Tag: Dairy farming
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Bird Flu Adapting to Infect Cows: What It Means for Mammal Spread
Overview: Bird flu shows a troubling shift The latest findings from researchers in Glasgow indicate that certain strains of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, commonly known as bird flu, are becoming more capable of infecting cows. While the virus has long been associated with birds, mammals—especially cattle—are now appearing as potential hosts in the virus’s…
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Country Diary 1950: End of a Freezing Hereford Day on the Farm
Introduction: a snapshot from a Hereford farm in 1950 On a cold winter day in Hereford in 1950, time seems to slow as the sun slips toward the hedgerows and a hush settles over the fields. The country diary tone captures ordinary hours that, stitched together, reveal a rhythm of farm life: the careful end-of-day…
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What’s Next for South Africa’s FMD Vaccine Supply: Are Outbreaks Straining the System?
Overview: FMD outbreaks and vaccine concerns in South Africa Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to threaten South Africa’s livestock sectors, with reports of more than 200 outbreaks across five provinces. For dairy and beef farmers, the biggest immediate worry is not just disease control but the availability of vaccines to curb its spread. When outbreaks surge,…
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Is South Africa Heading for a Shortage of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine? What It Means for Farmers
Overview: Rising FMD Outbreaks and Growing Concerns Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) remains a persistent threat to South Africa’s cattle, dairy, and beef sectors. With reports of more than 200 outbreaks across five provinces, farmers and officials are anxious about the country’s ability to mount an rapid and effective vaccination response. The specter of a vaccine shortage…
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H5N1 and Raw Milk Cheese: What We Know About Virus Stability and Transmission Risk
Overview: H5N1 in dairy contexts raises food-safety questions Recent research into highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has drawn attention to dairy products sourced from infected animals. In outbreaks where dairy cattle test positive for H5N1 and milk is contaminated, the critical question becomes whether unpasteurized dairy products, especially raw-milk cheeses, can harbor infectious virus and…
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Cheryl Poole: Wexford dairy farmer finalist in EU innovation award
Cheryl Poole makes the final of Europe’s 8th Innovation Award for Women Farmers Cheryl Poole, a Wexford dairy farmer, has reached the final of the EU Innovation Award for Women Farmers. Judges praised how she transformed a family enterprise into a model of water stewardship and environmental leadership, proving that sustainability can be compatible with…
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Wexford dairy farmer Cheryl Poole reaches EU Innovation Award final for Female Farmers
A standout finalist in a Europe-wide effort to elevate women farmers Cheryl Poole, a dairy farmer from County Wexford, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 8th Innovation Award for Women Farmers, a Europe-wide program celebrating women who blend sustainability with productivity. Nominated by ICOS, she and her husband, Alan, raise their family on…