News

The Essential Do's and Don'ts of Managing Difficult Calvings

Tue, 26 May 2026 14:15:16 GMT

Difficult calvings can escalate quickly, but what producers do in the first hour can dramatically affect outcomes for both the cow and calf. In many cases, early recognition, proper restraint and timely veterinary intervention matter more than brute force.

“Once she starts actively pushing, if you’re not really seeing progress within half an hour to an hour, you should probably restrain her and figure out what is going on,” explains Rachel Loppe , veterinarian at Coastal Range Veterinary Services .

When managing a difficult calving and waiting for veterinary assistance, there are several practical steps that can improve outcomes and several common mistakes that can make the situation significantly worse.

Calving Tools to Have On Hand

Palpation sleeves
OB lube
Obstetrical chains
Clippers

Cattle Dystocia Intervention

1. Monitor and Recognize Stalled Labor

Watch closely for prolonged active straining without advancement. If progress has stalled for half an hour, do not hesitate to assess the cow and/or call the vet for help.

2. Safely Restrain and Examine the Cow

Secure the animal safely. If you are comfortable doing so, perform a basic vaginal exam to identify the issue. Always wear clean palpation sleeves. You are hoping for an anterior presentation, but this may not be the case if the cow is having difficulties.

Common abnormalities in calf presentation include:

Posterior presentation
Two legs forward with the head turned back
One or both limbs back with the head forward
Breech calves
Twins
Fetopelvic mismatch, where the calf is too large for the dam

(Illustrations: Oklahoma State University)

3. Apply Abundant Lubrication

“Use all of the lube,” Loppe advises.

Generously lubricate your glove and the tract to reduce friction, improve maneuverability and minimize trauma. Loppe notes that producers can use significant force when repositioning calves, but technique and caution matter.

“You do have to be mindful. Sharp things like teeth and hooves can cause lacerations in the uterus and to yourself,” she says.

Further, the type of lube does matter. J-Lube contains polyethylene polymer that causes an increased risk of peritonitis if you end up having to go to C-section and it gets into the abdomen. Use OB lube instead.

4. Attach Obstetrical Chains Using a Double Hitch

If you need to apply traction, do not use a single wrap, which concentrates dangerous pressure on one spot. Spread the pressure evenly across the hoof to prevent soft tissue damage and leg fractures.

“If you just do a simple singular wrap, there is a possibility that you’re going to put way too much pressure on one area. You do a double hitch so you have evenly spread pressure across the hoof when you’re pulling,” Loppe says.

5. Evaluate the “Go/No-Go” Birth Canal Rule

Before applying heavy mechanical traction, verify the calf’s anatomy can actually fit through the pelvic opening.

“If you can get the head and both shoulders into the birth canal engaged, it can come out the back end. If you can’t get both shoulders and the head there, do not jack it. You might get it out, but you’re probably going to hurt mom and baby,” Loppe advises.

6. Know When to Stop Pulling

“Nobody wants to go to C-section, but at the end of the day it potentially could be a lot easier and faster than messing around in there for the next two hours,” Loppe says.

If the head and shoulders cannot clear the canal, stop pulling immediately. Forcing a vaginal delivery past this point risks severe trauma or calf death, whereas a surgical intervention is often safer and more efficient.

7. Prepare the Cow for a C-Section

If a surgical delivery is required, maximize efficiency while the veterinarian is en route. Move the cow to a clean, well-lit, safe area with secure restraint and begin physical preparation if you have the tools.

“If they have clippers, they could start shaving that left side for me. If they wanted to be super helpful, they could even start scrubbing her,” Loppe says.

What Not to do with a Difficult Calving

Loppe stresses some of the most serious dystocia complications result not from the original presentation, but from delayed intervention or excessive force.

“It’s one thing to try to help. It’s another thing to keep pulling when nothing is changing,” she warns.

She also cautions producers against working bare-handed during calvings.

“The zoonotic risk is worth just putting some gloves on,” Loppe says.

Beyond protecting yourself, gloves and clean sleeves help reduce contamination introduced into the uterus during manipulation.

Ultimately, timely decision-making is one of the most important factors in achieving a positive outcome. Recognizing when progress has stopped and when veterinary intervention is needed can help improve survival, reduce trauma and shorten recovery time for both the cow and calf.

Could Seaweed Work in Cattle Diets?

Fri, 22 May 2026 14:06:57 GMT

Scientists have discovered cattle and other ruminants already harbor gut microbes capable of digesting compounds from seaweed, even when the animals have likely never been exposed to it before. The finding suggests the ruminant microbiome may be far more adaptable to alternative feed ingredients than previously believed, an important insight as the livestock industry explores seaweed-based methane reduction strategies.

The work lead by Wade Abbott , a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based in Lethbridge, Alberta, and published in Nature Communications , examined how the gut microbiomes of cattle responded to diets containing the red seaweed, Mazzaella japonica. Researchers found the populations of specialized bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract rapidly expanded in response to the seaweed and activated enzyme systems capable of breaking down carrageenan, a complex polysaccharide found in red seaweed.

Researcher Jeff Tingley collecting seaweed samples.

(Canadian Light Source)

The discovery adds a new layer to the growing conversation around seaweed supplementation in cattle diets. While some seaweed species have attracted attention for their potential to reduce enteric methane emissions, questions have remained about how effectively ruminants can digest marine-derived carbohydrates.

Key Findings

Researchers found:

Cattle already harbor gut microbes capable of digesting carrageenan
Seaweed feeding increased populations of carrageenan-degrading Bacteroides
Most carrageenan digestion occured in the lower gut, not the rumen
Similar microbial pathways were identified across multiple ruminant species
Ruminants may adapt more readily to seaweed-based feeds than previously believed

Researchers Identify Carrageenan-Digesting Gut Bacteria in Cattle

The researchers identified specific gut bacteria, particularly members of the Bacteroides genus, that flourished after cattle consumed the red seaweed supplement. These microbes carried clusters of genes known as carrageenan polysaccharide utilization loci, or CarPULs, which encode specialized enzymes capable of degrading carrageenan.

What surprised the team most was how widespread these pathways appeared to be.

After analyzing public microbiome datasets from multiple herbivore species, they identified similar carrageenan-digesting genes in cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, deer, yak, giraffes and several other mammals. Comparable pathways were even detected in humans and great apes.

The findings suggest these seaweed-digesting capabilities may represent an ancient and conserved microbial trait, rather than a recent adaptation to marine feed exposure. This indicates ruminant microbiomes may already possess dormant metabolic pathways capable of responding to entirely new feed ingredients.

Seaweed Digestion Happens Mainly Outside the Rumen

One of the more unexpected findings was where the digestion appeared to occur.

The rumen microbiome showed relatively modest changes following seaweed feeding. In contrast, fecal microbiomes shifted dramatically, with strong enrichment of carrageenan-degrading Bacteroides populations. That observation suggests carrageenan digestion may occur primarily in the lower gastrointestinal tract.

This distinction could become important for future feed formulation work. Many discussions around methane-reducing feed additives focus heavily on rumen interactions, but the study highlights downstream sections of the gut may also play a major role in how alternative ingredients are processed biologically.

The work also reinforces the idea that the ruminant digestive system functions as a highly interconnected microbial ecosystem rather than a rumen-only fermentation chamber.

Why Do We Care About Seaweed?

Interest in seaweed supplementation has expanded rapidly over the past several years because certain marine algae species have demonstrated the ability to suppress methane production during ruminal fermentation.

Methane reduction strategies have become a major research priority globally as livestock industries face increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining productivity. However, introducing seaweed into terrestrial livestock systems presents both practical and biological challenges. Seaweed polysaccharides differ substantially from the plant fibers cattle have evolved to consume, and scientists have questioned whether ruminant microbiomes could adapt efficiently to these novel substrates.

This new study suggests the adaptation hurdle may be lower than expected.

Rather than requiring entirely new microbial communities, cattle may already harbor low-abundance microbes equipped to process seaweed compounds when dietary conditions change.

Scientists Characterize Specialized Seaweed-Digesting Enzymes

Researchers isolated live bacterial strains capable of growing on carrageenan as their sole carbon source and characterized several carrageenase enzymes involved in digestion. Some enzymes targeted specific forms of carrageenan, including κ-carrageenan and ι-carrageenan, while others acted on hybrid structures.

The team also resolved the crystal structure of one enzyme to better understand how it recognizes sulfate-rich polysaccharides. The structural analysis showed the enzyme contains highly specialized binding regions that allow it to distinguish between different carrageenan types based on their sulfate positioning and molecular shape.

“We’re only beginning to understand the genetic mechanisms that allow gut microbes to process these marine sugars,” Abbott said in a press release . “If we can map those pathways fully, the applications go well beyond cattle. We’re talking about a new framework for sustainable agriculture, one that embraces unconventional feed sources and works with the biology that’s already there, waiting to be activated.”

These newly identified enzymes could eventually have applications in:

Feed innovation
Food processing
Biotechnology
Biofuel production
Industrial polysaccharide modification

What This Research Reveals About the Cattle Gut Microbiome

This research highlights a broader concept increasingly shaping microbiome science: many microbial functions may remain effectively hidden until environmental conditions activate them.

The authors describe these pathways as part of the microbiome’s functional “dark matter,” meaning genetic capabilities are present within microbial communities but not always actively expressed.

As feed systems evolve in response to sustainability pressures, climate goals and alternative ingredient development, the adaptability of the gut microbiome may prove to be one of the industry’s most valuable biological assets.

While substantial work remains before seaweed supplementation becomes a standardized commercial feeding strategy, the study provides evidence that the microbial foundation for adaptation may already exist within cattle themselves.

Beyond the Binder: Transform Farm Protocols into Living Tools for Success

Fri, 22 May 2026 14:41:26 GMT

In the corner of many dairy farm offices sits a thick, white three-ring binder. Inside are the meticulously drafted protocols required for the National Milk Producers Federation FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) program. For some, this binder is a badge of excellence. For others, it is simply a hurdle cleared for a farm inspection, destined to collect dust until the next auditor arrives.

But for Dr. Jody Kull, an assistant teaching professor at Penn State University and a veteran veterinarian with nearly two decades of clinical experience, that binder represents something far more vital: It is a tool for risk abatement, a blueprint for consistency and the foundation of a farm’s legacy.

As she shared in a recent episode of “The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast,” the secret to a resilient dairy operation isn’t just having a protocol — it’s making that protocol a fluid document that breathes with the farm’s daily rhythm.

The Small Farm Challenge: Consistency in the Family Circle

Kull’s perspective is rooted in the reality of the small-to-mid-sized dairy. Having spent the majority of her career working with herds ranging from 70 to 200 cows, she understands employee training often looks different than it does on a 5,000-cow operation. On these farms, the employees are often family members, high school neighbors or college students working part-time.

In this environment, communication is frequently verbal and informal.

“We looked at what we had on the farm, and we were talking mostly family labor,” Kull explains. The challenge is ensuring “the way we’ve always done it” is actually the same way everyone is doing it.

She advocates for integrating protocol review into the natural pauses of farm life. Whether it’s a conversation over snack time or a discussion during dinner in the farmhouse, these moments are opportunities to align on calf feeding, bedding and temperature control. By moving these informal chats into the framework of a formal protocol, the farm ensures animal health doesn’t depend on who happens to be holding the bucket that morning.

The Foundation: Why Protocols Start with the Calf

When asked where a producer and veterinarian should focus their energy first, Kull’s answer is immediate: the calves.

“The calves are really what set them up for the future on that dairy farm,” she notes.

Because calf care often involves multiple people — a morning feeder, an afternoon feeder and perhaps a different person for a midday check. Variability is the enemy.

A strong calf protocol addresses the invisible details that can make or break a heifer’s growth:

Consistency in Mixing: If using milk replacer, is the temperature and concentration identical every time?
Environmental Monitoring: Are bedding levels adequate for the current weather?
Health Scoring: Are all caretakers using the same appetite and respiratory scores to identify a sick calf before it becomes a crisis?

By standardizing these tasks, a farm reduces the risk of stunted growth or high mortality rates, effectively abating the risk of a future herd that underperforms.

The High-Stakes Transition Window

Beyond the calf barn, the transition period is the most critical window for risk management. This is where protocols move from simple task lists to sophisticated management tools.

Kull emphasizes the need for specific procedures regarding how cows are handled and moved during the pre-fresh period. Once the cow is fresh, the protocol must be nuanced enough to account for the difference between a first-calf heifer and a seasoned third-calf veteran.

“How we are managing each of those fresh cows, and how are we going to integrate them back into the herd? Those are the big ones to really focus on,” she says.

A fresh cow protocol ensures metabolic issues are caught early and the cow’s return to the milking string is as seamless as possible.

The Fluid Document: Data Meets Observation

The most transformative part of Kull’s philosophy is the idea that a protocol should never be finished. In her practice, she encouraged clients to view their paperwork as a work in progress.

This evolution often happens organically during a routine herd check. If a veterinarian observes a group of cows off-feed or notices a spike in a specific health issue, the immediate question shouldn’t just be “How do we treat this?” but “What did we do differently?”

When a glitch occurs, Kull suggests pulling out the paperwork right then and there.

“Rather than just being a verbal conversation, we’d pull out the paperwork, maybe make a different flyer, maybe make sure that everybody’s on the same page,” she says.

This is where modern technology becomes an ally. Data from robotic milkers, activity ear tags, pedometers and DHIA records provide a real-time feedback loop. If the data shows a dip in performance, the protocol can be adjusted immediately to address the root cause. This turns the FARM program from a compliance burden into a dynamic shield against economic loss.

The Veterinarian as the Team Quarterback

For new veterinary graduates, the transition from clinical medicine to herd management consulting can be daunting. Kull acknowledges conversations at the kitchen table are the bedrock of trust, but they must eventually lead to documented action.

Her advice to the next generation of vets is simple: ask questions and take notes. By asking “Why are you doing that?” and “Do you see an effect from doing that?”, the veterinarian helps the producer see their own patterns.

Furthermore, the veterinarian serves as the bridge between various farm consultants. A successful dairy operation requires a team approach where the vet, the nutritionist, the hoof trimmer and even the banker are on the same page. Kull highlights the value of group texts and periodic roundtable meetings to ensure the nutritionist’s ration isn’t working at cross-purposes with the vet’s health protocols.

A Safe Food Supply Starts with a Plan

Ultimately, Kull’s approach to protocols is about more than just animal welfare; it is about the health of the community and the safety of the global food supply. By using the FARM program as a practical tool for risk mitigation, dairy producers can protect their investment, their animals and their livelihoods.

When a protocol is fluid, updated and communicated clearly to every member of the team, the white binder on the shelf becomes the most valuable piece of equipment on the farm. It is no longer just a set of rules — it is the roadmap to a sustainable and profitable future in dairy.

What Products are Available to Prevent and Treat New World Screwworm?

Thu, 21 May 2026 19:22:08 GMT

New World Screwworm or Cochliomyia hominivorax is still south of the U.S. border, but the prevention and treatment playbook is already taking shape. Veterinarians, regulators and ranchers who’ve seen this pest up close keep coming back to the same point: you can’t treat your way out of screwworm.

Prevention means fewer wounds, tighter calving windows, stronger parasite programs and more “eyeballs” on cattle, backed up by early reporting and a vet‑guided treatment plan.

When cases do occur, today’s toolbox — from prescription pour‑ons and emergency‑use injectables — can limit the damage, as long as producers know how and when to use each tool.

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is working with animal drug sponsors to identify potential products and seeks to have them approved or otherwise authorized for the prevention or treatment of NWS myiasis. The agency has multiple regulatory pathways and access mechanisms to facilitate the availability of animal drugs for NWS.

Currently, FDA has conditionally approved two products for use with beef cattle. This list continues to grow as FDA approves products. For an up-to-date list you can visit the FDA website .

Animal Drugs Conditionally Approved by FDA for NWS

Dectomax-CA1 (doramectin injection) injectable solution: Prevention and treatment of infestations caused by NWS larvae (myiasis), and prevention of reinfestation for 21 days in cattle.
Exzolt Cattle-CA1 (fluralaner) topical solution: Prevention and treatment of infestations caused by NWS larvae (myiasis) and treatment and control of cattle fever tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) in beef cattle 2 months of age and older and replacement dairy heifers less than 20 months of age.

Emergency Use Authorization of Animal Drugs for NWS

On Aug. 18, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a declaration enabling FDA to issue Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for animal drugs to treat or prevent infestations caused by NWS. This list continues to grow as FDA approves products and for an up-to-date list, you can visit the FDA website .

Here is the current list of products FDA has approved for emergency use:

Ivomec (ivermectin) injectable solution: Prevention of infestations caused by NWS larvae (myiasis) when administered within 24 hours of birth, at the time of castration, or at the appearance of a wound in cattle, except for female dairy cattle producing milk for human consumption and calves that will be processed for veal.
F10 Antiseptic Wound Spray with Insecticide (benzalkonium chloride, polyhexanide and cypermethrin topical solution): Prevention and treatment of infestations caused by NWS larvae (myiasis) in cattle, horses, minor species of hoof stock, raptors and other wild birds, pet birds, and captive wild, exotic and zoo mammals.
F10 Antiseptic Barrier Ointment with Insecticide (benzalkonium chloride, polyhexanide and cypermethrin topical ointment): Prevention and treatment of infestations caused by NWS larvae (myiasis) in cattle, horses, minor species of hoof stock, raptors and other wild birds, pet birds, and captive wild, exotic, and zoo mammals.
Negasunt Powder (coumaphos, propoxur, and sulfanilamide topical powder): Prevention and treatment of infestations caused by NWS larvae (myiasis) in cattle, swine, goats, sheep, horses, donkeys, domestic hybrid equids, and captive wild, exotic, and zoo mammals. Negasunt is currently limited to USDA-authorized users and government agencies to prevent misuse.
Dectomax/Dectomax-CA1 (doramectin injection): Prevention and treatment of infestations caused by NWS larvae (myiasis) in dairy cattle (lactating dairy cows, dry dairy cows, replacement dairy heifers, 20 months of age and older) except for calves that will be processed for veal; and prevention of infestations caused by NWS larvae (myiasis) in horses 1 year and older, swine, sheep except lactating sheep and deer.

Prevention Options: Don’t Blanket Treat

When considering prevention, experts suggest the best option is to evaluate and adjust management practices compared to mass treating. They also encourage working with your veterinarian to make a plan.

“You may want to reevaluate with your veterinarian your integrated pest management as far as what you’re doing for ticks, and what you’re doing for the fly control and things where you might have more wounds, and that’s what you want to minimize if it does indeed get here,” suggests Dr. Diane Kitchen, a cattle rancher and Florida Department of Agriculture veterinarian manager, bovine and cervidae programs.

A veterinarian is central to the preparation and treatment plan. Part of being prepared is sitting down now with your veterinarian and discussing: “If we get screwworm, what’s our plan? How often are we looking at cattle, what products are we going to use, and what do we do about movements?”

For wound care, antibiotics, pain management and access to tools, a veterinary client–patient relationship is vital. Treatment is about parasite removal and wound management, guided by vets.

South Texas beef producer Jason Sawyer says, “We’ve also re‑evaluated our parasite control programs in the context of our beef quality assurance program and really tried to set for ourselves a comprehensive plan for how we can better monitor cattle, better treat and better prevent their exposure to screwworms, should the pest re‑emerge in Texas.”

Sawyer, who manages ranches near the U.S.-Mexico border, explains, “We’re trying to work with the weather instead of against it and think about comprehensive parasite control strategies that can minimize that risk for newborn calves, knowing that we’re unlikely to be able to put our hands on every one of them as they hit the ground.”

Health officials say mass or blanket treating the whole herd in an attempt to “prevent” NWS is not the answer. The goal should not be to habitually treat animals ‘just in case.’

“Blanket treatment of animals is not recommended,” stresses Dr. Julia Herman, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) beef cattle specialist veterinarian. “We need to be really responsible in how we use these products. Any unnecessary or inappropriate use should be avoided — this reduces the risk of developing antimicrobial resistance. Only use products for the parasites that are listed on the label.”

Sawyer agrees with the importance of resistance management, adding, “We don’t want to react to an emergent threat in a way that then creates problems with a persistent pest that’s already present.”

Kitchen summarizes that producers and veterinarians have many more tools than they did back in the ’60s and ’70s when NWS was last endemic in the U.S., but producers and veterinarians should strive to avoid “unnecessary or inappropriate use” to preserve effectiveness.

For NWS, the plan is not to line up every animal on the ranch and treat them all ‘just in case.’ Regulators and veterinarians aim to inspect, treat infested or high‑risk animals, and use systemic products where they make sense, always watching resistance, withdrawal times and product supplies.

Your Next Reads:

Why Udder Structure is Important for Dairy Cattle

Thu, 21 May 2026 15:01:56 GMT

A cow with a dropped udder, uneven teat placement or chronically rough teat ends often becomes “that mastitis cow” long before she leaves the herd. You may notice her first in the parlor through slow milkouts, liner slips, dirty udders or repeated flare-ups, but the real issue often started much earlier.

Udder structure has largely been discussed through the lens of genetics, classification scores or showring appearance. But during a recent webinar on mastitis, Rileigh Powers , graduate student at the University of Tennessee, made a practical point we see play out every day: Udder anatomy directly affects pathogen exposure, milking efficiency and infection risk.

“Each teat has its own set of glandular tissue,” Powers explains. “That’s why we have mastitis only affecting maybe one quarter most of the time.”

Every quarter essentially functions as its own individual unit. When a teat end becomes compromised through trauma, poor placement, overmilking or environmental exposure, the localized risk escalates quickly.

How Teat-End Damage Increases Mastitis Risk in Dairy Cows

Mastitis detection and prevention was the focus of a recent episode of “ The Bovine Vet Podcast .” When discussing mastitis, we generally focus on pathogens, treatment protocols and milk cultures. However, before bacteria can cause mastitis, they first have to gain access to the mammary gland.

“The only way that anything can get into the udder is through blood barriers and the teat end,” Powers says.

That makes teat-end integrity one of the most important components of mastitis prevention.

After milking, the teat canal remains temporarily open before closing again. This is a significant opportunity for infection. During that window, teat-end condition is very important. Rough teat ends, hyperkeratosis, liner slips, overmilking and vacuum fluctuations all increase the likelihood of damage to the teat sphincter.

“If we damage that protective sphincter, we’re going to see mastitis cases increase,” Powers warns.

Teat-end scoring can offer valuable insight into whether a herd’s milking routine is protecting or damaging that first barrier of defense. Chronic rough teat ends are often an early warning sign that milking procedures, equipment settings or unit alignment need to be checked.

Why Udder Attachment and Teat Placement Affect Cow Longevity

Udder depth and medial suspensory ligament strength directly shape how much environmental exposure the udder experiences every day. This ligament divides the udder halves as well as holds up the udder floor.

Comparison of udder support and teat placement based on median suspensory ligament strength. 1: Prominent ligament holding the udder tight to the body with perpendicular teats. 2: Intermediate ligament strength; udder sits level with the hock and teats remain mostly perpendicular. 3: Weak ligament; udder breaks down below the hock, causing teats to splay outward when full. 4: Absent ligament; complete failure of udder support and severe teat misalignment.

(Farm Journal)

As the medial suspensory ligament weakens, udders hang lower and teat placement shifts. Teats become more vulnerable to manure contamination, mud exposure and physical trauma. Milking unit alignment also becomes more difficult, increasing liner slips and incomplete milkout.

“If we lose that support, the cow will not likely have longevity within the herd,” Powers says.

The challenge is that no amount of excellent management fully eliminates the structural disadvantage.

“Even if our barn is the cleanest possible, if our udder structure is poor, we’re still going to have increased incidences of mastitis,” Powers explains.

That does not mean environment and management are unimportant. In fact, the opposite is true. Structural weaknesses amplify environmental risk. A deep udder in wet bedding is exposed to far more bacterial pressure than a tightly attached udder in the exact same pen.

How Bedding Cleanliness and Barn Hygiene Influence Mastitis Pressure

While anatomy plays a major role, Powers repeatedly emphasizes the importance of environmental management.

“If you’re not willing to lay in their bedding, you probably shouldn’t have them laying in it either,” she says.

Clean, dry, comfortable housing remains one of the most practical mastitis prevention tools available. Wet bedding, muddy lots, poor drainage and manure contamination all increase bacterial exposure at the teat end.

That environmental pressure becomes even more important during stressful periods such as calving, freshening or heat stress, when immune defenses may already be compromised.

“A poor nutritional plane means we’re not going to be able to fight off infection as well,” Powers adds.

Nutrition, stress management and housing quality all influence immune resilience. Even well-conformed cows become vulnerable when environmental and immune pressures stack together.

What to Evaluate for Mastitis Prevention

Mastitis prevention starts long before clinical signs appear. Mastitis is not simply a bacteria problem. It is an anatomy problem, a management problem, an environmental problem and, often, a consistency problem.

This means herd mastitis investigations may benefit from looking beyond cultures and treatment protocols alone. Teat placement, udder depth, teat-end condition, stall cleanliness, milking routine consistency and replacement-heifer selection can all shape future mastitis risk.

Bridging the $300-Billion Gap: WOAH Launches Global ‘PREVENT’ Forum to Boost Animal Vaccination

Wed, 20 May 2026 18:59:44 GMT

Global animal health threats are no longer distant risks—they are immediate economic disruptors. From the devastating spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the persistent threat of Newcastle disease, the cost of “acting too late” has reached a staggering $300 billion annually. Despite these stakes, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reports that vaccination rates for the most critical notifiable diseases remain stalled below 20%.

To close this gap, WOAH officially launched the PREVENT Forum on May 19. This five-year public-private platform is designed to dismantle the barriers preventing widespread vaccine adoption and to modernize global animal health defense.

A Strategic Response to a Global Crisis

The forum’s launch follows the publication of The State of the World’s Animal Health , that calls for better-resourced animal health systems to protect human health, food security, trade and livelihoods.

“The PREVENT Forum is a concrete response to that call, advancing prevention through structured public-private dialogue with a strong focus on vaccination,” WOAH reports. “Vaccination is one of the most effective tools available to prevent and control animal diseases, alongside strengthened biosecurity, surveillance, early detection and rapid response.”

By expanding access to quality vaccines, PREVENT aims to protect livelihoods, support food security and contribute to efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Unlike previous high-level dialogues, this forum is built around seven specific priority areas that address the practical “why” behind low vaccination rates:

Planning and Regulatory pathways
Economic evidence
Vaccine access and Equity
National strategies and Trade

The forum seeks to align the entire supply chain—from the lab to the barn.

A Shared Space for Action

The initiative will culminate in its first global technical session in October 2026, where members intend to draft a global declaration to overcome existing regulatory and financial barriers.

“Vaccines are one of our most powerful tools against animal disease — but access, regulation and financing gaps mean the potential is far from fully realized,” says Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General, WOAH. “The PREVENT Forum gives governments and industry a shared space to identify what is holding back progress and to act on it together. WOAH is proud to convene this effort, and we are committed to ensuring it delivers results for our members and strengthens animal health systems globally.”

The Vet Tech Who Refused to Stop Caring

Wed, 20 May 2026 13:50:46 GMT

The large animal hospital was chaos.

Three technicians had called out sick. Horses, goats and critical cases filled the treatment board. More emergencies were still on the way. At the University of Florida’s large animal hospital, credentialed veterinary technician Andi Davison stood behind the front desk with another manager trying to figure out how they were going to get through the day.

Then she heard herself say it: “To get through days like this, sometimes you have to not care.”

The words hit her immediately.

For Davison, who had built her entire life around caring deeply for animals and the people connected to them, the sentence felt shocking. Wrong, even.

Looking back at that moment, she recognized just how much she didn’t feel like herself.

“I care. I care a lot, and that is why I’m in this field doing what I do,” Davison says now.

That moment became a line in the sand.

Today, Davison helps veterinary professionals across the world renovate workplace culture through positive, psychology-based education, consulting and coaching as part of the Flourish Veterinary Consulting team. But before she began helping others navigate culture, communication and resilience, she had to confront her own relationship with veterinary medicine first.

Like many people in the profession, she never saw it coming.

(Provided by Andi Davison)

The Original Horse Girl

Davison laughingly describes herself as a “horse girl” for pretty much her entire life.

Growing up in suburban Michigan, she was the child who wanted to stop and admire every animal she passed. Dogs, cows, horses, barn cats — it did not matter. Her family nicknamed her “Ellie May,” a reference to the animal-loving character from The Beverly Hillbillies, and the name stuck.

Animals were everywhere in her world, including her bedroom. She had so many stuffed animals piled onto her bed that there was barely room left for her to sleep. Even more telling, she rotated them regularly so each one got equal attention.

(Provided by Andi Davison)

“I wanted to make sure everybody got loved,” she said, laughing at the memory.

By age 10, she had started riding horses, despite not coming from a horse family. The obsession only grew from there.

But while veterinary medicine always hovered in the background as a possibility, Davison convinced herself early on that becoming a veterinarian probably was not realistic.

Math, she jokes, was never her thing.

Instead, she earned a degree in communication and culture from Indiana University, following another side of herself that loved people, storytelling and conversation just as much as animals.

Even then, though, she had a feeling her future path might be unconventional.

“I knew that whatever I was going to end up doing was something that I didn’t know existed yet, ” Davison shares.

At the time, she had no idea how true that would become.

Finding Her Place in Veterinary Medicine

After college, Davison took a three-month road trip across the United States with a friend, traveling through national parks and trying to figure out what came next.

The trip gave her space to think about the kind of life she actually wanted. More than anything, she realized she wanted work that felt meaningful — work that made her excited to get out of bed in the morning.

Turning back to her love of animals, she took a job as a veterinary assistant at a local companion animal clinic when she returned home.

That was where everything shifted.

Until then, Davison genuinely did not realize veterinary technology existed as a profession.

Like many kids who love animals, she thought veterinary medicine basically meant becoming a veterinarian or nothing at all. But at the clinic, she met two credentialed veterinary technicians who completely changed her understanding of what a career in animal health could look like.

She became fascinated by what they did. The medicine. The patient care. The teamwork. The skill.

Within months, she applied to Michigan State University’s veterinary technology program, now the veterinary nursing program, and never looked back.

“It was ‘Yes, this is it, this is the thing,’” she recalls, still sounding excited years later.

That decision launched a career that would take her through equine medicine, academia, mixed animal practice and eventually veterinary well-being advocacy.

(Provided by Andi Davison)

The Dream Version of Practice

Alongside her husband, a veterinarian, Davison spent nearly a decade running a mixed animal ambulatory practice in rural Kentucky. In many ways, it felt like living inside a modern James Herriot story.

The pair worked out of a truck instead of a brick-and-mortar clinic, traveling back roads to treat everything from companion animals to hobby farm cattle and horses. A typical farm call might include a few beef cows, all with names, an old cattle dog sleeping nearby and a daughter’s Quarter Horse that got turned out with the herd.

“We got to do all the things,” Davison says. And she genuinely loved it.

The work suited her personality perfectly. No two days looked the same. One call might involve horses, another small animals, another cattle. She and her husband worked side-by-side as a doctor-technician team, building relationships with clients and becoming deeply woven into their rural community.

But eventually, the same traits that made the work meaningful also made it difficult to escape.

Clients called at all hours. Emergencies interrupted vacations. Boundaries disappeared. Veterinary medicine slowly became something that consumed nearly every corner of life.

“It was very much in control of our lives,” she says.

Over time, the emotional weight started building quietly in the background.

When Burnout Starts to Change You

Like many veterinary professionals, Davison initially believed burnout was something that happened to other people. Even when she heard warnings about exhaustion and compassion fatigue during school, she brushed them aside.

“There’s no way that’s going to happen to me,” she remembers thinking.

But years into practice, she started noticing changes in herself that she could not ignore. The cynicism got louder. Complaining became more common. Emotional exhaustion crept into conversations and interactions. The version of herself she wanted to be started feeling farther away.

“I knew what I wanted to be like, and I knew that this really wasn’t it,” Davison recalls.

What frightened her most was that she still loved veterinary medicine. The idea of leaving it behind felt heartbreaking to her: “Every time I would think about leaving vet med, I would get really emotional and cry in the car because I didn’t want to.”

For a long time, she felt trapped between two impossible choices: continue burning herself out or walk away from a profession that had shaped her identity since childhood.

Then came the conference that changed everything.

A Different Way Forward

While attending a veterinary conference in Florida, Davison heard talks in the professional development track focused on leadership, resilience and psychological safety in veterinary medicine.

At first, she sat cautiously in the back row. Then she kept moving closer.

Session after session, she became more energized by the possibility that veterinary medicine did not have to feel unsustainable. That maybe there were ways to build healthier teams, healthier cultures and healthier careers within the profession itself.

By the end of the day, she was practically living at the front of the room, tracking down the speaker between sessions to ask more questions.

“I totally nerded out,” she says, laughing.

That speaker would eventually become her future boss at Flourish Veterinary Consulting.

Today, Davison’s work looks very different than it once did. She teaches courses, coaches veterinary professionals, speaks at conferences and helps practices build stronger workplace cultures rooted in communication, resilience and psychological safety.

And perhaps most importantly, she has rediscovered joy in her work.

“I love my job. I look forward to whatever cool thing I get to do today, every day,” Davison says.

These days, that life also includes mornings riding horses before work and the flexibility to build a career that supports both her passion for veterinary medicine and her own well-being.

For Davison, the answer was never to stop caring. It was learning how to care sustainably — for animals, for veterinary teams and for herself.

Now, she hopes other veterinary professionals give themselves permission to stay open to possibilities they may not even know exist yet.

“Don’t limit yourself by what you think you know is out there.”

The Hidden Time Drains in Veterinary Practice

Tue, 19 May 2026 13:59:54 GMT

Large animal veterinarians are used to thinking in terms of workload: more calls, more emergencies, more records and more pressure squeezed into the same number of hours.

But what if part of the strain in bovine practice is not simply the amount of work being done — but the amount of friction surrounding it?

The veterinarian who walks back to the truck three times during a dystocia because supplies are disorganized. The herd check that runs an hour behind because treatment records are incomplete. The producer who calls back confused because treatment instructions were inconsistent. The repeated after-hours emergencies tied to the same preventable breakdowns.

A growing number of industries have begun looking at those frustrations through the lens of lean thinking, a management philosophy that originated within the Toyota Production System and has since expanded into health care, manufacturing and agriculture.

Speaking on lean management in dairy systems, Yana Hocken, a consultant and dairy farmer from New Zealand, argued many operational problems are not caused by people failing, but by systems failing the people expected to work within them.

Look for Waste in Everyday Veterinary Work

Lean thinking centers center around identifying “waste” — activities that consume time, energy or resources without adding meaningful value.

In bovine veterinary medicine, many of those inefficiencies are deeply familiar:

Repeated trips back to the truck for forgotten supplies
Searching for medications in cluttered drawers
Duplicate data entry
Poorly grouped farm calls that add unnecessary driving
Waiting for cattle to be brought up
Rechecks caused by inconsistent treatment instructions

“Anything we’re doing that’s not adding value to our product or our customer is essentially wasting our time, our resources, our cost, and it’s getting in the way of us focusing on things that matter,” Hocken says.

Individually, many of these inefficiencies seem small. Together, they quietly consume hours every week while adding cognitive load and frustration.

The encouraging part is that many lean improvements are also small. None of the changes require new technology or major investment, but collectively they can reduce interruptions, delays and mental fatigue.

Importantly, lean systems are not intended to push you to simply work faster. The philosophy instead focuses on reducing unnecessary work so teams can focus on the work that actually matters.

Standardization Can Reduce Decision Fatigue

Standardization reduces mental fatigue by minimizing the number of repetitive decisions teams make throughout the day.

In practice, that could look like:

Every veterinary truck organized identically
Standardized fresh cow exam workflows
Uniform mastitis treatment protocols
Consistent record-keeping templates
Shared client handouts for common conditions

“We’re trying to create simple processes to make them accurate, effective and ensure that we can keep really high standards,” Hocken says.

Even small adjustments can have measurable effects.

If every veterinarian stores IV catheters, sleeves and OB chains in different places, technicians and associates lose time searching during stressful situations. If treatment records are entered differently by each doctor, follow-up communication becomes harder. If calf protocols vary from producer to producer without documentation, repeat explanations become inevitable.

Standardization does not eliminate clinical judgment. Instead, it creates consistency around routine parts of practice so mental energy can be reserved for the cases that truly require it.

Predictable systems can also reduce onboarding stress and improve confidence during busy periods.

The Veterinary Truck Is a Lean System Waiting to Happen

Hocken suggests using workplace organization systems to ensure “everything is in its place and everyone knows exactly where things are.”

For livestock veterinarians, the truck may be one of the clearest opportunities for improvement.

Practical lean changes could include:

Color-coding emergency kits
Assigning dedicated locations for commonly used drugs
Labeling drawers clearly
Creating restocking checklists
Standardizing inventory across associates

These systems reduce wasted motion and stress during emergencies.

If you’re responding to a toxic mastitis case at 2 a.m. you should not have to think about where calcium, fluids or catheters are stored.

Similarly, clinics can examine how often veterinarians are interrupted by missing inventory, expired medications, incomplete records or unclear scheduling.

Lean thinking asks a simple question repeatedly: What problems happen over and over again — and why are they still happening?

Better Systems Often Create Better Communication

Hocken argues management systems often determine team performance more than individual personality or motivation.

“It is the systems and the processes that you put in place that enable you to have a high-performing team,” she says.

A disorganized practice environment can make even strong employees struggle, while well-designed systems help teams perform more consistently.

Lean philosophy places heavy emphasis on communication, transparency and employee involvement in problem-solving. Hocken stresses sustainable improvement depends on engagement from the people actually doing the work.

“You can’t create a sustainable change and you can’t create a sustainable continuous improvement that you need if you don’t have the people engagement,” she says.

In practice, that may mean asking technicians where delays happen most often, reviewing recurring client communication breakdowns, involving younger associates in workflow redesign or holding short weekly meetings focused specifically on operational frustrations.

It’s common for teams to normalize inefficiency simply because they have worked around it for years. Lean thinking encourages teams to stop treating recurring frustrations as inevitable.

What Dairy Systems May Already Be Teaching Veterinarians

Although lean management originated outside agriculture, many bovine veterinarians already work within highly systematized environments. Dairy production routinely relies on treatment protocols, reproduction metrics, transition cow monitoring, calf health programs and visual tracking systems.

Hocken recently redesigned the dry-off process on her dairy operation, reducing labor time while improving udder health outcomes. She also ties operational consistency back to animal welfare.

“We consider our animals as athletes,” she says.

That framing may resonate strongly with those involved in preventive medicine and production-focused consulting work. Rather than viewing efficiency and welfare as competing priorities, lean philosophy argues well-designed systems can improve both simultaneously.

“If we do a really great job looking after our animals, looking after our people and looking after our environment, we will be able to have a successful business,” Hocken says.

Better systems are not only about profitability. They can also support calmer workdays, clearer communication, fewer preventable mistakes, improved client consistency and lower stress for veterinary teams.

A Different Burnout Conversation

Burnout in veterinary medicine is often discussed in terms of emotional resilience, staffing shortages or workload intensity. Those pressures are real and unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Lean thinking does not promise an easier profession. It cannot eliminate emergencies, labor shortages or the emotional demands of veterinary medicine. What it does suggest is that some exhaustion may stem not from the medicine itself, but from the preventable inefficiencies surrounding it.

Small improvements rarely feel transformational in the moment, but over time, removing repeated friction from a workday may matter more than many veterinarians realize.

Mineral Strategies During Heat Stress: What To Watch This Summer

Mon, 18 May 2026 15:01:31 GMT

Summer nutrition challenges are no longer limited to keeping cattle cool. As temperatures climb and forage conditions fluctuate, heat stress alters feed intake, grazing behavior, water consumption and, ultimately, mineral status across the herd.

In cow-calf production systems, those changes can show up in subtle ways first: inconsistent mineral intake, rough hair coats, reduced thriftiness, pica or cattle simply “looking off” long before overt disease appears.

Greg Eckerle, technical services manager with Novonesis, notes that successful summer mineral programs depend on understanding how environmental stress changes both animal behavior and nutrient availability.

“Maximizing the potential of what we’re putting out there to meet that animal’s needs is imperative,” Eckerle says.

Heat Stress Changes Intake Patterns

One of the biggest nutritional challenges during summer heat is reduced intake. To cope with heat stress, cattle naturally spend more time near shade and water, and less time actively grazing. This behavioral shift can dramatically affect mineral consumption patterns, particularly in regions facing prolonged heat and humidity.

Because of this, mineral feeder placement becomes critical. Positioning supplements between loafing and watering areas can increase encounters with mineral sources during the hottest parts of the day. Introducing salt blocks or highly palatable delivery methods, such as lick tubs, can also help maintain consistent intake when cattle are eating less overall.

External stressors can further compound nutritional demands.

“The big one for the United States cow-calf industry still remains to be the horn fly,” Eckerle explains. “They will take away more energy because they are big blood feeders.”

These pests worsen stress during already challenging environmental conditions, making targeted fly control a vital component of summer nutritional management.

Drought Changes Forage Quality and Mineral Availability

Heat stress rarely occurs in isolation. In many regions, rising temperatures trigger drought conditions that rapidly degrade forage quality and alter mineral availability throughout the grazing season.

As plants mature or become drought stressed, digestibility drops and anti-nutritional compounds can become problematic. Water quality simultaneously deteriorates as ponds shrink, often causing sulfur concentrations to spike. These environmental shifts directly interfere with trace mineral absorption, driving up the need for more bioavailable sources.

“Looking away from oxide sulfates trending toward an organic or hydroxy trace mineral will be important as we move into those drier periods,” Eckerle advises.

While forage testing provides a useful baseline for evaluating changing pasture conditions, results should always be interpreted within the context of rapidly shifting weather patterns. Regional differences matter, too: Northern grazing systems may hold forage quality further into the summer, while southern regions typically face earlier forage decline and prolonged heat exposure.

Water Remains the Foundation of Summer Nutrition

While mineral formulations receive significant attention during summer stress, Eckerle emphasizes water management may ultimately have the largest impact on herd performance. Poor water quality, elevated sulfur levels, toxic algae blooms and inadequate access can all worsen heat stress and further suppress feed intake.

Clean, accessible water sources are the ultimate defense during high-stress periods, as dehydration triggers a cascading wave of nutritional and health issues.

As Eckerle notes: “Water is the first limiting nutrient for all living things.”

How to Adjust Mineral Programs During Heat Stress

Because pasture, water and intake patterns shift rapidly during a scorching summer, mineral programs cannot remain static. Producers and veterinarians should actively collaborate throughout the season to:

Evaluate forage and water quality shifts regularly
Monitor daily mineral intake patterns
Assess cattle behavior, grazing habits and physical appearance
Troubleshoot early signs of declining performance
Align mineral formulations with current, real-time environmental conditions

Periods of intense heat are also the right time to audit practical management setups — ensuring optimal feeder placement, aggressive fly control, easy water access and highly palatable mineral options.

Signs of Mineral Deficiency to Watch For

While bloodwork and liver biopsies provide definitive diagnostic data, Eckerle says practical herd observation is a producer’s most valuable daily tool.

Changes in coat condition, hair loss around the ears or tail switch, unusual grazing behavior or bone chewing can all signal developing deficiencies before major production losses occur.

“Animals are really good at finding salt in the ground,” Eckerle says.

Behavioral clues like dirt eating or bone chewing frequently point to phosphorus or salt deficiencies, particularly when overall intake drops during prolonged heat spells.

Successful summer mineral management requires keeping a close eye on both cattle behavior and changing pasture conditions. As heat, drought and water quality fluctuate, your supplementation strategy must evolve alongside them to safeguard performance, reproduction and herd health through the toughest months of the year.

How BoviSync and Integrated Tech are Creating a 'Digital Nervous System' for Modern Dairies

Thu, 14 May 2026 13:04:38 GMT

Across the American landscape, a silent revolution is rewiring the 250-year legacy of the dairy farm, transforming traditional barns and pastures into a high-precision digital nervous system. For operations like Abel Dairy in Wisconsin and Lincoln Dairy in New York, the manual grit of the past has met the cloud-based logic of the future, ensuring data flows as freely as milk and every decision is backed by real-time intelligence.

As the United States approaches its 250^th anniversary, the story of dairy is shifting from one of just getting by to one of mastering the margin. At the heart of this evolution is the death of the data silo and the birth of integrated, cloud-based management.

Steve, Allen and Nate Abel

(BoviSync)

The Wisconsin Blueprint: Wiring for Growth

For Steve Abel, a sixth-generation farmer at Abel Dairy, maintaining a legacy isn’t about looking backward — it’s about wiring the farm for a future his son Nate will one day lead. Three years ago, the Abels made a high-stakes move, expanding from a 2,000-cow operation to a 4,500-cow powerhouse. This wasn’t just about adding stalls or pouring concrete; it was a structural pivot toward precision.

At the center of the Abel expansion is an 80-cow GEA rotary parlor, but the true engine of the farm is BoviSync. By adopting this cloud-based central hub, the Abels eliminated the lag that has plagued dairy management for decades.

(BoviSync)

“We moved away from traditional data silos,” Abel explains. “For years, dairies struggled with double entry — the tedious process of recording data in one system only to manually type it into another. At Abel Dairy, that era is over.

“BoviSync networks with our sort gates, our feed software and even our hoof-trimming chute,” he says.

This connectivity transforms manual chores into automated workflows. The Abels no longer rely on traditional veterinarian pregnancy checks that require manual recording. Instead, they use blood samples and scanners. The results are uploaded to the cloud and downloaded directly into BoviSync. Because the software is linked to the farm’s sort gates, the cows are automatically identified and directed to the appropriate pens without a human ever having to check a clipboard.

Abel Dairy

(BoviSync)

The New York Perspective: Multi-Site Mastery

Thirteen hundred miles to the east, Bryant Stuttle, the herd manager for Lincoln Dairy in Auburn, N.Y., is navigating a similar digital frontier. Stuttle, a fourth-generation dairy professional, manages a complex multi-site operation for owners Dan and Nate Osborne. The system includes the home farm, Lincoln Dairy, and two satellite facilities, Ridgecrest and Gemini.

For Lincoln Dairy, the move to BoviSync two years ago was driven by a singular, ambitious goal: going 100% paperless.

“We operate as one herd across multiple farms,” Stuttle says. “The challenge with traditional software was how it handled multi-site data. We needed a system where events were tied to the facility, not just the cow. If a cow gets bred at one site and moved to another, we need to know exactly where that event happened to track technician performance and facility success. BoviSync made that seamless.”

Before the switch, the morning routine was often a source of frustration.

“I can’t tell you how many times we’d walk in on a busy herd-check day and the server hadn’t refreshed or a command line error meant the lists weren’t right,” Stuttle recalls. “You’d lose two hours of your day circling back to restart. Now, the guys grab their phones and go. There’s a level of confidence that the day is set up for success before we even start.”

The Human Element Removed from the Environment

(BoviSync)

The digital evolution isn’t limited to cow records; it has extended into the very air the animals breathe. In Wisconsin, the Abels installed the Agrimesh system to control ventilation and sprinklers in their tunnel-ventilated free stall barns.

“We wanted something that took the people out of the equation,” Abel says. “We don’t want an employee having to remember to open a curtain or speed up a fan because it warmed up at 10 a.m.”

The system calculates temperature, humidity and negative pressure in real time, adjusting tunnel fans and curtains automatically. It is a level of environmental consistency that ensures the cows remain cool in the summer and the barns don’t freeze in the winter, all without human intervention.

Similarly, at Lincoln Dairy, technology like SenseHub (formaly known as SCR collars) provides a constant heartbeat for the herd. These collars monitor rumination and activity across all three sites, feeding data back into the central hub. When combined with SenseHub sort gates, the system allows Stuttle’s team to identify and treat sick cows before they even show physical symptoms.

“Our reproduction is phenomenal — the highest it’s ever been,” Stuttle says. “Our cull and death rates are the lowest they’ve ever been. When you perform at that level, it all spells profit for the bottom line.”

The Power of Compliance and ROI

For both operations, the return on investment for these technologies isn’t just found in labor savings — it’s found in compliance.

“If you’re going to sell me a technology, it needs to make my employees more consistent,” Abel asserts. This focus on compliance ensures every vaccine is given correctly and every hoof is trimmed on schedule. At Abel Dairy, even the hoof-trimming chute is wired. A tablet mounted to the chute allows for instant data entry, eliminating the data lag of paper records.

At Lincoln Dairy, the technology allowed the farm to reposition two full-time labor units to other areas of the farm that needed more attention.

“It’s not just about doing the job with fewer people; it’s about doing the job better,” Stuttle explains. “The guys love it. I joke with them about going back to clipboards, and they just look at me and say, ‘Please, no.’”

The Heifer Pipeline

The digital nervous system also extends far beyond the home acres. Both Abel Dairy and Lincoln Dairy use Kansas Dairy Development (KDD) to raise their heifers. This creates a unique data challenge: How do you track an animal that is a thousand miles away?

“With KDD still being on DairyComp and us being on BoviSync, it was a challenge,” Stuttle admits. “But the BoviSync team figured out a way to translate that data daily. Now, I have my KDD file right in my system. It’s like they’re speaking two different languages, but the software acts as the translator. I have the same access to the data as the people on the ground in Kansas.”

This level of transparency allows both farms to right-size their herds. By using sexed semen, they can precisely determine how many replacements they need and breed the rest of the herd to beef. This beef-on-dairy pivot has become a vital revenue stream, providing a hedge against milk price volatility.

Advice for the Modern Producer: Avoid the Data Drown

With so much information available, the risk of data exhaustion is real. Stuttle’s advice to other producers is to focus on what actually moves the needle.

“Data management is the biggest opportunity in the industry right now,” he says. “But you can get drowned in it. Every salesperson will tell you their metric is the one that matters. You have to figure out what matters to you and look at it consistently, month in and month out.”

At Lincoln Dairy, that means focusing on hundredweight sold, transition cow success and pregnancy rates. By centralizing this data, the management team can stop worrying about whether the technology is working and start focusing on managing the people and the cows.

(BoviSync)

Legacy Powered by Data

As these two dairies demonstrate, the center of gravity for U.S. dairy is shifting. It is moving away from the localized, fragmented models of the past toward a high-precision, integrated future.

The 250^th anniversary of American agriculture is a celebration of resilience, but for the Abels and the Osbornes, it is also a launchpad. By integrating every gadget, sensor and software into a cohesive digital nervous system, they are ensuring their farm legacies will thrive for decades to come.

In Eden, Wis., and Auburn, N.Y., the lights in the barn are still on. But today, they are powered by data, driven by compliance and managed with a level of brilliance our ancestors could only have dreamed of. The U.S. dairy farmer has evolved from a milk man into a protein integrator, and the digital revolution is just getting started.

The Only Other Humans You See All Day: Why Producer-Veterinarian Relationships Matter

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:19:24 GMT

A production animal veterinarian finishes a farm call, climbs back into the truck and starts driving to the next stop. Depending on the day, the producer they just spoke with may have been the first real conversation they’ve had in hours — or the interaction that shapes the tone of the rest of the day.

That isolation is one of the unique realities of production animal medicine. Unlike many clinic settings, there often is no team gathered in a treatment area and no coworkers nearby between appointments. Much of the work happens alone, moving from farm to farm. As Andi Davison, positive change agent at Flourish Veterinary Consulting , put it, production medicine is often “just them, and the only other human that they talk to all day long is the producer.”

During Mental Health Awareness Month, conversations around veterinary well-being often focus on burnout, long hours, compassion fatigue or staffing shortages. Those issues are important, but another factor may deserve more attention: The quality of the everyday interactions veterinarians have with the people around them.

In production medicine, that frequently means producers.

More Than People Skills

Most veterinarians are not trying to become polished communicators or extroverts. They simply want smoother conversations, less tension, better collaboration and the feeling that everyone is working toward the same goal. Those interactions can carry more emotional weight than many people realize.

A productive relationship with a producer can make difficult herd health conversations easier, improve follow-through on recommendations and create a stronger sense of teamwork. A strained relationship can do the opposite — increasing frustration, emotional exhaustion and the feeling that recommendations are going nowhere.

As Davison explains: “We can make all the recommendations all day long, but if we don’t feel like we’re working together as a team, it doesn’t matter.”

Most veterinarians recognize the difference immediately. There are days when you leave a farm feeling productive and respected, and days when you replay the conversation all the way to the next call.

That emotional carryover can leave an impact.

Why Positive Interactions Matter

Research in psychology and workplace well-being has shown even brief positive interactions with other people can influence how individuals experience their work. These high-quality connections are associated with greater trust, collaboration, engagement and a stronger sense of purpose.

Importantly, those interactions do not have to be dramatic or deeply personal to matter. Even short, repeated moments of positive communication can influence workplace relationships and resilience over time. For veterinarians, that sense of connection is often tied directly to the reason they entered the profession in the first place.

At the core of those conversations is a shared goal: We all want to do better for the animals.

That shared purpose may be one of the biggest strengths in veterinary medicine and agriculture. Even when producers and veterinarians disagree on management decisions, timing or finances, there is usually still a common goal underneath the conversation — healthier animals and stronger operations.

“When we are able to cultivate productive communication between the humans of veterinary medicine, we are building trust, motivation and self-efficacy, which then supports the animals of our industry to receive the quality care they deserve. In other words, when we know we matter and the work that we are doing matters, we are much more motivated to do that work well,” Davison says.

Keeping that shared goal in mind can help shift conversations from adversarial to collaborative.

Small Changes That Build Trust

Of course, knowing communication matters and feeling naturally comfortable with it are two very different things.

Many veterinary professionals describe themselves as introverted or socially drained, especially after long days and emotionally difficult cases. Building stronger relationships does not always come naturally, and small talk can feel forced or awkward.

But communication is not necessarily about charisma. Often, small intentional shifts can noticeably change the tone of an interaction over time.

Communication Tips for Veterinary Professionals

Not quite sure where to get started on improving your interactions with producers? Try these small things out during your next farm visit.

Use names and eye contact

Small signals of recognition can help interactions feel more personal and collaborative.

Ask broader questions

Instead of: “How was your weekend?”

Try: “What’s something good that happened this weekend?”

Questions like that give people something real to respond to instead of an automatic one-word answer.

Get curious

Ask open-ended questions about challenges, goals or concerns on the farm before jumping straight to solutions.

Share appropriately

Small personal details can make conversations feel more human and less transactional.

Listen for understanding

Focus less on preparing the next response and more on understanding the producer’s perspective.

Reinforce strengths

Point out what is going well, not just what needs to improve.

None of those things require a dramatic personality change. But over time, they can help build trust — and trust is often what turns difficult conversations into productive ones.

The Human Side of Production Animal Medicine

Better communication will not solve every challenge facing veterinary medicine. It will not eliminate stress, staffing shortages, financial pressures or difficult cases. But when you spend much of the day working alone, stronger human connections can make difficult work feel less isolating and more purposeful.

In a profession built around problem-solving and animal care, feeling connected to the people involved in that work may shape well-being more than many veterinarians realize. The other humans you see during your day may matter more than you think.

Researchers Use 3D Imaging to Study How Cattle Move

Fri, 15 May 2026 15:40:34 GMT

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are exploring whether advanced motion tracking and computer vision could help identify mobility and welfare problems earlier by turning cattle movement into measurable data.

For decades, evaluating how cattle move has relied largely on human observation. We watch for shortened strides, uneven weight-bearing, altered posture or subtle gait changes that may signal lameness, pain or illness. Researchers increasingly believe digital tools may detect those changes earlier and more consistently than the human eye alone.

That idea is at the center of “Cattle Mooves,” a project using advanced imaging and motion analysis to better understand how cattle movement relates to health, structure and welfare.

Lead by Josh McCann and Isabella Condotta, associate and assistant professors, respectively, in the Department of Animal Sciences, researchers are using technologies, such as 3D imaging and computer vision, to capture subtle differences in gait, posture and movement that may otherwise go unnoticed during routine observation.

Why Mobility Changes Matter in Cattle

This project reflects a broader shift toward precision livestock farming, where cameras, wearable sensors and artificial intelligence are increasingly being used to monitor cattle continuously.

That trend has gained particular attention in lameness detection. Lameness remains one of the most significant welfare and economic challenges in cattle production while also highlighting the limitations of traditional locomotion scoring systems, which can vary between observers and often miss mild or early-stage cases.

Researchers studying automated lameness detection have found movement patterns may begin changing before severe clinical signs become obvious. Differences in stride length, gait symmetry, posture and weight distribution may all provide clues that a cow is developing mobility problems.

Computer vision systems aim to capture those changes objectively. These systems are increasingly being explored not only for lameness detection, but also for broader health and welfare monitoring applications.

What “Cattle Mooves” Is Trying to Measure

While many precision livestock technologies focus on activity monitoring, the “Cattle Mooves” project is attempting to create a more detailed understanding of how cattle physically move through space.

Rather than simply tracking whether a cow is active or inactive, researchers are analyzing posture, gait mechanics, structural movement and body positioning using 3D imaging and computer analysis. The project is designed to measure how cattle move at a much more detailed level, including factors such as stride length, joint angles, gait symmetry and weight distribution.

(Provided by Joshua McCann)

Those measurements may offer insight not only into lameness and discomfort, but also into structural soundness — how well an animal’s skeleton is aligned and functions during movement. Structural soundness plays an important role in cattle longevity, mobility and productivity, particularly in breeding animals expected to remain in herds for extended periods.

Researchers believe continuous movement monitoring could eventually help flag cattle showing subtle early changes associated with:

Lameness or hoof pain
Structural weaknesses affecting mobility
Heat stress
Reduced activity linked to illness
Mobility changes during recovery
Shifts in posture or weight distribution
General signs of discomfort or welfare concerns

In large groups of cattle, these subtle changes can be difficult to identify consistently through visual observation alone. By converting movement into measurable data points, researchers hope to create more objective ways to assess mobility and structural function over time.

A Growing Role for Computer Vision in Cattle Care

The Illinois project also reflects growing interest in computer vision systems within cattle production.

Researchers have been evaluating AI-driven technologies for body condition scoring, calving prediction, welfare assessment and automated lameness detection. Multiple data streams — including movement, feeding behavior and environmental information — may eventually be integrated to provide a more complete picture of animal well-being.

Some technologies are already entering commercial dairy systems. Activity monitors and wearable devices are commonly used for estrus detection, while other platforms track rumination, feeding behavior and general activity. The goal is not to replace veterinarians or stockmanship, but to improve consistency and help identify animals needing closer evaluation.

Movement Tracking Technology Still Has Limits

Researchers caution that movement tracking technology is not a replacement for clinical evaluation or hands-on observation. Barn design, flooring surfaces, lighting conditions, mud, stocking density and camera placement can all affect data quality and system accuracy. False positives also remain a concern, particularly if systems generate excessive alerts that reduce confidence in the technology. Additional validation across different production environments will be essential before many systems see widespread adoption.

Projects like “Cattle Mooves” highlight how rapidly cattle monitoring technology is evolving. What once depended almost entirely on periodic visual assessment may increasingly involve continuous streams of movement and behavioral data collected in the background of daily farm operations.

This could eventually mean access to another layer of information when evaluating cattle health and welfare. Rather than replacing hands-on examination, movement analysis tools may help identify subtle problems earlier, prioritize animals for closer evaluation and provide a more objective way to monitor changes over time.

WOAH Report Highlights Growing Disease Pressure and Veterinary System Gaps

Wed, 13 May 2026 19:46:47 GMT

A perfect storm may be gathering over the global food system.

As unprecedented outbreaks of bird flu, African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, and New World screwworm spread across regions, the financial systems meant to prevent and contain these threats are shrinking.

That is the central warning from the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (WOAH) newly released 2026 State of the World’s Animal Health report , which argues that global investment in prevention is failing to keep pace with a rapidly expanding biological risk profile.

According to the report, more than 20% of global animal production is lost to preventable disease every year, yet animal health receives less than 0.6% of total global health spending. At the same time, approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate in animals.

For food-animal veterinarians in North America, many of the report’s themes already feel familiar. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle, growing antimicrobial stewardship pressure, increasing biosecurity demands, workforce shortages and concern around emerging and transboundary diseases all feature prominently in WOAH’s assessment of global animal health trends.

“Animal health systems are the first lines of defense against the next pandemic,” said WOAH director general Emmanuelle Soubeyran during a panel discussion accompanying the report release.

Global Animal Health Funding Declines as Disease Risks Increase

One of the report’s strongest warnings centers on what WOAH describes as a rapidly contracting financing landscape. Despite the growing importance of animal health systems, they remain chronically underfunded globally.

Official Development Assistance, government-funded international aid intended to support the economic development and welfare of lower- and middle-income countries, fell to $174.3 billion in 2025 — a 23% decline that WOAH says represents the largest annual contraction on record and effectively erases a decade of growth in global development aid.

Meanwhile, less than $1 billion annually reaches veterinary services and zoonotic disease prevention worldwide. According to WOAH, that amounts to less than 2.5% of an already shrinking global health aid budget.

WOAH estimates bringing veterinary services worldwide up to international standards would cost approximately $2.3 billion annually — a figure the organization contrasts against the trillions of dollars in economic losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The choice before governments, funders, partners and private sectors is not between spending and saving,” Soubeyran says. “It is between planned investment in animal health systems and protecting our health and minimizing losses.”

Veterinary services are prevention infrastructure, not simply regulatory oversight. That framing has increasing relevance for North American food-animal veterinarians, whose responsibilities now often extend well beyond traditional clinical work to include biosecurity planning, disease surveillance, movement documentation, antimicrobial stewardship, emergency preparedness and producer communication.

HPAI, African Swine Fever and Emerging Diseases Continue Expanding

The report paints a picture of disease systems becoming increasingly interconnected as climate change, globalization, wildlife movement and changing production systems alter how diseases emerge and spread.

The human and economic cost of this underinvestment is already visible:

Avian Influenza: Between 2025 and early 2026, over 2,100 outbreaks were recorded in 64 countries, resulting in the loss of 140 million poultry.
The Cattle Shift: HPAI is now recognized as an emerging disease in bovines, requiring international reporting as it jumps species barriers.
Parasitic Spread: New World screwworm is moving northward through Central America with tens of thousands of cases, while Lumpy Skin Disease has reached Western Europe for the first time.
Regional Crises: Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has recently caused unprecedented outbreaks in Southern Africa.

Outbreaks no longer remain localized events. In an increasingly interconnected livestock and trade system, delayed detection in one region can rapidly create wider food system, trade and public health consequences.

Veterinary Preparedness and Biosecurity Deliver Economic Returns

A major theme running throughout the report is that governments and industries continue spending far more responding to disease crises than preventing them.

One highlighted example compares the United Kingdom’s response to FMD outbreaks:

In 2001, an underprepared response cost the UK an estimated £8 billion and resulted in the culling of more than 6 million animals.
In 2007, after improved preparedness investments, another outbreak was contained in just 58 days at a cost of approximately £47 million.

These examples demonstrate the measurable economic return of surveillance systems, preparedness planning, laboratory capacity, vaccination programs and coordinated veterinary services.

“Preparedness begins before the crisis,” says Paolo Tizzani, veterinarian and epidemiologist with WOAH.

WOAH Warns Veterinary Staffing Shortages Could Delay Outbreak Detection

The report also identifies veterinary workforce capacity as a growing vulnerability globally.

According to WOAH data:

18% of countries assessed showed declining veterinary capacity,
22% showed declining paraprofessional capacity.

During the panel discussion, WOAH officials specifically referenced declining rural veterinary presence as an emerging concern.

“When animal health systems are under-resourced, diseases can be detected late,” Tizzani says. “They have the possibility to spread more widely.”

Workforce shortages are no longer simply a labor issue, but increasingly a biosecurity and preparedness concern. Without sufficient veterinary staffing, laboratory support, surveillance infrastructure and field-level reporting capacity, outbreaks become harder to identify and contain early.

Prevention and Vaccination are Key

WOAH warns AMR could contribute to more than 39 million human deaths globally by 2050 while also creating major economic losses in animal production systems. The organization strongly positions prevention-oriented herd-health approaches — including vaccination, surveillance, biosecurity and improved disease management — as critical tools for reducing antimicrobial use.

This discussion aligns closely with ongoing stewardship initiatives across dairy, beef and pork sectors, including increased focus on veterinary oversight, preventive medicine and judicious antimicrobial use.

Only a small proportion of AMR-related research funding currently goes toward animal vaccines, despite their role in reducing antimicrobial demand. Still, the report points to examples where prevention-focused systems have dramatically reduced antibiotic use. Norway, for example, was able to reduce antibiotic use in its salmon industry by 99% through sustained investment in vaccination and preventive health programs.

Animal Health as Critical Infrastructure

WOAH consistently frames animal health systems as critical infrastructure tied directly to economic resilience, food security, public health and trade stability. They also push back against oversimplified narratives that place disease emergence solely on livestock production itself. Instead, WOAH officials emphasize the growing complexity of interactions between wildlife, livestock, humans, ecosystems, climate pressures and global trade systems.

“One Health will remain an aspiration until animal health systems are genuinely built into how we plan and invest,” Soubeyran says.

Animal health systems can no longer be treated as background infrastructure that only becomes visible during emergencies. For food-animal veterinarians in North America, that transition is already well underway.

Whether through HPAI surveillance in dairy cattle, African swine fever preparedness planning, antimicrobial stewardship, movement documentation or producer biosecurity support, food-animal veterinarians are increasingly functioning as frontline public-health and food-system infrastructure.

“Animal health must be financed as a global public good,” the report concludes. “The benefits generated cross every border, and the risks of underinvestment are shared by all.”

7 Reasons Your Deworming Program Isn’t Working

Tue, 12 May 2026 18:09:13 GMT

For many producers, deworming has become a routine part of herd management. Cattle are processed, products are administered and the expectation is that parasite control is handled for another season.

But across the industry, cattle continue to underperform despite regular treatment. In many cases, the issue is not a single product failure, but a combination of resistance pressure, hidden production losses and management habits that gradually reduce the effectiveness of parasite control programs over time.

On the most recent episode of “ The Bovine Vet Podcast ,” Megan Bollin, a technical services veterinarian with Norbrook, and Nancy Jackson, a field veterinarian for the Mississippi Board of Animal Health, outlined several reasons why deworming programs may not be delivering the results producers expect.

1. Subclinical Parasites May Be Hurting Performance Before You Notice

Parasites do not need to cause obvious disease to affect productivity. In many cases, the biggest losses are occurring quietly through reduced digestion, feed efficiency and weight gain.

“Those parasites are going in and doing damage to the lining of the abomasum, and so what normally should be a lower pH is actually becoming more neutral. That impacts protein digestion, nutrient absorption and even appetite. It reduces voluntary feed intake, and then that cascades into average daily gain, feed efficiency, milk production and reproductive performance,” Bollin explains.

Because those effects develop gradually, they are often difficult to recognize without measurement.

“They’re those silent robbers that are there. We can’t really see them, and that’s why it’s called a subclinical impact, but they’re doing major damage,” Bollin says.

Jackson notes some calves may visibly underperform, but many losses remain subtle enough that producers underestimate the impact.

“You can see it in some cases, calves just standing there, not grazing, not performing, but a lot of times producers don’t realize what they’ve lost because they’re not measuring it,” Jackson says.

2. Resistance Is Already Present on Many Operations

Reduced dewormer efficacy is no longer considered a future concern. Parasite susceptibility can now vary significantly between farms, even within the same geographic region.

“Even from one side of the county to the other, recommendations might be very different depending on pasture type, parasite exposure and treatment history,” Bollin says.

That variability makes it increasingly difficult to assume a protocol that works well on one operation will perform the same way elsewhere.

At the same time, few replacement products are expected in the near future.

“We’ve routinely given the same things over and over, and we don’t have any new molecules on the horizon,” Bollin explains.

As resistance pressure increases, reduced efficacy in existing products can have growing consequences for cattle performance and long-term parasite control.

3. You May Be Underdosing More Often Than You Think

One of the most common management issues contributing to reduced efficacy is underdosing. As cattle size has increased over time, dose estimates have not always kept pace.

“Our producers still think they have a 1,000-lb. cow, but cows have been getting bigger for years. So, we’ve probably been underdosing cattle, especially those larger animals and bulls.” Jackson warns.

Underdosing exposes parasites to a drug without fully eliminating them, increasing the likelihood that surviving worms contributes to future resistance problems.

4. Some Dewormers Are Being Used Like Fly Control Products

Convenience can also create problems when products are used outside their intended purpose.

According to Jackson, some producers are administering pour-on dewormers at partial doses primarily for fly control rather than at labeled doses intended to control internal parasites. Repeated exposure to subtherapeutic drug levels creates ideal conditions for resistant parasites to survive and spread.

5. Poor Record-Keeping Makes Resistance Harder to Detect

Inconsistent product tracking can make parasite control decisions much more difficult over time. Without knowing which active ingredients or drug classes have been used previously, producers may unknowingly rely on the same class repeatedly or struggle to evaluate whether a protocol is still effective.

“I’ll ask what they used, and they’ll say, ‘It was the blue one’ or ‘I got it off the shelf at the co-op.’ But we need to know the active ingredient to make good decisions,” Jackson says.

That lack of detail can make it harder to identify emerging resistance patterns before they become more significant problems.

6. Application Problems Can Look Like Resistance

Not every apparent treatment failure is true resistance. In some cases, the problem lies in how the product was administered.

“There are a lot of things that have to go right with a pour-on for it to work. If the animal is dirty, that product isn’t going to get absorbed. If it rains, it can dilute it. Oral products can be spit out. There are a lot of factors that can look like resistance but aren’t,” Bollin explains.

Without recognizing those factors, producers may incorrectly conclude that resistance is solely to blame.

7. Parasite Problems Don’t Stay on One Farm

The effects of ineffective parasite control can extend well beyond a single operation. As calves move through the production chain, resistant parasite populations can move with them, affecting downstream performance and management decisions.

“When those calves leave your place, you’re passing that parasite load on to someone else. If it’s resistant, it affects the feedlot and performance down the line,” Jackson warns.

That interconnectedness means small failures repeated across multiple operations can gradually reshape parasite pressure across the industry.

Why Parasite Problems Keep Building

Many deworming programs do not fail because of one dramatic mistake. Instead, they lose effectiveness gradually through repeated small issues: underdosing, inconsistent application, misuse of products and resistance pressure that goes unnoticed until performance has already been affected.

Routine treatment schedules alone are no longer guaranteeing consistent outcomes, particularly when the surrounding management practices remain inconsistent. This means parasite control is becoming less about whether cattle are treated and more about how those treatments are being used and how the results are being monitored over time.

To hear more from Bollin and Jackson on how deworming strategies may be falling short, and how strategies are evolving, listen to the full conversation on the latest episode of “The Bovine Vet Podcast.”

Beef-on-Dairy Calves May Scour Less than Holsteins, New Research Shows

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:44:38 GMT

Beef-on-dairy calves have long been a solid income stream on many dairies, turning into a steady payout when they leave the farm and move into beef systems. More recently, farmers have also started to notice these calves often require fewer individual health treatments than their purebred counterparts, adding to their overall profitability.

Researchers like Melinda Kovacs, a master’s student at the University of Guelph, have started to take a closer look at how these calves perform early in life, when most health challenges tend to show up. One pattern that keeps surfacing is that crossbred calves tend to have fewer digestive issues than Holsteins, especially scours.

In her work, Kovacs found beef-on-dairy crossbred calves have lower diarrhea rates, fewer days with scours and fewer repeat treatments than Holsteins during the rearing phase.

“Producers were finding that the health of these crossbred calves was improved,” Kovacs explained during a recent “The Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast” episode. “They were finding less health challenges, or these animals were able to recover from disease a little bit better than the purebred calves.”

Fewer Scours Cases Stand Out

The study followed approximately 640 calves housed at a single calf-rearing facility over about 18 months. Kovacs analyzed records from 446 Holstein calves and 194 beef-on-dairy crossbred calves.

Using twice-daily health scoring, Kovacs and her team monitored diarrhea and respiratory disease while also collecting weekly body weights, milk intake and starter feed intake data.

When she compared the two groups at the conclusion of the study, one health challenge stood out immediately.

“We found that the Holstein calves had a higher incidence of diarrhea compared to the crossbred calves,” Kovacs says. “We also found that translated to fewer days with diarrhea.”

Beef-on-dairy calves_Suanne Blackwell

(Suanne Blackwell)

The same trend appeared when she evaluated severe diarrhea cases.

“This is what we were expecting based on kind of our communication with producers,” Kovacs says. “That the crossbred calves would have less diarrhea in the preweaning or the rearing phase.”

For dairy farmers and calf raisers, fewer scours cases can influence nearly every part of calf performance. Diarrhea remains one of the most expensive calfhood diseases on dairies due to treatment costs, lost growth, labor demands and long-term health setbacks.

Crossbred Calves Needed Fewer Repeat Treatments

Kovacs also examined therapeutic interventions and found another difference between the groups.

“We did find that the Holstein calves had a higher hazard of being treated multiple times for both diarrhea and respiratory disease,” she says.

Respiratory disease rates themselves were similar between breeds, but the need for repeated treatment was higher in Holsteins. That finding could become more important as dairy and calf-rearing operations focus on reducing antibiotic use while still keeping calves healthy and performing well.

“Perhaps there’s a greater ability of these crossbred calves to recover from diseases compared to Holstein calves,” Kovacs adds.

Why Are Beef-on-Dairy Calves More Resilient?

(Farm Journal)

The study wasn’t designed to pin down exactly why the differences are showing up, but Kovacs thinks genetics likely play a role.

“In the dairy industry, we see a lot of inbreeding depression with the Holstein animals,” she says. “And I think perhaps we have some heterosis or hybrid vigor in these crossbred animals.”

Selection pressure may also contribute to the performance gap. Dairy genetics have focused on milk production traits, while beef genetics have emphasized growth and muscling.

“In the dairy industry, we’ve been genetically selecting for obviously higher milk production, whereas in the beef industry, we’ve been selecting for more growth traits,” Kovacs says. “So perhaps these crossbred calves are benefiting from the growth traits compared to the Holstein calves.”

She also found crossbred calves gained weight faster during the rearing phase.

“The crossbred calves did have higher growth rates, so higher average daily gains,” Kovacs says. “They were about [15 lb.] heavier than the Holstein calves when they were finished this rearing phase.”

Differences Continued Through Harvest

Kovacs and her team later expanded the project to follow some calves from birth through harvest at approximately 13 months of age. She wanted to better understand how calfhood health and management influence later feedlot and carcass performance.

Beef_carcasses

“Right now, there’s kind of a big disconnect between all of the different components of the industry, between the dairy farm of origin, the rearing, the feedlot and the abattoir,” Kovacs says.

The performance differences continued beyond the early rearing phase.

“The crossbred calves, I believe, were about [120 to 124 lb.] more in body weight compared to the Holsteins,” Kovacs says. “Which does have significant implications in terms of the cost benefit of these animals.”

She also identified differences in ribeye area and carcass composition, suggesting the advantages weren’t limited to early growth but carried through to how the animals finished at harvest.

More Research Still Needed

Even with the encouraging results, Kovacs says dairy producers should not assume crossbred calves require less attention or lower-quality care.

“With my findings, we see that they’re maybe more resilient or robust,” she says. “But I think those producers still need to be offering the best care to those calves to ensure their success.”

Kovacs adds that much of the existing calf research has historically focused on purebred Holsteins, leaving major knowledge gaps around nutrition and management requirements for beef-on-dairy calves.

“A lot of research that’s been done in the past has focused on purebred Holstein calves,” Kovacs says. “So, we don’t really know if the requirements of these crossbred calves for both maintenance and growth are the same as for a purebred Holstein calf.”

As beef-on-dairy programs continue to expand across the dairy industry, producers are paying closer attention to which calves stay healthier and perform better from start to finish. This research suggests fewer scours cases early in life may be part of the advantage, adding to the overall profitability of beef-on-dairy calves.

For more on beef-on-dairy, read:

How to Manage Udder Vein Lacerations in Dairy Cattle

Mon, 11 May 2026 13:56:01 GMT

Few situations on a dairy are more alarming than finding a cow actively bleeding from an udder vein laceration. Blood loss can happen quickly, and in severe cases, the situation can become life-threatening before a veterinarian arrives.

The first priority is staying calm enough to control the bleeding and stabilize the animal.

Why Are Udder Vein Lacerations Significant in Dairy Cows?

Udder vein lacerations are critical, life-threatening veterinary emergencies in dairy cattle. Because high-producing dairy cows require massive, continuous blood flow to support milk production, these specialized blood vessels are uniquely large and highly pressurized. Consequently, an udder vein laceration can result in rapid, catastrophic blood loss in a remarkably short amount of time.

According to Dr. Erika Nagorske , these cases are memorable because of how quickly they escalate.

“Their udder vein goes from their udder up toward their chest right on their belly line,” Nagroske says. “It is garden hose-huge because dairy cows milk so much and need a lot of blood flow.”

1. Contain the Cow in a Safe Space

As with many emergencies, the first step is containment.

Move the cow into a safe, confined area where she is less likely to panic, move excessively or injure herself further. A chute or small pen is ideal if available. Limiting movement helps reduce additional trauma and makes it easier to assess the source of the bleeding.

This same principle applies to many lacerations, particularly those involving limbs or areas where movement can repeatedly reopen the wound.

If the cow is already weak or beginning to wobble, minimizing stress becomes even more important. Heavy blood loss can cause animals to deteriorate quickly.

2. Apply Pressure Immediately to the Laceration

Direct pressure is the most important first response.

Use clean towels, cloths or any absorbent material available and apply firm pressure directly over the source of bleeding. Even temporary clotting can slow blood loss enough to buy valuable time before veterinary care arrives.

For smaller lacerations elsewhere on the body, pressure alone is often enough to reduce bleeding until the veterinarian arrives. In more severe injuries, especially those involving larger vessels, additional intervention may be needed.

“If you have hemostats or true vet tools on hand, great. Otherwise, vise grips,” Nagorske says. “And it sounds very archaic, right? But it’s either we’re looking at either a dead cow or not a dead cow.”

If trained and comfortable doing so, producers may be able to carefully clamp above and below the damaged portion of the vein to slow bleeding until the veterinarian arrives.

3. Avoid All Unnecessary Cow Movement

Once bleeding is somewhat controlled, keep the cow as quiet and still as possible.

Walking the animal unnecessarily or repeatedly moving her between locations can worsen blood loss or disrupt clot formation. The goal is stabilization, not treatment.

Nagorske notes these situations can become especially difficult if the cow goes down before bleeding is controlled.

“That’s what’s hard about those bad bleeders,” she says. “They lay down, then you can’t get to the source of bleeding.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Cattle Lacerations

In high-stress bleeding emergencies, well-intentioned actions can sometimes make the situation worse.

Do not leave the cow uncontained
Do not repeatedly remove pressure to check the wound
Do not force the animal to walk long distances
Do not delay calling the veterinarian
Do not assume bleeding has stopped completely just because it has slowed

Keeping the animal calm, controlling bleeding and minimizing additional trauma can make a substantial difference in the outcome.

Be Prepared

Udder vein lacerations are not everyday events, but preparation matters.

Having towels, clean cloths and basic restraint or clamping tools accessible on the farm can make the initial response more effective while waiting for veterinary care. Reviewing emergency protocols with employees ahead of time can also help reduce panic during high-stress situations.

Most importantly, call the veterinarian immediately. Rapid intervention gives the cow the best chance of recovery and can prevent a serious situation from becoming fatal.

California Dairy Study Raises New Questions About How H5N1 Spreads

Fri, 08 May 2026 15:46:20 GMT

For months, discussions around H5N1 in dairy cattle have focused largely on infected milk and contaminated milking equipment. New research from California suggests the transmission picture may be far more complex.

In a study published this week in PLOS Biology , researchers investigating 14 H5N1-positive California dairies found evidence supporting several possible transmission pathways, including aerosols generated during milking and contamination within dairy wastewater systems. The study also identified signs of subclinical infection in some cows, raising new questions about how easily infected animals may be missed during outbreaks.

The findings add to growing evidence that the dairy environment itself may play a larger role in H5N1 transmission than previously recognized.

Infectious H5N1 Virus Detected in Dairy Parlor Air

One of the study’s most significant findings came from air sampling inside milking parlors.

Researchers collected aerosol samples during milking and detected not only viral RNA, but infectious H5N1 virus in some air samples. Viral material was also identified in exhaled breath collected from infected cattle.

Environmental sampling findings included:

Infectious virus recovered from parlor air samples and wastewater systems
Viral RNA identified in cow breath samples
Evidence of infection in some cows without obvious clinical signs

The distinction between viral RNA and infectious virus is important. Detecting RNA alone does not confirm viable virus is present, while recovery of infectious virus suggests aerosolized particles could potentially contribute to transmission.

The authors stopped short of concluding that airborne spread is a primary transmission route on dairies. However, the findings raise new questions about respiratory exposure risks in enclosed milking environments.

Milking parlors routinely generate aerosols through animal movement, splashing fluids, equipment use and high-pressure cleaning systems. The study suggests those environments may warrant closer attention during outbreak investigations and biosecurity planning.

The findings also have implications for worker safety. Since the U.S. dairy outbreak began, human infections linked to dairy cattle exposure have generally been mild, with conjunctivitis among the most commonly reported symptoms. Aerosol exposure during milking has remained a persistent concern for occupational health experts.

Wastewater Systems are a Possible H5N1 Exposure Route

Researchers also detected widespread contamination throughout dairy wastewater systems.

H5N1 viral RNA was identified in parlor drains, wastewater sumps, lagoons and reclaimed water systems. Infectious virus was recovered from some wastewater-associated samples as well. This finding may be particularly relevant for modern dairy operations, where reclaimed water is frequently reused for flushing and other management purposes.

The authors noted wastewater systems could create additional opportunities for virus movement within the farm environment through splashing, aerosol generation, contaminated surfaces and possible wildlife exposure. Wild birds have already played a major role in the global spread of H5N1. Contaminated wastewater or standing water could represent another point of interaction between dairies and wildlife populations.

The study does not establish wastewater systems as a major driver of transmission. However, it does suggest environmental contamination pathways may deserve more attention as researchers continue investigating how the virus behaves in dairy systems.

Some Infected Cows Showed Few Clinical Signs

The study also identified evidence of subclinical infection.

Some cows tested positive for H5N1 despite showing limited or no obvious clinical illness. In several cases, cows produced H5N1-positive milk without severe visible mastitis signs. Researchers also detected antibodies in animals without previously recognized disease.

Infection patterns within udders added another layer of complexity. Researchers noted some patterns did not fully align with expectations if transmission were occurring solely through contaminated milking equipment.

If milking equipment was the only major transmission route, infections between udder quarters would likely appear more predictable. Instead, the findings suggested additional exposure pathways may be involved.

These subclinical infections could complicate surveillance and outbreak detection efforts. Farms relying primarily on visibly sick cows may miss infected animals, particularly during the early stages of transmission. That has implications for testing strategies, animal movement decisions and outbreak response planning.

The findings also highlight how differently H5N1 behaves in cattle compared to poultry, where highly pathogenic avian influenza often causes rapid and severe disease.

Biosecurity Implications Continue to Evolve

The authors emphasized more research is needed to determine which transmission pathways are most influential on commercial dairies. Still, the study broadens the conversation around H5N1 biosecurity.

Early outbreak discussions focused heavily on milk contamination and fomite transmission through milking equipment. This study suggests aerosols, wastewater systems, environmental contamination and subclinical infections may also play a role.

That could influence future discussions around:

Parlor ventilation
PPE use during milking
Wastewater handling
Environmental sanitation
Surveillance strategies
Monitoring apparently healthy cows

The paper also underscores how much remains unknown about H5N1 adaptation in dairy cattle. Researchers identified mutations in some environmental samples that have previously been associated with mammalian adaptation, though the significance of those findings remains unclear.

This study offers an updated look at a disease situation that continues to evolve rapidly — and suggests transmission on dairies may involve a broader network of environmental exposures than initially believed.

The New Rules of Parasite Control

Thu, 07 May 2026 19:35:27 GMT

For decades, parasite control in cattle has followed a familiar script: Treat the whole herd in the spring, treat again in the fall and trust that the job is done. It’s simple, efficient and deeply ingrained in how many operations function.

But that approach is starting to shift.

On the most recent episode of “ The Bovine Vet Podcast ,” Megan Bollin, a technical services veterinarian with Norbrook, and Nancy Jackson, a field veterinarian for the Mississippi Board of Animal Health, describe an industry moving away from routine, whole-herd deworming and toward a more strategic, data-driven approach.

At the center of that shift is a fundamental change in thinking. As Bollin explains, the goal is no longer the complete elimination of parasites but rather smarter management of them.

“Historically, we’ve had the mindset of just getting rid of all the parasites, right? One-hundred percent — we want them all gone. But we’ve got to consider that 90% of the life cycle is in the pasture. So we’ve got to learn to live with these parasites,” Bollin says.

Why Routine Deworming Falls Short

Routine deworming became standard for a reason. It aligned with when cattle were already being handled, minimized labor and offered a straightforward protocol producers could repeat year after year. The problem is that convenience doesn’t always align with biology. Treating cattle when they are easiest to handle may not coincide with the most effective point in the parasite life cycle, which ultimately limits the return on treatment.

“It may be a convenient time when we have them caught, and I know it takes a lot of labor and planning and resources to get those animals through the chute and treat them, but it may not be the most economically beneficial time to treat them if we’re not applying that product at the correct time in the life cycle,” Bollin says.

Because most of the parasite life cycle occurs on pasture rather than in the animal, poorly timed treatments can miss the window where they would have the greatest impact. The result is a system that feels consistent but may not be working as efficiently as intended.

Replacing Guesswork With Diagnostics

As parasite control becomes more strategic, diagnostics are moving from optional to essential. Instead of relying on assumptions or visible signs, producers are increasingly being encouraged to measure parasite burden directly.

Fecal egg count testing provides a snapshot of parasite burden by quantifying the number of parasite eggs present in a manure sample, giving a measurable baseline rather than relying on assumption. Building on that, the fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) evaluates how well a dewormer is working by comparing egg counts before and after treatment — typically 10 to 14 days later — to determine the percentage reduction. A reduction of around 95% is generally considered indicative of effective treatment, while lower reductions may signal reduced efficacy or emerging resistance.

Together, these tools allow parasite control decisions to be based on data, helping tailor treatment strategies to the specific conditions of each herd rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

“If you’re doing just a straight fecal egg count, it needs to be quantitative. A qualitative test — just saying whether parasites are there or not — is not helpful, because you’re always going to have parasites,” Bollin advises.

Those baseline measurements allow for informed decisions about whether treatment is needed and how well products are performing. Follow-up testing is just as important, helping confirm whether a dewormer is still effective.

Rather than relying on routine schedules, this approach acknowledges that treatment decisions vary from one operation to the next.

“There’s no magic number that says you need to treat at this high of an egg count,” Bollin says. “It’s going to depend on your geography, your herd and your operation.”

That variability is something producers already manage in other aspects of their operation. As Jackson notes, parasite control should be approached with the same level of flexibility.

“Every farm is unique — when they calve, when they wean — so it’s hard to make a cookie-cutter template,” Jackson says.

In many cases, the need for measurement comes down to what isn’t immediately visible. Subclinical parasite burdens can quietly reduce performance without obvious warning signs, making data even more valuable.

Refugia: A Counterintuitive but Critical Strategy

Rather than treating every animal, every time, the concept of refugia encourages leaving a portion of the parasite population unexposed to dewormers. Bollin explains that this approach helps preserve drug effectiveness by maintaining a population of parasites that remain susceptible, rather than selecting only for those that survive treatment.

“Refugia is leaving a percentage of the parasites unexposed to a dewormer. The idea is that resistance is a heritable trait, so we’re trying to dilute those resistance genes and maintain a population of parasites that are still susceptible to the products we have available,” Bollin says.

While it may seem counterintuitive, this strategy reflects a broader shift away from trying to eliminate parasites entirely and toward managing them in a way that sustains long-term control.

Implementing refugia doesn’t mean abandoning treatment. Instead, it means focusing on the animals that benefit most.

“We know that calves are going to be more susceptible, so ideally we want to treat those animals. But those mature cows — if they’re in good condition and have good nutrition — their immune system should be able to suppress those parasites,” Bollin says.

This kind of targeted approach allows producers to use dewormers more effectively while also supporting broader parasite management goals.

Combining Classes to Improve Efficacy

While refugia focuses on preserving a population of susceptible parasites, another strategy aims to improve how effectively treated parasites are eliminated. Combination deworming, or the concurrent administration of anthelmintics from different drug classes, is increasingly being used to improve efficacy in the face of variable parasite susceptibility.

Because these classes act through distinct mechanisms — such as macrocyclic lactones targeting parasite neuromuscular function and benzimidazoles disrupting microtubule formation — using them together can increase overall parasite kill and reduce the proportion of resistant survivors. The benefit becomes clear when considering how efficacy compounds across treatments.

“If you have 100 worms and you go in with a product that has 80% efficacy, you’re left with 20. Then you come in with a second dewormer, also at 80% efficacy, and it kills 80% of those 20. So you go from 80% efficacy up to 96% by using two products with different mechanisms of action,” Bollin explains.

This additive effect can help achieve the reduction typically associated with effective control, particularly on operations where single products no longer meet that threshold. Used alongside approaches like refugia and diagnostic-guided treatment, combination therapy becomes part of a broader strategy aimed at maintaining both short-term efficacy and long-term sustainability.

A More Strategic Future

Taken together, these changes represent a shift away from routine and toward precision parasite management. Instead of relying on fixed schedules, producers are being encouraged to align treatments with parasite biology, use diagnostics to guide decisions and adjust protocols over time.

That shift requires a willingness to rethink long-standing habits. As Jackson points out, progress often starts with being open to change: “We’ve always done it a certain way, but there’s always room to learn and adjust how we’re managing these parasites.”

It also depends on continued collaboration and learning across the industry. Parasite control is not a one-time decision but rather an ongoing process that evolves with new information.

“It’s continual education for both the producer and the veterinarian to understand the life cycle and apply that information to the herd,” Jackson says.

Ultimately, the goal is to move beyond routine and toward more intentional decision-making.

“I think very simply, it’s about not doing it on guesswork like we have been for decades; it’s about using the science and the tools that we have available and being more strategic about how and when we treat,” Bollin says.

Parasites are not going away, but the way they are managed is evolving. Producers who adapt to these new rules will be better positioned to protect both animal performance and the tools they rely on to sustain it.

To hear more from Bollin and Jackson on how deworming strategies are evolving, including where current protocols are falling short, listen to the full conversation on the latest episode of “The Bovine Vet Podcast.”

Stopping Flies in 2026: 4 Steps to Battling These Economic Pests

Wed, 06 May 2026 14:27:47 GMT

With fly season approaching, now is the time to evaluate and refine your fly management plan for 2026.

“Every year, stable and horn flies cause significant economic losses, but a good fly control program can minimize this impact,” says Cassandra Olds, Kansas State University Extension entomologist. “Although often grouped together, these are very different flies that need different control approaches.”

Dr. Ashby Green, Neogen senior technical services veterinarian, says, “If you are seeing flies, ticks, lice or insect damage to your cattle herd, we know there is an economic impact; however, that impact can become far greater than production or weight gain loss alone. Insect pressure affects grazing patterns of cattle; it affects their comfort and it can lead to health issues. Some of those health issues can be definite, such as anaplasmosis.”

The vectors responsible for spreading anaplasmosis include horse flies, stable flies and ticks. This condition has been reported in most states across the U.S., while the disease has been recognized as endemic throughout the South and several Midwestern and Western states.

Jonathan Cammack, Oklahoma State University assistant professor and state extension specialist, says, “With horn flies, we’re looking at mastitis risk, so that’s going to impact both dairy cattle and also our cow-calf operations. A lot of times, horn flies will feed on the udders of the animals, and they transfer the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria because they land on the manure, then they go back to the animal to feed and bring those bacteria with them.”

Several other conditions are propagated by flies, including pinkeye, which can be spread by face flies and causes inflammation and ulceration of the eyes. Pinkeye-affected calves are, on average, 35 lb. to 40 lb. lighter at weaning compared to healthy calves, according to a University of Kentucky report.

Cammack predicts flies are costing the U.S. cattle industry $6 billion annually in losses.

“That encompasses everything from actual loss in production due to decreased weight gain or decreased milk production, veterinary needs associated with treatment of cattle with exposure to pathogens from some of these insects, and then also the control measures associated with managing those individual fly species,” he explains.

David Boxler, Nebraska Extension livestock entomologist, says if previous control efforts underperformed, consider adjusting your approach.
“The best control method will depend on several factors including efficacy, cost, convenience and your current herd management practices,” he summarizes.

He also reminds producers that horn flies can migrate from neighboring untreated herds, masking the effectiveness of your efforts and increasing fly pressure. For this reason, Boxler recommends a comprehensive, integrated fly control.

Olds shares these tips for stopping flies, or at least reducing their impact:

Step 1: Know What You Have

“The first step in developing a good fly control program is knowing who you have,” Olds explains.

(Kansas State University)

Horn flies feed 20 to 30 times a day and stay associated with their chosen animal 24/7, with females only leaving briefly to lay eggs. Stable flies in contrast only feed once or twice a day, remaining on the host for a short period of time (3 to 5 minutes).

When not feeding, flies are resting in shaded areas such as building sides and vegetation. This short feeding time means producers often underestimate their stable fly burdens. While both flies affect pastured cattle, horn flies are not a problem in confined settings such as dairies and feedlots. This is because horn flies need fresh, undisturbed manure as a breeding site while stable flies can develop in any decaying plant matter such as hay bales, feed bunk spill over and decaying grass.

“Their populations can build rapidly and often exceed the economic injury level defined as 200 flies per animal,” Boxler adds about horn flies. “Once fly numbers surpass this threshold, cattle experience reduced weight gain and milk production due to fly-induced stress and altered grazing behavior.”

Step 2: Reduce Populations

Olds explains with either fly species, using non-insecticidal control methods is essential for slowing insecticide resistance. For horn flies, pasture burning in spring kills any flies overwintering, which can significantly reduce fly populations emerging as weather warms. A healthy dung beetle population will also significantly reduce your fly numbers for free.

“Dung beetles are very susceptible to macrocyclic lactones so avoid using injectable and pour-on avermectins (abamectin, eprinomectin, ivermectin etc.),” Olds says.
Because horn flies die within hours of being removed from cattle, non-chemical walk-through traps can be effective if animals pass through it regularly.

Step 3: Eliminate Breeding Grounds

Round hay bales result in significant wastage, which when mixed into the manure-contaminated mud around bales provides a prime breeding site for stable flies.
Olds explains each round bale can produce 200,000 stable flies.

“Reducing hay waste and spreading/drying areas around finished bales is key to reducing stable fly numbers,” she says. “In feedlots, minimizing feed spillage and waste is critical to remove breeding sites for stable and house flies.”

Parasitoid wasps are available from multiple sellers and should be released around fly breeding sites. These are very effective if released before fly populations emerge and released repeatedly through the fly season.

Be careful using insecticides if using parasitoid wasps as they are very small and sensitive to these chemicals. Keeping vegetation surrounding pen areas short and exposed will remove sheltered resting areas, making life more difficult for the flies.

Step 4: Consider Chemical Control Options

Olds stresses chemical control options should be used as a supplement not the basis of a fly control program.

(Kansas State University)

“For horn flies, insecticidal ear tags are an effective method of control if correct rotation is used,” she adds. “Rotate the chemical class of your tag annually, in year one using pyrethroid-based products, year two use organophosphate-based products and year three use macrocyclic lactone tags. Repeating this three-year cycle will reduce the selection pressure on the fly populations, slowing down the spread of resistance.”

Olds also shares these tips for effective tagging: “Tag both ears and place the tag directly into the ear. For the tag to be effective, it must come into direct contact with the animal’s skin, which is greatly reduced when daisy chained.”

Little of the tag touches the body when attached to another tag.

(Cassandra Olds, Kansas State University)

She also instructs producers not to tag young calves and adds mature bulls with thick necks might not benefit from tagging unless the tag can touch the skin.

“Although the box may label products as effective for four to five months, field trials have shown that tags only remain effective for 90 to 100 days,” Olds says. “If possible, wait until fly populations are noticeable before tagging animals to get control over peak fly activity period. After 90 days, remove the tag to reduce the risk of insecticide resistance developing.”

(Neogen)

To increase coverage, pour-ons of the same chemical class as the ear tag can be used to increase coverage.

“Be aware that a macrocyclic lactone pour-on will impact dung beetle populations,” Olds says. “Make sure animals are dosed accurately according to weight and ensure head to tail coverage. Due to their low contact time with the host and preference for the legs, topical insecticidal treatments are generally not useful against stable flies.”

Spraying the legs can provide some relief, although it should be used sparingly as most sprays are pyrethroid-based, not allowing for effective annual rotation. Baits and premise sprays can be useful in controlling both house and stable flies, look for areas where flies are found resting such as building walls, fence posts and inside sheds and shelters.

Another option is feed through insect growth regulators (IGRs) to control horn fly. Olds says it is important cattle consume the correct amount, which can be difficult under free-choice conditions.

“Under-dosing will result in resistance developing over time, reducing product efficacy,” she says. “Although labeled for stable fly control also, when manure containing the IGR is diluted in the mud and hay, it is no longer effective.”

Often marketed as dung beetle safe, Olds says evaluations of these claims in most species have not been carried out, and their true impact remains unknown.

“Insecticide resistance to IGRs can and does happen; to slow this, rotate annually between Methoprene-based (Group 7A) and diflubenzuron-based products (Group 15),” she adds.

The Veterinary Entomology website , veterinaryentomology.org/vetpestx, provides a searchable database that can help producers select the right products. Producers can select from type of animal, insect and application method.

“For on-animal use, select the best product to allow an annual rotation between pyrethroid (Group 3A), organophosphate (Group 1B) and macrocyclic lactone (Group 6) groups,” Olds says.

Green also recommends using a multi-pronged approach to insect control. He says fly tags, IGR products, pour-ons, back rubbers and dust bags can help diminish the population.

“Both back rubbers and dust bags can be highly effective if managed correctly,” Green advises. “Keep in mind, when these are put out to withstand the elements, including moisture and rain, it’s key to keep the dust fresh or the oil recharged in your back rubbers. Otherwise, they will diminish in their ability to control flies quickly.”

Cammack stresses the importance of accurate dosing by the individual animal’s weight and following label guidelines.

To best control flies and insects on cattle operations, “the easy and effective way is the best way,” Green summarizes. “It’s up to you and with the help of your veterinarian to help create that combination.”

Scientists Uncover a Hidden Methane Engine Inside the Rumen

Wed, 06 May 2026 13:55:25 GMT

Methane emissions from cattle are rooted in normal rumen function. Fermentation produces hydrogen, which methanogenic archaea convert into methane. What has been less clear is how protozoa, long known to be associated with methanogens, amplify that process.

New research published in “Science” provides an answer. The study shows rumen ciliates play a more direct role than previously understood, not just hosting methanogens but actively fueling them.

Rumen ciliates are single-celled protozoa that make up a substantial portion of the rumen microbial biomass. They are characterized by hair-like structures called cilia, which they use for movement and feeding. In the rumen, they contribute to fiber breakdown, starch metabolism and microbial turnover, placing them at a central point in fermentation dynamics.

Discovery of the Hydrogenobody

At the center of the finding is a newly identified organelle, termed the hydrogenobody.

This structure functions as a metabolic engine within ciliate cells. It produces hydrogen, maintains anaerobic conditions and supports methanogens living in close physical association.

By producing hydrogen exactly where it is needed, the hydrogenobody increases methane production efficiency at the cellular level. Imaging and genetic labeling indicate this organelle is widespread among rumen ciliates, although its abundance varies between species.

Linking Ciliate Data to Cattle Outputs

To determine whether this mechanism translates to animal-level outcomes, researchers paired large-scale genomic data with methane measurements from dairy cattle. They assembled a catalog of roughly 450 rumen ciliate genomes and integrated it with nearly 1,900 multi-omics datasets. These data were then linked to measured methane emissions, allowing direct comparisons between microbial profiles and production outcomes.

The analysis identified consistent associations between ciliate abundance, species composition and methane output. Certain ciliate groups, like Isotricha and Dasytricha, were repeatedly linked to higher emissions. Higher hydrogenobody abundance followed the same trend, supporting a functional role rather than a coincidental association.

Isotricha intestinalis

(Sharon Franklin)

Why Does this Matter for Cattle Management?

The implications extend into day-to-day herd management.

Methane mitigation strategies have largely focused on feed additives, broad microbiome suppression or direct inhibition of methanogens. While some approaches show promise, they can be inconsistent under field conditions and may carry trade-offs for rumen function.

Identifying a specific cellular driver shifts the focus upstream. Targeting rumen ciliates — or the hydrogen-producing machinery within them — could allow for more precise methane reduction without broadly disrupting fermentation.

Protozoal removal has already been shown to reduce methane emissions, although it is not widely adopted due to practical and nutritional considerations. This work provides a clearer mechanistic explanation and may help refine more targeted, feasible approaches.

New Methane Mitigation Strategies for Cattle

The hydrogenobody introduces a level of precision that has been largely missing from methane mitigation efforts.

Instead of managing the rumen ecosystem broadly, researchers may now be able to focus on a defined cellular mechanism. This opens the door to more targeted interventions, including precision feed additives, microbiome-directed strategies and potentially selecting for lower-emission microbial profiles within herds.

Key questions remain around how to selectively target specific ciliate populations, how stable these interventions will be under real production conditions and how they may influence digestion and animal performance.

This represents a shift toward more precise, mechanism-driven tools for methane reduction — approaches that could integrate more cleanly into herd health and nutrition programs without compromising rumen function.

From Defense to Damage: Cattle Bunching on Dairy Farms

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:28:10 GMT

As temperatures rise and fly pressure builds, cattle bunching becomes a familiar sight. Often dismissed as a seasonal nuisance, it is actually a vital signal to interpret. What begins as a defense against stable flies quickly triggers a cascade of production and welfare challenges.

The economic impact is significant. Research indicates milk production declines by 0.6 kg per cow daily for every stable fly per leg. Furthermore, the presence of bunching itself is associated with a 0.45 kg daily loss. By the time this behavior is visible, production losses are already well underway.

Bunching is a predictable response to environmental stressors. While fly pressure is the primary trigger, factors like heat load, airflow and pen design determine the behavior’s intensity. Once a threshold is exceeded, bunching appears quickly and can spread across an entire pen.

Ultimately, bunching is not the problem; it is clinical evidence the system and the herd are already under immense pressure.

Why Do Cows Bunch?

Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) are blood-feeding insects that target the lower legs, delivering repeated, painful bites. Cows respond with a sequence of defensive behaviors: stomping, tail flicking and eventually, clustering.

This clustering is not random; it’s strategic.

By grouping tightly, cows reduce the number of flies landing on any one individual — a dilution effect. Animals compete for positions toward the center of the group, where exposure is lowest, creating the characteristic movement often observed in bunched pens.

Behavioral changes begin early. Around five flies per leg, cattle reach what is commonly considered an economic injury level, with measurable impacts on both behavior and production. More recent work suggests the threshold for behavioral change may be even lower under field conditions.

This is a coordinated response to discomfort, and in modern dairy systems, that response comes with trade-offs.

How Cattle Bunching Impacts Health and Performance

What begins as protection can quickly become part of the problem.

As cows bunch, they create localized conditions that amplify other stressors:

Airflow between animals is reduced, limiting the effectiveness of ventilation and cooling systems.
Heat builds within the group, increasing the risk of heat stress even when barn-level conditions appear acceptable.
Feeding behavior is disrupted. Cows are less willing to leave the group, and competition at the bunk increases. Reduced dry matter intake can occur before any visible drop in milk production.
Resting behavior is reduced. Increased fly pressure raises standing time, and bunching compounds this effect. Reduced lying time leads to less rumination and contributes to increased lameness risk over time.
Hygiene deteriorates. Clustering often occurs in areas with higher manure accumulation, increasing exposure to mastitis pathogens.

A behavior intended to reduce fly bites ends up amplifying heat stress, disrupting intake and compromising welfare.

Why Bunching Varies Between Pens

One of the more telling aspects of bunching is how uneven it can be. Within the same barn, under the same management, one pen may bunch consistently while another remains relatively unaffected. Bunching is strongly influenced by microenvironmental conditions that can differ across short distances.

Differences in airflow can create pockets where flies accumulate. Manure buildup increases local breeding pressure. Variations in shade, moisture or surrounding environment can further influence where flies — and therefore cows — concentrate.

Over time, these small differences become consistent patterns. The same pens bunch, often in the same locations, day after day. Cows are responding to environmental gradients that are easy to overlook but highly relevant to their comfort.

How to Diagnose the Cause of Cattle Bunching

When bunching behavior appears, a structured evaluation can help identify the underlying cause:

1. Fly pressure

Assess leg counts or trap counts where possible. Even relatively low counts can be meaningful, and increases beyond five flies per leg indicate significant impact.

2. Heat load

Review temperature-humidity trends and observe when bunching occurs. Heat amplifies both fly activity and cow response.

3. Airflow

Look for uneven ventilation or dead zones within the pen. These often correspond directly with bunching locations.

4. Stocking density

Overcrowding increases competition and accelerates clustering once cows begin to group.

5. Pen-level variation

Compare affected pens with those that remain stable. Differences in surroundings or management often explain the pattern.

This approach reframes bunching from a nuisance behavior into a diagnostic entry point.

When to Act on Cattle Bunching

One of the most useful aspects of bunching is how early it appears. Cows respond to environmental stressors faster than most monitoring systems detect them. As a result, bunching often appears before changes are obvious in bulk tank data or performance metrics. That creates an opportunity to act sooner.

When bunching emerges at consistent times or in specific areas, it provides a reliable signal that conditions have shifted. Adjusting fly control, improving airflow or modifying cooling strategies at that point can prevent escalation and limit cumulative losses.

Cattle bunching is a visible signal the system is under pressure. The goal is not to stop cows from bunching, but to understand why they are doing it and respond before defense turns into damage.

BQA at the Chute: 10 Tips for Spring Calf Processing

Mon, 04 May 2026 13:52:42 GMT

Spring calf processing is a critical window for establishing herd immunity, but its success depends entirely on the details. By following Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) principles, producers can maximize vaccine efficacy and protect carcass value through precise needle selection, proper injection site placement and strict adherence to the “one-hour rule” for modified-live vaccines.

“It will soon be time to process spring-born calves, which brings up the topic of best management practices and following BQA principles for all treatments,” says Chris Clark, Iowa State University Extension and outreach beef specialist, in a recent Growing Beef Newsletter. “The overall concepts are pretty simple, but it takes attention to detail to get the most out of each treatment and to ensure our product is as safe, wholesome and palatable as possible.”

Clark shares these 10 simple reminders for spring processing:

Follow label directions for all treatments, including injections, implants, pour-ons, insecticide ear tags, etc.
Administer all subcutaneous and intramuscular injections in front of the shoulder in the injection site triangle of the neck.
Select the appropriate needle diameter and length based on the weight of the animals being treated, viscosity of products being injected and routes of administration. Needles should be small enough to minimize tissue damage but large enough to prevent bending and breaking. The diameter should be appropriate for the viscosity of the product, and the length should be appropriate for the route of administration. For young calves weighing less than 300 pounds, 18-gauge needles are reasonable for most vaccines. For subcutaneous injections, ½ inch to ¾ inch needle length should work well, and for intramuscular injections, ¾ inch to 1 inch needle length should be appropriate. Keep in mind the greater the needle gauge, the smaller the diameter and vice versa.

Recommended needle size based on animal weight, viscosity of product and route of administration.
(BQA Field Guide)
Practice injection technique and pay attention to the angle of injection and the feel of the needle within the tissue. Subcutaneous injections should be applied at approximately 45 degrees to the body and intramuscular injections should be applied at approximately 90 degrees to the body. With experience, you can learn to feel whether you are in that subcutaneous space or whether you have entered the underlying muscle.
Change needles frequently. At a minimum, needles should be changed every 10 to 15 head. Additionally, a new needle should always be applied before refilling a syringe and any bent or burred needles should be immediately replaced.
For reusable syringes, clean well after each use by thoroughly rinsing with hot water. Refrain from using soaps and disinfectants because residues of these substances can damage vaccines and reduce vaccine efficacy.
Handle vaccines with care. When using modified live vaccines, mix only what you can use in an hour. Keep vaccines at steady, reasonable temperatures and take care to avoid freezing, excessive heat and exposure to UV light. Reconstitute modified live vaccines with sterile transfer needles and roll or invert gently to mix rather than shaking vigorously.
When possible, choose subcutaneous routes of administration over intramuscular routes. Some products are labeled to be given either way and when you have the choice, choose subcutaneous. Any insertion of a needle or injection of a substance into muscle tissue will cause tissue damage, potentially impacting the quality of that product.
Document complete processing/treatment records, including animal or group identification, treatment date, products administered, withdrawal times, earliest date animals would clear withdrawal times, dose administered, route of administration, name of person administering drugs and any prescription information.
Do not mix different vaccines or drugs in the same syringe or use a syringe to administer different products without washing in between. Try to place injections at least 4 inches apart from other injections to avoid product mixing/interaction within animal tissue.

"Tell Us Something Good" Focuses on What’s Going Right in Veterinary Medicine

Fri, 01 May 2026 14:52:05 GMT

As Mental Health Awareness Month begins, a new veterinary initiative is asking a simple question: What’s going right in practice?

Nonprofit Project Sticker has launched the “ Tell Us Something Good ” campaign, inviting veterinary professionals to share small, meaningful moments from their work. The effort is part of a broader push to support veterinary teams earlier, with a focus on connection, accessibility and day-to-day well-being.

What the Campaign Is

The concept is straightforward: Veterinary professionals share one positive moment from their day, whether clinical, client-related or team-based.

That simplicity is intentional. The campaign is designed to fit into the existing rhythm of practice, not sit alongside it. It also aligns with Project Sticker’s wider work to make mental health support more visible and easier to access across the profession.

Rather than positioning itself as a solution to burnout, the initiative offers a small, repeatable action that can complement broader support systems.

Why This Approach, Why Now

The campaign draws on principles from Positive Psychology, particularly the idea that reflecting on meaningful experiences can help reinforce resilience and purpose.

That framing comes at a time when many veterinary professionals report ongoing stress, anxiety or uncertainty about staying in the field. Project Sticker’s approach doesn’t attempt to counter those realities — it adds something that is often less visible: shared, everyday evidence of meaning in the work.

In practice, those moments are easy to overlook. A case that improves, a client who expresses gratitude, a team that works seamlessly under pressure — these events happen regularly, but rarely get named.

The campaign centers on making them visible.

Why This Matters in Practice

For clinics, the appeal is practical. The approach requires little time or structure and can be incorporated without adding to workload.

Examples include:

Opening rounds with a quick “something good”
Brief team check-ins during demanding weeks
Informal recognition of patient or client wins

These small shifts align with a broader move toward earlier, proactive support, rather than waiting until stress escalates.

They also reinforce factors tied to retention, including team connection, recognition and sense of purpose.

A Broader Goal: Keeping People in the Profession

The campaign connects to a larger objective: helping veterinary professionals stay in practice.

Project Sticker’s work focuses on reducing mental health crisis rates and improving retention by making support more accessible and easier to engage with in everyday settings.

Within that framework, “Tell Us Something Good” serves as a low-barrier entry point — one that emphasizes consistency over complexity. This initiative reflects a shift in how veterinary mental health is being approached: not just reducing strain, but reinforcing what sustains people in the work.

It’s simple — and that’s likely the point.

Stop the Guesswork: Build a Targeted Parasite Plan

Mon, 04 May 2026 13:51:51 GMT

As grass greens up and cattle head back to pasture, many producers are “throwing darts in an open field” when it comes to parasite control, says Tennessee Hereford breeder Ryan Proffitt.

The real-world frustration of deworming programs is knowing if they are working, Proffitt says.

Norbrook Technical Services Veterinarian Megan Bollin explains fecal egg count testing, targeted treatment, concurrent deworming, maintaining refugia and smarter pasture management can turn parasite control guesswork into a targeted plan that protects herd health, preserves dewormer efficacy and ultimately adds pounds to the calf crop.

Both Bollin and Proffitt agree a pragmatic roadmap for modern parasite control is anchored in diagnostics, targeted treatment and strong relationships with veterinarians.

Bollin shares five practical strategies to get the most out of today’s dewormers and preserve them for tomorrow:

1. Sit Down with Your Vet.

She encourages producers to map out a herd‑specific internal and external parasite plan with diagnostics built in.

“Your local vet should be your key partner in designing a program that fits your parasites, climate and management style,” Bollin says.

2. Use the Right Product at the Right Time.

Use the correct class, correct dose and consider concurrent deworming when resistance is a known issue. Your local veterinarian can guide you on proper treatment timing to avoid wasting money.

3. Manage Pastures with Parasites in Mind.

Bollin says pasture management is as important as treatment. Pasture type, quality, topography and drainage should all be considered in your plan, knowing we can’t always do much to change them.

“Only about 10% of the parasite life cycle is in the animal; 90% is on pasture,” she says.

Larvae generally stay below 4” on the grass blade. She says it is important to avoid overgrazing pastures below this height and manage stocking density accordingly.

“When you get a big rain after a drought, the larvae that had been waiting in the manure pats can quickly become infective and significantly increase the risk of infection, especially in young calves,” she says.

4. Prioritize High-Risk Animals.

Calves, stockers, bulls and replacements should be prioritized with the strictest parasite control and monitoring programs.

“Calves, replacement heifers and bulls are typically heavier shedders and more susceptible to the effects of parasites than mature cows,” Bollin explains.

Proffitt notes that many producers historically concentrate on keeping mature cows dewormed while underestimating calves’ role as carriers.

“We don’t need to, and shouldn’t be, treating every animal like we always have,” Bollin adds. “That has gotten us in a pickle with resistance.”

5. Measure and Adjust Treatment.

Bollin says it is important to know where you started. Get a baseline fecal egg count, understand your resistance patterns and monitor the efficacy of your treatment program. So many variables change from year to year: climate, weather conditions, new animals and other stressors. It’s critical to routinely evaluate your deworming program and avoid blindly doing the same thing year after year.

(Proffitt Family)

Diagnostics Are Essential, Not Optional

Fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRTs) are the most practical method we have to determine if dewormers are still working and at what level.

Bollin explains the process includes:

Collecting rectal fecal samples and recording identification.
Treating animals with product or products of choice.
Resampling the same animals by taking rectal fecal samples, 10 to 17 days later, depending on the drug or drugs used.

The lab will count how many eggs per gram are in that fecal sample. There will be a pretreatment and a posttreatment sample. Bollin says the goal should be greater than 95% reduction.

Proffitt argues FECRTs are worth the hassle.

“If we don’t have a game plan on what we’re doing and we’re just rushing,” he says. “What did we win at the end of the day if we don’t know what we’re doing?”

Proffitt says testing tells him which cows he can skip treating, which saves him money.

Bollin explains in many cases mature cows 3 years and older, shedding low levels of eggs, on a good plane of nutrition, with no other stressors or health concerns (including liver flukes), should not need to be dewormed.

“This supports ‘refugia’ — intentionally leaving low-risk animals untreated to slow resistance,” she explains. “Because they’re mature, they’ve got a competent immune system that can actually fight off these parasites by themselves without a dewormer.”

To reduce costs further, Bollin says producers can pool fecal samples from multiple cows into a single submission.

(Deb Gustafson)

Beating Parasite Resistance Starts at the Chute

Bollin says dewormer resistance, long documented in sheep and goats, is being seen more frequently in U.S. cattle herds.

She says overuse, underdosing and treating every animal regardless of need are major drivers in resistance.

“All of these deworming products, when they were originally approved, had very high levels of efficacy. We’re talking 99% and above,” Bollin explains. “As we’ve continually used these products, efficacy has been challenged because resistance has increased.”

If you’re using products that are no longer effective in your herd, you’re spending money on drugs that don’t work, and you’re not getting the production benefits. One way to restore efficacy when resistance is present is to use concurrent deworming.

Why Concurrent Deworming Matters

Bollin says concurrent deworming is using two dewormers from different classes at the same time. She stresses producers need to work with a veterinarian to avoid unknowingly pairing two products from the same class, which doesn’t provide the intended benefit.

She explains the benefits of concurrent deworming are:

· Higher overall efficacy when two partially effective products are combined. “Say you’ve got two products, for example, each with 70% efficacy. By using them together, you can raise your overall efficacy to levels exceeding 90%,” she says.

· Broader spectrum of parasite coverage.

· Models would suggest a slowing of resistance.

· Only sustainable long-term when used in conjunction with a refugia program. This means we don’t treat every animal. We want to keep a few “good” worms around that are still susceptible to the drug.

Bollin gives the example of pairing a benzimidazole, or a “white dewormer,” such as fenbendazole, albendazole or oxfendazole, with a macrocyclic lactone such as ivermectin, moxidectin or eprinomectin.

She emphasizes the industry unfortunately doesn’t have a lot of studies looking at this, but a study published in 2025 highlighted the benefits of concurrent treatment with fenbendazole in situations where resistance to macrocyclic lactones is likely.

Dung Beetles Are Valuable Allies

Dung beetles break up manure pats, exposing eggs and larvae to sunshine and dry conditions. Some dewormers are more compatible with dung beetle health.

“Two of the dewormers that are not harmful are moxidectin and fenbendazole,” Bollin says. “Those are two molecules that are generally safe for dung beetles, and those could be a good option to pair together.”

Facility where researchers collect blood samples and weigh cattle before and after they are transported. Steers have painted numbers on their backs so their activity can be followed on camera.

(Stephanie Hansen)

Application Technique and Dosing Accuracy Matter

Bollin says accurate body weights, not visual estimates, are critical, explaining underdosing is a key driver of resistance.

“One of the biggest contributors to resistance is that we are just not giving them enough active ingredient,” she says. “If you don’t have scales, it is best to treat to the heaviest body weight in the group, so that you make sure that they’re all getting enough.”

She also stresses the importance of storing deworming products correctly.

“Leaving them by the chute in temperature swings can reduce efficacy,” she says.

Proffitt also reminds producers to read labels and understand rain windows with pour-ons and to avoid mud or manure on hides. Bollin notes that injectables can provide more certainty that the animal is getting the full dose, whereas oral drenches can be spit out and pour-ons can run off or be groomed off by penmates.

Both Bollin and Proffitt frame parasite control not as one more chore on an overloaded to-do list but rather as a strategic, data-driven opportunity to protect animal health, slow resistance and convert good management into pounds sold.

Your Next Read:

Determine Parasite Load and Follow With Treatment

10 Toxic Pasture Weeds: How To Identify and Manage

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 20:22:29 GMT

Not all toxic plants are equally dangerous, and many factors, such as stage of growth, part of the plant consumed and quantity, play a role in whether animals are affected.

With the ongoing weather variability the past few years, pasture conditions have been highly inconsistent. Some are thriving, while others are struggling due to overgrazing, flooding or drought.

“When pastures thin out, they leave space for opportunistic weeds to move in,” Shelby Gruss, Iowa State University Extension forage specialist, says. “While all weeds can compete for light, nutrients and moisture, some pose a greater threat due to toxicity risks for livestock.”

Below is a list of some of the most common toxic pasture weeds in Iowa and the Midwest, with tips on identification:

Poison Hemlock

(Kevin Bradley)

Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Toxic Part: Entire plant, especially leaves and stems
Risk: Highly toxic to all livestock (and humans); small amounts can be fatal
ID Tips: Finely divided, fern-like leaves; purple-spotted stems; umbrella-shaped white flower clusters
Notes: Often found in ditches and low-lying areas; do not mow when flowering — can release toxins and spread seeds
Common look-a-like: Queen’s Anne Lace/wild carrot

Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa L)

(John Cardina, The Ohio State University, IPM Images)

Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
Toxic Part: Sap causes skin irritation when exposed to sunlight (phytophotodermatitis)
Risk: Mainly a risk to humans (and pets) through skin contact; generally avoided by livestock, but ingestion can cause photosensitivity and severe sunburn
ID Tips: Yellow umbrella-shaped flowers; hairy and grooved stems; leaves look like celery or parsley
Notes: Wear gloves and long sleeves when handling; mowing before seed set helps control
Common look-a-like: Queen’s Anne Lace/wild carrot

Common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum L.)

(L.L. Berry, IPM Images)

St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum)
Toxic Part: Entire plant
Risk: Contains hypericin, which causes photosensitivity (sunburn-like skin damage) in light-skinned livestock such as sheep, cattle, goats and horses; severe cases can lead to skin sloughing, blindness or death
ID Tips: Upright perennial with small flowers; the flowers have five bright yellow petals that often have black dots on the petal margins; leaves are opposite, oval and have translucent spots when held up to light; woody base; grows 1' to 3' tall in clumps
Notes: Becomes more problematic in overgrazed or low-fertility areas. Most toxic when flowering. Often avoided unless forage is limited

Common Milkweed

(Kevin Bradley)

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Toxic Part: Leaves and stems
Risk: Contains cardiac glycosides; toxic in large amounts, especially to cattle and sheep
ID Tips: Thick oblong, opposite arranged leaves; milky sap; large round pink flower clusters; stems covered with dense pubescence
Notes: Generally unpalatable unless forage is scarce; monitor pasture for adequate forage growth

Johnsongrass

(Kevin Bradley)

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) / Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)
Toxic Part: Wilted leaves (Black Cherry); young regrowth and frost-damaged tissue (Johnsongrass)
Risk: Both produce cyanide (prussic acid), which can be fatal within minutes
ID Tips (Cherry): Tree with shiny leaves, dark bark, and white flowers
ID Tips (Johnsongrass): Tall grass with prominent midrib, purple panicle seeds, spreads rhizomes
Notes: Do not allow livestock access to wilted branches or frosted regrowth; delay grazing after frost or drought
Common look-a-like (Johnsongrass): Sorghum species

White Snakeroot (Ageratina Altissima)

(Ansel Oommen, IPM Images)

White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
Toxic Part: Entire plant
Risk: Causes “milk sickness” in humans through milk from affected cattle; toxic to cattle, goats, horses
ID Tips: Opposite triangular leaves with serrated edges (sharply toothed) with three main veins; white flowers in flat-topped clusters
Notes: Common in wooded pastures or shaded edges; control early; avoid grazing densely infested areas
Common Look-a-like species: bonesets, other snakeroots

Horsenettle (Solanum Carolinense)

(Kevin Bradley)

Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense)
Toxic Part: Berries and leaves
Risk: Contains solanine; can affect the nervous system and digestive tract
ID Tips: Spiny stems and leaves; small, star-shaped purple flowers; yellow berries when ripe
Notes: Toxic when consumed in large amounts; spot spray or dig out to reduce spread; berries are particularly toxic

Cocklebur

(Kevin Bradley)

Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)
Toxic Part: Seeds and seedlings
Risk: Toxic to pigs, sheep and cattle; seedlings are especially dangerous
ID Tips: Rough stems with darks pots; sandpaper-like, triangular leaves with serrated leaf edges; hooked burs that cling to fur and clothing
Notes: Can cause liver damage; avoid overgrazing, as seedlings are more likely to be eaten when forage is limited

Pigweed (Genus Amaranthus L)

(Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, IPM Images)

Nitrate Accumulators
Some plants can accumulate toxic levels of nitrates, especially after drought or heavy fertilization:
Common culprits: Pigweed, lambs quarters, Johnsongrass, and thistles
Risk: Nitrate poisoning reduces oxygen transport in blood — can be fatal
Management Tip: Have suspect forages tested before grazing or feeding; elevated risks following fertilization, and following drought breaking rains

Field Horsetail (Equisetum Arvense L)

(John Cardina, The Ohio State University, IPM Images)

Horsetail (Equisetum spp.)
Toxic Part: Entire plant
Risk: Contains thiaminase; can cause neurological symptoms, especially in horses
ID Tips: Hollow, jointed stems; no true leaves; resembles a bottle brush
Notes: Grows in poorly drained soils and along ditches; improve drainage and limit access

“The first step to weed management is identifying the species you have in your field,” Gruss says.

If you’re unsure about a plant in your pasture, contact your local field specialist.

“When in doubt, better safe than sorry — keep animals away until you’ve confirmed safety,” she summarizes. “Typically, animals will avoid toxic species when there is something else to graze, but eliminating the toxic weed species is ideal. If using herbicides, please read and follow all herbicide directions and grazing restrictions.”

More information on common pasture weeds can be found here: Recognizing and managing common pasture weeds .

More information can be found here: 2025 Herbicide Guide: Iowa Corn and Soybean Production for herbicides labeled for grass pasture, hayfield (table 6) and alfalfa and legumes (table 7).

Pseudorabies (PRV) Confirmed in Iowa and Texas Commercial Swine Herds

Fri, 01 May 2026 13:06:43 GMT

For the first time since being eradicated in the U.S. commercial swine herd in 2004, pseudorabies (PRV) has been confirmed in herds in Iowa and Texas.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed the detection of PRV antibodies in a small commercial swine facility in Iowa. The discovery was made through routine testing rather than pre-movement surveillance.

Traceback Confirms Texas Connection

Initial traceback efforts reveal that five affected boars in the Iowa facility originated from an outdoor production site in Texas. Subsequent testing of the Texas herd also returned positive results for the virus.

APHIS is currently collaborating with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to expand traceback efforts and identify any further exposures.

The Feral Swine Risk

Although the commercial industry has been free of the disease for more than 20 years, PRV remains prevalent in feral swine populations across the U.S. Officials believe this detection is a result of “spillover” from wild populations.

“Pseudorabies is still found in wild or feral swine populations, which remain a potential threat of exposure for domestic pigs,” an APHIS release stated. The Texas herd involved was housed outdoors, where contact with feral swine is possible.

Impact and Symptoms

PRV is a contagious viral disease that serves as a significant threat to herd productivity:

Adult Pigs: Causes abortions, stillbirths, and respiratory issues.
Newborn Pigs: Attacks the respiratory and central nervous systems, leading to sneezing, incoordination, and high mortality rates.

While pigs are the only natural hosts, PRV can infect most other mammals—though humans, horses, and birds are considered resistant.

Official Response and Market Safety

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig emphasized that the state is moving decisively to eliminate the disease.

“The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has spent years preparing for these types of animal health events,” Naig said. “It’s important for people to know that pseudorabies is not a food safety concern, and this virus does not pose a risk to consumers. The United States’ pork supply remains safe and secure.”

Export Implications

Despite the lack of risk to food safety, the detection could have economic repercussions. APHIS warns there may be limited, short-term impacts on the exports of U.S. swine and swine genetics as trading partners evaluate the new health status.

“Established protocols were implemented immediately in response to the incident and remain in place to safeguard the commercial swine industry,” the National Pork Producers Council said in a statement. “These steps were successfully deployed through swift action and close coordination with USDA and the IDALS. The National Pork Producers Council and Iowa Pork Producers Association support these efforts and remain committed to a coordinated response to prioritize biosecurity and prevent further occurrences.”

The Veterinarian Who Wants Everyone at the Table

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:57:11 GMT

The air in the farm office is thick with the scent of antiseptic and damp earth. Outside on a folding plastic table, slippery, pink reproductive tracts are laid out like a strange anatomy lesson.

This isn’t the sterile, hurried vet visit most expect. There is no rush to finish, no ticking clock. Instead, a crowd gathers. Workers, owners and managers lean in, drawn by a curiosity that usually gets buried under the weight of a daily chore list.

Michelle Schack doesn’t start by lecturing; she starts by inviting.

“We did a little in-the-office training where we talked about why what we were doing was important, and then we went outside. I had repro tracts and their AI guns, and they practiced,” Schack recalls. “I had three repro tracts, and I cut one open for us to look at. I explained to them the structure of the cervix.”

In moments like this, the hierarchy of the farm dissolves. Schack isn’t positioned as the untouchable expert at the center of the room. She is a facilitator, a guide and — crucially — a student.

“They were so excited to do this, and they had a lot of questions, really good questions,” Schack says. “We were all talking together. We were sharing things. I learned things. The breeders learned things. The owner learned things. We all were learning together.”

(Photos provided by Michelle Schack)

The Silicon Valley Roots of a Cow Vet

Schack’s journey to the dairy barn began in an unlikely place: the Bay Area of California. Growing up in the Silicon Valley, her world was surrounded by tech companies and not a lot of agriculture.

Her first connection to animals wasn’t through livestock but rather through a suburban 4-H group where she raised nine guide dog puppies for the blind. It was here, starting in the second grade, that she inadvertently began training for her future career — not just in animal care but also in the art of public advocacy.

When she reached the University of California, Davis, for her undergraduate degree, she assumed being a small animal vet was the only path. But after shadowing a practitioner, she realized she felt restricted by the 15-minute appointment model and the sterile walls of a clinic. She began to look for something that allowed for more space, more complexity and a deeper connection to the food system.

“I started exploring — asking, ‘Well, what else is there?’ I realized that there were all different kinds of vets, and I could do all different kinds of things,” she recalls. “I really just kept coming back to the cows. The cows were my favorite the whole time.”

By her third year of veterinary school, her choice was clear, though she was in the extreme minority. Out of her graduating class of 140, there were four students who tracked food animal medicine.

The High Cost of the Telephone Game

This instinct to pull people toward the table comes from seeing what happens when communication breaks down. In the dairy industry, the real problem is often a lack of communication — a high-stakes game of telephone that breaks down as the message gets passed further along the line.

“I think very often we speak to the farmers and then the farmers speak to their employees. But along the way, some of the messages are lost, especially as our farms get bigger,” Schack explains.

She doesn’t see this as a lack of effort but rather as a reality of the grueling environment.

“The employee on the farm has a very challenging job. Typically it’s very repetitive, very physical, in all weather, and it’s very common for them to just get stuck in a routine,” Schack says.

When employees are stuck in a routine without understanding the biological “why” behind their tasks , the animals are the ones who pay the price. Her response is simple: Change how the message is shared. It has become one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

“When I get to work with the people and the owner and the manager, and I can see them all connect, that’s a day that I’m very excited for. That’s my favorite part of my job,” Schack explains.

(Photos provided by Michelle Schack)

The Missed Piece: Collaborative Medicine

This experience shaped a simple belief: A veterinarian who only talks to cows is only doing half the job. In Schack’s view, the vet is just one piece of a massive, integrated team.

“It is common for cattle veterinarians to show up, check cows and go home. When you don’t make the time for the rest of the team, then you’re going to get left out of certain conversations,” she notes. “Producers are working with a whole team of people. When we all work together, we can do so much more.”

She defines that team broadly, including the nutritionist, the slaughterhouse, the semen sales rep and even the person who installed the fans and misters. This teamwork requires a specific kind of humility: the ability to recognize that the person delivering 40 calves a day might know more than the person with the medical degree.

“There are maternity workers that have been working in maternity for 40 years, and all they do all day is deliver calves. They are experts, and to pretend that they aren’t or to overpower them is not smart. They know a lot, and we should be listening to what they have to say,” Schack says.

Starting Earlier: Bridging the ‘Milk Gap’

Schack’s passion for education eventually led her to look even further back in the chain of understanding: to the children in her own community. After visiting her children’s kindergarten class to talk about her job, she was struck by a profound realization.

“None of them knew how milk gets from the cow to the grocery store. They don’t understand that there’s processing,” she says. “I think most people think cows come in to get milked, it goes in a bottle and then goes to the grocery store. But there are so many steps in between, and I don’t think it’s shared very well.”

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A post shared by Dairy Vet Dr. Michelle (@dairy.doc)

She saw the same disconnect reflected in posts and comments on her social media, where she shares about dairy farming as the “ Dairy Doc .” Concerned that others were filling that knowledge gap with information that may not reflect reality, Schack decided to take action.

“I wrote a children’s book,” Schack says. “Kids are sponges, and they want to know the right answer. So, I wrote a book that’s specifically geared at their level that explains milk processing in a simple way so they can actually see what happens.”

The book, “Milk From Cow to Carton,” is set to release in June. She hopes to get it into the hands of teachers so they have a factual, accessible resource for their classrooms.

(Photos provided by Michelle Schack)

Building Something That Scales

When training demands began to outpace her schedule, Schack and her partners at her veterinary practice looked for a way to scale and maintain that connection.

“We started creating videos for our clients, and they were so well received that pretty soon we had the whole co-op interested in using our training,” she says.

These training videos eventually grew into DairyKind , a national training platform that fills the gaps in on-farm education. The platform offers modules on everything from special needs cow care to calf weaning, ensuring that the “why” is never lost in the shuffle of farm growth.

This work has clarified her own identity. For years, Schack thought her value was her knowledge of the animal. Now, she realizes her value is her ability to connect the people who care for them.

“I thought that I was an animal person. Over the years I’ve learned that I’m not really an animal person, I’m a people person,” she reflects. “My nature is to work with other people and that makes me happy.”

At the end of the day, the work still looks like that first moment in the farm office: a group of people gathered around a table. Schack is there, not just to provide the answers but also to ensure that everyone — from the veteran maternity worker to the kindergarten student — is part of the conversation.

She knows that if you want to improve outcomes for cows, you have to start with the people.