Monday links
May 01, 2017
Don’t have time to scour the internet for the latest animal science, food safety, and agriculture news? Relax, we’ve got it covered.
Animal Science:
Poultry Farm Sets up Lasers to Guard its Organic Hens from Bird Flu — The Poultry Site
An organic egg farm in England has set up a novel method of protecting its hens from bird flu, allowing them to stay outdoors. Orchard Eggs, based in West Sussex, has taken advantage of the latest laser technology available in order to scare off wild migratory birds and prevent them mixing with the farm's chickens.
Scythian horse breeding unveiled: Lessons for animal domestication — Science Daily
Nomad herders roamed vast areas spanning the Central Asian steppes during the Iron Age. These livestock pastoralists, who lived on wagons covered by tents, left their mark in the history of warfare for their exceptional equestrian skills. A new study reveals the suite of traits that breeders selected to engineer the type of horse that best fit their purpose.
Food Safety:
Purdue Study: Listeria Can Thrive Inside Lettuce Tissue — Food Safety Magazine
According to a new study conducted by Purdue University, Listeria monocytogenes can still thrive inside the tissue of romaine lettuce. This means that conventional sanitizing methods—which only treat produce externally—may not be enough to completely kill the deadly pathogen.
Sunflower seeds traced as source of toxic mold, potent liver carcinogen — Science Daily
Michigan State University researchers have shown that sunflower seeds are frequently contaminated with a toxin produced by molds, and pose an increased health risk in many low-income countries worldwide.
Agriculture:
This Could Be High-Risk Year for Stored Grain — AgWeb
Grain that has made it all the way through the season and harvested, only to spoil in the grain bin, is a special kind of tragedy. And Charles Hurburgh, Iowa State University Extension grain quality and handling specialist, says 2017 could end up being a high-risk year where grain condition could deteriorate rapidly in storage.
Barley genome sequenced — Science Daily
Looking for a better beer or single malt Scotch whiskey? A team of researchers at the University of California, Riverside may have you covered. They are among a group of 77 scientists worldwide who have sequenced the complete genome of barley, a key ingredient in beer and single malt scotch.
Toxicology:
Products Claiming to ‘Cure’ Cancer are a Cruel Deception — US Food & Drug Administration
Beware of products claiming to cure cancer on websites or social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. According to Nicole Kornspan, M.P.H., a consumer safety officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, they’re rampant these days.
Offbeat:
Plastic-eating caterpillar could munch waste, scientists say — BBC News
A caterpillar that munches on plastic bags could hold the key to tackling plastic pollution, scientists say. Researchers at Cambridge University have discovered that the larvae of the moth, which eats wax in bee hives, can also degrade plastic.
Animal Science:
Poultry Farm Sets up Lasers to Guard its Organic Hens from Bird Flu — The Poultry Site
An organic egg farm in England has set up a novel method of protecting its hens from bird flu, allowing them to stay outdoors. Orchard Eggs, based in West Sussex, has taken advantage of the latest laser technology available in order to scare off wild migratory birds and prevent them mixing with the farm's chickens.
Scythian horse breeding unveiled: Lessons for animal domestication — Science Daily
Nomad herders roamed vast areas spanning the Central Asian steppes during the Iron Age. These livestock pastoralists, who lived on wagons covered by tents, left their mark in the history of warfare for their exceptional equestrian skills. A new study reveals the suite of traits that breeders selected to engineer the type of horse that best fit their purpose.
Food Safety:
Purdue Study: Listeria Can Thrive Inside Lettuce Tissue — Food Safety Magazine
According to a new study conducted by Purdue University, Listeria monocytogenes can still thrive inside the tissue of romaine lettuce. This means that conventional sanitizing methods—which only treat produce externally—may not be enough to completely kill the deadly pathogen.
Sunflower seeds traced as source of toxic mold, potent liver carcinogen — Science Daily
Michigan State University researchers have shown that sunflower seeds are frequently contaminated with a toxin produced by molds, and pose an increased health risk in many low-income countries worldwide.
Agriculture:
This Could Be High-Risk Year for Stored Grain — AgWeb
Grain that has made it all the way through the season and harvested, only to spoil in the grain bin, is a special kind of tragedy. And Charles Hurburgh, Iowa State University Extension grain quality and handling specialist, says 2017 could end up being a high-risk year where grain condition could deteriorate rapidly in storage.
Barley genome sequenced — Science Daily
Looking for a better beer or single malt Scotch whiskey? A team of researchers at the University of California, Riverside may have you covered. They are among a group of 77 scientists worldwide who have sequenced the complete genome of barley, a key ingredient in beer and single malt scotch.
Toxicology:
Products Claiming to ‘Cure’ Cancer are a Cruel Deception — US Food & Drug Administration
Beware of products claiming to cure cancer on websites or social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. According to Nicole Kornspan, M.P.H., a consumer safety officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, they’re rampant these days.
Offbeat:
Plastic-eating caterpillar could munch waste, scientists say — BBC News
A caterpillar that munches on plastic bags could hold the key to tackling plastic pollution, scientists say. Researchers at Cambridge University have discovered that the larvae of the moth, which eats wax in bee hives, can also degrade plastic.
Category: Food Safety, Agriculture, Genomics