Fiction: The most common symptom of BVD is diarrhea. From vaccinations to diagnostics, misconceptions about BVD can leave costly gaps in herd health programs. Veterinarians Dr. Robert Larson and Dr. Christopher Chase help separate fact from fiction on one of the cattle industry’s most economically important diseases. Because many infected animals appear healthy, … [Read more...]
A new hay net wrap that disappears
Commercial content A new compostable net wrap is reducing tons of farm waste and saving cattle lives in the process. Nature’s Net Wrap is made from plant-based biopolymers that break down through microbial activity. Producers say the compostable wrap helps reduce plastic waste while eliminating the risk of cattle consuming traditional net wrap left on bales. The … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 2, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 25, 2026. Link. Most read posts from June 25, 2026 AHD Bulletin – SSDD does not produce different results. Link. Killing innovation. Link. It may be time to consider leptospirosis in cats. Link. The truth about MSG and dog food. Link. The horse industry’s social license to operate. Link. … [Read more...]
Only a third of summer milk loss comes from the bunk
Cooling is necessary; it’s just not sufficient, writes Andrew Hunt. His article is one to study and share with dairy producers. Just one heat event starts a cascade resulting in milk losses. Only about a third of summer milk loss traces back to reduced intake. The rest comes from a gut–immune cascade cooling fans can’t touch. When a cow shunts blood from her gut to dump … [Read more...]
Liver abscesses not just a harvest-day finding
It is now believed the true impact of liver abscesses may begin long before harvest. Shifting energy use from maintenance to production and growth is central to the discussion of liver abscess. Recent research provides evidence that liver abscesses may begin earlier in life. Source: Bovine Veterinarian, June 17, 2026. Link. Veterinarians may need to view liver abscesses not … [Read more...]
25 heifer candidates are better than 10 replacement heifers
Stop only picking replacement heifers one time at weaning. Evaluate heifer candidates at five critical phases and let selection pressure identify your herd's future, writes Wesley Tucker. He asserts that producers continue sacrificing their younger, better-genetic heifers by selecting replacements too early and limiting a more natural selection process over the heifer … [Read more...]
Review: Why bird flu targets cows’ udders instead of lungs
In cows, the bird flu looks completely different. Instead of affecting the lungs, as H5N1 does in other mammalian species, it causes severe infection in the cows' udders and largely spares the lungs. Researchers revealed the biology of why the disease looked so different when it leaped to cows, and offer a framework for spotting its next guise more quickly in this … [Read more...]
Fear of rabies spreading in Upper Midwest cattle herds via skunks
Health officials across four Upper Midwest states are warning livestock owners about an uptick in rabies cases tied to infected skunks. Since 2024, 10 cattle have tested positive for rabies in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota, according to a joint notification from state agriculture and health departments. The infections have been linked to exposures from rabid skunks … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – June 25, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, June 18, 2026. Link. Most read posts from June 18, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Puppocalypse, Kitten Craze, resetting industry expectations. Link. ‘Rust-out’ is the new burnout. It requires a different fix. Link. 7 stories to help your customers come home at night. Link. Why the future of veterinary … [Read more...]
Adding cattle can improve soil health
Bringing livestock, especially ruminants, back to the farm is one of the underlying principles of improving soil health. The urine, manure and slobber from a ruminant all contain biological organisms that can benefit the health of your soil and start the process of improving soil health, according to Indiana Conservation Partnership personnel. Source: Farm Progress, June 16, … [Read more...]
Post-weaning diseases and how to prepare
Understanding how stress impacts cattle health and how to intervene to decrease stressors before weaning, at weaning and after weaning is fundamental in preventing post-weaning disease, writes Taylor Engle, DVM. He discusses low-stress weaning, vaccination, timing, handling and more. Source: BEEF, May/June 2026. Link. The prevention magic we are looking for, is the work we … [Read more...]
$15,000 a mile: The brutal math of wildfire recovery, drought in Nebraska cattle country
Joe McGinley, a rancher and volunteer fire chief, says the Morrill Fire blaze that swept through western Nebraska in March was a “perfect storm” of abundant fuel and violent winds. He warns the industry is facing a sobering reality: with an aging rancher population and astronomical recovery costs, the decisions made in the wake of the smoke will determine who stays in the … [Read more...]
Two cases of New World Screwworm confirmed in South Texas
The ongoing NWS story is going to occupy current news for a time. “A case of New World screwworm has been confirmed in South Texas near La Pryor, according to USDA.” NWS is back in the U.S. for the first time in 60 years. Animal health pros who share updates and actionable information can help animal owners monitor and identify infestations. This situation is evolving, and … [Read more...]
Hot messaging helps keep livestock and pets cool
AHD’s editor Rick Purnell continues his “Seen, Heard, Trusted” series here focusing on keeping animals cool as the summer heats up. The article shares the temperatures when heat begins causing issues for cows, pigs, horses, goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens. Purnell advocates routine heat stress reminders because heat-related problems can begin at temperatures as low as … [Read more...]
Those #@$^&! flies
University studies routinely show that heavy fly pressure changes cow behavior and lowers production. Good fly control starts with sanitation and manure management. Clean facilities, dry bedding, strong airflow and regular monitoring all reduce fly pressure. As dairy farms focus more on cow comfort, animal welfare and disease prevention, fly control will remain an important … [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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
Checklist to prepare for pasture turnout
This is a good time to review herd health programs, which should include fly control* and vaccines, says Randy Saner in his checklist of management decisions that need to be considered before pasture turnout. Consider sending articles to local producer clients as a reminder, especially considering the concerns over New World screwworm flies and the value of cattle in today’s … [Read more...]
Planning for the 3 most stressful days for a beef-on-dairy calf (video)
Trey Gellert, DVM, outlines how birth, weaning and transport shape lifetime performance in beef-on-dairy calves. His focus for producers is to plan ahead to reduce risk and to set the stage for the best calf to send to the next production stage. Source: The Beef Site, April 27, 2026. Link. [5:49] Before weaning, <producers> need to start programming the calf at a … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 7, 2026
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, April 30, 2026. Link. Most read posts from April 30, 2026 AHD Bulletin – Four stoic rules to master your emotions at work. Link. How Simon Sinek changed business strategy to an infinite game. Link. Great to good to average to mediocre. Link. Most read post in April 2026: Personal responsibility. … [Read more...]