Al2—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Dacambar 31,1983 Breeding disease resistance into animals progresses WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Livestock producers lose billions of dollars annually as a result of animal diseases. In 1980, losses from cattle diseases alone amounted to an estimated $5 billion. This means that feed production from millions of acres of land is wasted; costs of production to farmers and ran chers rise needlessly; and con sumers pay higher prices for meat, milk, and eggs at the marketplace. But reservoirs of disease resistance exist in livestock, just as in plants, awaiting exploitation by animal scientists, according to Terry B. Kinney, Jr., Ad ministrator of the USDA’s Animal Research Service. As an example, a single cow in a herd in France survived an out break of foot-and-mouth disease in 1938. Fourteen years later, six descendants of the original resistant cow survived another outbreak that occurred in the same herd. Such acute diseases as foot-and mouth disease most reasonable may be countered with a growing arsenal of vaccines. But selective breeding may become an ideal way to protect animals from a chronic disease. Kinney’s outlook is that radically new technology Red meat production HARRISBURG - Penn sylvania’s commercial red meat production for November 1963 totaled 102.7 million pounds, up four pounds from the previous month, according to the Penn sylvania Crop and Livestock Reporting Service. January-November ac cumulated red meat production totaled 911.2 million pounds. Cattle slaughter was 86,500 head with an average liveweight of 1,151 pounds, while calf slaughter was 28,200 head with an average liveweight of 168 pounds. There were 295,100 head of hogs slaughtered with an average liveweight of 232 pounds. The number of sheep and lambs slaughtered totaled 11,800 head with an average liveweight of 100 TMI f AIIUTV 608 E. EVERGREEN RO. I K I V WlUiil II If LEBANON, PA 17042 SWINE SYSTEMS 30 emerging from biomedical sciences may provide the means for identifying resistance without exposing the animals to the disease. Breeding for disease resistance may prove to be a cost-effective counterpart to vaccination for maintaining herd health, says Robert R. Oltjen, director of the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC), Clay Center, Nebr. The cost of preventing disease by veterinary means alone is rising and is limiting animal production in many areas of the world today. Oltjen cites research results and trends leading to improved ways to capture disease resistance traits in cattle, swine, sheep, and poultry. He says the rapidly developing field of immunogenics that paved the way for successful organ transplants now offers hope for identifying particular disease resistance in farm animals. This prospect alone could greatly enhance the progress of con ventional breeding. But combined with embryo cloning, embryo transplanting, and genetic engineering technologies, the possibilities are even more ex tensive. pounds. Nationally, commercial red meat production during November totaled 3.47 billion pounds, down two percent from the previous month. Beef production totaled 1.9 billion pounds, with a total of 3.1 million head killed at an average liveweight of 1,077 pounds. Veal production was 39 million pounds. Calf slaughter of 294,000 head averaged 229 pounds liveweight. Pork production during the month totaled 1.5 billion pounds. Hog kill totaled 8.4 million head, with an average liveweight of 246 pounds. Lamb and mutton production was 29 million pounds. Head kill for 528,000 averaged 111 pounds liveweight. These new technologies will help animal scientists to employ principles used by plant scientists who are quite successful in developing disease-resistant plant varieties. Until now, breeding disease resistance in farm animals has been slowed by generation intervals of up to 5 years. Here, in digest form, are some points Oltjen makes on trends and opportunities in breeding animals for disease resistance. Progress is being made with small animals such as poultry. Through breeding and selection, it has been shown that strains of chickens can be developed having genetic resistance to Marek’s disease. Genetic resistance to Newcastle disease and pullorum disease also have been demon strated in poultry. Notable achievements, although slow in coming, have been made in large animals also: Resistance to mastitis is being used in animal production today, and resistance to tuberculosis is known to be genetically controlled. Studies have confirmed that Zebu cattle are more resistant to tick-borne protozoan infections and high temperatures than are European breeds, adn that genetic resistance is present in cattle against leukosis, intestinal worms, and pinkeye, and in sheep against scrapie and brucellosis. Scientists are aware of some inherited traits that are associated with resistance to diseases. Other genetic markers may be found. One example: A dark ring around BLOMBARDINI Diesel for Dairy ' nfpSShS T Shops and Equipment For years Lombardini has been Europe’s largest supplier of small, air-cooled diesel engines. Now, after several years in this country Lombardini is the fastest growing line of air-cooled diesels in North America. Lombardini specializes in small air-cooled diesels. 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Scientists at MARC and at several cooperating universities are studying stress in hogs; this and other research on stressed animals may help scientists un derstand the mechanisms of im munity and divise improved measures for preventing or treating diseases. Scientists at MARC and Oregon State University are evaluating the heritability of immunoglobulin concentrations in bovine colostrum and blood serum. They are studying the relationships of these fluids to other characteristics including calf survival and in cidence of disease and growth rates in beef cattle. Basic research in im munogenetics is opening frontiers to identifying the genetic complex that regulates the ability of lym phocytes to detect an invasion of bacteria or viruses and launch a counterattack. A further un derstanding of this phenomenon is an important area of research. A modern technique for defining single antibodies directed to single sites on antigens—monoclonal antibody technique—has enabled scientists to study this area with more authority than previously. Model L4O 1. 12 month warranty or 4. Price per horsepower 2,000 hours 5. Easy starting 2. Low fuel consumption 6-100% back-up with 3. Low maintenance. parts and service. We have the right size, weight, shape, price and engine available. LOMBARDINI DIESEL USES >/ 2 OR LESS FUEL THAN GAS ENGINES LESS DOWNTIME THAN GAS ENGINES 4t068 H.P, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF: Some of the antibodies are cross reactive among species, so technology that is perfected for cattle may transfer to other livestock such as swine, goats, or sheep. In the decades ahead, Kinney says, we may be able to select progeny the day they are bom by “interrogating” their cells, in a biological sense, and deciphering their potential for growth, disease resistance, metabolic efficiency, nutritional capacity, and physiological and reproductive ability. Now is the Time (Continued from Page A 10) To Understand Firewood Terms When buying firewood, know the measurements and terminology. Some firewood sellers may offer such measurements as face cord, rick, stack, truckload or pile and buyers often believe they are getting a cord. A “cord” is defined by Pennsylvania law as “the amount of wood which is contained in a space of 128 cubic feet when wood is racked and well stowed.” This means a neatly piled rank of wood 4 feet wide, 4 feet high and 8 feet long. Those selling fuelwood are liable under the law when they use the term “cord” alone. Lot Us Know Your Sorvica Problems 24 Hour Service - Check Our Prices
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