Leading producers are capitalizing on the untapped potential of extended colostrum feeding, writes Andrew Hunt. He shares research from Dr. Michael Steele at the University of Guelph showing that transitioning quickly from colostrum to milk replacer could limit a herd’s genetic potential and reduce the operation’s future revenue. Source: The Bullvine, April 11, 2025. … [Read more...]
Make temperature monitoring part of daily calf care
A lot has been written on keeping calves warm in cold weather and easing environmental heat during summer heat waves <Link>. In this article, Maureen Hanson shares the importance of urging producers to make temperature monitoring a routine part of daily calf care. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, February 26, 2025. Link. Early detection of disease is critical to avoid … [Read more...]
The 4 lengths of horse’s feet
Here’s a situation where physics and trigonometry can benefit performance and horse welfare. Randy S. Luikart explains the thought processes defining four different lengths of the overall hoof: too short, protective, optimum and too long. He defines each and how they apply to different equine disciplines. The importance of shoeing each equine discipline varies on what and how … [Read more...]
Decoding a fly spray label
To effectively reduce the number of flies terrorizing horses, horse owners, retailers and veterinary teams need to identify and consider eight important elements from the various product labels available. The EPA tightly regulates label language. Know that the small print gives the types and levels of active ingredients, which vary from one fly product to the next. This … [Read more...]
IBPSA Fast Bites – April 28, 2025
IBPSA MBA Program postponed, growth in businesses that cater to high-end pet services, app seeks to build dog owner communities, subscription services, Tractor Supply’s pet pharmacy, bunnies promote proper pet care, petflation slowing, pet insurance growth stabilizing and more . . . Source: IBPSA, April 28, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
How to work with your brain, not against it
It is often easier to obsess over the one thing you didn’t finish today than the 20 things you did, writes Charlie Gilkey. Explaining the Zeigarnik Effect, he says our brains treat incomplete tasks like a persistent alarm system, keeping them front and center until we handle them or explicitly tell our brain we’ve got this covered. This creates an exhausting cognitive drag. He … [Read more...]
AVMA updates report on veterinary use of cannabidiol
The AVMA’s newly updated report, Cannabis in Veterinary Medicine captures the latest evidence-based context, clinical developments and legal considerations as research and regulations continue to evolve. These include: Safety data and pharmacokinetics of CBD in dogs and cats Clinical trials exploring CBD-rich hemp products in dogs, cats, and horses Regulatory updates … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 24, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 17, 2024. Link. Most read posts from April 17, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Pain in dairy cattle: a narrative review. Link. Your part in heartworm prevention. Link. More than half of U.S. pet owners skip, decline needed vet care. Link. Sales reps are struggling: 10 ugly truths sales leaders must … [Read more...]
Tractor Supply launches service to streamline pet prescriptions
Tractor Supply launched Tractor Supply Rx in a bid to enhance convenience for customers ordering pet and animal medications. Its features include automatic delivery through the Autoship program, access to expert pharmacy advice and a price match guarantee. The objective is to provide an easy, one-stop shopping destination for the 38 million Neighbor’s Club members, of whom 75 … [Read more...]
Livestock producers, veterinarians urged to consider and manage Q fever zoonotic risk
Q fever is a highly contagious zoonotic disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, which infects cattle, goats, and sheep. It is found in an infected animal’s bodily fluids and excretions, such as placental tissues, amniotic fluid, urine, feces and milk. The main signs of infection in animals include abortion, infertility, fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. C. … [Read more...]
Tick-borne pathogen threats to U.S. cattle operations
Serving as a reminder for cattle producers and their veterinarians, this article urges staying alert for signs of tick infestation within their herds. The authors say early diagnostic testing at the first sign of a suspect illness in their cattle should be considered. Major tick-borne threats to U.S. cattle producers include cattle tick fever (Bovine Babesiosis), Anaplasmosis … [Read more...]
Environmental management is key when dealing with equine asthma
Call it the heaves, inflammatory airway disease or recurrent airway obstruction, equine asthma occurs when horses are hypersensitive to dust and mold in their environment. A two-fold approach with medication and environmental management is the best way to reduce the effects of equine asthma, according to Rachelle Thompson, DVM, DACVIM. Source: Paulick Report, February 18, … [Read more...]
Ticks are a concern in cats, too
Commentary After a jaunt in my suburban backyard I noted a deer tick on my sock. While checking for additional ticks on me and the dog, a neighborhood free-range cat jumped the fence in search of a field mouse, mole or songbird before Lil Buddy gave chase. The backyard incident was a stark reminder of the importance of year-round preventatives and my clothes as a … [Read more...]
Livestock producers concerned about diseases, uncertain about level of threat
Commentary Iowa is a top U.S. producer of red meat and eggs. The information here is likely representative of many livestock producers in the U.S. For veterinary teams and animal health pros serving owners of any herd or flock size, the research results are informative, concerning and actionable. We must dedicate ourselves to improving producer education on diseases and risk … [Read more...]
USDA develops resource to help veterinary professionals recognize, respond to screwworm
Veterinarians and veterinary technicians are important in recognizing New World screwworm should an invasion of Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screwworm fly, occur. To help in these efforts, the USDA National Veterinary Accreditation Program has developed the training module, Module 41: New World Screwworm: A 21st Century Perspective. It goes over signs of NWS, its life … [Read more...]
H5N1 in North America: implications for small animal veterinarians
The spillover of H5N1 from wild birds and poultry to dairy cattle, cats and more raises new questions about virus evolution and its implications for veterinary medicine. J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, FCAHS, shares an overview of the disease, cross-species infection potential, viral mutation, risk mitigation and symptoms. Staying informed, practicing good biosecurity, and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – April 17, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 10, 2024. Link. Most read posts from April 10, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Don’t assume, check to be sure. Link. ‘Treat Me Like a Dog’ campaign seeks to close the cat treat gap. Link. Factors affecting early pregnancy loss in cattle. Link. Mismatched background music affects employees. Link. … [Read more...]
Improving productivity key to reducing antibiotic use in livestock
Commentary Seeing research and projections like these are important in managing the effects of livestock production practices domestically and globally. The information in this article is likely to elicit a “well duh” response from many animal health professionals. Regardless of species or country, improving adherence to best practices requires continual education and … [Read more...]
Participation in industry surveys critical to hog industry decisions, support
Response rates on hog inventory surveys keep falling, writes Lee Schulz, noting that only 63 percent of pork producers surveyed for the March 2025 report responded. Asserting the importance of reporting data, he shares how the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service collects and shares industry metrics. To get reliable, representative data, NASS needs to survey and … [Read more...]
Pain in dairy cattle: a narrative review
Commentary This narrative review looks at the need for pain control, industry practices and stakeholder expectations and opportunities. It gives veterinary teams insight into how pain is being addressed in multiple dairy operations and possible ways to overcome barriers dairy producers may assert when recommending pain management protocols. From the summary Proper pain … [Read more...]
Tracking the track: The impact of different grazing strategies on managing equine obesity
Research findings suggest that track grazing systems prove useful in effective equine bodyweight management in vulnerable horses. Horses susceptible to bodyweight gain or with metabolic issues lost significantly more bodyweight in the track grazing systems than similar horses kept on traditional restricted grazing systems. There were no significant changes to their behavior, … [Read more...]
Farrier’s spring hoof care e-guide now available
The 2025 American Farriers Journal's Spring Hoof Care e-Guide offers education for farriers and animal health pros to support wellness with equine clients. These areas are covered: Prevent and treat thrush with proper trimming and hygiene. Recognize the signs of white line disease and take corrective action. Adapt hoof-care routines to combat moisture-related … [Read more...]
Life-size dairy cow model helps students learn birthing, milking other tasks
Birtha and Decalf are among the latest additions to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and are helping show students how to deliver calves, tend udders and ensure calves get milk. Taika von Konigslow, assistant professor, creates multiple scenarios of calf delivery and udder challenges so students can learn before practicing on live bovines.. Source: … [Read more...]
Free, 30-day pet parasite forecasts boost local value of CAPC’s forecasting service
Commentary Veterinary teams and pet owners can now be alerted to local parasite disease threats at no charge using CAPC’s monthly pet parasite forecast maps <Link>. These alerts provide excellent reasons to communicate timely parasite prevalence and associated risks with clients and local media. The Companion Animal Parasite Council just released its 2025 Pet … [Read more...]
Licensing deal, angel investment to drive innovation in ag technology
AgBoost, a leading provider of data-driven solutions for cattle producers, proudly announces the successful closing of a $500,000 investment round and the signing of a strategic licensing agreement with MedIrAlis, an animal health company in Australia. This step accelerates AgBoost’s mission to empower ranchers with cutting-edge technology to optimize genomic data for breeding, … [Read more...]
Factors affecting early pregnancy loss in cattle
This article references a review that highlights factors contributing to pregnancy loss and the rapidly evolving methods used to predict pregnancy failure. Bob Larson, DVM, and Brad White, DVM, review the study compiled by researchers at Texas A&M University. In what seems a bit like Murphy’s Law, the veterinarians say early pregnancy loss is due to issues with the … [Read more...]
Setting up beef-on dairy-calves up for success
The first few days are make-or-break for setting up beef-on-dairy calves for success, shares Gail Carpenter, DVM, PhD. She offers five key priorities so farmers can give their calves the best start possible, making sure they stay healthy and strong for their next chapter of life: Breed for the right calves Prioritize maternity management Ensure proper colostrum … [Read more...]
Habitat a priority in saving honey bees but there’s more species to consider
As seasonal plants arrive in local garden and hardware stores, consider the opportunity to support pollinators. Beyond honey bees, there are more than 4,000 species of bees in the U.S that help pollinate flowers, plants and crops. As few as three or four pots of the right plants can attract bees and butterflies on city streets, balconies and decks. We’re sharing three … [Read more...]
How to make an outdoor cat an indoor cat
Last week we offered an article on the pros and cons of allowing indoor cats to experience the outdoors <Link>. In the article here, LeeAnna Buis, CFTBS, FFCP, offers ways to help an outdoor cat transition indoors. She emphasizes it will take planning, consistent effort and time. Source: Preventive Vet, November 11, 2024. Link. Use a gradual process, slowly keeping … [Read more...]
Rendering important in today’s pet food supply chain
The research arm of North American Renderers Association, in partnership with IFEEDER, AFIA and the Pet Food Institute, released new research highlighting the essential use rendered ingredients have in pet food. In 2024, the U.S. pet food industry reached $51.7 billion in sales and produced 9.8 million tons of pet food. More than 600 safe, nutritious ingredients included over 4 … [Read more...]