Livestock briefs - World's first “clean poultry”

San Francisco, Cal.

Memphis Meats announces world's first "clean poultry"

Memphis Meats announced production of the world’s first clean poultry, including both chicken and duck. While a few companies, including Memphis Meats, have produced clean beef, poultry is an unprecedented milestone for the clean meat industry.

Chicken is the most popular protein in America, where consumers eat an average of about 90 pounds per year, and represents an annual market of $90 billion domestically. Duck has a deep significance in many regions including mainland China, which consumes more than 6 billion pounds per year, more than the rest of the world combined. For the first time in history, both have been produced directly from poultry cells.

“It is thrilling to introduce the first chicken and duck that didn’t require raising animals. This is a historic moment for the clean meat movement,” explains Uma Valeti, M.D., co-founder and CEO of Memphis Meats. “Chicken and duck are at the center of the table in so many cultures around the world, but the way conventional poultry is raised creates huge problems for the environment, animal welfare, and human health. It is also inefficient. We aim to produce meat in a better way, so that it is delicious, affordable and sustainable. We really believe this is a significant technological leap for humanity, and an incredible business opportunity—to transform a giant global industry while contributing to solving some of the most urgent sustainability issues of our time.”

Memphis Meats’ poultry breakthrough was made possible by the unique technological platform that the company is building to produce new clean meat products and accelerate clean meat innovation. The multi-animal platform will allow the company to produce many types of meat and to fine-tune the taste, texture and nutrition profile of its products. The platform will also enable the company to scale up production and rapidly reduce costs.

The team expects to continue reducing production costs dramatically, with a target launch of its products to consumers in 2021.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Memphis Meats is developing methods to produce meat directly from animal cells, without the need to feed, breed or slaughter animals. Memphis Meats released the world’s first clean meatball in February 2016. The company aims to bring to the market delicious, real meat that is significantly better for the environment, animals and public health, while claiming a share of the $750 billion global market for meat.

Madison, N.J.

Merck Animal Health supports scholarship for 34 veterinary students

34 outstanding veterinary students from around the world received scholarships from Merck Animal Health, in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF). Through the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program, the selected second- and third-year students pursuing careers in companion animal or large animal medicine will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to support their educational endeavors.
“We know that the cost of veterinary education can be a challenge, but want to encourage talented students to pursue their dreams,” said Scott Bormann, Vice President, North America, Merck Animal Health. “We’re honored to support these recipients, as the work they do throughout their careers will have an important impact on the animal health industry, helping to advance the medical care of both companion and large animals.”
The AVMF, the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association, has supported veterinary students for more than five decades.
“The AVMF helps ensure the future of veterinary medicine by identifying and supporting outstanding students,” said Debborah Harp, CFRE, AVMF Executive Director. “We are honored to partner with Merck Animal Health in providing these scholarship opportunities.”
Award recipients from U.S. and international veterinary schools accredited through the AVMA were selected based on academic excellence, financial need, leadership and area of interest within the profession.
For over a century, Merck has been a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter at @MerckAH.
 The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) is the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. More than 89,000 member veterinarians worldwide are engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. For more than 50 years, the foundation has been helping veterinarians help animals with support for education, advocacy, service, and research programs and activities. Visit AVMF.org for more information.

River Falls

St. Croix Valley Bull Test open house

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls, St. Croix Valley Bull Test and the UWRF Student Beef Management Team will host the annual bull test open house on Saturday, March 25, at the Dairy Learning Center on the Mann Valley Farm, 129 South Glover Road, River Falls. The event is free. A beef lunch will be offered by the UW-River Falls Student Beef Management Team for $6/person.

The open house will begin with an educational program at 11 a.m. that will cover what producers need to know about the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), visual traits important in bull selection and factors affecting the value of a bull.

Following lunch, attendees will be able to preview the bulls for sale. Consignors will be available to answer questions. The open house will also offer an opportunity to see the new cattle handling facility on the Farm. The annual St. Croix Valley Bull Test Sale will take place at noon on April 15 at the Mann Valley Farm.

For more information about the bulls and the bull test, visit www.scvbt.com. For questions about the open house, email amy.radunz@uwrf.edu.

Madison

Raising Chickens 101

Dane County UW-Extension is offering a Raising Chickens 101 Workshop for novice chicken owners or those who are looking at buying chickens for selling local products on Saturday, April 1 from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 
Topics include: disease prevention, managing your birds for success, selecting the right breed, an update on the new Veterinary Feed Directive, local foods marketing tips, and the rules and regulations around selling eggs and meat. Speakers for the workshop include Adam Hady, Ron Kean, and Jennifer Blazek with UW-Extension and Arthur Ness from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
The workshop will be held at the Dane County UW-Extension office (5201 Fen Oak Dr., Madison, WI). Registration is at 9:30 a.m., with the workshop starting at 10 a.m. and adjourning by 3:30 p.m. Lunch and materials will be provided. Cost for the workshop is $20 per person or $35 for 2 people before March 22. After March 22, a $5 late fee will be charged.
For more information and to register online, visit: https://fyi.uwex.edu/danecountyag/events/raising-chickens-101/