Brown County 4-H is supported by Brown County United Way
DATES TO REMEMBER
February
16 – Shooting Sports Practice 2:00p.m. at 4-H Center
17 – Extension Office Closed for Presidents Day
18 – Consumer Decision Making Practice 5:00p.m. at Extension Office
20 – Photography Workshop 5:00p.m. at Extension Office
25 – Consumer Decision Making Practice 5:00p.m. at Extension Office
27 – Photography Workshop 5:00p.m. at Extension Office
BROWN COUNTY FAIR CHECKS
The checks for the Brown County Youth Fair will be available for you to pick up on Monday February 10th. A thank you letter should be written to each buyer who contributed towards your project. Make sure that it is stamped and addressed and turned in to the Extension Office! You will not receive your check until we receive your thank you letters. Hand written “thank you” letters are best but, depending on your personality and penmanship a typed letter can also be appropriate. Thank each person individually, don’t try and thank a group of people in one letter.
MAJOR STOCK SHOW PASSES FOR 4-H PARTICIPANTS
The San Angelo, Houston, and San Antonio Stock Show passes have arrived. Participants may pick up their passes at the Extension Office. If you have signed up for any of these shows and are NOT going to be participating or have any other questions please contact Nick Gonzales.
HEALTH PAPERS FOR MAJOR STOCK SHOWS
All major stock shows including, San Angelo, San Antonio, Houston, and Austin only require breeding animals to have health papers.
All health certificates for the San Angelo Stock Show Junior Breeding Gilts (the Junior Breeding Gilt Show and Junior CTBR Texas Stars Gilt Show) must be issued on or after January 28, 2014.Also; A Leptospirosis vaccination is required on breeding swine, 6 months of age and older, within 30 days prior to date of the sale (on or after January 28, 2014) with vaccine containing the following strains: Canicola, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, and Pomona. Vaccination date must appear on the health certificate.
A statement must appear that says the animal has not been fed garbage, has not been exposed to hog cholera or pseudorabies, does not originate from a quarantined herd, nor has the herd of origin had PRV within the last six months, nor have the entries themselves been vaccinated for PRV. If you have any questions please contact Nick Gonzales.
ZILMAX IN MARKET STEERS AT HOUSTON STOCK SHOW
In August 2013, Merck Animal Health made the decision to temporarily suspend sales of Zilmax® in the United States and Canada to allow sufficient time for the development and implementation of five-step plan initiatives. At this time, it is too early to speculate about the return of Zilmax® to the market. AS A RESULT OF THIS SUSPENSION, THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW WILL NOT TOLERATE THE PRESENCE OF ZILPATEROL HYDROCHLORIDE (Zilmax®) IN THE URINE OF MARKET STEERS OR ANY OTHER ANIMAL ENTRIES AT THE 2014 SHOW. The use of this compound will be governed by the Junior Show Rules published in the 2014 Exhibitor Handbook.
Ractopamine Hydrochloride (Optaflexx™, Paylean®, Topmax™)
The Houston Livestock Show will not be testing for the presence of ractopamine hydrochloride in steers (Optaflexx™), market barrows (Paylean®), or market turkeys (Topmax™). Exhibitors who choose to use these products are expected to follow all label directions. The Show will not tolerate the presence of ractopamine hydrochloride in species or classes within species for which they are not FDA approved.
The use of all other drugs in junior market animals, both unapproved and FDA approved, will be governed by the Junior Show Rules published in the 2014 Exhibitor Handbook.
BREEDING ANIMALS
The Houston Livestock Show will not be testing for the presence of antibiotics/antibacterials that have been FDA approved for the species and class of breeding animal in which they are administered. The use of all other drugs in junior breeding animals, both unapproved and FDA approved, will be governed by the Junior Show Rules published in the 2014 Exhibitor Handbook.
PREVENTING SWINE SICKNESS
What is PED Virus?
Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus is a disease occurring only in pigs, caused by a coronavirus that produces acute and severe outbreaks of diarrhea that rapidly transmits among all ages of pigs.
• Up to 100% mortality in pigs < 3 weeks of age
• It is not a zoonotic disease so it does not affect people or other species
• This does not pose any risk to food safety
How can the virus be spread?
• Fecal-oral is clearly the predominant means of spread among pigs
• High concentration of the virus is shed in feces
• Profound stability of the virus in the environment
That means anything that manure and the virus contacts can be a source of infection; clothing, footwear, trucks and equipment serve as easy carriers. You do not have to come in contact with hogs to transfer the virus. Walking into a contaminated barn can increase risk for disease spread. Knowing the PEDv status of an area, herd or market, lets you take precautions so you don’t spread the virus or bring it back home. Do not be responsible for transferring this disease.
What can I do to prevent the spread of PED Virus? Proper Biosecurity!
Biosecurity is a collection of management practices designed to minimize the risk of disease introduction and spread.
At the Show
• Assess your pig’s health on a daily basis
• Keep your area clean and free of manure contamination
• Do not share equipment with other exhibitors
• Do not bring your pets (cats or dogs) to the show
When Returning Home from the Show
• Best practice is to place pigs in isolation; a designated
area away from other pigs
• Have dedicated boots and clothing for isolation only
• Designate tack/equipment for use only at isolation
• Cleaning and Disinfection is a MUST
Proper Cleaning & Disinfection Protocol
All vehicles, trailers, and equipment, including feeders, buckets, sort-boards,etc. need to be thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and dried.
• Power-wash clean and free of any visible manure or shavings
• Completely cover with an appropriate disinfectant, such as Roccal-D Plus, Nolvasan, etc.
• Allow to dry completely in sunlight
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
Do you have an interest in taking photos? If so we have a contest just for you! The photography project encourages self-expression and teaches proper use of photographic equipment and developing processes. There is going to be a series of workshops available for youth that are interested. The next workshop is set for February 20th, 5:00p.m. at the Extension Office.
4-H ENROLLMENT IS OPEN ON 4-H CONNECT!
The enrollment process for the 2013-2014 4-H yearhas started. All 4-H families, new and returning, are encouraged to log in and enroll in order to become an official 4-H member.
As you begin your enrollment for the year, here are some tips in using 4-H CONNECT:
- If you already have a profile DO NOT create another one!
- If you lost your email and password call the county office so we can reset it for you.
- An active membership will not be granted until the $20.00 participation fee is paid on 4-H Connect!
- You cannot register or participate in an eventuntil your profile is ACTIVE.
- When you are doing your re-enrollment for the 2013-2014 4-H Year please make sure you update your address, phone number, and e-mail address.
- You can use your Spaghetti Luncheon Fundraiser Voucher to pay your membership dues. To do this you will have to come into the extension office to enroll.
- We are updating our e-mail database on November 1st so if you are not enrolled by then you will no longer receive newsletters updates via e-mail. Unless you notify the Extension Office prior to November 1st deadline.
Don’t wait until the last minute to enroll because after October 31st the cost increases to $25!!
Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners’ Courts of Texas Cooperating
