News update: A deadly pig disease has the U.S scrambling for solution

A deadly disease is spreading rapidly through the nation’s pig population, killing hogs by the millions and posing a major threat to the U.S. pork industry. Called Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, or PEDv, it’s as nasty as it sounds: it causes vomiting and diarrhea in piglets and is nearly always fatal. Pre-weaning it has a 100 percent mortality rate.
Karen Richter, president of the National Pork Board, calls PEDv ”one of the most serious and devastating diseases our pig farmers have faced in decades.”
In recent months, the federal government, along with research and industry experts, have ramped up their efforts to contain the disease. Here’s what you need to know about the continued threat:
When did this become a thing?
PEDv is a global issue, but the first documented in the U.S. was discovered a year ago. Since then, it’s spread fast, hitting 30 states and killing as estimated 8 million pigs, or a full 10 percent of the nation’s herd. As Rodney “Butch” Baker, a swine biosecurity specialist at Iowa State University, explained to Reuters, “Something like a tablespoon of PEDv infected manure is roughly enough to infect the entire U.S. hog herd.”
The outbreak peaked this past March, and earlier this month the USDA pledged $26 million to combat the disease.

Can humans get it? No, just pigs. In the 40 or so years it’s been around, it’s never been transferred from animals to humans, and it’s likely to stay that way. According to the USDA, its presence in food won’t make pork-eaters sick.

Read More

Best tips on how to understand your cats' behaviour

Understand that a cat can be just as loving, dependent, and attached to you as you like .
Cats are affectionate and responsive. Every cat's behavior is a result of how he is treated. If you ignore your cat, he will ignore you. If you talk, pet, and play with him often, he will be attached to you.
To get your attention, cats will often try to get your attention either by sitting close, brusing up against you legs or meowing. Some cats will even bat their eyelids, telling you that they are allowing you in their domain. So go ahead and fuss them! Try giving your cat full attention at least 15-30 minutes each day. This will result in a happy cat, which is more likely to bond to you.

Know that cats can take care of themselves when necessary .
They don't need the same kind of care as dogs. But cats also dearly love companionship.

Realize that most cat owners think of their cats as close companions or as members of the family .
People talk to their cats, sleep with their cats, and celebrate with their cats on the holidays. Cats greet their owners at the door, follow them about, and come when they are called. They affectionately rub against and 'paddle' (this stems from the cats instinct to feed from their mother, stimulating the milk flow by paddling. The cat should never be stopped from doing this in a bad tempered way, as it will feel hurt!) on people when they are content.

Realize that if your cat doesn't seem as friendly as you would like then start paying more attention to kitty .
Call his name when you come in the door and when you feed him. Get some toys and play with him.

Understand why your cat urinates on your bed or your favorite chair when you are away for several days.
Although you may think your cat did so out of spite, it is more likely that he felt separation anxiety. The cat was attracted to a place where your scent was strongest.
Getting into your plants and otherwise making a mess while you are gone could be your cat's way of relieving boredom. It also could be another way of relieving separation anxiety.
The best way to handle the previous two problems is to "cat-proof" your house before you leave. Close the bedroom door and cover the planters with foil or plastic wrap to keep him out of the dirt. Leave lots of toys out. Ask your cat sitter to play with him while you are away.
Cats feel jealousy so if you have gotten a new kitten and your older cat suddenly begins to misbehave realize he is jealous. Cats become stressed when any change in routine occurs. It is more likely the cat's eating, play, and sleeping schedules have been changed. You may show a different attitude toward your cat now than you did before. The best cure for "jealousy" is to return to a consistent schedule as soon as possible. Set aside time each day to play with your cat. Even if you have less time available, your cat will appreciate a regular play time.
Perhaps you have seen your cat accidentally fall off somewhere he was lying. After the fall, he sits up, looks around, and quickly begins to groom himself.
Although cats are said to be solitary animals, they do form bonds with each other. When two cats become close and one is lost or dies, the remaining cat may be depressed for months. A depressed cat may meow constantly or stop eating. Lots of loving and comfort is needed in this case. Cats are emotional creatures. Cats can feel lonely, bored, frightened, or stressed. They show stress in a variety of ways, from over- grooming to forgetting their toilet habits. Many behavior problems are caused by the cat's sensitive nature.

Read More

Best tips on how to train your dog

Tips on teaching your dog or puppy to sit:

When teaching your dog to sit, hold your hand high over its head with a reward{food or toy} in it. Your dog will look up at the reward. Use your other hand to gently push the dog's behind into a sitting position, and say in a clear, firm tone, "SIT" while still holding the reward in the air above the dog's head. When your dog sits, give him the treat and verbally praise him. Do not allow your dog to jump up and grab the reward out of your hand. Say firmly, "NO." You will have to repeat this over and over. Eventually your dog will associate sitting with the reward and will sit without your assistance.
Remember the training sessions should be short but frequent. Repeat this method periodically throughout the day. If you get frustrated, stop and try again later.

It is usually best to teach your dog to sit before you teach it to stay. The reason is your dog will have an easier time staying if it is in a sitting position. After your dog has the sitting command down, and has been correctly sitting for a couple of days without assistance, it is time to teach your dog to stay and come. Tell your dog to sit. Have two rewards in your hand. After your dog sits, give it one of the rewards.

Hold your empty hand up like a stop sign in front of your dog's face and back up slowly saying "STAY" clearly and firmly. Be sure to stay facing your dog and remain looking at him. Go a short distance and say with some enthusiasm, "COME." When your dog comes to you reward him again. If your dog gets up and runs to you without the "COME" command, say "NO" and start all over again.
Remember to verbally praise as well as provide a food reward when he gets a new command correct. Start off only backing up a short distance from your dog. As he begins to understand what you want of him, you may back farther away and eventually you may be able to walk out of sight and have your dog still stay until he hears the "COME" command.
Remember to be consistent and stop if you become frustrated. Your dog can sense frustration and it will confuse him. They want to please you. If they sense your frustration, they may learn to dislike the training sessions as they associate them with a negative feeling coming from you.





After successfully teaching your dog to sit, stay, and come—without assistance, it's time to teach him to lie down on command. Tell your dog to sit. Show him the reward you have in your hand. Hold the reward up and then bring it down in front of the dog to the floor and say "DOWN" in a firm clear voice, you can also help the dog by pushing its back down to a lying position . Only give the reward if he lies down to reach it. Do not give it to him if he stands up to reach the reward. Again repeat this throughout the day as much as possible, keeping sessions short and frequent.

Each training session should include any new commands you are trying as well as old commands the dog has already learned—so the dog does not forget them. Always be consistent. Important: If you become frustrated, stop and try again later.
Staying positive and taking the time to play with your dog during sessions will teach him that following commands is happy and rewarding.

Tips on teaching your dog to heel .
Note: A puppy/dog that goes on daily pack walks is easier to train as it will be calmer and less anxious.

Read More

Fishes are more intelligent than we thought

Fish have feelings too – at least that's the conclusion of new research out of Australia that says far from being dumb and not feeling pain, fish have primary senses as good as, or better, than humans.

The study by Culum Brown of Macquarie University, published in Animal Cognition today, says fish are more intelligent than many previously believed.

Dr Brown says consideration should therefore be given to the welfare of fish just like other animals, and they should be thought of as sentient.

Most people think about fish as food or pets, but are second only to mice in terms of numbers used in scientific research.

"Although scientists cannot provide a definitive answer on the level of consciousness for any non- human vertebrate, the extensive evidence of fish behavioural and cognitive sophistication and pain perception suggests that best practice would be to lend fish the same level of protection as any other vertebrate," Dr Brown says.
The study, which looked at bony fish, found they had good memories, live in complex social communities where they keep track of individuals and learn from each other, developing cultural traditions.

They can also recognise each other and cooperate, and are capable of using tools and methods of keeping track of quantities.

The study notes fish behaviour is much the same as primates, except they don't have the ability to imitate.

The level of mental complexity in fish is comparable with most other vertebrates, and there is growing evidence they feel pain in a way similar to humans.

Dr Brown believes the misperceptions people have of fish as being unintelligent is influenced by humans not often coming into contact with them in their natural environments.

There are more than 32,000 known species of fish, outweighing the diversity of all other vertebrates combined.

Read More

SOME ANIMAL MATING RITUALS YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF

The Cuttlefish Mating Ritual

Cuttlefish are sea mollusks that resemble squids. Their camouflaging abilities of color changes for protection also help in attracting females. The male dominated cuttlefish population results in a constant battle for a single female’s attention. However size is of no consequence and the intelligent ones succeed by disguising themselves as females to maneuver through clusters of males towards an unsuspecting female. They will hide their additional arm used as a sperm dispenser. Some fish also have the ability to appear as half male and half female to ward off rivals.

The Water Strider Mating Ritual

The water strider may be an insignificant little water fly, but when it comes to mating, the male is very demanding. Without any ritualistic dance or attraction he will climb atop the female expecting her to give in immediately. If she fails to do so he attempts to kill her by rippling the water to attract a predator towards her. He will only stop the rippling activity if she gives in. The female’s singular ability to fertilize eggs produced throughout a lifespan makes her disinterested in mating. It is only due to the male’s threats that they do so.

The Albatross Bird Mating Ritual

The cartoon like mating ritual of the albatross birds involves movements with their bills mimicking a sort of sword fencing fight. However these birds are totally monogamous preferring the company of each other lifelong. Throughout their 50 year lifespan, they will breed with the same partner every year. The bill dance is a major vocal event with a lot of clucking and cackling noise unique to the pair involved. With time the ritual gets subdued and lessens with age similar to the marital relationships of human beings.

Sea Horses Mating Rituals

Sea horses tend to behave in the same way as humans where mating and attraction is concerned. Before a couple can actually mate they will meet every day to engage in social activity and intimacy. In perfect synchronization, they will swim, entwine their tails, and move along with each other. A perfectly romantic process, leads to the female carefully placing her eggs in the abdominal pouch of the male. Here the male is the pregnant partner, weird but true. Once the babies are born they are abandoned on their own and the male looks for a new female again

The Prairie Voles Mating Ritual

It is surprising to learn that prairie voles actually provide scientists with a case study for observing human bonding and why some tend to be promiscuous. Prairie voles due to their high content of natural neurochemical receptors like vasopressin and oxytocin are ensured of a strong bonding with their partners. Although some do tend t have affairs with other voles, in general they will remain faithful with one partner throughout their lifespan. The same partners will remain with each other raising several litters throughout the year.

The Puffer Fish Mating Ritual

The puffer fish is truly artistic in his mating attempts. This little 12 cm fish will go to great lengths to decorate the ocean floor over an area of 2 meters in a circled pattern using coral and shells. This artwork nest takes about 12 days after which the female lays eggs within the center of the circled design. The elaborate designs are reflective of the strength of the male puffer which is what attracts the female. These designs have intrigued scientists in earlier years until a live photographed act revealed the designs as the work of the little puffer.

The Quoll Mating Ritual

The Quoll is a little marsupial found in the Australian region. Their size and innocence however is in extreme contrast to their aggressive mating. When the female is ready to mate, the male will copulate with such violent force that the female may be lucky to survive the process with just cuts and bruises. In some cases the male ends up killing his partner in the act or he is shunned by her. However what’s weird is that he may also end up killing himself due to exhaustive multiple attempts of mating and fighting other males.

The Flamingo Mating Ritual

When flamingoes mate it is an enjoyable dance in perfect synchronization involving the entire community. Akin to a well-choreographed chorus line, the birds will strut, stretch, puff and swivel about in perfect unison. Preceding every ritual, the males will oil themselves all over through secretions from a gland on the tail. This oil is also a protective cover from natural elements. It is believed that the female chooses a mate by close observation of the male who mirrors her actions best.

The Bower bird Mating Ritual

The male bower bird is all class and sophistication when it comes to impressing his female. In order to attract her he will build a perfect beautiful nest complete with uniform design. Even the entrance will be a decorative arch lined with colorful objects. The perfection is reflective in the placement of objects that ensure the illusion of objects appearing uniform in size to the female. The nest building process is the main activity of the bower bird and it usually the more experienced older birds that get the female.

The Scorpion Mating Ritual

The mating ritual of scorpions may seem a lively dance, but in effect, the wild aggressive actions initiated by the male are actually a defense mechanism to protect against the female’s bizarre nature of trying to devour his head first. Scorpions mate on moonless nights with the male hovering around the female a good 20 minutes. He then clasps the female’s pincers with his in order to restrain her and then deposits a spermatophore containing sperm on the surface of the ground. The female then absorbs the sperm into herself.

Read More

NEWS: Agriculture Should Be Treated As Business

Nigeria: Agriculture Should Be Treated As Business - -Experts

30 May 2014 , By Jimoh Babatunde, Source: Vanguard

Experts from the agricultural sector in Africa emphasized that shift in mindset is paramount in breaking the problem of low production of both food and cash crops on the continent. The experts agreed that although Africa has a large labour force in its agricultural sector, comprising 57% of the working population, it still heavily relies on food imports.

"This means that farmers are simply not producing enough food to feed the continent's surging population estimated at one billion people."

In an interactive session titled "From Farm to Market" at the just concluded Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Kigali, Rwanda, the experts brought to light solutions to persistent challenges in the agricultural sector.
"Despite the fact that Africa has a rich biodiversity and most of the people are engaged in farming activities, production is still very wanting. Africa imports US $25 billion worth of food each year, with only US $1 billion coming from Africa. It means that we are not fully exploiting the opportunities in this important sector," Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina, said.
"It is high time we realized that agriculture can no longer be treated as a social activity or a normal development program. It must be treated as a business and managed as an enterprise because it is the future of Africa's socio- economic development."

He said that mechanization and irrigation programs must be emphasized throughout the continent, while governments must concentrate on finding more incentives to farmers. "We must think of mechanization; irrigation activity in Africa's arable land is still as low as 3%, while farmers still predominantly use hoes to till their gardens. We need to use production methods that are adequate, that add value and volume to the produce coming from farms," he said. "Governments should ensure that farmers' products have ready markets. They should also register all biometrics about the farmers in their countries, so that they follow them up and know all their challenges."

According to the founder of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), Philip Kiriro, Africa's youthful population should be trained to develop agri-business models that not only create jobs but also contribute significantly to the continent's food basket.

Read More

Animal Jokes

JUST FOR FUN

Two bats were hanging upside down on a branch. One asks the other, "Do you recall your worst day last year?" The other responds, "Yes, the day I had diarrhea!"
By LadyD.

Two dog owners are arguing over whose dog is the cleverest. ‘My dog is so smart’, says the first owner, ‘that every morning he waits for the paper boy to come round. He tips the boy and then brings the newspaper to me, along with my morning cup of coffee.’ ‘I know,’ says the second owner.
‘How do you know?’
‘My dog told me.

Read More