NADEFA THANKS CONGRESS

FOR WORKING WITH US ON COMBATING CWD

DEC 23, 2020 WASHINGTON, DC

The North American Deer Farmers Association (NADeFA), the nation’s leading voice for the cervid industry applauds Congress’ continued increases for funding to combat Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). On Monday evening, both houses of Congress passed legislation providing FY 2021 appropriations legislation. The bill is expected to be signed into law by the end of the week.

This legislation includes $11 million for cervid health under the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). That represents an increase of $2 million over what was appropriated in FY 2020. The increased funds are for state efforts to manage CWD in wild populations, leaving $4 million for USDA’s existing programs. That amount is equal to last year’s funding for these functions. USGS also received a $2 million increase more than doubling their previous year’s budget. This brings their annual spending on CWD to $3,720,000. Also included was an additional $1 million for CWD research through USDA’s Agriculture Research Services bringing the total for that research to $4.6 million for FY 2020. This is the third straight year that funding for this research has been increased by $1 million. In the last four years USDA has gone from not funding CWD research to spending over $10M on those efforts in that time.

USDA also has funding in this bill for a new research program through their Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins Colorado. The $2 million to start this program will make use of existing facilities already constructed for research into the disease. Creating this program was NADeFA’s highest research priority for FY 2021 and we offer our gratitude to Congress for providing this funding.

This year has been different in how we interact with our federal partners and Congressional champions. It is because NADeFA members, leadership, and Capitol Hill Consulting Group have made lasting relationships in previous years with Members of Congress and their staff that we were able to overcome the obstacles and secure increased funding that will help eventually eradicate CWD.

NADeFA Executive Director Shawn Schafer said of the increase, “Despite our inability to meet in person, Congress has continued to hear the needs of the farmed cervid industry, and made real strides to meet those needs. Once again Senate Agriculture Appropriations Chairman John Hoeven (R-ND), was instrumental to this success. These increases show that Congress is not forgetting about CWD’s impact while dealing with many issues that have arisen this year.”

NADeFA has worked closely with USDA-APHIS for more than two decades on a variety of issues related to cervid health and national guidelines. The CWD Herd Certification Program, for example, is a voluntary, cooperative program that allows participating cervid producers to achieve herd certification status of their cervid herds and to meet the requirements for the interstate movement of farmed cervids.

Shawn Schafer Executive Director NADeFA Office 330-454-3944

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EHD V2 & V6 EXPERIMENTAL VACCINE

With approval from the USDA, Medgene Labs has distributed nearly 15,000 doses of experimental EHD vaccine directly to livestock owners since July 2019. Initially, an experimental EHDV2 vaccine was available for evaluation. In 2020, Medgene Labs received USDA approval to provide experimental EHDV2&6 vaccine. Users of the vaccine were asked to collect data in regards to safety and clinical impression of the vaccine. Results were submitted to the USDA in December. In January 2021, the USDA approved continued use of the experimental EHDV2&6 vaccine through 2021. The vaccine can currently be used in white-tailed deer, elk, bison, reindeer, red deer, sika deer, mule deer, sheep, goats, fallow deer, muntjac deer, and moose. Vaccination includes two doses of vaccine, given approximately 3 weeks apart as a 2mL intramuscular dose. Administration of the vaccine should be in the spring or early summer, 1-6 months prior to typical EHD season. Other helpful vaccination tips include:

• Only vaccinate healthy animals • When administering multiple vaccines, inject in different locations (neck versus rump), as separate injections. • Do not vaccinate within 3 weeks of parturition

For more information or to place an order, please contact Ashley at ashley@medgenelabs.com or 605-692-1268. • Once ordered, please allow at least one week for vaccine delivery.

Results from Experimental EHD Vaccine Use

Medgene has been generating data for the EHD vaccine since 2016. Previously, data was obtained in white-tailed deer 6 months of age or older and shared with the industry at conferences and through magazine articles. In 2020, Medgene worked with a Missouri veterinarian to evaluate the EHDV2&6 vaccine in young fawns. The vaccine was administered to ten (10) 2-3 week old fawns. Blood serum was collected pre (Day 0) and post (Day 35 and Day 63) vaccination to monitor the immune response. A plaque reduction neutralization assay was performed to determine the neutralizing antibody titer of each fawn to both EHDV2 and EHDV6 at varying time points. Table 1 illustrates the results. A titer greater than 10 indicates that antibodies are present that neutralize the virus. The presence of antibodies provides evidence that the animal generated the intended immune response to the vaccine.

Table 1. EHD V2 & V6 Vaccine Immune Response Generated in Young Fawns

EHDV2 Neutralizing Antibody Titer EHDV6 Neutralizing Antibody Titer

Tag # Day 0 Day 35 Day 63 Day 0 Day 35 Day 63

W8 20 40 80 <10 40 40

W9 <10 40 40 <10 40 40

W10 20 ≥ 320 160 <10 40 80

W11 <10 ≥ 320 80 <10 80 80

W12 <10 ≥ 320 ≥ 320 <10 40 40

W13 <10 160 80 <10 40 80

W14 80 ≥ 320 ≥ 320 <10 80 160 W15 40 ≥ 320 ≥ 320 <10 40 80

W16 20 80 10 <10 80 20

W17 <10 80 20 <10 80 10 W18 (Control) <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10

www.medgenelabs.com Copyright © 2021 VST LLC dba Medgene Labs 1006 32nd Ave., Brookings, South Dakota 57006

Safety data has been collected by livestock owners and/or their herd veterinarian since the summer of 2019. Of the nearly 15,000 doses, sent to about 70 farms, only 15 farms have reported adverse reactions. In general, users typically stated that vaccination caused lameness and lethargy for 2-7 days post injection with no further complications and animals returning to normal health within a week. Safety data includes vaccine use in 2 week old fawns up to mature adult white-tailed deer. There has also been one farm that used the vaccine in elk. Adverse reactions were similar, no matter the animal’s age or species. Table 2 summarizes all adverse reactions reported from the use of Medgene’s experimental EHD vaccine.

Table 2. Adverse Reactions After EHD Vaccination

Adverse Reaction Number of Reports

Lameness/Muscle Soreness 11 Lethargy 4 Injection Site Swelling 4 Poor Appetite 3 Fever 2 Reluctance to Move 2

Injection Site Sore 1

The Missouri veterinarian that tested the EHDV2&6 vaccine in young fawns provided the following conclusion about safety:

100% of the vaccinated fawns experienced some level of adverse post-vaccinal reactions. However, we have vaccinated 20-40 WTD buck fawns three times per year and 25-35 pregnant WTD does once per year for the past decade using a variety of commercially available vaccines. It is my clinical impression that the incidence and severity of the reactions I observed following Medgene’s EHD vaccine were comparable to those which I have consistently observed over the years following administration of commercial vaccines.

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The information in this brochure is presented in good faith and believed to be correct at the time of printing, Medgene Labs makes no representations or warranties as to the completeness or accuracy of the information. Medgene Labs reserves the right to change, delete, or otherwise modify the information which is represented in this brochure without any prior notice. Possession of Medgene Labs’ • Avid MiniTracker Livestock literature does not constitute an offer to sell. In no event will Medgene Labs be responsible for damages of any nature or kind whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance upon information in this Reader specially priced. brochure or the products to which the information refers. • Blue Tooth® option. • Dependable Fast, Accurate read EVERY Time! www.medgenelabs.com • U.S.A. made and service. Copyright © 2021 VST LLC dba Medgene Labs 1006 32nd Ave., Brookings, South Dakota 57006

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