Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) Newsletter

Participation by Industry and Academia Important

The nation's leading livestock cloning companies, ViaGen and Trans Ova Genetics, have developed a tracking program using a supply chain management system that will allow food companies to identify cloned animals when they move into the food processing chain if they so choose.
The system was created to facilitate marketing claims and provides further assurance to our domestic and export food industries that choose to segregate meat or milk from cloned animals. The system is not about safety or health. A rigorous assessment by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and two previous reports by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) found... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

FROM THE FASS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A Message from the FASS Board President, Dr. Gary Hartnell

Progress Requires Change

The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) is stepping up and meeting the challenges it faces to fulfill its mission and vision. Through the dedication and service of its employees, officers, and board of directors, FASS is attaining new levels in partnering with founding members and clients in meeting their respective goals.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

A Message from the Former FASS CEO, Dr. Jerry Baker

Note: Dr. Jerome Baker resigned as FASS CEO effective April 11, 2008.

Advocacy and the Professional Animal Scientist

The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) has had an Office of Scientific Liaison (OSL) since it began. The question members of ASAS, ADSA, and PSA often ask is, what does the office do to help them? To answer that question, one must really consider what restrictions are imposed on the FASS OSL. As most members of the FASS professional societies understand, FASS is a nonprofit charitable organization, as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and is chartered to perform public educational activities. The IRS code for 501(c)(3) charitable organizations restricts FASS to expending only minimal funds on lobbying efforts. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

FASS CONGRESSIONAL SCIENCE FELLOW (CSF) UDPATES

2008-2009 Congressional Science Fellows Announced

Dr. David Edwards

Dr. Bhushan Jayarao

FASS is pleased to announce it will sponsor two outstanding scientists in the 2008-2009 Congressional Science Fellow (CSF) program, Dr. David Edwards of the University of Kentucky and Dr. Bhushan Jayarao of the Pennsylvania State University.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Report from Dr. Christy Oliver, 2007-2008 FASS CSF

Imagine turning in your PhD dissertation and one month later starting kindergarten again. That’s what it felt like as I left the comfortable expertise of my narrow subject area and plunged into the vast jungle of the policy world. I encountered a new alphabet (CREP, EQIP, WRDA, SCHIP, FISA), “new” numbers (all those zeros come before the decimal point?!), new vocabulary (baseline, PAYGO, suspension), and new rules (“recess” doesn’t mean that we get to go outside and play). CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Report from Dr. Murray Bakst, 2007-2008 FASS CSF

Murray R. Bakst, AAAS Congressional Science Fellow
Friends and scholars, good morning from Washington, DC—or, more precisely, the office of Congressman Robert E. Andrews (D-NJ). As I approach the eighth month of my AAAS Congressional Science Fellowship, I can report that it continues to be an exciting learning experience that I recommend to both new PhDs and all who can afford to take a year of sabbatical. It is a different universe on The Hill. At least in the House, it’s a cubicle, not an office. Need quiet time to think? Well, there are... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

FASS OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC LIAISON

FASS Food Safety, Animal Drugs, and Animal Health Report

The FASS Committee on Food Safety, Animal Health, and Animal Drugs held their annual meeting with FDA, USDA, and other regulatory agencies on April 28, 2008, at the American Farm Bureau Headquarters in Washington, DC. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

AFFILIATED SOCIETY NEWS

ADSA Conference Abstracts Added to S-PAC™

ADSA is adding abstracts from their meetings from 1976 to 1997 (heretofore only available in hardcopy form) and abstracts from divisional meetings to S-PAC. ADSA abstracts from 1935 to 1975 (already on HighWire) will also be included. These will now be searchable and accessible at no cost to... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

ADSA Discover Conference Series

Plans are underway for the 15th ADSA Discover Conference, Biology of the Calf: Birth to 4 Months. This conference will be held at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia, November 16–19, 2008. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Poultry Science Association Foundation’s First Major Fundraising Efforts

PSA Foundation Art Auction

The online art auction announced in San Antonio is underway, with the PSA Foundation Centennial Art Auction Web site (http://www.poultryscience.org/foundationauction2007.asp) is now open and ready for bids.

PSA Foundation Silent Auction

In addition to the online auction, the Foundation is also sponsoring a silent auction at the Centennial Meeting. Auction items will include ... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

2008 PSA Centennial Annual Scientific Meeting

The 2008 PSA Centennial annual meeting is scheduled to convene in Niagara Falls, Canada, the week of July 20 to 23, 2008. We are expecting a grand turnout for our Centennial year celebration and have developed an informative series of symposia for the event that are listed below for your viewing. These symposia are in addition to the 400 oral and poster presentations that have been submitted by the PSA membership and scientists from around the world.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

PSA Press Release

SAVOY, IL (March 20, 2008)- Irreplaceable Loss of Unique Genetic Resources at the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory Would Severely Hamper Efforts to Control Marek’s and Other Killer Diseases.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

ASAS Centennial

Don’t Miss the Party!

Plan now for the special events and activities scheduled during the ASAS Centennial Celebration in Indy! The celebration begins Monday at 7 pm with a video production describing our first 100 years and a FREE concert by the nationally recognized Belamy Brothers. A reception following the concert is a great time to socialize and to pick up your... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

ASAS Coupling with China

At the 2008 Joint Annual Meeting, ASAS is coupling with Chinese American Farm Enterprises Association (CAFE), a nonprofit organization working with the Chinese husbandry industry in China, to help recruit highly qualified animal scientists for jobs in China. Currently, CAFE intends to bring to the meeting a contingent of at least 16 people, representing 15 of the leading animal nutrition and animal pharma companies in China. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

ASAS Image Gallery Update

If you haven’t used the Image Gallery recently, check out the new look of the home page (http://anscigallery.nal.usda.gov), modified to comply with USDA policies. The navigation buttons have been relocated, but the procedures for submission and review of images are unchanged. The number of images live on the site has more than doubled in the past year, with the most notable growth in... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Reciprocal Meat Conference—Come for the Meeting . . . Stay for the Fun!

The Reciprocal Meat Conference is an annual conference that brings together meat scientists and students from academia, industry, and government. The American Meat Science Association, the foremost association of meat science professionals, produces the conference. The Reciprocal Meat Conference features an interactive program that is tailored to bring attendees the best and most inspiring educational experience. From the traditional keynote presentations to the very diverse reciprocation session, you will receive firsthand information from leading industry experts. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

AMSA QA 101—June 21–22, 2008

QA 101 is an education program focused on providing individuals with the latest information on quality assessment, regulatory issues, food safety concerns, shelf-life issues, and more. Attendees are guaranteed to receive the most up-to-date training. One of the most common problems facing quality assurance professionals in the meat industry is finding and training qualified personnel to oversee critical food safety and quality systems. To help address this issue, the American Meat Science Association QA 101 Task Force has developed... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

AMSA PORK 101—Dates Are Set!!

One of the most common problems facing pork industry professionals in the meat industry is keeping up with the rapidly changing dynamics of an industry that stretches from farm to table. American Meat Science Association and the National Pork Board developed the PORK 101 program to update participants on quality and consistency issues in the pork industry. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

AMSA Meat Judging Contest—Update

Congratulations to all the universities and colleges that participated in the intercollegiate meat judging contest this spring. This spring was an exciting season for many universities and colleges as they traveled down the road securing wins along the way. Click to read highlights from each contest held this spring. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

FeedAC News

Joint Conference Update and More

The Joint NIRSC, FeedAC, and NFTA Conference was held February 13–15, 2008, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The conference included 12 invited speakers and had approximately 75 attendees. In addition, each organization’s board of directors met at different times throughout the conference. Thank you to all speakers and attendees for making this inaugural event a success! A special thank you to the speakers who agreed to have their presentations viewable via the Web. PDF versions of their presentations can be viewed by... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

PAACO News

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

One of the best-kept secrets in the livestock industry is fast becoming the benchmark of animal welfare auditing. Since its founding in 2004, the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO), although not highly visible or known outside welfare circles, has been steadily fulfilling its mission of promoting the humane treatment of animals through education and certification of animal auditors and promoting the profession of animal auditors. It is now recognized as the premier animal auditor training and certification program in the country.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE