Ann Hess shares an update and perspectives on the advancing risk of the New World screwworm and where the risks exist for swine in the U.S. She includes how the changes in the Darien Gap increase risks. The Darien Gap has served as a biological barrier for keeping New World screwworm away from our border. Source: National Hog Farmer, June 13, 2025. Link. Fly control will be … [Read more...]
What separates the top-tier pork producers from the rest?
Farm Credit’s Chris Ford looked back over several years to see what differentiated pork operations that have done well and those that have struggled. He notes the challenges that PRRS continues to bring and identifies three main areas where producers can excel: Optimizing production Good bookkeeping Risk management Source: PORK, June 23, 2025. Link. Image: … [Read more...]
Research in action: Shedding light on the age-old mystery of early pregnancy loss in mares
The answer to a foal lost during pregnancy is most often, “I don’t know.” Not satisfied with that answer, Mandi de Mestre, BVSc, PhD, PGCAP, MRCVS, refocused on the embryo to uncover possible reasons why they survive. Her ongoing research on the genetics of equine embryos overlaps with similar questions in human pregnancy loss, specifically recognizing gene copying … [Read more...]
Heat warning as seen on the internet
A friend sent this sign they saw on Instagram. It is a good perspective as temperatures rise this summer. One would think pet owners would know to protect their pets on hot days, but we still see too many of them walking their dogs when it is too hot for man or beast. Maybe sharing this sign graphic will resonate with someone in your communication sphere. Source: … [Read more...]
10 steps for pet owners to take if a coyote enters their yard
Across the U.S., coyotes are frequently seen in urban and suburban settings. Wildlife in general is moving to town <Link>. Mathew Abraham provides good ideas to help keep pets and people safe from hungry coyotes seeking an easy meal. By now, adult coyotes are not only hunting for themselves but for four or more rapidly growing pups. Abraham asserts the need for … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 26, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 19, 2025. Link. Most read posts from June 19, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Avoid confusion about pinkeye in cattle. Link. Calf vaccinations: You won’t find all the answers in a bottle. Link. Consumer sentiment rebounds sharply in June. Link. Sounds that can trigger aggressive behavior in cats. … [Read more...]
Speak up: Respectful rebels welcome
Commentary An industry colleague once reminded me that the best results are found after embracing dissension or disagreements. This perspective promotes embracing difficult experiences, rather than avoiding them so they can lead to growth, learning, and ultimately, better outcomes. This article by Deborah Grayson Riegel, MSW, PCC, reminded me of that conversation and the … [Read more...]
Consumer sentiment rebounds sharply in June
Commentary Okay, so the photos are unrealistic. But, economic indicators suggest that now there is a likely opportunity for veterinary clinics to bring back clients’ pets that are past due for wellness checks, oral health procedures and vaccinations. Consider the potential for a campaign to reach owners stretching their pets’ adherence timelines to return to the … [Read more...]
Keeping cows cool
We enjoyed the positive responses to last week’s post “Making dairy herds in the shade” <Link>. Recent studies show shade is important for growing beef cattle comfort and efficiency <Link>. Articles like this are reminders of the health and economic benefits of providing shade for cattle as temperatures move above 70°F. Because of that feedback, we’re repeating … [Read more...]
Calf vaccinations: You won’t find all the answers in a bottle
What a great title for Michigan State University veterinarian Angel Abuelo’s presentation he shared during the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference on February 6th and 7th in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Bev Berens shared information Abuelo reviewed, including immunology basics, passive immunity and vaccinating cows, vaccinating calves and vaccination programs. The article is a … [Read more...]
Tips for smaller cow-calf operations to optimize profit and build market appeal
Includes AHD Sponsor information A January AHD post shared that 79 percent of farms with beef cows have 49 or fewer cows <Link>. For smaller cow-calf operations, committing to profitability and understanding the market buyer’s needs is key to garnering increased interest in their calves, writes Bruce Derkson. He emphasizes that profit must be the number one goal if a … [Read more...]
EIA outbreak is reminder to keep Coggins testing updated
The AVMA reported an EIA outbreak that killed 21 horses in the Southwest U.S. <Link>. The incidents are an important reminder of the importance of strict biosecurity protocols and proper training of individuals who work in equine veterinary clinics to help prevent the spread of disease through contaminated medical treatment or equipment. Given the summer season of … [Read more...]
Colic prevention. What science says.
Responding to an EQUUS reader’s feedback, Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, shares that studies support horses having more pasture time to reduce colic risk. Perception is not always reality and sample size makes a difference. Source: EQUUS, May 2, 32025. Link. Scientific studies support the fact that horses who spend more time on pasture are less likely to colic than those who … [Read more...]
How horses see the world is not like us
Fascinating! At basic levels, equine vision is different from human vision in almost every way; acuity, range, eye contact and detection of peripheral motion, writes Janet L. Jones, PhD. Eight times larger than human eyes horses’ eyes are larger than those of any other land mammal. That size doesn’t mean their vision is exceptional. Jones shares how horse eyes evolved, the … [Read more...]
Avoid confusion about pinkeye in cattle
Sponsor Content with Commentary If one reads three or more of the articles* recently published about infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis or, pinkeye in cattle, they may be confused about a) what conditions predispose calves to infection(s), b) what vector(s) are responsible for disease transfer and c) what bacteria cause pinkeye infections or may be present as cofactors … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 19, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 12, 2025. Link. Most read posts from June 12, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Forbes, Can the veterinary industry help with the rising cost of care? Link. A crate training discussion. Cruel or kind? Link. Logic, emotions and decisions. Link. Cattle technology trends that continue to push boundaries. … [Read more...]
The rise of the lanager: Why leadership and management can’t be split (video)
Suzy Welch came up with the idea of the lanager to avoid using the terms leader and manager. Being a good lanager, she says, requires a sense of balance and an ability to quickly pivot from the big idea to the micro task and back again. Source: Big Think+, May 20, 2025. Link. [6:05] Nobody likes making a tough decision, but a great lanager is someone who has trained … [Read more...]
Cattle technology trends that continue to push boundaries
Cattle producers are interested in technologies that improve efficiency, reduce labor and provide useful data. Beyond the normal optimism and skepticism, new high-tech tools must be practical, user-friendly and offer a solid return on investment before cattle producers invest. Bruce Derksen reviews six cattle technology trends in this article. Source: BEEF, April 22, … [Read more...]
Study: Seasonal effects on preweaned calves
The research shared in this article is relevant beyond the dairy calf environment in the southeastern U.S. While not the seasonal affective disorder we know effects our own health, weather metrics have a definite impact on calf growth, performance and wellness. Summarizing, Al Kertz, Ph. D., DIPL. ACAN, says, consistency in nutrition, feeding and management is critical for … [Read more...]
Dairy herds are made in the shade!
Research shows that dry cows and bred heifers are just as vulnerable to heat stress, even if the signs are less visible. When a dry cow or bred heifer experiences heat stress, her unborn calf does too writes Taylor Leach who shares the long term effects of heat stress on the dairy herd. Source: Bovine Practitioner, June 2, 2025. Link. While the lactating herd often gets the … [Read more...]
OSU researchers: Asian longhorned tick that can be deadly for cattle
As the Asian longhorned tick moves into new regions, researchers express concerns because ALTs can transmit a protozoan pathogen known as Theileria orientalis, specifically the Ikeda genotype. T. orientalis has similar clinical signs to anaplasmosis but impacts young animals instead of older animals. The Asian Long-horned tick is a three-host tick and reproduces through … [Read more...]
10 most poisonous plants for horses
Only a small number of toxic plants are likely to bring serious harm to horses. Anthony Knight, BVSc, MRCVS, reviews the ones most dangerous to horses in the United States in this article. Source: EQUUS, May 22, 2025. Link. INSIGHTS: Different weather conditions and migratory birds can bring seeds into pastures and paddocks where toxic plants have not been seen routinely. … [Read more...]
Poll reveals horse owner deworming behaviors
A June poll reveals how frequently a group of respondents deworms their horse(s). Information like this can help veterinary teams understand client behaviors and may provide opportunities to improve horse stewardship. The sponsored article below was linked with the poll results. In it, Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA, shares what scientists are learning about equine parasite … [Read more...]
The business side of farriers and footcare
Data collected from the 2024 American Farriers Journal Business Practices Survey provides an interesting look into the business of equine footcare. In addition to what they charge and where they buy supplies, we noted how farriers communicate with their clients. The metrics on what work they are doing, the types of horses and metrics on laminitis and white line disease will be … [Read more...]
Review: Diagnostic testing for tick-borne diseases; recommendations, interpreting results
Ticks are making the news across the U.S. as resident populations bloom and areas experience new tick species migrating into a region for the first time. A large percentage of vector-borne diseases reported are vectored by ticks, with dogs acting as sentinels for human exposure to concerning bacterial, protozoal and viral agents. In this article, Doctors Schlemmer and … [Read more...]
Does it pay to castrate, wean and vaccinate?
Includes Sponsor Content Studying the USDA Market News reports, Andrew Griffith, PhD, says it is clear that a good number of producers still find it easier to sell bull calves instead of castrating them prior to selling them. He shares the economics of selling calves straight off the cow versus after preconditioning and applying management protocols in this article. During … [Read more...]
Forget quiet quitting: Use ‘loud living’ to redefine workplace boundaries
Somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of the workforce are quiet quitters, according to data from McKinsey and the Understanding Society. Struggling with the invisible contract stating that success demands sacrifice, Alli Kushner decided against quietly disengaging. She chose to get louder about what she needed to show up better. She calls it loud living. In this article … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 12, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 5, 2025. Link. Most read posts from June 5 2025 AHD Bulletin – Strategies for culling cows this year. Link. Orange cats, freak of nature? Link. Plain speak. Link. AVMA’s New World screwworm resource for veterinarians. Link. DocTalk . . . Embryos and reproductive technologies. Link. … [Read more...]
NOAA predicts above-average 2025 hurricane season
With 70 percent confidence, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting 13 to 19 named storms, 6 to 10 of which will become hurricanes, and 3 to 5 may grow to major hurricane intensity of Category 3 or stronger. The article includes concerns over staffing, which, beyond the political turmoil, should be fair warning for individuals and businesses to … [Read more...]
AVMA develops New World screwworm resource for veterinarians
New World screwworm is a serious cause for concern. AVMA’s New World screwworm webpage delivers the key information veterinary teams need to stay ahead of this emerging threat. Veterinary teams will play a critical role in frontline defenses. The situation calls for vigilance and immediate response. Source: AVMA@Work, June 3, 3025. Link. … [Read more...]