Archive for June, 2009
Posted on June 19, 2009 - by Russell
Email From Millennium Futurity Manager
I would like to thank Mr. Bill Davidson-Millennium Futurity Manager for his resent email about a post on this site. The email was very respectfull and he emailed me directly about correcting some information in the post, not a mass email to everyone. I am going to sure the important parts with you know…. He wrote….
“On your website, you indicated Don L. King attended the 2009 Millennium Futurity. Mr. King did attend this year’s futurity, along with 340 other persons. Some had never been involved with Texas Longhorns before.
The Millennium Futurity was put together “to promote the Texas Longhorn Industry, and to have a good time”. Nothing else! For 10 years we have accomplished our goal.
The Millennium Futurity has never had a closed or private meeting in its entire history!!
Mr. King did not attend our sponsors’ meeting held during the legacy event this spring or at any other time!”
I have no reason to doubt Mr. Davidson on the information that he has provided. What was post earlier was based on counts provided by several individuals. Mr. Davidson is also right about it being a fun event, I have attend and participated in it several times myself. Again Thank You to Bill for his respectfull email correcting this information.
I also received another email from a Millennium Futurity partner that was respectfull and polite that wanted it noted that not all Millennium Futurity partners were happy to see Mr. King. Most were not but a number of them were apperantly okay we his being there.
Posted on June 17, 2009 - by Russell
Kentucky Issues Livestock Restrictions due to Texas VS Case
Notice from Kentucky regarding restrictions in place immediately, due to the detection of vesicular stomatitis in Texas.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Texas Animal Health Commission at 800-550-8242 or E.S. Rusty Ford at the Kentucky State Veterinarian’s Office at 502-564-3956.
Other states may place similar movement restrictions, so it is essential that you contact the state of destination prior to shipping livestock out of state.
Carla Everett
Information Officer
Texas Animal Health Commission
MEMORANDUM
TO: Dr. Bob Hillman
Texas State Veterinarian
FROM: E.S. Rusty Ford THROUGH: Robert Stout, DVM
Equine Programs Manager State Veterinarian
CC: State Veterinarians
DATE: June 12, 2009
SUBJECT: Vesicular Stomatitis Embargo
Starr County TX
With the notification received late this afternoon of a horse residing on a premise in Starr County,
Texas has been diagnosed with Vesicular Stomatitis (VS), Kentucky’s Administrative Regulation
302 KAR 20:115 now prohibits the entry of all livestock, wild and exotic animals into Kentucky
from the VS Embargoed portions of Texas identified as being Starr County and restricts the entry of livestock, wild and exotic animals from other portions of Texas to those that meet the additional entry requirements outlined below.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Embargoed Areas with VS Positive Premises
All Livestock (including equine), wild and exotic animals are currently prohibited entry into
Kentucky from the designated areas defined to include the following counties:
TEXAS: Starr
Non-Embargoed Areas of VS Positive States Allowed Restricted Entry
In addition to the entry requirements found in 302KAR20:040 - Entry into Kentucky, all livestock (including horses), wild and exotic animals originating from the non-embargoed areas of a state having confirmed cases of VS are required to meet the following conditions prior to entering Kentucky.
1. Be tested and found negative to VS using the C-Elisa Test with the sample collected during the ten (10) day period preceding the animal’s entry into Kentucky.
2. Have an entry permit issued by this office recorded on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). Permits will be issued Monday through Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm EDT.
3. Be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection indicating that examination of the animals occurred during the five (5) day period prior to arrival in Kentucky and contain the following statement: “Animals represented on this CVI have not originated from a premise or area under quarantine or on which vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed in the past thirty (30) days or from an embargoed area restricted from entry into Kentucky.
States Bordering Designated Embargoed Areas
There are currently no bordering states defined by the KY Dept of Agriculture
In addition to the entry requirements found in 302KAR20:040 - Entry into Kentucky, all livestock (including horses), wild and exotic animals originating from a state which has a common border with a VS Embargoed Area are required to meet the following conditions prior to entering Kentucky.
1. Have an Entry Permit issued by this office recorded on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Permits will be issued Monday through Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm EDT.
2. Be examined during the five (5) day period prior to the animal’s arrival in Kentucky with a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection completed by the examining veterinarian. The certificate shall have the following statement included: “Animals represented on this CVI have not originated from a premise or area under quarantine or on which vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed in the past thirty (30) days or from an embargoed area restricted from entry into Kentucky.
Equine entering Kentucky from a state which has a common border with a VS Embargoed Area shall be accompanied upon their entry into Kentucky with a negative test for VSV (the Complement
Fixation, Virus Neutralization and CELISA tests are accepted). The sampling shall be conducted during the ten (10) day period prior to the animal’s entry into Kentucky.
There are no States currently considered to be bordering a designated VS Affected Area:
Information regarding Kentucky’s embargos can be found on the internet at www.kyagr.comWith the notification received late this afternoon of a horse residing on a premise in Starr County, Texas has been diagnosed with Vesicular Stomatitis (VS), Kentucky’s Administrative Regulation 302 KAR 20:115 now prohibits the entry of all livestock, wild and exotic animals into Kentucky from the VS Embargoed portions of Texas identified as being Starr County and restricts the entry of livestock, wild and exotic animals from other portions of Texas to those that meet the additional entry requirements outlined below.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Embargoed Areas with VS Positive Premises
All Livestock (including equine), wild and exotic animals are currently prohibited entry into
Kentucky from the designated areas defined to include the following counties:
TEXAS: Starr
Non-Embargoed Areas of VS Positive States Allowed Restricted Entry
In addition to the entry requirements found in 302KAR20:040 - Entry into Kentucky, all livestock (including horses), wild and exotic animals originating from the non-embargoed areas of a state having confirmed cases of VS are required to meet the following conditions prior to entering Kentucky.
1. Be tested and found negative to VS using the C-Elisa Test with the sample collected during the ten (10) day period preceding the animal’s entry into Kentucky.
2. Have an entry permit issued by this office recorded on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). Permits will be issued Monday through Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm EDT.
3. Be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection indicating that examination of the animals occurred during the five (5) day period prior to arrival in Kentucky and contain the following statement: “Animals represented on this CVI have not originated from a premise or area under quarantine or on which vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed in the past thirty (30) days or from an embargoed area restricted from entry into Kentucky.
States Bordering Designated Embargoed Areas
There are currently no bordering states defined by the KY Dept of Agriculture
In addition to the entry requirements found in 302KAR20:040 - Entry into Kentucky, all livestock (including horses), wild and exotic animals originating from a state which has a common border with a VS Embargoed Area are required to meet the following conditions prior to entering Kentucky.
1. Have an Entry Permit issued by this office recorded on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Permits will be issued Monday through Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm EDT.
2. Be examined during the five (5) day period prior to the animal’s arrival in Kentucky with a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection completed by the examining veterinarian. The certificate shall have the following statement included: “Animals represented on this CVI have not originated from a premise or area under quarantine or on which vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed in the past thirty (30) days or from an embargoed area restricted from entry into Kentucky.
Equine entering Kentucky from a state which has a common border with a VS Embargoed Area shall be accompanied upon their entry into Kentucky with a negative test for VSV (the Complement Fixation, Virus Neutralization and CELISA tests are accepted). The sampling shall be conducted during the ten (10) day period prior to the animal’s entry into Kentucky. There are no States currently considered to be bordering a designated VS Affected Area: Information regarding Kentucky’s embargos can be found on the internet at www.kyagr.comWith the notification received late this afternoon of a horse residing on a premise in Starr County, Texas has been diagnosed with Vesicular Stomatitis (VS), Kentucky’s Administrative Regulation 302 KAR 20:115 now prohibits the entry of all livestock, wild and exotic animals into Kentucky from the VS Embargoed portions of Texas identified as being Starr County and restricts the entry of livestock, wild and exotic animals from other portions of Texas to those that meet the additional entry requirements outlined below.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Embargoed Areas with VS Positive Premises
All Livestock (including equine), wild and exotic animals are currently prohibited entry into
Kentucky from the designated areas defined to include the following counties:
TEXAS: Starr
Non-Embargoed Areas of VS Positive States Allowed Restricted Entry
In addition to the entry requirements found in 302KAR20:040 - Entry into Kentucky, all livestock (including horses), wild and exotic animals originating from the non-embargoed areas of a state having confirmed cases of VS are required to meet the following conditions prior to entering Kentucky.
1. Be tested and found negative to VS using the C-Elisa Test with the sample collected during the ten (10) day period preceding the animal’s entry into Kentucky.
2. Have an entry permit issued by this office recorded on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). Permits will be issued Monday through Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm EDT.
3. Be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection indicating that examination of the animals occurred during the five (5) day period prior to arrival in Kentucky and contain the following statement: “Animals represented on this CVI have not originated from a premise or area under quarantine or on which vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed in the past thirty (30) days or from an embargoed area restricted from entry into Kentucky.
States Bordering Designated Embargoed Areas
There are currently no bordering states defined by the KY Dept of Agriculture
In addition to the entry requirements found in 302KAR20:040 - Entry into Kentucky, all livestock (including horses), wild and exotic animals originating from a state which has a common border with a VS Embargoed Area are required to meet the following conditions prior to entering Kentucky.
1. Have an Entry Permit issued by this office recorded on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Permits will be issued Monday through Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm EDT.
2. Be examined during the five (5) day period prior to the animal’s arrival in Kentucky with a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection completed by the examining veterinarian. The certificate shall have the following statement included: “Animals represented on this CVI have not originated from a premise or area under quarantine or on which vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed in the past thirty (30) days or from an embargoed area restricted from entry into Kentucky.
Equine entering Kentucky from a state which has a common border with a VS Embargoed Area shall be accompanied upon their entry into Kentucky with a negative test for VSV (the Complement
Fixation, Virus Neutralization and CELISA tests are accepted). The sampling shall be conducted
during the ten (10) day period prior to the animal’s entry into Kentucky.
There are no States currently considered to be bordering a designated VS Affected Area:
Information regarding Kentucky’s embargos can be found on the internet at www.kyagr.com
Area Status Species CVI/Statements Test Required Entry Permit KY Entry
VS Embargo No livestock, wild or exotic animals permitted entry into Kentucky
VS Non-Embargo
Equine Yes – 5 Day Yes –CELISA 10 Day YES YES
Other Yes – 5 Day Yes – CELISA 10 Day YES YES
VS Bordering
Equine Yes – 5 Day Yes – Official Test 10 Day YES YES
Other Yes – 5 Day No Testing Required YES YES
Posted on June 16, 2009 - by Russell
Don L. King Attends Millennium Futurity
Don L. King, who was found guilty of misappropriating over $100,000 from the TLBAA seemed to be a welcomed guest at the recent Millennium Futurity. This event is open to the public and Mr. King had the right to attend. But, by most accounts, he was welcomed with open arms by a number of those involved with the event. He was also welcomed to this years Legacy Sale and allowed to attend the private annual meeting of both the Millennium Futurity and TLMA. I find it very interesting (but not surprising) that he apparently feels no remorse or guilt about what he did to the members of the TLBAA. I find it even more astounding that people will speak to him and treat him as though nothing ever happened. Ex-TLBAA Board Member Dr. Zech Dameron sat down and had a friendly conversation with Mr. King (see photo). It appears they have not let Mr. King’s illegal acts get in the way of their friendship. Mr. King has no business attending a Longhorn event accept to visit with his friends and that is just what he did. I personally do not want to see or speak to Mr. King; I just want him to pay back the money he misappropriated from our association (and members) so we can all move on.
Dr. Dameron visits with Don L. King
Posted on June 16, 2009 - by Russell
Millennium Futurity Sale Prices
| Lot# | Price |
| 1 | 9000 |
| 2 | 2000 |
| 3 | 4500 |
| 4 | po |
| 5 | po |
| 6 | 2750 |
| 7 | 1250 |
| 8 | 3250 |
| 9 | 1750 |
| 10 | 3000 |
| 11 | 1100 |
| 12 | 1500 |
| 13 | 2900 |
| 14 | 800 |
| 15 | 1500 |
| 16 | 2200 |
| 17 | 2250 |
| 18 | 4000 |
| 19 | po |
| 20 | 900 |
| 21 | 750 |
| 22 | po |
| 23 | 5000 |
| 24 | 4750 |
| 25 | 1600 |
| 26 | 6700 |
| 27 | po |
| 28 | 800 |
| 29 | po |
| 30 | 2100 |
| 31 | 2900 |
| 32 | 1250 |
| 33 | 2000 |
| 34 | 1600 |
| 35 | 15000 |
| 36 | 800 |
| 37 | 6000 |
| 38 | 5500 |
| 39 | 800 |
| 40 | 900 |
| 41 | 2100 |
| 42 | 2000 |
| 43 | 3500 |
| 44 | out |
| 45 | 1500 |
| 46 | po |
| 47 | 2500 |
| 48 | 1300 |
| 49 | 1300 |
| 50 | 1750 |
| 51 | 1800 |
| 52 | 4700 |
| 53 | 6900 |
| 54 | 1600 |
| 55 | 1400 |
| 56 | 1000 |
| 57 | 1400 |
| 58 | po |
| 59 | 2900 |
| 60 | 1900 |
| 61 | 2300 |
| 62 | 3250 |
| 63 | 1100 |
| 64 | 2000 |
| 65 | 7000 |
| 66 | 1000 |
| 67 | 3000 |
| 68 | po |
| 69 | out |
| 70 | out |
These are not the official prices but were noted by someone who attended the sale.
Posted on June 16, 2009 - by Russell
Nation’s First Case of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) for 2009 Detected in Texas
News Release
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 * Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242 * FAX (512) 719-0719
Bob Hillman, DVM * Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242, ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us
For immediate release:
Nation’s First Case of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) for 2009 Detected in Texas
The nation’s first case of vesicular stomatitis (VS) for 2009 has been detected in a horse in Starr County, in far south Texas. VS is a sporadically occurring virus that is endemic to the U.S. Signs of the disease include blisters, lesions and sloughing of the skin on the muzzles, tongue, teats and above the hooves of susceptible livestock, which include horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, deer and some other species of animals.
“The most recent outbreak was in 2006 limited to Wyoming only, where 17 horses and a dozen cattle on 13 premises were confirmed to have the virus,” said Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. “To prevent the spread or introduction of infection, many states and countries will place additional entry requirements or restrictions on the movement of animals from affected states, or portions of the state. Call the state or country of destination before moving livestock, to ensure that all entry requirements can be met. Do not risk shipments being turned away, or worse, spreading disease and facing legal action by animal health authorities.”
“Often horses are the signal, or first, animals to be confirmed with vesicular stomatitis when the virus is active. If the blisters and lesions are seen in cattle, sheep, pigs or other cloven-hooved animals, our first concern is a possible introduction of foot-and-mouth disease, the most costly and destructive foreign animal disease. Horses are not susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, but anytime blisters or unusual sores are seen, animals should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.”
“Move sick animals away from the remainder of the herd to protect against disease spread,” urged Dr. Hillman. “Do not move sick animals from the premises, and call your veterinarian or the nearest Texas Animal Health Commission area office, or the Austin headquarters at 800-550-8242. Laboratory testing to confirm infection can be run at no charge to the livestock owner.
“Vesicular stomatitis is painful for affected animals, but usually, the lesions will heal within two weeks to a month. For some severe cases, owners may elect to have an infected animal euthanized, to put an
end to the suffering. In dairies, VS infection can lead to a substantial loss of production,” said Dr. Hillman. Treatment of VS-infected animals consists of supportive care, and antibiotics may be needed to prevent secondary infections in the open sores. Animal health officials in nearly all states, including Texas, require VS-infected animals and their herd mates to be quarantined until at least 21 days after all lesions have healed. A follow-up examination of the animals by the state veterinarian’s office is required prior to quarantine release.
VS outbreaks are extremely sporadic, and years may lapse between cases. Sand flies and black flies are thought to play a role in the virus transmission, so controlling insects is important. In 2005, the VS outbreak involved livestock on at least 445 premises in nine states, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. In 2004, affected animals were detected in eight counties each in Texas and New Mexico and in 22 Colorado counties. Before the 2004 outbreak, VS had been “silent” since 1998, when Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas had cases.
More information about VS and a map showing the location of Starr County in Texas are available on the TAHC web site at: http://www.tahc.state.tx.us.
–30–
Posted on June 16, 2009 - by Russell
Cattle Tuberculosis Confirmed in Texas
News Release
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 * Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242 * FAX (512) 719-0719
Bob Hillman, DVM * Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242, ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us
For immediate release: Cattle Tuberculosis Confirmed in Texas;
Check with States of Destination Before Shipping Cattle
Cattle tuberculosis (TB) has been confirmed in a west Texas dairy that has been quarantined since April when some cattle in the herd responded to a TB test being conducted prior to a sale. (The sale was cancelled.)
The cattle TB diagnosis was confirmed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, where M. bovis, or cattle TB bacteria, was grown or “cultured” from tissues that had been collected during the necropsy of the test-positive cattle.
“The infected herd remains quarantined while the final disposition of the herd is determinedeither slaughtering the herd, or repeatedly testing and removing infected animals until the herd is free of cattle TB,” said Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. “Dairy, calf-raising and dairy animal replacement operations with epidemiological links to the infected herd are being tested to determine both the origin and potential spread of the disease.”
“I encourage ranchers or accredited veterinarians to call the state of destination prior to shipping bison, beef or dairy cattle out of Texas,” said Dr. Hillman. “Some states may impose enhanced TB entry requirements on Texas cattle and bison. Keep in mind, too, that many states, like Texas, have implemented cattle trichomoniasis testing requirements, so call before you haul.”
Dr. Hillman said Texas’ cattle TB-free status with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could be in jeopardy, if the infected dairy cannot be depopulated, or if a second infected herd is detected within 48 months.
Nebraska, in early June, confirmed TB infection in a beef herd. Currently, California and Minnesota are not cattle TB-free, and areas in Michigan and New Mexico have specified zones that are not TB-free. When TB-free status is lost, breeding cattle and bison moved out of a state need a negative TB test within 60 days prior to shipment, or animals must originate from a herd that has accredited TB-free status, achieved through a formal testing and retesting program.
Texas initially gained TB-free status in November 2000, when all counties except El Paso and portions of Hudspeth Counties were declared free of the disease. (The El Paso Milk Shed had a history of recurring infection, and eventually, the dairies were depopulated. Dairies no longer operate in this area along the U.S.-Mexican border near El Paso.)
In June 2002, Texas lost TB-free status after infection was detected in a beef herd and in an operation with both beef and dairy cattle. To regain TB-free status, 2,014 Texas purebred beef herds and the state’s 818 dairies were tested for the disease from October 2003 through August 2006. One TB-infected dairy was detected and depopulated. In September 2006, the USDA issued the coveted TB-free status for all of Texas’ 254 counties.
When exposed to cattle TB, an animal’s immune system will fight the invasion by encapsulating the bacteria. This can cause the formation of lesions or growths in and on lymph nodes, mammary glands, lungs and other internal organs. Although infected, the animals may appear healthy, until the latter stages of the disease, when signs may include weight loss, coughing or breathing difficulties. The disease is not treatable in livestock.
“Cattle TB is a serious, transmissible disease that can spread among herds,” said Dr. Hillman. “In the early 1900s, when the national cattle TB eradication program was initiated, more than five percent of the country’s herds were infected with the disease. At that time, cattle TB posed a significant human health threat, because consumers could become infected when they drank raw, unpasteurized milk that had not been through heat-treatment to kill bacteria. Today, commercially produced milk is pasteurized. While bovine TB is still a human health threat, other forms of tuberculosis, such as the human and avian strains, now pose the greatest risk of TB exposure to persons.”
–30–
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