California Ag Network

Category: Dairy Industry

  • Organic Trade Association Hails Long-Awaited Organic Animal Welfare Rule

    The Organic Trade Association (OTA) celebrated the strengthening of organic animal welfare standards by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), saying the long-awaited action by the department is a major win for producers and consumers who have steadily advocated for the more robust regulations.

    “The organic sector and organic consumers have been clamoring for stricter animal welfare standards for 20 years now, and the OTA and its members have spearheaded that fight,” said Tom Chapman, CEO of the Organic Trade Association. “These new standards not only create a more level playing field for organic producers, but they ensure consumers that the organic meat, poultry, dairy and eggs they choose have been raised with plenty of access to the real outdoors, and in humane conditions.”

    The USDA on October 25 announced its final Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) regulation. The regulation creates clear standards for outdoor access for organic poultry including minimum indoor and outdoor space requirements, and further clarifies living conditions, healthcare, transportation, and slaughter practices to support animal welfare for all organic avian and mammalian livestock species. Most importantly, the rule clarifies that screened-in, enclosed porches do NOT qualify as sufficient outdoor space for organic chickens. Current organic poultry producers have up to five years to implement the new regulations.

    “Having clear, consistent and enforceable standards is paramount for the organic sector to not only maintain consumer trust but to ensure that farms and businesses of all sizes have a fair shot at competing in the marketplace by meeting a minimum set of requirements,” said Chapman. “The road to this final step has been long and often bumpy, and we thank all our members, allies and advocates for not giving up on our fight to strengthen organic.”

    Organic producers applaud the USDA action

    “This update to the organic standards could not come soon enough. For organic poultry it will ensure that the farmer, whenever possible, will let their chickens go outside, touch the ground, and frankly scratch around and act like chickens,” said Adam Warthesen, Senior Director of Government & Industry Affairs for organic dairy cooperative Organic Valley. “All organic poultry producers will need to provide real access to the outdoors and that is what certified organic represents. The new standards are a definite improvement over the current reality which has created competitive harm among farmers and not met consumers expectations for what it means to be an organic egg from an organic chicken.”

    “Certified organic egg, dairy, and animal producers hold their operations to a higher standard of animal welfare than what is required, both because it’s the right thing to do and because it’s what our customers expect and deserve from us,” said Cameron Whitehead, Chief Operating Officer of organic egg producer Pete & Gerry’s Organics. “The organic industry has been fighting for this rule for more than six years and we’re pleased to see the USDA validate the expectations of organic consumers in a way that enables the industry to continue to prosper.”

    “The debate has always been about consumer confidence in the Organic seal. We are pleased that the USDA is committed to restoring that confidence and removing ambiguity of what producing an organic egg means,” said John Brunnquell, President & CEO of Egg Innovations, the midwestern organic, free-range, pasture-raised egg producer.

    “At Chino Valley, we have always believed that organic means more than just feed. The passing of this rule ensures one of the most important tenets of organic egg production, outdoor access, is guaranteed and meaningful for the hens that we care for. This is a huge win for the hens. This is a huge win for hundreds of small family farms across our great nation who prefer to farm this way. Thank you to USDA Secretary Vilsack for supporting the rule. Thank you, OTA, for your leadership. Thank you to the rest of the family farms that supported this rule.”  said Chris Nichols, CEO of organic egg producer Chino Valley Ranchers.

    “For over 35 years, Applegate Farms has been an advocate for the improvement of animal welfare. To that end, it is essential to us that the USDA maintain the integrity of the Organic standard, and consumer trust in it. We strongly support NOP’s efforts to create greater consistency in organic livestock practices with the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards. We celebrate a final rule that will strengthen organic animal welfare standards, better align organic producers and certifiers, and meet consumer expectations for organic livestock products,” said Carolyn Gahn, Senior Director, Mission & Advocacy for Applegate Farms.

    Closing the loopholes 

    Outdoor access is a core tenet for organic poultry and livestock production. USDA organic regulations require that all certified organic operations must give their animals “access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air, clean water for drinking, and direct sunlight”. But these regulations have not been consistently enforced, resulting in a few large poultry companies utilizing narrow, enclosed porches – usually with a cement floor – instead of true outdoor access.

    The result has been inconsistent animal welfare standards for organic chickens and an unlevel playing field for all the organic farmers who treat their birds right. The USDA has acknowledged that the inconsistent interpretation of regulations has caused competitive harm to the organic farmers already adhering to the most robust animal welfare standards.

    In 2010, USDA issued a final rule creating clear standards for grazing and access to pasture for organic dairy and cattle. The organic poultry sector called for similar clarifications.

    USDA released its final Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) regulation in early 2017, after 14 years of vetting and review by organic stakeholders and industry and government experts. OLPP clarified USDA’s organic animal welfare standards, with an emphasis on poultry. The implementation of that final rule, however, was delayed and blocked, and the rule was ultimately withdrawn. In the fall of 2017, OTA filed a lawsuit against the USDA for unlawfully delaying the implementation of the regulation and violating the Organic Foods Production Act.  Spurred on by the lawsuit and continuing advocacy from the organic sector and the public for stronger animal welfare standards, the current Administration proposed the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) regulation last August, which is in line with the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule.

    The public has repeatedly and strongly expressed its support for tighter organic animal welfare rules. Publication of the OLPP proposed regulation in 2017, and the OLPS last year, have drawn solid support. The OLPS rule, in the latest example, was open for comment through November 10, 2022, and attracted overwhelming public support. Analysis showed that out of almost 40,000 posted comments, a huge 89 percent majority were in favor of the regulation being finalized and implemented.

    Shoppers flocking to organic 

    The organic market has posted steady growth for decades as consumers increasingly value the high organic standards, the environmentally-friendly organic farming practices, and the safe, healthy choice that organic provides for their families. Organic egg sales in the U.S. have more than tripled over the last ten years. So have the sales of organic poultry. Organic food sales in the United States in 2022 broke through $60 billion for the first time, hitting another high-level mark for the resilient organic sector. Total organic sales – including organic non-food products, were a record $67.6 billion, according to OTA’s 2023 Organic Industry Survey.

    Animal welfare has been shown to be an important consideration for consumers. Recent research commissioned by the Organic Trade Association shows that 75 percent of Americans are concerned about the treatment of animals by the meat and dairy industry. Animal welfare and outdoor access are core value propositions for organic shoppers, and they are willing to pay more for these benefits.  Organic buyers want to feel confident that the organic eggs and poultry they purchase and serve their families come from chickens that have access to pasture and the outdoors, fresh air and sunlight.

    The trust that consumers have in organic is well deserved. Organic agriculture is regulated by the most stringent and comprehensive set of rules governing any form of agriculture. Farmers voluntarily choose to go organic and to abide by these strict organic standards.  USDA, through its National Organic Program, sets the federal standards for all organic products certified to the USDA Organic label. However, organic standards once approved are not set in stone, and are under constant review in a public and transparent process to ensure that they reflect evolving understandings about soil, climate, health, and animal welfare.

    “The organic sector has always welcomed clear and fair standards under which to operate, and we are happy the government has at long last moved forward on this sound and much needed regulation,” said Chapman. “This is a victory for the entire organic sector – and for all organic consumers.

    About the Organic Trade Association

    The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 10,000 organic businesses across 50 states. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA’s Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA’s mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.

  • FDA Foods Coalition to Advocate for the Implementation of Proposed Redesign of Human Foods Program

    The FDA Foods Coalition was launched on Oct. 26th to advocate for a modernized, effective foods program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) focused on preventing foodborne illness outbreaks and other food safety risks, and decreasing diet-related chronic diseases. Made up of consumer advocates, food industry representatives, public health groups, and state and local regulators, the Coalition will educate policymakers, media and the public about improving the governance of the FDA Human Foods Program.

    The Coalition is supportive of FDA’s proposed redesign of the Human Foods Program and looks forward to working with Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D., and new Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones to implement these changes and facilitate greater transparency, accountability and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

    Many of the organizations in the diverse coalition began working together following FDA’s delayed response to the infant formula crisis and called on Commissioner Califf to appoint a leader empowered to address the fundamental problems plaguing the agency’s foods program. In response, Commissioner Califf ordered an external review of the program by the Reagan Udall Foundation, which concluded that the FDA’s culture, organizational structure, and governance model undermine its effectiveness. Earlier this year, Commissioner Califf announced plans to adopt many of those recommendations and recently appointed Jim Jones as deputy commissioner of its Human Foods Program.

    “Consumers depend on the FDA to be effectively organized and governed to prevent food safety risks and ensure our food is safe,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports and co-chair of the FDA Foods Coalition. “Commissioner Califf has proposed a redesign that will allow the Human Foods Program to carry out its critical mission and make the agency more accountable and transparent. Our coalition supports these changes and believes the implementation of them is critically important to all of the FDA’s food system stakeholders.”

    “Industry needs a strong, unified, and modernized FDA to facilitate innovation, growth, and the production of safe, nutritious foods that are accessible and affordable for all consumers,” said Roberta Wagner, senior vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs at the International Dairy Foods Association and co-chair of the FDA Foods Coalition. “The coalition will continue to advocate that FDA shift away from its traditional reactionary model to a modernized, prevention-oriented oversight model that aligns with industry’s immense efforts to ensure continual improvement and prevent problems from occurring, as exemplified by industry’s ongoing implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Industry values FDA’s oversight role in assuring companies produce safe food every day for American consumers, and we look forward to supporting the agency’s Human Foods Program through this coalition.”

    “FDA needs substantial additional resources to strengthen and improve its human food safety and nutrition programs.  Maximizing the value of such an investment will require stakeholders and the FDA to address the organizational, cultural, and policy challenges that confront food safety,” saidSteven Grossman, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA. “The FDA Foods Coalition is uniquely positioned to achieve this and is a natural complement to the Alliance’s efforts to increase funding.”

    In addition to Consumer Reports and the International Dairy Foods Association, the Coalition includes the American Frozen Food Institute, Association of Food and Drug Officials, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Brands Association, Consumer Federation of America, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group, International Fresh Produce Association, Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association, STOP Foodborne Illness, and Western Growers. The Coalition will continue its outreach to other stakeholders that align with this mission.

    The FDA Foods Coalition will work with the agency to ensure that FDA’s Human Foods Program:

    ●       Communicates, embraces and promotes a clear and compelling vision, mission and value statement.
    ●       Institutes an organizational structure with a single leader with a clear articulation of roles, responsibilities, and accountability and a culture that is well-equipped to sustain leadership transitions.
    ●       Establishes — through the new deputy commissioner position — a management system that fully integrates the Human Foods Program on policy, resource management, and field operations, and leads a program-wide transformation that prioritizes the shift to a public health prevention culture in both headquarters and field operations.
    ●       Develops and nurtures a culture where regulatory decision-making is focused on consumer safety and public health, rooted in scientific evidence and FDA’s legal framework, and occurs in a timely and predictable way.
    ●       Prioritizes meaningful stakeholder engagement and collaboration in regulatory priority setting and decision making based on science-driven and effective risk management principles, maximum transparency, and data sharing.
    ●       Establishes a stronger, more cooperative relationship with state, local, and tribal governments, including fulfilling the FSMA vision of a National Integrated Food Safety System.
    ●       Formulates an appropriations strategy that considers stakeholder input and includes a well-defined, prioritized agenda and clarity and transparency on how program funding would be allocated.

    ●       Has authority and resources to ensure that the agency’s Enterprise Modernization initiative meets the operational and data management needs of the Human Foods Program.

  • California Milk Processor Board Launches ‘Get Real Inc.’ Campaign with Comedian Desi Banks

    The California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), creators of the iconic “Got Milk?” campaign, is proud to announce the launch of a groundbreaking new initiative aimed at encouraging Californians to embrace authenticity and enjoy the nutritional benefits of real milk. This campaign, aptly named “Get Real Inc.,” marks a significant departure from the digital and virtual world’s ever-increasing influence and strives to bring people closer to what is real in an age dominated by technology and artificiality.

    In addition to promoting realness, the CMPB is committed to supporting the future generations of leaders and innovators by donating $100,000 to select Boys and Girls Clubs across California including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oakland, Boys and Girls Clubs the Sequoias, Boys and Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast, Boys and Girls Clubs of San Dieguito (Encinitas), Boys and Girls Clubs of Malibu, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey Park & Greater East Side.

    To kick off the Get Real Inc. campaign, the CMPB is unveiling brand-new video content featuring actor and comedian, Desi Banks, as Get Real Inc.’s CEO. These videos spotlight “Get Real Inc.,” a whimsical facility where a team of innovators explore inventions to “restore realness” and help people lead more authentic lives.

    Desi Banks, Comedian and Get Real Inc. CEO said, “In a world filled with filters, likes, and virtual realities, it’s refreshing to remind everyone that being real is where the true magic happens. Laughter and real milk both have a way of bringing people together, and I’m excited to help spread the message that living an authentic life is the key to happiness and fulfillment.”

    Get Real Inc. is positioned as a fictional start-up, with a mission inspired by a glass of real milk, that humorously highlights modern society’s increasing detachment from what’s real. In a world filled with technology and inventions that often take us further away from authenticity, the CMPB’s new campaign is a refreshing call to action, reminding us to cherish the virtues of being real.

    Some of the innovations showcased in the ad include:

    • Chips vs. Air Calculator: A tool designed to determine the exact ratio of chips to air in a bag of snacks, ensuring consumers get what they pay for.
    • Real Height App: An app that reveals the true height of individuals, allowing users to verify the accuracy of dating profiles and promoting transparency in the world of online dating.

    Steve James, Executive Director of the California Milk Processor Board said, “Real milk isn’t just a beverage; it’s a natural source of essential nutrients, a symbol of authenticity, and a way to savor life’s real moments. This campaign reflects our commitment to fostering genuine relationships and supporting the future leaders of our communities.”

    To see more of the new campaign, check out the website www.gotmilk.com/getreal and follow us on Instagram at gotmilk on TikTok at gotmilk.

    About the CMPB

    Since 1993, the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), creator of the famous ‘got milk?’ campaign, has been committed to increasing milk consumption throughout California. The CMPB is funded by all California milk processors and administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The ‘got milk?’ trademark is a federally registered trademark and service mark. For more information, visit www.gotmilk.com.

  • New UCCE Dairy Advisor for Tulare and Kern Counties

    California Dairy Magazine is excited to announce Rubia Branco Lopes as the new UCCE Dairy Farm Advisor for Tulare and Kern Counties. Watch this brief introductory video to get to know Rubia better, and read more in California Dairy Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor afimilk for their industry support.

  • US Grain Market Trends Supporting Lower Feed Costs for California Dairies

    Watch this brief interview with Shelby Myers, Grain Markets Intelligence Director from Ever.Ag, as she shares current grain market dynamics supporting more affordable feed availability for California dairies, based on her presentation at a recent meeting in Tulare, CA.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor afimilk for their industry support.

  • Why So Much Volatility in the US Cheese Market Recently

    Class 3 milk prices have seen better days in the California dairy industry.  The cheese market in particular has been quite volatile recently, and producers are disappointed to see prices on the decline this month.  Watch this brief interview with Tiffany LaMendola, Vice President of Risk Management at Ever.Ag, as she explains the current dynamics of the cheese market.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor afimilk for their industry support.

  • USDA Extends Milk Loss Program Assistance Deadline

    The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the application deadline for the Milk Loss Program (MLP) to Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, allowing more time for eligible dairy farmers to apply for much-needed, weather-related disaster recovery assistance.

    Administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), MLP compensates dairy producers who, because of qualifying weather events, dumped or removed milk without compensation from the commercial milk market in calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022. Eligible causes of loss also include consequences of these weather events, such as power outages, impassable roads and infrastructure losses. FSA opened MLP enrollment on Sept. 11, 2023; the original MLP deadline was Oct. 16, 2023.

    “We recognize that MLP benefits are critical to the financial recovery of dairy operations significantly impacted by weather-related disasters that inhibited their ability to deliver or store their milk in one, or even multiple years,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “We also understand that dairy farming is a 24/7, 365-day commitment. We hope the application deadline extension ensures that all dairy farmers in need of assistance will now have adequate time to apply.”

    How to Apply

    To apply for MLP, producers must submit:

    • FSA-376, Milk Loss Program Application
    • Milk marketing statement from the:
      • Month prior to the month milk was removed or dumped.
      • Affected month.
    • Detailed written statement of milk removal circumstances, including the weather event type and geographic scope, what transportation limitations occurred and any information on what was done with the removed milk.
    • Any other information required by the regulation.

    If not previously filed with FSA, applicants must also submit all the following items within 60 days of the MLP application deadline:

    • Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
    • Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
    • Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable).
    • Form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs (if applicable).
    • Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, (if applicable).
    • A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to as HELC) and wetland conservation certification (Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification) for the MLP producer and applicable affiliates.

    Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms already on file. But those who are uncertain or want to confirm the status of their forms can contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center.

    For more information on eligibility and payments, view the MLP fact sheet.

  • Speaking Proposals Sought for 2024 Animal Ag Stakeholders Summit

    The Animal Agriculture Alliance has announced the theme of its 2024 Stakeholders Summit: “Ready, Set, Solve! Advancing Animal Agriculture.” The 2024 Summit is set for May 8-9 in Kansas City, Mo. Speaking proposals for the event are being accepted through November 22. Interested speakers can submit their proposals at https://bit.ly/AAA24RFP. Registration for the event will open in January.

    Dozens of speakers. Hundreds of perspectives. Countless ideas. And that’s just at the starting line of the 2024 Summit. It’s going to take a team to drive our future forward. It’s going to take you, running alongside fellow stakeholders from across the food chain who know that putting in the work is the only way to transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s solutions. Are you ready? Then take your spot at the 2024 Summit.

    The Alliance is currently seeking proposals for keynote presentations and panel discussions that fit the 2024 theme. Presentations should provide unique and thought-provoking ideas and focus on actionable tools attendees can immediately use and implement. For more information, visit the proposal guidelines and form. For questions about the speaker proposal process, contact Abby Kornegay at akornegay@animalagalliance.org.

    “The annual Stakeholders Summit is known for its dynamic speaker-filled schedule, and the 2024 Summit will be no different,” said Hannah Thompson-Weeman, president and CEO, Animal Agriculture Alliance. “The Alliance team is excited to tap into the 2024 Olympics theme with an emphasis on propelling animal agriculture toward the ever-evolving finish line as we all work to reach our collective goals. We look forward to curating an agenda that embodies this focus.”

    Registration for the Summit will open in early 2024 and a tentative schedule will be shared at that time. Check the Summit website for the most up-to-date information. You can also follow the hashtag #AAA24 for periodic updates about the event on social media. For general questions about the Summit please email summit@animalagalliance.org or call (703) 562-5160.

    The Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, allied industries, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislatures, universities, government agencies and media. The 2023 Summit, themed “Partners in Progress: Building a Sustainable Future for Animal Ag” and held in Arlington, Va., attracted nearly 320 attendees. Select session recordings from the 2023 event are now available for public viewing, including:

    About the Alliance:

    The Alliance safeguards the future of animal agriculture and its value to society by bridging the communication gap between the farm and food communities. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation.

  • California Holstein Breeder Wins the 2023 Klussendorf Award

    Joey Airoso of Pixley, CA, was presented the 81st Klussendorf Award, the highest recognition given to a dairy cattle showman in the United States during the 56thWorld Dairy Expo. Airoso certainly has all the attributes of previous Klussendorf winners with the qualities of character, sportsmanship, ability, and endeavor.

    The award is given in memory of Arthur B. Klussendorf, considered an outstanding showman of his time and a model for all those who have followed him. This year’s selection was made by members of the Klussendorf Memorial Association, formed in 1937, at its annual meeting held earlier this week in Madison, Wis. Airoso received the silver trophy designed by Tiffany Jewelers of New York City.

    Airoso is a fourth-generation dairyman who manages one of the nation’s largest Registered Holstein herds. He is the managing partner for the family farm that milks an outstanding group of 2,600 cows and farms 1,600 hundred acres of alfalfa, corn, and wheat in California’s Central Valley. As nominators Stuart Row, Gilbert Texiera, and Ken Melvold and past Klussendorf winners shared, “One would be hard-pressed to find a more popular person showing cattle with his engaging personality and willingness to help anyone in need at a show.”

    For nearly 60 years, this Pixley, Calif., native has shown cattle throughout the West Coast and has made several trips east to World Dairy Expo. His accomplishments include showing numerous All-California winners, a number of Western National Champions, and several All-American nominations over the last four decades. An accomplished showman, Airoso has been acknowledged by his peers by being awarded the coveted Al Hay Award at the Western National Show and was named the California State Fair Livestock Man of the Year in 2017. Airoso has judged numerous shows throughout the United Stated including the Wisconsin State Fair Junior Holstein Show, the largest Holstein show in North America.

    A tremendous supporter of youth, Airoso was an instrumental servant leader who stepped up to create a win after the Western Livestock Show was canceled in 2012 due to lack of funding from the State of California. Not wanting to see this event go away, Airoso and other members of the South Joaquin Holstein Association came through to breathe life into the Western Classic Dairy Show. Now held annually in Tulare, California, the event has become the largest junior dairy cattle show in California and attracts over 300 head exhibited by 200 juniors ages five to 21.

    The Klussendorf Award was developed to recognize those who exemplify a person with great character, sportsmanship, and dedication to dairy cattle shows. Joey Airoso certainly has all these attributes, and that is why he was selected as the 81st Klussendorf winner.

    The Klussendorf Memorial Association, considered by many as the Hall of Fame for dairy cattle exhibitors, began in 1937 in memory of Arthur B. Klussendorf, considered the outstanding dairy cattle showman of his time. Each year, the Klussendorf Association votes to add a new dairy cattle exhibitor to its rolls with lifetime membership for their cumulative works.

  • Solving the Mysteries Behind the World’s Most Widespread Zoonotic Disease

    Leptospirosis is a serious zoonotic disease that affects both animals and humans. This bacterial disease is commonly spread through the urine of infected animals and rodents, including wildlife and livestock such as cattle and swine. Humans can contract leptospirosis by having contact with water (such as by swimming, rafting, or kayaking) or soil that has been contaminated by urine or body fluids of infected animals. Although this disease if often spread through urine, transmission can also occur in the genital tract of domestic animals.

    Humans who contract leptospirosis may suffer from a range of symptoms, from a mild fever to massive pulmonary hemorrhage. For livestock, the disease can result in poor milk yield, reproductive failure, and in some cases, severe acute disease, especially for dairy and beef herds.

    Scanning electron micrograph of a leptospire.

    “Leptospirosis is caused by a very unusual and unique bacteria,” said Jarlath Nally, research microbiologist at the National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, IA. “Very few people work on it, the diagnostics are limited, and research is challenging because the bacteria that causes the disease are very difficult to grow in the lab.”

    Leptospirosis is not a new disease; it was first described in 1886. Globally, the disease kills over 50,000 people a year and infects over one million. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described it as the most widespread zoonotic disease geographically.

    Human infections can be treated with antibiotics, but the condition is considered rare in humans and can be difficult to diagnose. Vaccines have been developed for livestock, including dairy and beef herds. However, the vaccine protects only against specific variants of Leptospira, the bacteria that causes leptospirosis, and protection dwindles after one year. There are more than 38 species and hundreds of serovars of pathogenic Leptospira.

    “It gets complicated because there are so many variants of this disease” said Nally. “And the vaccines being used today are based on variants isolated over 30 years ago.”

    Detection is also a problem. Infected animals often appear asymptomatic. Stakeholders may not be aware that their herd is infected until they notice an increase in abortions or reproductive failures. Further complicating matters are the diagnostic tests, which are not always accurate.

    ARS researchers Ellie Putz and Luis Fernandes working to elucidate pathogenic mechanism of leptospirosis.

    “We’ve done a lot of work to improve diagnostics,” said Nally, “but there are limitations, and stakeholders need to be aware of that.”

    Nally and his research partners are looking to improve diagnostics, testing, and current vaccine strategies to provide cross protection against multiple variants of Leptospira. To date, they have generated a large repository of isolates of Leptospira from a range of domestic (cows, bulls, horses and dogs), wildlife (rats, mice, mongoose, red panda), and environmental sources (soil, water), including new species and serovars detected for the first time in the U.S. They also created a new growth media that allows researchers to isolate the Leptospira bacteria directly from infected animal tissue at 37 degrees Celsius. This is an improvement over the old methods where Leptospira were previously restricted to isolation at 28-30 degrees Celsius.

    “That’s a temperature more in line with standard laboratory processes,” Nally said. “But more importantly, it’s an environmental condition that’s more similar to the host.”

    Researchers have also been able to genetically manipulate the bacteria, allowing them for the first time to identify, target, and silence certain genes.

    “Not only silence a single gene, but we can actually silence two genes at the same time,” said Nally. “We were able to apply our technology to silence two similar genes to actually identify a virulence factor, rendering the bacteria completely attenuated, which provides new avenues to generate vaccines and apply it to different variants.”

    Next steps for Nally and his research team are to map complete genotypes, complete serotypes, and identify virulence factors that facilitate the disease process. At the same time, they want to identify which variants are circulating in domestic and wildlife animal populations in the U.S.

    “We are also interested in understanding how the disease occurs,” he said. “We are looking to understand why these bacteria are colonizing in the genital tract and why they’re associated with reproductive failure versus strains that are associated with more severe acute disease. To understand the ‘how’ will help us develop vaccines that will cross protect against all the variants that are out there.” — By Todd Silver, USDA-ARS Office of Communications