by Caitlyn Andrews March 10, 2017
The second case of avian influenza has been confirmed in Tennessee. The TN Department of Agriculture released a statement on its website Thursday (3/9/17). The state veterinarian confirmed a flock of chickens in Giles County, TN, tested positive for avian influenza.
The Giles County flock was part of a commercial poultry breeding operation. On March 6, routine screening tests at the premise detected H7N9 LPAI. LPAI stands for low pathogenic avian influenza.
The company operating the Giles county operation is separate from the Tyson contracted farm that was announced on Sunday to have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). It is not believed at this time that the two premises spread the virus to each other.
The low pathogenic and highly pathogenic viruses from both counties are an H7N9 strain of avian influenza. The USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed that the strain is of North American wild bird lineage, not the same as the China H7N9 virus affecting Asia. The difference in LPAI and HPAI is primarily the mortality rate. Birds with LPAI may show little or no signs of being infected. HPAI often results in death.
The Giles county flock has been depopulated and buried. The premise is under a quarantine. Poultry within a 10 km (6.2 mile) radius of the site have also been placed under a quarantine and are undergoing testing. The Lincoln County premises affected by HPAI are still under quarantine.
It is important to remember that both HPAI and LPAI do not pose a risk to the food supply. Poultry operations are encouraged to enforce biosecurity on their facilities to keep their flocks safe from avian influenza.
Check out our Biosecurity Resource page for detailed information on keeping your facility biosecure.
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by Caitlyn Andrews November 12, 2019
Fall is here and that means it's time for pumpkin-everything. 🎃
But what do you do with your pumpkins once the season is over? If you throw them out your pets could be missing out on a tasty snack.
For livestock, pumpkins can even stand in as an additional feed source.
by Caitlyn Andrews July 16, 2019
Mosquito season is here. We've had a wet spring and mosquitoes are thriving. And these pests are more than annoying.
They're a threat to farms everywhere. They carry disease. They annoy animals. They even affect your livestock operation's bottom line.
In this article, you'll learn about mosquitoes, the harm they cause, and ways to control them on your farm.
by Caitlyn Andrews January 29, 2019
Many of us in the United States are bracing ourselves for record cold temperatures this week.
Small animal owners are warned to keep their pets indoors during subzero temperatures, but severe wind and cold present different challenges for livestock owners. You can't fit your cattle or horses in the living room to hang out on the couch and wait out the winter storm with you.
Caitlyn Andrews
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