Symposium summary: Immune system affects reproduction in ruminants
Photo of the week: A boar’s presence reduces fighting
JAM Workshop: Teaching and Learning in the Animal Sciences
2013 ASAS Video Competition
Day of the FASS Symposium in Washington approaches
The Federation of Animal Science Societies is hosting their Annual Spring Symposium on June 4 in Washington D.C. The meeting is an open invitation with no registration fee.
Android app brings news to ASAS members
Look for the “TS” icon when searching for the app
You can now get the Taking Stock app on Android-powered devices! The app delivers all Taking Stock articles, photos and videos in a format easy to navigate on a phone. You can also use the app to see ASAS events and news from ASAS meetings. Go to the Google Play Store and search “Taking Stock” to find the app.
The Taking Stock app is also available on the iPhone. Visit the App Store and search “Taking Stock” to download it.
Both apps are free and the content is updated daily.
Animals in the news
Snail epidemic taking over Florida
The giant African land snail has made it past customs and border control and is now threatening Florida crops. These snails not only pose a threat to crop commodities, but also to human health, as they are a known carrier of meningitis. Read more 
Get the 2013 ASAS shirt!
Click to see the winning t-shirt design
ASAS is excited to announce the winners of the ASAS T-shirt Design Competition!
Dr. Larry Reynolds contributed the design that inspired the front of the shirt. Graduate Research Assistant Samantha Kaminski contributed the design that inspired the back of the shirt.
You can get the shirt this year at the Joint Annual Meeting! Stop by the ASAS Foundation booth, and receive the shirt as a bonus for donating to the ASAS Foundation.
The hidden costs of fire ants
By Madeline McCurry-Schmidt / ASAS Communications
The head of an imported red fire ant. Photo from April Noble, Antweb.org, Bugwood.org
It starts with a pinch.
A slight pinch from her mandibles is all the warning you’ll get before a fire ant stings. Her venom causes an angry, fluid-filled pustule on the skin. In the worse cases, her sting causes anaphylactic shock, even death.
Across the southern United States, people know to watch out for invasive fire ants in parks and urban backyards. But fire ants also cause unexpected, expensive issues in agricultural areas. Read more
