
Livestock

Flu outbreak sees buyers balk at beef futures
Cash prices fairly level; beef producers should look into risk management tools, analysts say
Markets have seen cattle futures (mainly live and fed) decline in recent weeks as the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain made its way into dairy herds in six states to date. The good news, said a cattle auction leader and market expert, is that cash prices have remained more-or-less steady amid the chaos.

U.S. cattle vets rename bovine bird-flu
CDC asks state health authorities to have plans in place to test, treat farm workers; says risk to humans still low
An organization representing American cattle veterinarians has opted to refer to bird flu in cattle as bovine influenza A virus, or BIAV, in hopes of distancing it from its avian counterpart.

Klassen: Buyers step back on feeder cattle due to bird flu
Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $4-$8/cwt lower while some packages of heavier replacements dropped as much as $12/cwt, and three main factors led to weaker prices.

USDA sheds new light on bird flu dairy herd infections
Virus may have been spread through milking equipment, dairy workers
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated stakeholders on how a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) strain may have spread to dairy cattle in several states yesterday.

Explainer: Avian flu in dairy cows warrants close attention
Farmers should identify unusual signs of disease in cattle and have them examined by a veterinarian
An emerging disease syndrome was originally identified in dairy cows in Texas. These cows were identified by animal care workers and veterinarians as having the main clinical signs of reduced milk production and decreased feed intake. Approximately 10 per cent of the cows seem to show clinical signs on affected farms. No deaths occurred and cows seemed to recover with supportive care within two to three weeks. However, loss of milk production was significant. These same farms reported deceased wild birds on their properties.

The cattle market, as I see it: A correction or a bump in the road?
What does the discovery of avian flu in dairy cattle mean for beef cattle prices?
When any market gets insanely high, regardless of the commodity — cattle, canola or Bitcoin — it only takes a light whisper on the wind of something negative to get a knee-jerk reaction. The Achilles’ heel of this market is some sort of apocalypse, and everyone is on the lookout for what it could possibly […] Read more

Bird flu dairy cow outbreak widens in Ohio, Kansas, New Mexico
Bird flu has infected a dairy herd in Ohio for the first time and was detected in additional herds in Kansas and New Mexico, according to the U.S. government, expanding an outbreak in cows that has raised concerns about possible risks to humans.

Wider bird flu spread raises concern for humans, animal health body says
Virus has spread to new regions, infected cats, tigers, bears, seals and other animals
The spread of bird flu to an increasing number of species and its widening geographic reach have raised the risks of humans being infected by the virus, the head of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Thursday.

Bird flu hits Texas dairy cows, hens, human as ducks migrate
[Change management: career change] Outbreak may have started a month ago after mysterious illness affected 40 per cent of Texas dairy cattle
Migratory waterfowl are to blame for widening avian-flu outbreaks in Texas cows and poultry, and wild birds carrying the virus should be heading north soon, state Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said.

Klassen: Feeder market resumes the climb
For the week ending March 30, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $4 to $6 higher on average. Fleshier backgrounded yearlings were relatively unchanged. Buyers were fairly cautious on backgrounded heifers with some packages actually softer than seven days earlier. Larger strings of quality genetic, low flesh steers were up $6 to as much as $10 in some cases. Weaned, premium, calves were up a solid $5 to $6 on average.