Day: February 25, 2010

Will state livestock tracking system get funding?

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who heads the House agricultural appropriations subcommittee, is questioning how states will establish individual livestock identification systems and said she does not agree with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s request for funding for the plan. The Des Moines Register (Iowa)

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10 things you didn’t know about the Koobface gang

With Koobface continuing to spreading across Facebook by utilizing hundreds of compromised sites as infection vectors, next to using them as distributed hosting infrastructure in an attempt to undermine potential take down activities, a common misconception regarding the gang’s activities shifts the attention from their true participating within the underground ecosystem. The intensive multitasking on behalf of the Koobface gang, next to the fact that the Koobface botnet is the tip of the iceberg for their malicious operations, prompts the publishing of this top 10 things you didn’t know about the Koobface gang list. Some are funny,

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UN report finds disparity between livestock production, regulation

Many countries lack the capacity to safely regulate their rapidly growing livestock production industries, according to a report from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization. “The rapid growth and transformation has occurred in a setting of weak institutions and inadequate regulations. This has given rise to systemic risks affecting livelihoods, the environment as well as human and animal health,” said Jacques Diouf, FAO’s director-general. Voice of America

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Mont. vet calls for mandatory brucellosis vaccination for female calves

Montana’s state veterinarian is proposing a mandatory statewide vaccination of female calves against brucellosis. However, some livestock groups in the state oppose the idea, saying the $5 immunization is not necessary for heifers raised for human consumption. Billings Gazette (Mont.)

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New federal rules give hope to organic advocates

According to new USDA standards, for livestock to be considered organic, animals must be grazed on pasture for at least four months and 30% of their feed must come from grazing. Organic-certifying organizations are hopeful that food labels will mean something. The Washington Post/The Associated Press

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