The grand champion market lamb sold for a record $1 million March 13th at the Junior Market Lamb Auction at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. 13-year old Reagan Miller of Seagraves, Texas, exhibited the lamb. Paizlee Akins of Whitesboro, Texas, raised the grand champion market goat, which sold for $450,000, setting another Rodeo record. Miller will earn a guaranteed … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2026
Avian flu strikes more Indiana poultry facilities
In the past 30 days, APHIS has confirmed 77 avian flu outbreaks that affected 41 commercial farms and 36 backyard flocks, with 13.98 million birds affected. Indiana had eight outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu in the past week in three counties: including 20,600 birds on a commercial turkey meat farm and 3 outbreaks on duck meat farms Wisconsin reported two major … [Read more...]
Be cautious with chickens as pets in the house
Easter is April 5th this year and farm stores are already stocking baby chicks, some of which may become pets. Janet Garman shares considerations for would-be chicken owners and guidance if the chicken is going to be in the home, sanitation being a top priority. Source: Backyard Poultry, August 1, 2022. Link. Also see: Common concerns with backyard or urban poultry … [Read more...]
Evaluate cow and bull body condition throughout the year
Year-to-year variations in forage quality and weather stress can show up in body condition scores even when what’s being fed appears to be the same diet. Robert (Bob) L. Larson, DVM, PhD, shares the importance of BCS checks throughout the year to support and maximize cow and bull outcomes. Source: BEEF, February 10, 2026. Link. When determining BCS, it is important to … [Read more...]
Managing large litters; 13.9 functional teats for 15.7 piglets
With larger litters and limited teat capacity, many producers have increased interest in management strategies such as split suckling and teat optimization, writes Abigail Jenkins, PhD. Sharing modern research trial perspectives, she notes there was no improvement in growth performance and inconsistent effects on mortality when split suckling was practiced. Teat loading … [Read more...]
Cows have routines, too
Circadian rhythm research shows that behavioral data contains insights beyond reproduction and health alerts. Understanding how cows structure their day may help dairies implement better management systems that work with cows’ biological clocks. The analysis of more than a decade of cow behavior data showed examples of strong circadian rhythms, or predictable 24-hour cycles … [Read more...]
New working with large animals course for first-year vet students at Iowa State University
A NEW course in the College of Veterinary Medicine exposes first-year veterinary students to swine, sheep, cattle and horses in an effort to help with the shortage of rural and large animal veterinarians across the country. Mandatory for all first-year students, "Large Animal Clinical Skills" introduces them to livestock and horses <Link>. The addition of the course … [Read more...]
Zoetis expands Human-Animal Bond Certification Scholarship to include veterinary technician students
NAVC and HABRI announced that Zoetis has pledged its continued support for veterinary students across the U.S. by offering free Human-Animal Bond Certification throughout 2026. New this year, the scholarship is now available to veterinary technician students. Source: NAVC, March 10, 2026. Link. Veterinary and veterinary technician students may register for the Human-Animal … [Read more...]
F10 Antiseptic Wound Spray with Insecticide approved to prevent and treat NWS
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization for F10 Antiseptic Wound Spray with Insecticide (benzalkonium chloride, polyhexanide and cypermethrin topical solution) for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm infestations (myiasis). Source: Bovine Veterinarian, March 10, 2026. Link. The FDA concluded it is reasonable to believe … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – March 19, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, March 12, 2026. Link. Most read posts from March 12, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Imposter syndrome (video). Link. Low-stress handling isn’t just for animals. Link. 2026: What’s next in the pet business? Link. Livestock care during wildfire season. Link. Webinar TODAY!: The Untapped Feline Patient: … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – March 9, 2026
In this week’s Fast Bites: Opt in for the Pet Care Services Industry Financial Survey. Link. IBPSA's official work days Legislative news from New Hampshire and New York Source: IBPSA, March 9, 2026. Link. From the blog: Grooming services: Achieve the best people and profit potential without the headaches, October 15, 2025. Link. Also see: Animal Health … [Read more...]
2026: What’s next in the pet business?
The Global Pets 2026 Industry Trend Report <Link> shares the 7 trends poised to influence the pet businesses this year. The onward march of AI A business model for every pet owner Retail: comfort and convenience Building loyalty Macroeconomics and geopolitics Inflation, tariffs and supply chains Gut health and functional nutrition Source: Pets … [Read more...]
Low-stress handling isn’t just for animals
Commentary Don’t let the cowboy hat and big beard fool you. Ashley Nicholls is an Australian turned Canadian and 2026 Nuffield Scholar <Link>. He says the ways we’ve learned to work with animals may be the missing framework for team cohesion and communication. The concept of low-stress people handling Nicholls promotes is based on the work of Temple Grandin, a renowned … [Read more...]
Where medicine meets intuition
Commentary Beyond the science, data, diagnostics and evidence-based decision making is gut instinct, writes Adam Christman, DVM, MBA. Intuition does not replace science; it directs it, he says. His advocacy for pet owner intuition, coupled with the veterinarian’s instincts, is not to be dismissed. “Going with your gut is not about being impulsive. It is about being … [Read more...]
Imposter syndrome (video)
Axios CEO Jim VandeHei shares turning a perceived weakness into a positive tool. Source: Axios, Just Lead, YouTube, February 20, 2026. Link. <BQ> “Take your insecurities and turn them from weaknesses into strengths.” INSIGHTS: Everyone has some degree of insecurity. … [Read more...]
Reminder: Establish clear client communication boundaries versus 24/7 expectations
In recent months, there has been a clear message sent to veterinary teams to increase and improve client communications. While important, veterinary team members can’t be expected to be available 24/7. Caitlin DeWilde, DVM, shares tips for protecting personal time and after-hours communications in this article. Source: Clinician’s Brief, December 2024. Link. It is okay to … [Read more...]
Women show stronger employee engagement amid higher burnout
While women’s employment engagement has fluctuated over the past four years, it has consistently maintained an edge over men's. There is a lot to consider in this four-year study, which shows that as burnout peaks for mothers and leaders, the most motivated are carrying the heaviest load. Source: Gallup, March 8, 2026. Link. U.S. women employed full-time have higher … [Read more...]
$1,000 dog grooms are here as part of pet wellness
Dog owners interviewed for this article believe pet grooming is essential to pet health. Some groomers are turning away clients who don’t maintain their pets’ grooming. Some owners are performing maintenance grooms between professional grooms to save money. Source: The New York Times, March 9, 2026. Link. Businesses and investors are paying attention, and the pet … [Read more...]
Reclaiming veterinary authority in the digital age
In this piece, My Vet Candy writes about the increasingly difficult challenge of online, non-veterinary influencers and why veterinarians are losing the information battle. Not new, the growth in “informed clients” is significant and causes increased amounts of appointment time to address misinformation. One solution is to guide pet owners toward reliable information and help … [Read more...]
Webinar: The Untapped Feline Patient: Turning Insight into Action
Sponsor Content The next Veterinary Practice Health webinar on Thursday, March 19th, will feature results from the CATalyst Council 2026 State of the Cat report. It uncovers what holds cat owners back from seeking care, and where real opportunities exist. It promises to be timely, practical and full of insights practices can put to work right away. Presenters Jane Brunt, … [Read more...]
Why cats go wild when you say, “Pspspsps”
You’ll likely try this sound. A high-pitched “pspsps” sound mimics that of prey rustling in dried leaves or a cricket chirping, says Ingrid Johnson. It is attractive to cats. Experts explain the magic behind this universal cat-attractant sound, plus other sounds cats like and dislike, in this article. Source: Modern Cat, February 4, 2026. Link. Cats can hear over a range of … [Read more...]
Tips for traveling with a cat
Commercial Content Traveling with a cat requires preparation, writes Jennifer Grota, DVM. She offers practical tips clinics can share with cat owners on social media or in newsletters. Clinics can add their own recommendations along with the article. Source: PetMD, February 24, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
Cat age in human years
Determining a cat’s age in human years isn’t as simple as multiplying their age times seven. The big surprise is that cats reach the equivalent of 15 human years in their first year of life and 24 human years by their second. The chart from the article is a good resource for bulletin boards, exam rooms or clinic communications. Find it in a PDF form here … [Read more...]
Shoeing the road horse
Complimentary The American Farriers Journal shares insights from hoof-care professionals to help the horses that run the roads in the new Shoeing the Road Horse report. Offered free as a downloadable PDF <Link>, it can also be found in the AHD library at the link below. Source: American Farriers Journal, March 2026. Link. Images: Link. … [Read more...]
Vaccination time: spring check-ups for horses
While a standard vaccination program for all horses does not exist, spring vaccinations are an important component of ensuring horses’ immune systems are optimized during the highest risk period for disease exposure. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners vaccination guidelines, the five core vaccinations that all horses need include: West Nile virus, … [Read more...]
New betamethasone study quantifies detection time for IM use
According to a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, betamethasone, a corticosteroid, remains detectable above thresholds published by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority for 23 days after administration of 12 mg IM. The study also found that IM betamethasone use suppressed the horse’s cortisol levels for 360 hours, or 15 days. … [Read more...]
Review: Preparing the mare for breeding season
Etta Bradecamp, DVM, Dipl. ACT, ABVP, explained how veterinarians and horse owners can work together to prepare mares for breeding season in a presentation at the 2025 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention. The starting point is the breeding soundness exam, she said. Source: The Horse, March 6, 2026. Link. Equine breeding success reflects long-term … [Read more...]
Rabbit education for every community
Complimentary Just in time for Easter bunnies, the House Rabbit Society has a new video that shares the objectives and progress of the organization. With a focus on educating rabbit enthusiasts, HRS has global reach that is reflected in its resources. Animal health pros can explore HHS resources at https://houserabbit.org/classes and https://houserabbit.org/handouts. The … [Read more...]
Livestock care during wildfire season
Benjamin Franklin’s warning, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is relevant for cattle producers as wildfire season has already begun <Link>. Dean Ruhl offers tips for handling animals before a fire and caring for them afterward in this article. He reminds us that preparation is key. Maintaining property, like mowing fencelines and creating fire breaks, is … [Read more...]
Beware the mud
Justin Waggoner, PhD, shares how muddy conditions change how cattle gain: 4 to 8 inches of mud reduces gain by approximately 14 percent 12 to 24 inches of mud reduces gain by approximately 25 percent He calculates that for every four days cattle have to slog through hock-deep mud, producers will need to add another day and 20 pounds of dry matter feed to reach finish … [Read more...]