Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 12, 2026. Link. Most read posts from February 12, 2026 AHD Bulletin – 90% of cat owners make winter mistakes. Cats suffer unnoticed. Link. Waiting is not free. Link. How emotional marketing creates moral injury in vet med, pet care. Link. NEW resource strengthens biosecurity practices, … [Read more...]
FDA approves new generics for cattle; a BRD treatment and a dewormer
The Food & Drug Administration announced approvals of two veterinary treatments targeted at cattle health issues on January 22nd: Dewormer: Defendazole (fenbendazole) oral suspension, by Norbrook Laboratories Ltd. (ANADA 200-831) contains same active ingredient as Safe-Guard (NADA 128-620). BRD treatment: nixiFLOR (florfenicol and flunixin meglumine) injectable … [Read more...]
New food pyramid is a significant reset of U.S. nutrition policy
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030 from HHS and USDA seek to deliver a clear, commonsense message to the American people: “Eat real food.” Kristin Bakker’s article shares potential benefits to American food animal producers. Source: Feedstuffs, January 6, 2026. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 11, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 4, 2025. Link. Most read posts from December 4th AHD Bulletin – Beat seasonal depression before it arrives. Link. Barrel racing event in Waco, TX, epicenter of EHV-1/EHM outbreaks. Link. How cold is too cold? Link. Unused PTO: a red flag. Link. Stay informed without doomscrolling. … [Read more...]
Better water, better pig health
Water quality and water delivery systems remain a critical component of optimizing animal health, regardless of the species. Sarah Muirhead’s article focuses on on the challenges of scaling, biofilms, medication efficacy variables and water treatment effectiveness. The comments on water testing frequency and aquifer variability are notable. Source: Feedstuffs, November 2025. … [Read more...]
Body condition scoring for success
Right now, when cows are slicked off and in the second trimester of pregnancy, is the most accurate and easiest time of the management cycle to evaluate their BCS. Producers should manage their calving season, genetics, grazing system, supplementation program and herd health to achieve an average BCS of 5 to 6 (target 5.5) in the mature cow herd at calving time, writes Mark Z. … [Read more...]
First open-source dairy farm ‘digital twin’ unveiled
Amazing new technology lets dairy producers get closer to cows from farther away and it is open-source. Scotland’s Rural College Dairy Research Centre, has unveiled farm-twin, the world’s first open-source Digital Twin platform designed specifically to transform dairy farming. By replicating the physical environment in a digital space, it enables farmers to monitor … [Read more...]
Oligoimidazolium carbon acids found to prevent udder infections with no adverse effects
A team of international scientists has unveiled an alternative class of potent antimicrobial compounds that could be used to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria that cause bovine mastitis in a recent study. Not yet commercialized, this approach to mastitis will be one to watch. Source: Feedstuffs, October 14, 2025. Link. Novel compounds called oligoimidazolium carbon acids … [Read more...]
Conditions associated with HPAI spreading to farms identified
Kimbra Cutlip’s article is a reminder that 1) wild bird migration is underway, 2) colder weather means more infections, 3) biosecurity reduces risk to animals and their caretakers, and 4) prevention strategies are beneficial and reduce strain on production economics. Source: Feedstuffs, September 10, 2025. Link. A recently published study in the journal One Health compared … [Read more...]
Salmonella strain infecting cattle and people is highly similar
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University investigated how strains of the pathogen Salmonella Dublin are evolving and spreading across humans, cattle and the environment in the U.S. Taking a broader One Health approach, they examined genomic differences and stability across strains over time and from different yet related sources. S. Dublin can cause severe illness and … [Read more...]
Tetanus creates problems for animals after storms
Because animal environments are commonly populated with Clostridium tetani, or tetanus, any wound can easily become contaminated at any time. However, caution is warranted in areas damaged by storms. Storm damages provide abnormal opportunities for horses, cattle and hogs to be injured and get a tetanus infection. Source: Feedstuffs, August 6, 2025. Link. Following a storm, … [Read more...]
Calving difficulty and earlier age at first calving reduce milk yield
Commentary Production research and measurements are tedious and fascinating. Research often allows producers to fine-tune their animal management processes to optimize production and animal welfare. With a little help from veterinarians and animal health pros, dairy producers will appreciate learning about the research shared here. Two takeaways stand out. Heifers … [Read more...]
H5N1 bird flu takes major toll on dairy herds
Managing different elements of production on dairies occupies a lot of content in livestock and veterinary publications. Like fine-tuning a race car, multiple factors affect production outcomes. In this article, Laura Reiley shares how H5N1 affects cows gleaned from a new paper published by a team of Cornell researchers. Bird flu causes severe mastitis and decreased milk … [Read more...]
FDA approves Merck’s northern fowl mite treatment for poultry
The FDA has approved Merck Animal Health’s EXZOLT™ (fluralaner oral solution), a parasiticide for chickens that treats and controls northern fowl mites (Ornithinyssus sylviarum) in production houses. Safe for laying hens and replacement chickens EXZOLT™ is a first-of-its-kind product which can be administered in drinking water. Source: FEEDSTUFFS, July 18, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 23, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 17, 2025. Link. Most read posts from July 17, 2025 AHD Bulletin – ½ of moms in sandwich generation left jobs due to caregiving roles. Link. Above all else, Integrity. Link. Longhorned ticks here to stay. Let’s review. Link. Applying the kitten checklist. Link. Cat panting. A concern or not? … [Read more...]
WOAH urges investment in vaccines as defense against growing disease threats
Commentary Before you say, “well, duh” or “it’s a global issue” or “we diligently promote vaccination,” take a few moments to read this article and skim the World Organization for Animal Health report. You’ll likely find some convincing facts to share the next time you encounter vaccine hesitancy. It warns that infectious diseases are spreading into new territories, placing … [Read more...]
Texas 7th state to ban lab-grown meat
Texas is now the seventh state to pass legislation to ban lab-grown meat, prohibiting the sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption in the state. Source: FEEDSTUFFS, June 20, 2025. Link. … [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...]
Wearable tech for cows to help dairy farmers improve herd management
Researchers from the University of Minnesota have been testing whether wearable tech — like a Fitbit, but for cows — can help farmers make smarter decisions about when to treat animals and, just as importantly, when not to. One of the biggest takeaways from the research is how to define a truly “healthy” cow in all the various settings cows can be tracked and … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – May 15, 2025
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, May 8, 2025. Link. Most read posts from May 8, 2025 AHD Bulletin – Three 3 rules of three for successful communications. Link. New survey shows horse owners underestimate disease risks. Link. Your brand. Link. Mental health considerations for cats. Link. Hay, forage outlook for 2025. 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...]
Beef-dairy crossbreds often heartier than purebreds
In a first-of-its-kind study published in the Journal of Dairy Science, a team led by Penn State researchers determined that by the age of eight months, on average, the hybrid calves that recovered from pneumonia achieved similar average daily growth to calves that never had pneumonia. Source: FEEDSTUFFS, February 2025. Link. Study researchers reported that pneumonia … [Read more...]
Mitigating pregnancy loss in cow herds
Chloe Collins reviews management changes that can help mitigate calf loss. She shares multiple factors that create pregnancy or calf losses in utero and after the calf is born. Source: FEEDSTUFFS, February 20, 2025. Link. Decreasing calf loss can be a long-run effort, but it is worth every ounce of preparation and prevention.” - Chloe Collins … [Read more...]
Bird flu enters a new phase, meanwhile, the environment cannot be sterilized
The latest data from the CDC and USDA shows the continued devastating effects of bird flu outbreaks across the United States. New York Times writer Apoorva Mandavilli provides a relevant and updated situation analysis in the second article shared here. Not yet a serious human threat, she shares the expanding discoveries in mammalian species, including cats both wild and … [Read more...]
Sugar solution found to fight metritis infection in dairy cows just as well as antibiotics
The research on alternatives to antibiotic therapies continues. Penn State researchers found a concentrated sugar solution could be just as effective as antibiotics at treating clinical metritis, a common uterine infection in dairy cows post-calving. Source: Feedstuffs, January 20, 2025. Link. … [Read more...]
Cost of cow-calf production significantly influenced by operation size
NOTE: Understanding the economies of scale is important for animal health pros as we work with cattle producers to optimize production outcomes. Too frequently, the added cost of veterinary services and medicine fall subject to scrutiny despite them being de minimis in the mix of operating costs per cow and the level of production. There are more than 600,000 farms with beef … [Read more...]
Elanco receives FDA approval for three combinations in finishing heifers
Elanco’s work to shift the narrative on livestock from climate culprit to climate opportunity to help protect customers’ social license to operate underscores the FDA approval of combination feeding with Experior, the first FDA-approved product with a gas emissions claim. FDA-approved combination feeding of: Experior and MGA Experior, Rumensin and MGA Experior, … [Read more...]
Bird flu mutating and reassorting with seasonal flu could create a pandemic-causing virus
Commentary It is NOT time to panic. Experts are studying the potential for H5N1 to mutate and reassort with seasonal influenza. They indicate humans and pigs could both serve as mixing vessels for a bird flu–seasonal flu hybrid. The article by Tanya Lewis provides a situation analysis, food for thought and reinforces the importance of: seasonal flu vaccination for … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – September 26, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, September 19, 2024. Link. Most read posts from the September 19th AHD Bulletin – Subtle leadership. Link. Study: superbug crisis could get worse, kill nearly 40 million people. Link. Injectable iron – New science on a routine practice. Link. 10 reasons to love sticky ichthammol ointment. Link. … [Read more...]
Injectable iron – New science on a routine practice
Complimentary Commercial Content To prevent iron deficiency in pigs and avoid the heavy losses this can cause, iron supplementation is necessary during the first three days of life. Since the 1950’s iron supplements have been common practice, albeit with some arguments about how much and whether one dose or two is best. In this article, Wesley Lyons and Chris Olsen, of … [Read more...]