Visit with a Vet: New Tool for Monitoring Blood Calcium Concentrations in Dairy Cattle

Originally published in the Feb. 19, 2014, issue

 

Visit with a Georgia veterinarian in this monthly feature. This edition comes from Dr. John K. Bernard, animal and dairy science professor on the UGA-Tifton campus. 

 

Hypocalcemia, known as milk fever, is a condition of low blood calcium concentration that negatively affects performance and health in dairy cattle. Cows with clinical milk fever are more likely to have other diseases including retained placenta, mastitis, ketosis and left displaced abomasum, or LDA. Though the incidence of milk fever has declined to approximately five percent with improved close-up dry cow nutrition, it is estimated that 50 percent of all dairy cows in the US experience subclinical hypocalcemia. Cows with subclinical hypocalcemia have lower milk yield, decreased reproductive performance and increased odds of ketosis and LDA.

 

Blood sample analysis is the traditional way of evaluating a dairy cow’s calcium status. The sample is analyzed for total calcium concentrations. This is calcium that meets three specifications: bound to plasma protein; in an ionic form associated with low molecular weight compounds; and free ions. Metabolic functions such as muscle contraction, blood clotting and bone formation is supported by the free ion form of calcium.

 

Ionized calcium measures these free calcium ions, which are readily available for the aforementioned metabolic functions. This provides a better estimate of true calcium status. The proportion of total calcium that is ionized is not constant, and changes with lactation stages. Occasionally, some calcium concentrations indicate the cow is not ill, but looking at ionized calcium concentrations confirm she is in a state of clinical hypocalcemia.

 

Ionized calcium concentrations of less than one millimol per liter are considered indicators of subclinical milk fever. Both ionized calcium and magnesium levels can be used to evaluate nutrition in close-up dry and transition cow nutrition, as well as diagnose milk fever and grass tetany that occur around parturition or early lactation.

 

Recently, an electrode-based method was developed for rapid measurement of ionized calcium. This method is both economical and available to researchers and producers, and a unit is located at the University of Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory in Tifton, Ga.

 

Samples of ionized calcium and magnesium should be collected in a green top (Lithium Heparin) with a separator gel Vacutainer tube, or a “tiger-top” gel-separator tube. The sample should be allowed to clot, centrifuged to separate the plasma or serum from the blood clot and refrigerated immediately. The frozen sample should be packaged with an ice pack and shipped for overnight delivery to the laboratory for analysis. The pH of the sample is measured and used to calculate the final result.

 

Do not remove the cap from the collection tube. Exposing samples to air or long storage can change blood pH, so it is important to collect and transmit and process samples quickly in a laboratory to obtain valid results. 

 

For questions about submitting ionized calcium and magnesium samples, contact Anita Merrill at 229-386-3340.



Georgians Reminded to Limit Movement of Firewood

Courtesy Georgia Department of Agriculture press office 

As the temperatures continue to drop, Georgians are using increasing amounts of firewood in fireplaces, wooden heaters and campfires. The Department would like to remind consumers to limit the movement of firewood due to potential pest and disease infestation.

Firewood can transport many invasive pests, including the emerald ash borer, Sirex woodwasp, Asian long-horned beetle and gypsy moth as well as diseases such as beech bark disease, sudden oak death and oak wilt. Infested trees can be cut, split into firewood and sent to other parts of Georgia and the US, thereby expanding the range of these pests.

Campers, hunters and others also move firewood, often hundreds of miles, before their stash is burned. Given time and right temperatures, these insect pests can leave the firewood and infest new areas before the wood is burned in a campfire. 

Due to this pest movement, several states passed regulations and quarantines on firewood. In order to prevent and control the movement of these invasive pests, it is important to follow a few simple rules when handling firewood:

• Wait to buy firewood when you reach your destination.
• Use firewood from the area where you plan to burn it.
• Do not leave any unused firewood behind.

For more information on the pest and firewood movement, please contact the Mike Evans in the Plant Protection Division at 404-586-1140.

Recall: Organic Carob Powder Taken Off Shelves

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black is alerting Georgians to the recall of select lots of organic carob powder produced by Z Natural Foods of West Palm Beach, Fla.

The recall was initiated as a precautionary measure due to the company’s notification from its suppliers of the possibility of contamination from Salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium known to cause salmonellosis in humans and animals. Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. In some cases, they are known to be severe enough to require hospitalization and can cause serious complications or death in young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. 

Products were available directly on the Z Natural Foods website and were not available in retail stores.

The affected products are bronze one-pound foil resealable pouches of Lightly Roasted Organic Carob Powder and silver five-pound foil resealable pouches of Lightly Roasted Organic Carob Powder. The affected products have a lot number ZNCARB39513 and a best by date of Dec. 5, 2016.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors will be checking to make sure the recalled products are removed from sale. Consumers who purchased these products are asked not to consume them, but to contact Z Natural Foods and to arrange return of the product for a full refund.

Questions about this recall?

Consumers who purchased this product can contact a Z Natural customer care representative at 1-888-963-6637 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday  through Friday EST.

To view a comprehensive list of food and feed recalls affecting Georgia, visit our Food Safety Division recall website. If this recall expands or additional details become available in the future, the website will provide the most up-to-date information. 

Recall: Chicken Products Pulled for Food Poisoning Potential

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black is alerting Georgians to the recall of 31,689 pounds of gluten-free breaded chicken produced by Murry’s Inc. of Lebanon, Penn.

Routine sampling by the Colorado Department of Agriculture revealed the products could contain staphylococcal enterotoxin. Staphylococcal food poisoning is a gastrointestinal illness caused by eating foods contaminated with toxin-producing Staphylococcus. Staphylococcal enterotoxins are fast acting, sometimes causing illness in as little as 30 minutes. Symptoms usually develop within one to six hours after eating contaminated food. Patients typically experience several of the following: nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. The illness is usually mild and most patients recover after one to three days. There have been no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption at this time.

The products were distributed nationwide.

The affected products are 12-ounce boxes of Bell & Evans Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets and 10.5-ounce boxes of Bell & Evans Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast. The products have a best by date of Aug. 9, 2015 and also bear the establishment number “P-516” inside the US Department of Agriculture inspection mark.

Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors will be checking to make sure the recalled products are removed from sale. Consumers who purchased these products are asked not to consume them, but to dispose of the product and its container.

Questions about this recall?

Consumers who purchased this product can contact a Murry’s Inc. customer care representative at 717-273-9361.

To view a comprehensive list of food and feed recalls affecting Georgia, visit our Food Safety Division recall website. If this recall expands or additional details become available in the future, the website will provide the most up-to-date information. 

Feature Recipe: Chocolate Cobbler

Originally published in the Feb. 19, 2014, issue

 

Editor’s Note: Lydia Black of Commerce, Ga., wife of Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black, submitted this family favorite! The recipe makes what some might call a “floating brownie.” It is best enjoyed with vanilla ice cream. Black recommends using butter and pure vanilla when baking it. Yields 12 to 15 servings.

 

Ingredients:

For the cobbler

1.5 cups self-rising flour

1.5 cups sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 tablespoon vanilla flavoring

1.5 cups milk

1 stick (half-cup) butter

For the topping

1.5 cups sugar

½ cup cocoa powder

2 cups boiling water

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Melt butter in a 9x12-inch pan.

3. Combine (from cobbler ingredients) flour, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla flavoring and milk. Pour evenly over melted butter, but do not mix.

4. Combine remaining sugar and cocoa powder in a small bowl for the topping. Sprinkle mixture evenly over the cobbler mixture. Do not stir.

5. Pour boiling water over the try topping. Again, do not stir.

6. Bake for 30 minutes. Be careful not to overcook, as the cobbler will be dry.



Recall Roundup: Oct. 1 through 24

Editor's Note: Food recalls related to a foodborne pathogen will be featured on individual blog posts. Food recalls related to food allergens, mislabeling or other causes will be rounded up, when applicable, in a Recall Roundup blog post. For up-to-the-minute information on food recalls, follow @GaMktBulletin and @GDAFoodSafety on Twitter, and visit the Georgia Department of Agriculture's food recall website.

Recalls were issued on select lots of the following products:

Ikea: Pastaalgar Fullkorn, Pastaalgar
Recalled Oct. 1, undeclared soy allergen. Read more ...


California Olive and Vine: Eight-ounce jars of Pumpkin Seed Pesto distributed under the Williams-Sonoma label
Recalled Oct. 10, potential Clostridium botulinum contamination. Read more ...






SunBurst Foods: All codes, all sell-by dates and all sizes of -- Bologna & Cheese, Chicken Salad on Wheat, Chicken Salad on White, Combo Sandwich (Ham, Bologna & Cheese), Egg Salad, Ham & Cheese on Wheat, Ham & Cheese on White, Pimento Cheese, Shaved Ham & Cheese, Thick Bologna & Cheese, Turkey & Swiss on Wheat, Turkey on Wheat, Chicken Egg and Cheese Biscuit, Country Link Sausage (on bun), Fried Bologna & Egg on Bun, Jumbo Breakfast (Sausage, Ham, Egg and Cheese on bun), Sausage & Egg (on bun), Sausage Egg & Cheese Croissant, Twin Ham Biscuits, Twin Sausage Biscuits, Cheese Cubes with Crackers (Vac Pack), Deli Ham and Cheese, Turkey Hoagie, Philly-Style Cheese Steak, Two 1/2 Foot Ham & Turkey Sub, Two 1/2 Foot Turkey & Cheese Hoagies, Bacon Cheese Burger, Barbecue Beef, Barbecue Chicken (on bun), Cheeseburger, Chicken Fillet w/ Swiss Cheese (on bun), Double Cheeseburger, Double Chili Dogs, Fried Bologna Sandwich (on bun), Fried Chicken Leg Quarter with Bone on Bread, Fried Chicken w/ Bone Sandwich, Fried Red Hot Link w/ Cheese on bun, Gourmet Sub (Ham, Bologna & Cheese), Grilled Cheese, Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwich, Hamburger, Ham and Cheese on Bun, Hot Smoked Sausage on Bun, Pork Ribette (on bun), Sausage Dog, Single All Beef Hot Dog, Single Hot Dog w/ Chili, Single Plain Hot Dog, Skippy Peanut Butter with Grape Jelly w/ White Bread, Smoking Joe (Smoked Sausage on bread), Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Deluxe Caesar Salad, Deluxe Chef Salad, Deluxe Garden Salad, Deluxe Italian Salad, BBQ Chicken on 100% Wheat Roll w/ Baby Carrots, Chicken Finger Sub w/ Potato Wedges, Chicken Salad Croissant, Ham & Cheese Omelet on Toast w/ Hash Brown, Ham & Swiss on Sourdough, Ham & Swiss on Sourdough w/ Baby Carrots, Jumbo Chili Cheese Burger w/ Potato Wedges, Potato Wedges, Sausage & Egg on Croissant w/ Hash Brown Patty, Caesar Salad, Chicken Finger Sub w/ Honey Mustard Sauce, Deluxe Chicken Salad on Toast, Garden Salad, Ham & Cheese Club, Ham & Turkey on Multi Grain, Turkey & Swiss on 12 Grain, Bologna and Cheese on White, Egg Salad on White, Pimento Cheese on White, Turkey and Cheese on Wheat, Turkey and Cheese on White, All American Hoagie (Turkey, Ham, Bologna & Cheese), BBQ Pork on Bun, Bologna and Cheese Sub, Buffalo Chicken Salad on 100% Whole Wheat Roll, Deli Ham and Cheese on Marble Rye, Deluxe Chicken Salad on 100% Whole Wheat Roll, Grilled Chicken on Croissant, Grilled Chicken on Pretzel Roll, Ham and Cheddar on 100% Whole Wheat Roll, Ham and Cheese Croissant, Ham and Cheese Pretzel Roll, Ham and Cheese Sub, Oven Roasted Turkey and Cheese on Wheat Sub, Oven Roasted Turkey Breast on Pretzel Roll, Sunrise Sandwich (French Toast, Sausage & Egg), Turkey and Provolone on Marble Rye, Turkey and Provolone on Whole Wheat Sub, Turkey and Swiss on 100% Whole Wheat, Turkey and Swiss on Croissant, Turkey and Swiss Sub, Blazing Sausage Dog, Fried Chicken Strips Hero, Ham and Cheese Omelet on Toast, Jumbo Bacon Cheeseburger, Junior Bacon Cheeseburger, Turkey Breast & Bacon on Wheat (Wedge), Apple Cobbler, Blueberry Crunch Cake, Cherry Crunch Cake, Jello with Fruit, Peach Cobbler, Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Yogurt & Granola. Broccoli & Cauliflower with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, Carrots with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, Celery with Peanut Butter, Grapes, Honeydew Melon, Pineapple, Strawberries, Watermelon, Cheesy Eggs w/ Link Sausage & Dinner Roll, French Toast w/ Sausage, Ham Omelet w/ Dinner Roll, Pancake w/ Sausage, Sausage & Egg w/ Rice, Western Omelet, Chef Salad, Garden Salad, Chicken Tenders, Chili Mac, Lasagna, Macaroni & Cheese w/ Smoke Sausage, Robust Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce, Zesty Chicken Parmigiana w/ Spaghetti

Recalled Oct. 12, potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Read more ...

Oasis Brands, Inc.: Queso Seco Centroamericano (Dry White Cheese), one-pound packages with UPC code 876593001874; Queso Seco Olanchano (Dry Cheese), one-pound packages with UPC code 635349000840; Queso Secon Hondureno (Dry Cheese), 12-ounce packages with UPC code 876593001690; Quesito Casero (Fresh Curd), 12-ounce packages with UPC code 635349000406; My Queso (Latin Flavor Cheese), one-pound packages with UPC code 635349000406; Queso Cuzcatlan (Salvadorean Flavor Cheese), one-pound packages with UPC code 635349000406; Queso para Freir (Cheese for Frying), 12-ounc packages with UPC code 635349000758; Queso Fresco (Fresh Cheese), 12-ounce packages with UPC code 635349000703; Cuajada en Hoja Queso Casero Hecho a Mano (Fresh Curd), 12-ounce packages with UPC code 635349000895; Crema Centroamericana (Soft Blend Dairy Spread), one-pound packages with UPC code 876593001898; Mantequilla Hondurena (Honduran Style Cream), one-pound packages with UPC code 635349000772; Crema Nica (Grade A Cultured Cream), one-pound packages with UPC code 635349000468; HonduCrema Olanchana (Olanchana Style Soft Blend Dairy Spread), one-pound packages with UPC code 635349000598; Crema Guatemala (Guatemalan Style Cream), one-pound packages with UPC code 635349000819; Crema GuateLinda (Guatemalan Style Cream), one-pound packages with UPC code 635349000390; Crema Cuzcatlan (Salvadorean Style Cream), one-pound packages with UPC code 635349000444
Recalled Oct. 16, potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Read more ...

Publix Super Markets: 14-ounce clamshells of Publix Asian Mix with UPC code 41415-20286 and sell-by dates between Jan. 3, 2015, and Feb. 3, 2015.
Recalled Oct. 17, undeclared peanut allergen. Read more ...







JFC International: 8.46-ounce tubs of three-pack Hapi Pudding with UPC code 11152 13417
Recalled Oct. 17, undeclared milk allergen. Read more ...