond Pet Foods, the company behind a massive recall of dry dog food due to Salmonella contamination that has sickened at least 16 people, was not taking “all reasonable precautions”

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Farm Bill Lacks Authority for First Line Disease Testing System

Although mad cow disease is in the headlines this week after the discovery of an affected cow in California, the farm bill passed on Thursday by the Senate Agriculture Committee failed to include an inexpensive and uncontroversial provision authorizing the lab system that tested the animal.

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