A3O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 9, 1994 BVD Creates Confusion (Continued from Pago A 1) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The gist of the news releases were to advise farmers to get vac cinations for all animals and ensure that the booster shot is given; avoid purchasing cattle, especially from unknown sources; establish an on-farm isolation (quarantine) area to hold sympto matic cattle and any new cattle; restrict the flow of people around cattle and require strict attention to personal hygene as far as on-farm biosecurity measures are concerned. 1 The practices reflect a serious condition, but not one that at this time requires government over sight, according to Dr. Max Van Buskirk Jr., director of the PDA Bureau of Animal Industry. According to Van Buskirk, who has been involved with govern ment efforts to control several dis ease outbreaks in Pennsylvania, from a public policy position, BVD 2 differs from such diseases as bovine tuberculosis because humans can get bovine tuberculo sis, but can not catch BVD. In a Wednesday telephone inter view, Van Buskirk said there are several reasons public agencies are not in a position to mandate any specific controls for BVD. According to the doctor, there has been no reason for a stronger governmental response because the disease is not a direct threat to human health; because it is a form of a common disease that is believed to be manageable with current vaccines, and careful vet erinary and herd health practices; and because the cattle industry has not requested government help in controlling the disease. * » - Roller/Blower Mills ike blower mllle are built tor course cracking high ieture shall corn and blowing it into vertical alios, iwer mills are equipped with Henke’s 7 inch diameter tal rolls and 60 Inch blowers. Blower mills are illable with 36 inch or 45 Inch roll lengths. HENKE 1 -800-228-1 405 “This is not a disease that indus try has requested the department to regulate,” Van Buskirk said. “His torically, the department doesn’t arbitrarily regulate any disease unless it is a public' jalth concern, or unless the industry can’t man age without government assistance. “BVD is a virus infection of cattle that has been around for a long, long time,” he said. “There are USDA estimates that upwards of 90 percent of the adult cattle population has antibodies to BVD. “So, because it’s so common, and because there are some techni cal difficulties in diagnosing BVD and establishing simple criteria for either determinig a herd ‘free,’ or that a quarantine for BVD should be released, those are some of the reasons, that ... we haven’t regulated.” But Van Buskirk said that the state is not turning its head to the situation. “Of course what has happened is that a particularly nasty strain has emerged in recent years, and we may, depending on what happens, reconsider the advisablity of regu lating the disease. ‘Toward that end, although we haven’t done anything in terms of a formal proposal of regulations, we have consulted industry groups and our counterparts in other states regarding the advisability in attempting to regulate in this area. ‘To the best of my knowledge, there are no other states that regu late this disease,” Van Buskirk said. In the meantime, until the cattle industry and the animal-health industry get caught up with vacci nations, the situation is more wait and-see, according to the doctor. THE NEW WHITE LINE FROM HENKE Jfie- wM*. fe ■MMfi v; Information Available The educational support on the disease has been in the form of news releases and advisories to the farm press, to veterinarians, and a letter from state Secretary Boyd Wolff to the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. Penn State Extension also has available .some information that can help cattle owners establish sound biosecurity practices. One such package of informa tion is the “Pennsylvania Dairy Health and Biosecurity Manual,” published by the Penn State Col lege of Agricultural Sciences. The information in the manual was compiled by Larry Hutchin son, DVM, who is a well-known PSU extension veterinarian; Una Smith, assistant extension veter inarian; and Carolyn Bums, veter inary extension assistant The three-ring binder, hard cov er manual provides a quick refer ence breakdown of information, including a checklist that includes giving the BVD vaccinations to calves when they are seven months-old. To get a copy, contact a local extension agent. Will There Be A Show? As far as the outlook for whether or not the incidence of B VD 2 will affect cattle shows, state Agricul ture Secretary Wolff sent a letter, dated June 16, to the state fair board that advised the board mem bers about BVD 2. The letter noted that the secret ary has advised herd owners to consult veterinarians about vacci nations and it noted that the depart ment advised farmers to tighten biosecurity. “And (Wolffs letter) strongly recommended that fairboards adopt livestock entry regulations that require BVD vaccinations for all bovines, with strict adherance KwikKrusher The Henke KwlkKureher le built to proceee either dry or high moleture eer corn. The KwlkKrueher le equipped with 7 Inch diameter steel rolls menufectured In our own plent. The KwlkKureher Is svsllsble In 24 Inch end 36 Inch models with either an elevator discharge or with a blower discharge for filling vertical alios Henke Machine, Inc. Call For Dealer Nearest To You 3330 E. 23rd St. Columbus, NE 68602 to manufacturer’s instructions for vaccines.” according to William Lelik, with the state Department of Agricultural Press Office. “(The letter) also noted symp toms: that animals exhibiting sypmtoms should be barred before comingling with other animals,” Lelik said. As of this week, Butler County Fair had cancelled its show and Clarion County has restricted its cattle show participation to entries from county residents, according to Rev. John Mignot, president of the Pennsylvania State Associa tion of County Fairs. Mignot said that he received the letter, but they can only advise the individual county fair boards about the situation. “We‘re suggesting (to the coun ty boards), before any cattle be admited, that (each) animal does have an original vaccination and booster 30 days afteward. But (the owner) must have a certificate,” Mignot said, adding. “It’s only a recommendation.” Through his contacts, Mignot said he has received word that shows at least may well be small. “We are hearing, generally throughout, that most of the far mers are choosing not to exhibit their cattle this year. As you well know, they’re not going to run the risk,” Mignot said. “That seems to be what we’re hearing.” In the meantime, there is no clearinghouse for updated fair information. Lancaster Farming intends to publish updates weekly, as fair personnel can provide. The recommendation for all shows, industry wide, is to call the orga nizers of the event and ask. For a fairbaord, there appears to be no direct financial incentive not to close a show, except for a dimin ished attendance. According to Larry Nieman, administration of the state Fair, Fund Program, each established The Henke Model 1140 Forage Blower Is built tor termer who requires high capacity to till tall silos. Use 9” pipe or tor additional capacity use 11” pipe removable 11” aquara to 9” round transition standard. The Large 11” x 40” blower drum houses 1/2" thick heavy steal rotor which haa six ha' curved paddles that direct material to the cant* with a watar Inlat, four adjustable lavallng atanda, ad]uatabla tongua jack, wind guard, aaally raplacaabla blower waar band and an optional magnat. 1 -800-228-1 405 fair is eligible to receive state funds which reimburse the fairs for half the amount spent, up to $15,000, in the awarding of show premiums, which are cash awards. The state has a listing of the pre miums that it will support and the catagories and types of shows. Nieman said that if a fairboard would opt to drop showing cattle for a year, it wouldn’t affect their reimbursement for monetary out lays for other shows. In other words, if a fairboard spent $30,000 on show premiums, they are to be reimbursed $15,000 by the state fair fund, according to Nieman. If that amount drops $28,000, for example, the board will get $14,000, according to Nieman’s explanation. As far what is happening with the state’s 4-H and FFA shows. Dale Olver, a dairy specialist with the Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences Dairy Extension and 4-H program, said that each of the district shows are still considering what actions to take, beyond implementing the recommendations for requiring vaccinations, certificates and maintaining biosecurity measures. “We haven’t changed state (4-H and FFA showing) rules, but a lot of districts are requiring vaccina tions,” he said, adding that the required booster shots take 30 days to be given. The show season begins in some areas before then. As far as show closings, he said, “I haven’t heard of too many, but there are many discussing it. The early shows, (scheduled to be held) at the end of July, had the most discussions.” Again, he said the best way to find out if the show is to be held is to call the show managers. “I think this is a time when peo ple really need to fiiid out what their risk is for going to shows,” Olver said. “The vet can be very helpful in doing that.” Forage Blower 1140 HENKE
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