Many industry experts tout health savings accounts as a smart way for employees to save for medical expenses, even in retirement, citing their triple tax benefits: Contributions are made pretax, the money in the accounts grows tax-free and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. The IRS released the HSA and high-deductible health plan figures for 2027. The … [Read more...]
The next frontier in farm, facility and plant security is above your head
Hannah Thompson-Weeman, president and CEO of the Animal Agriculture Alliance, poses a simple question: “If someone viewed your facility from above today, what would they see?” In this article, she covers the growing use of drones while considering animal activist activities, biosecurity, stress on animals and premise security. Source: MeatingPlace, June 2, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
10 most poisonous plants for horses
From hemlock and ragwort to locoweed and yews, EQUUS editors share common plants that are poisonous to horses and where they can be found. Consider sharing this article in 4-H and FFA educational sessions, during events, on websites, in newsletters and blog posts. Source: EQUUS. Link. Some plants are cause for concern either because even a curious nibble can spell doom or … [Read more...]
How honeybees really crown their queens
Scientists have long believed a queen honeybee was made almost entirely by diet: feed an ordinary larva enough royal jelly and a ruler emerges. But new research published in Nature suggests queens are created through a more elaborate process and food is only part of the story. Researchers found that wax chambers where future queens develop, called queen cells or royal cribs, … [Read more...]
Body condition score at calving a key predictor of reproductive success
New information? No, but a timely reminder for producers who may have shifted their focus to other summer activities at turnout. Consider sharing this article with producers in newsletters, social media and leave a few copies at the coffee stop. With most spring calving done, assessing cows now is important to the next generation of calves. BCS at calving is one of the best … [Read more...]
Quality over quantity driving milk revenue in U.S. dairies
Karen Bohnert says the U.S. dairy industry is evolving from a fluid milk nation into the world’s premier nutrient-dense global powerhouse. She shares analytics from Farm Journal’s 2026 State of the Dairy Industry Report that shows a staggering 89 percent of producers are now actively and surgically adjusting their rations to target specific milk components (fat and protein) … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 4, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 28, 2026. Link. Most read posts from May 28, 2026 AHD Bulletin – New insights on the hidden impact of veterinary care: global survey. Link. Malone: Bad and good pain. Link. Just trying to save lives and survive! (video). Link. Role ambiguity is the top workplace stressor, not workload. … [Read more...]
There’s still time to protect cattle from pinkeye
Commentary Drought, slow pasture growth, moving cattle to new grass and cattle grouping around hay feeding areas increase exposure to the pinkeye bacteria flies readily transfer. Even if cattle are already turned out, consider pinkeye vaccination during movements to new pasture. Pinkeye in cattle most often involves both Moraxella bovis and Moraxella bovoculi. Vaccination … [Read more...]
Some ticks can survive longer in your home than previously believed, new study finds
Must read A study from The Ohio State University provides the first quantitative evidence that two tick species can survive for weeks on common household flooring. This underscores the need for veterinarians to reinforce year-round tick prevention and home risk mitigation strategies with clients. Gulf Coast tick and Lone Star tick survival minimums exceeded seven days … [Read more...]
What’s wrong with this picture?
May 24, 2026. Southeast Central Nebraska. Feeding hay while drought-affected grass tries to recover. The lack of moisture is putting significant pressure on producers in this state. Around 62 percent of the U.S. cattle inventory is in an area experiencing drought. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows nearly three-quarters of the U.S. cattle herd is being affected by … [Read more...]
Study uncovers how cattle break down seaweed
Climate change is forcing producers and scientists to rethink some long-held assumptions about livestock nutrition. Researchers studying what happens inside the gut of cows fed seaweed as an alternate nutrient source observed a bloom, or proliferation, of bacteria they believe was involved in digestion, which suggested the cattle were successfully breaking down and digesting … [Read more...]
World Pork Expo opens June 3
The world’s largest pork industry-specific trade show brings together pork producers and industry professionals from around the world for two days of education, innovation and networking. It takes place Wednesday, June 3 and Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Source: World Pork Expo. Link. There’s something for everyone — an expansive trade … [Read more...]
Producer-veterinarian relationships matter
A lot has been written about access to veterinary care lately. We’ve professed the need to adjust the relationship view to consider CVRP instead of VCPR <Link>. Whether we have it backwards or not, Andrea Bedford’s article reveals the value communication and trust with producers as an important and often overlooked component of VCPR. She describes the C-V-R as part of … [Read more...]
How research is helping solve equine pregnancy mysteries
With support from the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, researchers are reshaping the understanding of equine pregnancy loss. They are shifting the focus beyond the mare alone to include the biology of the embryo and placenta. While genetic abnormalities play a critical role early in gestation, placentitis remains one of the leading causes of later-term pregnancy … [Read more...]
Chicken droppings reveal a lot about flock health
From bloody droppings linked to coccidiosis to green diarrhoea associated with Newcastle disease or septicemia, regular observation of chicken droppings is a simple but powerful tool in poultry health management. Florence E. Jerono’s chart is a good resource to share with poultry raisers. Source: Jessica Fitzgibbon, LinkedIn, May 19, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
3D imaging may help identify cattle welfare and mobility problems early
Cattle Mooves is a University of Illinois project that uses advanced imaging and motion analysis to understand how cattle move, with the goal of improving health, structure and welfare. 3D imaging, specialized cameras and computer vision capture subtle differences in gait, posture and skeletal movement that may not be noticed during routine observation. Researchers emphasize … [Read more...]
Animal health preparedness is business preparedness
The recent swine pseudorabies event showed us how vulnerable our industry is. Sharing what the Iowa pseudorabies response taught us, Tom Brincks writes, “The right response is neither panic nor complacency, but discipline. We should use this event to strengthen surveillance, improve traceability, tighten site-specific biosecurity and take feral swine exposure seriously wherever … [Read more...]
More potent bird flu strain emerging
H9N2 avian influenza demonstrates significantly greater ability to replicate, spread and infect chickens, with more spillover potential. Source: Feedstuffs, May 15, 2026. Link. The study underscores the need for continued surveillance of avian influenza viruses, stronger biosecurity measures in poultry production and ongoing monitoring of viral evolution and gene exchange. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 21, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 14, 2026. Link. Most read posts from May 14, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Words + Action = Trust. Link. 1 common skin bacteria, 2 outcomes. Link. These pet brands dominate ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity. Link. Turn feline visits into lasting relationships. Link. Vesicular stomatitis … [Read more...]
Vesicular stomatitis outbreak confirmed in Colorado
A new VSV-positive equine premises has been identified in Montezuma County, Colorado. VSV circulates annually between livestock and insect vectors in southern Mexico and only occasionally results in incursion into the U.S. The contagious virus is transmitted by biting midges and therefore is seasonal. Source: The Horse, May 11, 2026. Link. There is no specific treatment for … [Read more...]
Free-range, indoor-outdoor cats can carry similar disease risk as feral cats
Owned cats allowed to roam outside unsupervised may carry infectious diseases at rates comparable to feral cats, even when they receive veterinary care, regular meals and shelter. Study results* show that how people manage their pets plays a major role in shaping disease transmission between wildlife, domestic animals and humans. Researchers highlight that strategies … [Read more...]
How to protect pets from the New World screwworm
There’s no need for owners to panic about NWS, but they need to develop habits to protect their animals from this emerging insect threat. Cochliomyia hominivorax are parasitic flies whose larvae infest wounds and can result in significant tissue damage if left untreated. Obligate parasites, the larvae consume the living flesh of warm-blooded hosts. When maggots are removed, … [Read more...]
EHV-1 resources seek to educate the horse community
Equine herpesvirus‑1 is a common respiratory virus that spreads through nasal droplets and contact between horses. Understanding how the virus spreads and which horses are most vulnerable is key to reducing transmission and improving outcomes. In the first link below, Lutz Goehring, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, shares how risk increases with travel and the potential transfer … [Read more...]
Reminder: Timing and method matter in castrating bull calves
One consistent recommendation across research and veterinary guidance is to castrate calves as early in life as practical. In addition to the welfare and health benefits, fresh weaned calves castrated early in life are earning price premiums of $50 to $100 per head than comparable bull calves. Source: Western Livestock Journal, May 1, 2026. Link. Done correctly, castration … [Read more...]
Routine deworming is giving way to targeted, data-driven strategies in cattle
Parasites are not going away, but the way they are managed is evolving, shares Andrea Bedford. The goal is no longer the complete elimination of parasites but rather smarter management of them. Takeaways from an episode of The Bovine Vet Podcast [1:02] present the benefits of changing from a calendar-centric parasite control schedule to precision parasite management that … [Read more...]
Sapovirus indicated in pre-weaning and post-weaning piglet scours
Since the inclusion of sapovirus in routine testing, pathologists have noted that a majority of pigs, with and without diarrhea, tested positive for this agent. However, they also observed that younger pigs appeared to have a heavier load of virus in their intestines and it was observed that pigs with enteric lesions of villus atrophy that were PCR positive for rotaviruses were … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 14, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 7, 2026. Link. Most read posts from May 7, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Gartner: Managers face increased workloads and demands. Link. The pet economy is splitting in two. Link. Air filtration is critical to reduce disease, protect herd productivity. Link. Hill’s first World of the Kitten Report. Link. … [Read more...]
16-year study proves air filtration is critical tool to reduce disease risk, protect herd productivity
A University of Minnesota Department of Veterinary Population Medicine study shows that farms with commercial air filtration systems experience a significantly lower risk of PRRS outbreaks compared to unfiltered operations. The study results provide evidence not only for pigs and PRRS risks but support the investment sophisticated air filtration requires. Source: PORK, April … [Read more...]
Education course supports recognition of equine emotions
Whether a horse owner, equine enthusiast, veterinary team member or animal health pro serving the equine market, learning how to recognize and understand emotions horses exhibit will help advance animal welfare and owner satisfaction with their animals. Kris Hiney, PhD, shares research and a new online educational course to help horse owners accurately recognize and … [Read more...]
Review: Common ectoparasites of backyard chickens
Olivia A. Petritz, DVM, DACZM, reviews the most common ectoparasites of backyard hens and treatment options in the U.S., noting laws regarding the treatment of food animals vary from country to country. Source: Veterinary Practice News, March 18, 2026. Link. Clinicians who treat chickens in the United States are strongly encouraged to review rules and regulations for … [Read more...]