Day: July 12, 2007

Disease outbreak alarms Montana’s ranchers

By SARAH COOKE The Associated Press   HELENA, Mont. — The future of Montana’s cattle industry, some say, is in the hands of the federal government and a Bridger ranching couple. Ranchers and livestock groups from the state and around the country are anxiously watching negotiations between Jim and Sandy Morgan and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service over the couple’s quarantined cattle. Seven cows from their ranch tested positive for brucellosis in May, and Montana could lose its coveted brucellosis-free status if the Morgans’ herd isn’t slaughtered within 60 days of

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Cows that burp less seen helping in climate fight

LONDON (Reuters) – Manners aside, getting cows to burp less can help reduce global warming. Using modern plant-breeding methods to find new diets for cows that make them belch less is a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, scientists said on Monday. The key is developing new varieties of food that are easier for cattle to digest and also provide a proper balance of fiber, protein and sugar, said Michael Abberton, a scientist at the UK-based Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research. For more info click here

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Avian flu at Va. farm prompts more testing

HARRISONBURG — More than 50,000 turkeys on a farm west of Mount Jackson tested positive for avian flu antibodies, prompting additional testing and surveillance at area poultry farms, officials said. The infected birds will be killed and composted on site, said Hobey Bauhan, president of the Virginia Poultry Federation For more info click here

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Mac desktops are “smarter money”, says CIO

Blames Microsoft’s “aggressive revenue targets” Property asset management company Capital & Regional is evaluating Linux desktops and Apple Macs as a way to reduce its dependency on Microsoft. The company has around 700 PC users and currently runs Windows XP Pro and Office XP Pro but its CIO Richard Snooks has hit out at Microsoft’s aggressive licensing policies. For more info click here

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