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Goats of the World and World of Goats - Emerging from the Shadow of COVID-19 Our recent virtual conference was a wonderful success with many great presentations. Sándor Kukovics and his wonderful team recorded the conference and now the videos of each presentation are available online for IGA members to watch. Thank you for being an IGA member.
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Investigating potential recombination of MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses in camels11/30/2021 Supplementary recommendations for the epidemiological investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in exposed animals Abstract:
Dromedary camels are the main reservoir for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Genetic analysis of MERS-CoV isolates from humans and dromedaries revealed that direction of transmission is from camels to humans. Furthermore, several studies reported evidence of camel infection by other human CoVs, animal CoVs or unknown coronaviruses. There is evidence of recombination between different betacoronaviruses in camels. Analysis of the Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) binding in dromedaries predicted potential binding affinity to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor binding domain (RBD), however some other studies predicted the contrary. With the pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2, it is not a matter of if but rather when camels will be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in these countries. Co-circulation of both viruses in the same host can favour virus recombination, and may lead to increased virulence in animals and/or humans if the recombinant virus incorporates pathogenicity of MERS-CoV with the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2. Further investigations into camel susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, the possibility for recombination between MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses in camels, and the associated zoonotic potential are therefore urgently required to ensure early-detection of such events. Goats of the World and World of Goats – Emerging from the Shadow of COVID-19 This virtual conference will take place from 2 pm to 6 pm European Time (Paris time).
Goat breeding, as part of the livestock sector is a key contributor to food security, nutrition and livelihoods, especially for the world’s most vulnerable populations. Since the global outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, the world’s goat production and the life of the farmers have been severely affected. The aim of the conference is to investigate the negative impacts (current and potential) of the pandemic e.g. reduced access to animal feeds, inputs and services; reduced processing capacities; compromised storage and conservation options; difficulties in inland and international transportation; animal health problems because of reduced testing and diagnostic capacity; lack of animal disease control programmes. Reports will be delivered on national and regional levels (by Country Representatives and Regional Directors of IGA), hoping to get a global overview by the end of the conference. The organisers would be more than happy to see some actions, how to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the goat sector.
 Hello All,
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainties regarding vaccination, the Organizing Committee, in close consultation with the Scientific Committee and the IGA Board of Directors, has decided to postpone the 13th International Conference on Goats. The conference is now scheduled for September 18-23, 2022. The venue will remain the same: Hotel Eger & Park, Eger, Hungary. Our primary concern is to guarantee everyone’s health and ensure a high level of attendance from around the world. The conference planning was well underway, with 10 confirmed invited speakers, seven sessions, five roundtables, and six workshops scheduled to take place over the four days. The program will include the first-ever international goat milk products contest, a full-day technical tour, and several wonderful social programs. Conference organizers are working to ensure the program will be informative for all participants. We sincerely hope that it will be possible to organize a face-to-face international conference in 2022. Please follow the conference homepage for the latest news! https://www.icg2022.org/ I look forward to seeing you in Hungary! Best regards, Sándor Kukovics from Maryland Extension Small Ruminant Program
Last spring, it was reported that ivermectin had efficacy (in a laboratory setting) against the coronavirus that causes Covid 19. Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug for animals. Ivomec® drench is FDA-approved for use in sheep. Ivermectin also has approved uses for humans. After the announcement, some people started using ivermectin to self-medicate. In some countries, a “black market” emerged for ivermectin. In the US, ivermectin started disappearing from the shelves of farm stores. Many health officials oppose the use of ivermectin to treat Covid. Others advocate for its use and have used it to treat Covid patients. The appeal of ivermectin is that it is widely available and cheap. It is also usually well tolerated. The end of any year is a good time for reflection and assessment, but this has been a year like no other. We have all been touched by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of us have lost family, friends, and colleagues. As more people worked from home and faced recurring travel restrictions, IGA members, and Board endeavored to provide more online content and opportunities. The feedback so far has been enthusiastic, with requests for more content in more languages, and we agree! Check the website or social media for updates. And please share any new content from your institution or country! Thank you.
The International Goat Association typically holds the International Goat Conference every four years, but COVID required that we postpone it. The new dates are October 3-8, 2021, and it will still be in Eger, Hungary, but check the IGA website for updates. Here is the ICG Conference website: www.icg2020.org. The IGA Board of Directors held two virtual meetings this year, on March 24 and October 2, plus a Strategic Planning meeting on December 7. I give special thanks to all of the Board members who have agreed to extend their terms an additional year due to COVID and who also participated in our online and Zoom discussions with great enthusiasm and insight. The new IGA Strategic Plan will be posted on the website once finalized, and it will guide us through the changing world we will find in 2021 and onwards. I want to commend the Strategic Planning Committee, chaired by Davinia Sánchez, and committee members Jean-Marie Luginbuhl, Dilip Bhandari, and Paula Menzies for guiding this crucial process for IGA to increase activity, visibility, and impact. Like most of the U.S. economy, the sheep and goat industry is expected to take a few hard knocks from the COVID-19 epidemic as restaurants close temporarily, and more people work from home.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Sheep and Goat Specialist Reid Redden tells producers that COVID-19 is causing major market disruptions in the sheep and goat industry. The disease couldn’t have worse timing, striking during the biggest peak in the supply-demand season for lamb, Redden said. A few weeks ago, the American Lamb Board had indicated retail sales of lamb increased 50 percent before COVID-19 started impacting the U.S. economy. READ MORE… The IGA Board of Directors has decided to postpone the 13th International Conference on Goats.
The new date is 3-8 October 2021. Even though the 13th ICG is several months away, the current COVID-19 crisis has made it extremely difficult to plan any large gathering. We know the dangers of infectious diseases and the need to prevent exposure, so rather than put people at risk unnecessarily, the Board of Directors postponed this conference. As the COVID-19 Global Pandemic moves across the world, we send our sincere hope for good health and protection to the entire IGA family. We are all affected by this situation, some more seriously than others. We need to support each other professionally and personally as best we can. And we need a future where robust science informs public policy to prevent this type of tragedy. May we, our families, and colleagues endure this current situation, and we will see you again in Hungary in 2021! Follow all the IGA COVID-19 news here: https://www.iga-goatworld.com/blog/category/covid19 Kind regards, Organisers of ICG2021  Dear Sir/Madam
On behalf of the 5th AADGC 2020 organizing committee, we would like to inform you that due to COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The AADGC board and the 5th AADGC 2020 organizing committee have unanimously decided to postpone the event to another date, which has not been decided yet. We have monitored the COVID-19 situation for the best time to have a great success and safe for the conference and all participants, respectively. We also apologize for any inconvenience caused by postponing the conference and hope to see all of you at this important international event to celebrate all together. The Organizing Secretary will contact all parties involved (Speakers, Sponsors & Exhibitors, Delegates, Poster Presenters, and others) with further information. Take care and best regards. Visit the AADGC website for more information, http://aadgc2020.com. Greetings to the IGA Community! We hope that you are safe and well.
The current COVID-19 crisis has created extraordinary changes in our world. We know the dangers of infectious diseases and the need to prevent exposure. It has become challenging to plan any large gathering, so rather than put people at risk unnecessarily, the IGA Board decided to postpone the 13th International Conference on Goat. A new date has not been chosen. We will continue to monitor the situation and hope to announce the change soon. Unfortunately, because the 13th ICG is postponed, elections for the new Board will be delayed. When a new date for the conference is selected, we will send out an official call for nominations. Any IGA member in good standing (meaning their membership dues are up-to-date) can be nominated to serve a four-year term. Check our website regularly for more information in the coming days and months! |
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