Dec 12

Increased Opposition to Antibiotics in Europe and the U.S.

Categories: Ag Future, Food Safety, Food Traceability, Future of Farming, Sustainability
Increased Opposition to Antibiotics in Europe and the U.S.

The Danish Parliament has ratified a new protocol for the use of antimicrobials in animal production.  In announcing the changes which also introduced new standards for welfare, the Minister for Food Agriculture and Fisheries Metti Gjerskov stated “the new rules provide an incentive to make sure that medicine is given only to individual animals in need of treatment and not to the entire herd as a matter of course” She added “this is a significant step in the further reduction of the use of antimicrobials in farming and is a very important part in the fight against antimicrobial resista

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Jun 20

Sustainability for Ireland’s Beef and Dairy Producers

Categories: Dairy Cows, Sustainability
Sustainability for Ireland’s Beef and Dairy Producers Padraig Brennan, Bord Bia
“We view the issue of sustainability as being critical to the Irish beef industry,” said Padraig Brennan, describing the beginning of the environmental sustainability program that is being rolled out to all members of Bord Bia’s Beef Quality Assurance Scheme. “In the last 18 months we’ve visited about 22,000 out of a total of about 32,000 farms that are members of our scheme.” Bord Bia is working with each of their member farmers to develop a carbon footprint measurement process and identify methods that they can use to reduce that footprint. He described the beef program and plans to expand it to dairy producers. (See the video)

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Jun 19

Environmentally Efficient Cows

Categories: Agriculture, Alltech Symposium, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cows, Feeding the World, Future of Farming, Sustainability
Environmentally Efficient Cows Live Scribe from Dr. Mitloehner's Talk

In 2006, a United Nations report entitled “Livestock’s Long Shadow” claimed that the livestock sector is a major player in climate change, “responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions ... a higher share than transport.”  Appeals for reducing meat consumption to prevent climate change filled the public media, and they continue today (see this recent opinion blog from the New York Times).

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Jun 15

A New Silent Green Revolution

Categories: Ag Future, Agriculture, Alltech Symposium, Animal Nutrition, Feeding the World, Future of Farming, Poultry, Sustainability
A New Silent Green Revolution Osler Desouzart

Can we meet the challenge of feeding the world’s growing population? How does this challenge relate to industrial agriculture, science and technology, and sustainability?  Osler Desouzart of OD Consulting raised these questions and more during the poultry breakout session at Alltech’s recent symposium.  In his presentation, Desouzart provided facts about food consumption and emphasized the need for a “new silent green revolution.”

Desouzarts facts regarding the world’s changing population and food consumption included:

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