After months of preparation and weeks of anticipation, the opening day of branding season is nearly here. My kids have been counting down the days and the subject of branding monopolizes our conversations.

A beef feedlot in Underwood, Iowa, has agreed to pay a $20,000 civil penalty for unpermitted discharges of wastewater from the facility into Mosquito Creek.

The Animal Health Network is coordinating with the Texas Animal Health Commission to inform horse owners throughout the state about the potential spread of equine herpesvirus-1, also known as EHV-1, a highly contagious and potentially devastating equine disease.

National Feeder Cattle Summary for May 27

After corn is processed to make ethanol, what's left of the corn looks something like slightly dampened cornmeal, though a somewhat darker yellow, and not as finely ground. Known as "wet distiller's grains with solubles" (WDGS), this byproduct is sometimes used as a cattle feed ingredient. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists in Clay Center, Neb., are studying the pros and cons of that practice.WDGS are rich in protein, and also provide calories and minerals, according to James E. Wells, a microbiologist with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS).Since 2007, WDGS have been the subject of an array of studies by Wells and others at the ARS Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center.

University of Missouri Extension has set up special website (http://extension.missouri.edu/tornado) containing MU Extension resources that could be helpful to homeowners, landowners, business owners, emergency response people, volunteers, partnering organizations and others with a direct or indirect interest in the tornado that hit Joplin, Mo. and the response that is underway. The content -- relevant publications and news articles as well a list of contacts and regularly updated information from MU Extension relevant to the recovery process -- will be updated and added to on a regular basis.

1) Hormone Use in Meat Production is a Health Concern. The hormones used in meat production, such as estrogen, are the same as, or synthetic versions of, those occurring naturally in animals.

Pfizer Animal Health is increasing the expertise and services available to its customers by adding three professionals to its Cattle Veterinary Operations Team — Lance Fox, DVM; Mark Branine, Ph.D.; and Brad Morgan, Ph.D.