Join me Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and my crew as we dive into Foot & Mouth Disease, Animal Health & Disease Management. A must hear for anyone in the cattle business. Plus news, sale recaps, cattle sale info and market commentary that you will only get on this all new episode of The Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel.

RIU S5 E227 Animal Disease. Foot & Mouth Disease. Cattle Industry News Jeff Erhardt Tigger Rebecca Wanner BEC. Julia Herman, DVM USDA

Season 5, EPISODE 227

Animal Health & Disease Management: Should We Be Concerned & Tariff Updates

Improving Animal & Disease Management Practices: Foot & Mouth Disease, and Tariff News

Foot & Mouth Disease: In Livestock

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, fast-spreading viral disease that primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer.

FMD is one of the most challenging animal diseases to control. Although most infected animals survive, they’re left weak and unable to produce the level of meat and milk prior to infection. FMD was first discovered in the United States in 1870 and eradicated in 1929.

FMD is not a human health or food safety threat. The disease is not related to hand, foot, and mouth disease, a common childhood illness caused by a different virus.

How To Identify Foot & Mouth Disease

There are 7 known types and more than 60 subtypes of the FMD virus, meaning immunity to one type doesn’t protect animals against other types or subtypes. The first signs of illness usually appear within 2 to 14 days after infection. Here’s what to look for:

Fever

Great increase in temperature for 2 to 3 days

Blisters/Vesicles

Blisters can develop on the tongue and lips, in and around the mouth, on the mammary glands, and around the hooves. They rupture and discharge clear or cloudy fluid.

Erosions

When blisters pop, they leave raw, eroded areas surrounded by ragged fragments of loose tissue.

Excess saliva

Infected animals may have sticky, foamy, and stringy saliva.

Loss of appetite

Painful tongue and mouth blisters may lead animals to eat less.

Lameness and a reluctance to move or stand
Abortions

Animals can experience spontaneous abortions and sterility.

Milk

Dairy cows may have low milk production.

Heart disease and death

These symptoms are especially prevalent in newborn animals.

FMD Can Easily Be Confused With Other Diseases

FMD may be confused with other diseases that produce blisters, including vesicular stomatitis, bluetongue, bovine viral diarrhea, foot rot in cattle, and swine vesicular disease. The only way to tell if the blisters are caused by the FMD virus is through laboratory testing. If you observe mouth or feet blisters in your animals, report them immediately so that they can be tested.

How To Prevent Foot & Mouth Disease

Report signs of disease. Livestock owners, livestock transport and slaughter personnel, and private veterinarians should watch for symptoms of FMD and immediately report sick animals to Federal, State, Tribal, or local animal health officials. This is especially important if the animals in question have had contact with other animals at locations like livestock markets, feedlots, or fairgrounds.
Be careful what you pack. When traveling outside of the United States, don’t bring back any prohibited items (including food) or dirty footwear or clothing that could potentially move the FMD virus or other disease agents.
Declare to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Upon entering the United States, travelers should indicate to the U.S. Customs any visits to farms, ranches, or other areas where livestock are raised or kept. You should also declare any visits to zoos, circuses, fairs, and other facilities or events where animals were exhibited.
Follow a “5-day” rule. If you visited a farm or had any contact with livestock on your trip, you should avoid all contact with livestock, zoo animals, or wildlife for 5 days after you return to the United States. If you’re returning with pet dogs or cats that have had contact with livestock or been in areas frequented by livestock, make sure your pet’s feet, fur, and bedding are free of any dirt or mud and that their bedding doesn’t contain straw, hay, or other natural materials. Bathe your pet as soon as you reach your final destination and keep it from all livestock for at least 5 days after returning to the United States.

Controlling By APHIS Foot & Mouth Disease

Because FMD occurs in many parts of the world, there’s always a chance it could be reintroduced into the United States. APHIS continuously monitors FMD worldwide. Our veterinarians stationed overseas help other countries control and eradicate the disease, which reduces the risk of it spreading to the United States.

At ports of entry, we work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection to screen cargo and prevent travelers from bringing any products of concern into the United States. We restrict or prohibit imports of many animals and animal byproducts from areas known to be affected with FMD. We also work with the U.S. Armed Forces to make sure military vehicles and equipment are properly cleaned and disinfected before they return to the United States from international duty.

Across the country, APHIS and other Federal, State, and Tribal animal health officials work with accredited veterinarians to monitor domestic livestock for FMD. We have response plans in place that we can quickly activate if the disease is found in the United States. Click HERE for additional details.

Tariffs: China Targets U.S Agriculture For Retaliation of 20%

The United States plans to impose a 20% tariff on Chinese goods, could result in a significant escalation in trade tensions between the two economic giants. In response, China is reportedly preparing countermeasures that could directly impact U.S. agriculture and food exports.

According to The Global Times, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, Beijing “will definitely carry out strong, powerful countermeasures” if the U.S. increases the current 10% tariff. The report indicates that American agricultural products, including beef and pork, are “most likely” to be targeted with new tariffs.

The trade uncertainty is already shaking U.S. agricultural markets. Hog futures have dropped 6% in recent trading sessions, according to the Daily Livestock Report (DLR). China and Hong Kong together account for 19% of U.S. beef exports and 6.5% of pork exports—significant figures that highlight the stakes of these trade tensions.

As it stands, China has already imposed a 37% tariff on U.S. pork and a 12% tariff on U.S. beef, making American meat exports less competitive in the Chinese market. A further escalation could worsen the situation for U.S. farmers and ranchers.

With agriculture facing potential economic strain, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Rollins has signaled readiness to implement relief measures. She indicated that a financial aid package similar to the $28 billion bailout deployed during the 2018 trade war under President Trump could be reintroduced. However, reports suggest that only $4 billion remains in the fund earmarked for agricultural assistance in 2025, raising concerns about the adequacy of available support.

All eyes are on how China will respond and what further actions the U.S. might take. The agricultural sector, already facing global market challenges, is bracing for potential disruptions. For farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses, staying informed about trade policy developments is crucial. If China follows through with its threats, the impact could be widespread across U.S. agriculture, affecting prices, exports, and overall farm profitability.

Canada and Mexico are also in the cross hairs of trade tariffs with both countries promising immediate retaliatory responses.

RanchChannel.Com Now Has The Futures Markets & New Listings

Futures Markets

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UPCOMING SALES & EVENTS

Leland/Koester Red Angus: March 14, 2025

Arda Farms/Freeway Angus: March 14, 2025

U2 Quality Seedstock: March 18, 2025

Vollmer Angus Ranch: April 1, 2025

CK Bar Ranch: April 4, 2025

Jorgensen Land & Cattle: April 21, 2025

World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale: May 15 18, 2025

BULL SALE REPORT & RESULTS

Click HERE for the latest Bull Sale Results

https://ranchchannel.com/category/past-bull-production-sales-archive/

FEATURING

Dr. Julia Herman, DVM

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Mark Vanzee

Livestock Market, Equine Market, Auction Time

https://www.auctiontime.com/

https://www.livestockmarket.com/

https://www.equinemarket.com/

@LivestockMkt

@EquineMkt

@AuctionTime

Kirk Donsbach: Stone X Financial

https://www.stonex.com/

@StoneXGroupInc

Shaye Koester

Casual Cattle Conversation

https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/

@cattleconvos

Questions & Concerns From The Field?

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