The deer or elk you shoot and eat might get the last laugh, according to a University of Kentucky study.

The venison of deer infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found to contain the prions that spread the disease, according to the study published today in Science. Health officials have long reassured deer hunters they won’t be exposed to the disease as long as they don’t touch or eat any specified risk materials, where prions are been found.

Source: New York Times/ Sandra Blakeslee, Jan. 27, 2006
Source URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/27/national/27deer.html

No additional cases of mad cow disease were found among 25 other cattle on the Alberta farm where the latest infected cow was found. Among those tested were 24 cows born on the farm a year before or after the infected cow and a recently born calf. Other animals are still being traced.

The good news was announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Officials are still investigating how the cow may have become infected, especially since it was born after the 1997 feed ban. The cow did not enter either the human food chain or the animal feed chain.

Source: Canada.com/ Canadian Press, Jan. 26, 2006
Source URL: http://www.canada.com/topics/news/agriculture/story.html?id=ab582cc9-b50f-496b-b992-7f4dbcb79519&k=271

White Clover Dairy, based in Hollandtown, Wis., has been producing havarti and feta for Arla Foods under a licence agreement since 1998. The acquisition of the dairy with its 170 employees will provide Arla with the capacity for future expansion at a time when access to locally produced speciality cheese is a natural part of Arla’s long-term strategy for the US. Local production of certain speciality cheese will complement Arla’s significant exports of Danish speciality cheese in the American market.

In many ways the move has similarities to the purchase of the Canadian speciality cheese producer, National Cheese Company, in November 2004.

Source: Arla Foods/ News Release, Jan. 26, 2006
Source URL: http://www.arlafoods.com/C1256E9400315C5D/Doc/
A4200FBCBDD7C078C1257102003223EB

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2006, totaled 97.1 million head, 2 percent above the 95.4 million on January 1, 2005.

All cows and heifers that have calved, at 42.3 million, were up 1 percent from the 41.9 million on January 1, 2005.

Beef cows, at 33.3 million, were up 1 percent from January 1, 2005.

Milk cows, at 9.06 million, were up 1 percent from January 1, 2005.

Source: USDA/ NASS, Jan. 27, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/catl0106.txt

New York milk producers will have a marginal year, according to one county extension agent. However, the expected renewal of the federal Milk Income Loss Contract will help some farmers prop up the bottom line.

Delaware County Cornell Cooperative Extension educator Mariane Kiraly said energy prices will continue to put the squeeze on producer profits. Milk producers made money last year until energy prices went sky-high, causing profits to tumble downward.

Source: The Daily Star/ Mark Boshnack, Jan. 27, 2006
Source URL: http://www.thedailystar.com/news/stories/2006/01/27/milk6.html

FLUID MILK:  Milk production continues to increase seasonally throughout the Southern tier of states from coast to coast, while steady to slightly higher elsewhere. In Florida and other Southeastern states, milk volumes are increasing gradually. Milk output in the Middle Atlantic and Northeastern areas is mostly steady. In the Central part of the country milk volumes are steady. Producers and handlers are quite surprised at the volume of milk that is arriving at plants for this time of the season. Weather conditions have been quite mild for late January, thus not detrimental to the milking herd. In New Mexico, increasing cow numbers and production per cow have allowed milk to grow at a brisk pace. Arizona's milk output is up slightly and able to be processed within the state. In California, milk production is trending higher throughout the state, although Northern areas are being impacted by wet and rainy conditions. In the Pacific Northwest, production is building slowly, but wet conditions continue. Lots are wet and bedding in free stall barns is not drying out, thus herd health is taking up much more management time. Milk output in Utah and Idaho is holding seasonally steady with milking conditions good and herd health not much of a problem. Cream markets are weak and volumes are plentiful from coast to coast. Surplus offerings continue to clear within production areas, but also are clearing to other markets. Cream pricing multiples are lower and vary depending on class usage, basing point, and final destination.

Source: USDA, Jan. 27, 2006

Cheddar Cheese prices received for US 40 pound Blocks averaged $1.37 per pound for the week ending January 21. The price per pound decreased 1.2 cents from the previous week. The price for US 500 pound Barrels adjusted to 38 percent moisture averaged $1.35 per pound, down 0.2 cent from the previous week.

Butter prices received for 25 kilogram and 68 pound boxes meeting USDA Grade AA standards averaged $1.35 per pound for the week ending January 21. The U.S. price per pound decreased 0.8 cent from the previous week.

Source: USDA/ NASS, Jan. 27, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/dppr0406.txt

For the week grain and soybean bids saw gains after seeing losses last week. Wheat found support most of the week from dry conditions in the southern plains, recovering last week losses and more. Wheat weekly export sales were reported at 429,100 tonnes. Corn saw solid gains due to spillover support from soybeans, good overnight exports, talk of lower plant acreage, and strong end user demand domestically. Corn weekly export sales were reported at 2.165 million tonnes which were good. Soybeans were up and down most of the week but managed to close in positive territory. Talk of warm and dry weather outlook for Argentina lend support. However, heavy supplies and slow exports limit the gains. Soybean weekly export sales were below expectations coming in at 528,700 tonnes as compared to 800,000-1,000,000 tonnes. December census crush report was posted 148.008 million bushels as compared to estimates of 149.1 million bushels and lower from 151.5 million in November. Meal stocks were above estimates coming in at 337,845 tonnes as compared to 310,000 tonnes. Wheat was 4-14 cents higher. Corn was 11-14 cents higher with KC white corn 9-10 cents higher. Sorghum was 21-23 cents higher. Soybeans were 8 cents higher.

Source: USDA/ AMS, Jan. 27, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_GR851.txt

Lean boneless beef prices were sharply higher this week as offerings were limited due to a very light live slaughter cow run. This forced packers to bid higher all week on live cows in order to secure enough to fill normal harvest schedules. Demand for lean boneless was moderate to good while demand for the lower lean percentage items was light to moderate. The lower lean percentage items started the week at firmer prices, but began to trend downward late in the week as offerings increased. The import boneless beef prices were firm, especially on Bull Meat. This upward move was caused by the sharp increase in domestic lean beef prices and grinders seeking the cheaper priced import product for lower cost formulations. Trade was active as many traders began jockeying for position. The news about Japan late last week and Canada early this week had little effect on trading. Cow cuts prices were mostly lower this week on light demand, especially on tenderloins and ribeye rolls. The 100% lean items traded at generally steady prices on light to moderate demand for light offerings.
  
Lean boneless beef 92-94% 3.50 to 7.00 higher; 90% 3.50-6.00 higher; 85% unevenly steady; 81% not established; 75% steady; 73% steady; 65% unevenly steady. 100% lean items generally steady.

The Cutter cow carcass gross cut out value for Thursday, January 16, 2006 was estimated at 109.06 per cwt, up 4.74 from last Friday.

Source: USDA/ AMS, Jan. 27, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/NW_LS850.txt

Before 2000 Mycoplasma was almost non-existent in Virginia. Since then the dairy and beef industries have seen a steady rise in illness associated with Mycoplasma. In dairy calves Mycoplasma causes pneumonia, head tilt, droopy ears, and swollen joints. Respiratory problems with Mycoplasma can start showing up as early as 2 weeks of age. Unlike Pasturella that tends to causes severe toxemia and calves to look sick very quickly, Mycoplasma can be much more subtle and calves may go unnoticed until they have lost 50% or more of their lungs. These calves are called chronics in the beef industry and although they may live the odds of them becoming a milking dairy cow are slim. The earliest clinical sign of Mycoplasma is typically a single drooped ear when the calf is at rest.

Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension/ Dairy Pipeline/ John F. Currin, February 2006
Source URL: http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/periodicals/dairy/2006-02/mycoplasma.html

Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n = 56) were assigned to either of two milking systems over a complete lactation.

The two milking systems gave satisfactory milking performance.

Source: Effect of two milking systems on the milking characteristics, teat tissue changes and new infection rate of dairy cows. Animal Research 54 (4): 259-267, 2005. Gleeson, D.E.; OCallaghan, E.J.; Meaney, W.J.; Rath, M.V.