Category: Industry News

Merck Animal Health Partners with the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Foundation to Award Scholarships to Future Bovine Veterinarians

Posted on by Twin Rivers Media

Nine veterinary students honored at the recent AABP Annual Conference 

RAHWAY, N.J., Sept. 17, 2024 – Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced it has awarded $90,000 in scholarships to nine future bovine veterinarians in partnership with the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Foundation. Scholarship recipients of the Merck Animal Health Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Award were selected based on their academic achievements, career goals, work experience and interest in veterinary medicine.

The scholarships recently were awarded at the 2024 AABP Annual Conference, held in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 12-14. The 2024 scholarship recipients, each receiving $10,000, include:

  • Alyssa Hoyle, Oklahoma State University
  • Derrick Knill, Ontario Veterinary College
  • Madelaine Kuwada, North Carolina State University
  • Cady McGehee, University of Wisconsin
  • Mikayla Ringelberg, Ontario Veterinary College
  • Emma Sells, Washington State University
  • Jayden (Hanna) Simpson, Kansas State University
  • Sierra Shelit, Kansas State University
  • Matthew Vander Poel, University of Wisconsin

“Merck Animal Health is proud to honor these veterinary students who represent the future of cattle care,” said Justin Welsh, D.V.M., executive director of livestock technical services at Merck Animal Health. “These exemplary students embody Merck Animal Health’s mission to advance The Science of Healthier Animals®. Now more than ever, the industry needs these bright minds who will bring their dedication and learnings to veterinary medicine.”

“We are deeply appreciative to Merck Animal Health for their continued partnership as we support these veterinary students who will soon be leading the veterinary profession,” said Fred Gingrich II, D.V.M., executive director of AABP. “These exceptional scholarship recipients have the skills and abilities to ensure a promising future for the cattle industry.”

Founded in 1965, AABP is an international association of more than 5,000 veterinarians and veterinary students who serve as leaders in cattle health, welfare and productivity. To learn more, visit aabp.org.


Photo Caption: The 2024 recipients of the Merck Animal Health Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition scholarships awarded by Merck Animal Health and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Foundation include: (left to right) Emma Sells, Matthew Vander Poel, Cady McGehee, Maddie Kuwada. Sierra Shelit, Mikayla Ringelberg, Derrick Knill, and Lowell T. Midla, VMD, MS, Merck Animal Health. Not pictured: Alyssa Hoyle, Jayden (Hanna) Simpson 

About Merck Animal Health
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.  

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Beef Promotion Operating Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2025 Checkoff Plan of Work

Posted on by Twin Rivers Media
Beef Promotion Operating Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2025 Checkoff Plan of Work
DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 9, 2024) – The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) will invest approximately $38 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications during fiscal 2025, subject to USDA approval.
In action at the end of its September 4-5 meeting in Denver, Colorado, the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) approved Checkoff funding for a total of 12 “Authorization Requests” – or grant proposals – for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024. The committee, which includes 10 producers and importers from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and 10 producers from the Federation of State Beef Councils, also recommended full Cattlemen’s Beef Board approval of a budget amendment to reflect the split of funding between budget categories affected by their decisions.
Eight contractors and two subcontractors brought 12 Authorization Requests worth approximately $46.8 million to the BPOC this week, approximately $8.8 million more than the funds available from the CBB budget.
“We’re consistently impressed with the proposals that our contractors bring forward each year, and choosing which initiatives to fund is a real challenge,” said Andy Bishop, CBB and BPOC chair. “Our budget amounts to slightly less each year because of inflation. To put it in perspective, a dollar in 1985 is worth just 35 cents¹ today. That means we simply don’t have the buying power that we had when this program first started.
“As we expected, the Authorization Requests we reviewed this week were full of new ideas and innovative approaches supporting the Checkoff’s core programs of research, promotion, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and producer communications. Our committee did a great job of balancing our budget and distributing our limited funds in what we believe is the most optimal way possible. I personally thank our contractors and committee members for all their hard work, and I look forward to future Checkoff successes throughout FY25.”
In the end, the BPOC approved proposals from eight national beef organizations for funding through the FY25 Cattlemen’s Beef Board budget, as follows:
  • American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture – $600,000
  • Cattlemen’s Beef Board – $1,800,000
  • Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education – $600,000
  • Meat Import Council of America / Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative – $900,000
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association – $25,700,000
  • National Institute for Animal Agriculture – $95,000
  • North American Meat Institute – $280,000
  • United States Meat Export Federation – $8,000,000
Broken out by budget component – as outlined by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 – the FY25 Plan of Work for the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board budget includes:
  • $9,120,000 for promotion programs, including beef and veal campaigns focusing on beef’s nutritional value, eating experience, convenience, and production.
  • $8,600,000 for research programs focusing on pre- and post-harvest beef safety, scientific affairs, nutrition, sustainability, product quality, culinary technical expertise, and consumer perceptions.
  • $7,500,000 for consumer information programs, including Northeast influencer outreach and public relations initiatives; national consumer public relations, including nutrition-influencer relations and work with primary- and secondary-school curriculum directors nationwide to get accurate information about the beef industry into classrooms of today’s youth. Additional initiatives include outreach and engagement with food, culinary, nutrition and health thought leaders; media and public relations efforts; and supply chain engagement.
  • $2,955,000 for industry information programs, including dissemination of accurate information about the beef industry to counter misinformation from other groups, as well as funding for Checkoff participation in the annual national industrywide symposium about antibiotic use. Additional efforts in this program area include beef advocacy training and issues/crisis management and response.
  • $8,000,000 for foreign marketing and education, focusing on 13 regions, representing more than 90 countries around the world.
  • $1,800,000 for producer communications, which includes investor outreach using national communications and direct communications to producers and importers about Checkoff results. Elements of this program include ongoing producer listening and analysis; industry collaboration and outreach; and continued development of a publishing strategy and platform and a state beef council content hub.
The full fiscal 2025 Cattlemen’s Beef Board budget is approximately $42.2 million. Separate from the Authorization Requests, other expenses funded include $305,000 for program evaluation; $750,000 program development; $200,000 for Checkoff education resources; $575,000 for USDA oversight; $220,000 for state services; $200,000 supporting services and litigation; and approximately $2.0 million for CBB administration. The fiscal 2025 program budget represents an increase of slightly less than 1.0% percent, or $150,000, from the $42.1 million FY24 budget.
For more information about the Beef Checkoff and its programs, including promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and safety, contact the Cattlemen’s Beef Board at 303-220-9890 or visit DrivingDemandForBeef.com.
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ABOUT THE BEEF CHECKOFF

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The Checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States may retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national Checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.

1 Source: January 2023 Consumer Price Index Inflation Calculator

Safety First: Considerations for Early Fall Manure Removal

Posted on by Twin Rivers Media

Safety First: Considerations for Early Fall Manure Removal

AMES, Iowa – As fall approaches, many farmers are evaluating the timing of their manure application. Ideally, ammonium-rich manures are applied when temperatures are cooler (50 degrees Fahrenheit and cooling) to increase the probability that applied nitrogen will still be in the upper soil profile next year when crops are growing.

However, sometimes that’s not possible, and applications earlier in the fall may be necessary, according to Daniel Andersen, professor and extension agricultural engineering specialist at Iowa State University.

“Whether you’re dealing with foam in your manure pits or facing storage capacity concerns after a wet year, applying manure earlier than desired can be justified —especially from a safety standpoint,” he said. “Always keep safety as your top priority when dealing with early applications.

“Performing manure removal and agitation when the barn is empty allows you to aggressively agitate, ensuring that solids are thoroughly mixed and removed,” Andersen said. “It also protects animals and workers from unsafe air quality conditions.”

Foam in manure pits is more than an inconvenience, it’s a safety hazard. Foam can trap dangerous gases like methane, which significantly increases the risk of explosions.

“You need to take action when your pits foam and more than 6 inches of foam are present,” Andersen said. “An ideal time to manage the risk is between turns when your barn is empty, as it allows being more aggressive with your manure agitation, treatment and removal strategy.”

Agitate the manure thoroughly to break down the foam and release any trapped gases. Be sure to maintain high ventilation levels to exhaust the released methane as you do so and to turn off potential ignition sources.

“Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is one of the most dangerous gases associated with manure storage, and it can be lethal at high concentrations,” Andersen said. “This gas is produced when manure is agitated, especially after it has settled for long periods that allowed solids to accumulate and anaerobic conditions to intensify.”

When these layers of solids are disturbed during agitation, H₂S can be released in large quantities, posing a severe risk to both humans and livestock. The publication “Hydrogen Sulfide Safety – Manure Agitation (AE3604)” describes how to stay safe during manure agitation.

Andersen advises producers to consider using pit treatments that target foam reduction and potentially reset the microbial population in the pit. This can help prevent foam from becoming a recurring problem. For more details, see this information sheet from the Iowa Manure Management Action Group.

Photo credit: Spreading manure in field, by Rachel Kennedy

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