Broomfield, Colo. - The Colorado Department of Agriculture has confirmed that a total of three horses residing on separate locations in Larimer, Pueblo and Weld Counties have been diagnosed with West Nile virus (WNV). The three cases are Colorado's first confirmed cases of WNV in horses in 2019. These index cases were diagnosed by Colorado State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Fort Collins in late August, 2019. Vaccines in horses have proven to be a very effective prevention tool for WNV, and horses that have been vaccinated in past years do need an annual booster. If a horse has not been vaccinated in previous years, it will need the two-shot vaccination series within a three to four week period. In addition to vaccinations as a preventative measure, horse owners should also reduce local mosquito populations and their possible breeding areas. Recommendations include removing stagnant water sources, keeping animals inside during t...
Broomfield, Colo. - The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) are monitoring a report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of an outbreak of Salmonella Newport in red onions that have been traced to a single provider in Bakersfield, California as the likely source. The outbreak has resulted in a number of consumers falling ill nationwide, including in Colorado. The source of the outbreak is limited to the facility in California and is not related to onions grown in Colorado. Consumers and retailers should feel safe selecting and eating onions grown in Colorado. Over the last five years, Colorado has incorporated safety standards that have been created through the Food Safety Modernization Act. The implementation effort includes a comprehensive grower training and education initiative led by Colorado State Uni...
Colorado Meat Products Matter, Says RMFU Colorado Governor Jared Polis recently issued a proclamation naming March 20 as “MeatOut Day,” a concept that fails to work for Colorado agriculture. Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is disappointed in this proclamation, as it does not celebrate the nutrient and protein dense selection of meats that family farmers and ranchers produce across the state. “ Meat production dominates Colorado agriculture, the state’s second largest industry. It provides invaluable nutrition, sustains our rural economies and, when managed properly, improves the environment,” says Dr. Dale McCall, president of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. McCall says ranchers want what is best for their livestock for the simple reason that prioritizing animal welfare is good for business and is in keeping with what consumers are asking for from producers. Meats from cattle, lambs, hogs, and chickens are consumer favorites at home and in restaurants. “ We need to ce...
Comments
Post a Comment