Animal health
Kansas state veterinarians investigated the sudden deaths of 14 cattle and discovered the cause wasn’t disease; it was preventable management oversight.
From fetal programming to fitness checks, every step before loading helps determine how calves perform after they leave the dairy.
The first days after milking stops may influence inflammation, metabolism and performance long before the next calving.
When evidence falls short, veterinarians and producers rely on experience, collaboration and careful judgment to manage the complex realities of tick-borne disease.
New pathology research suggests we may need to look beyond obvious cardiac lesions as researchers work to unravel one of the beef industry’s most challenging diseases.
As wildfire smoke blankets much of the eastern US, avoid unnecessary animal handling and stress to protect cattle until air quality improves.
Adult flies are only part of the problem. Knowing where they breed, rest and multiply can help you develop more effective control strategies.
Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis may be more complex than a single bacterial infection, opening new avenues for prevention and vaccine development.
Research and field experience have answered many of the biggest questions surrounding HPAI while reshaping how veterinarians diagnose, monitor and manage the disease.
USDA-funded projects are tackling some of the biggest challenges in New World screwworm control, from producing more competitive sterile flies to developing entirely new ways to eliminate the parasite.
Researchers at Penn State are developing the CalfHealth System, an AI-powered platform that combines behavior monitoring, precision livestock technologies and veterinary diagnostics to identify calves at risk for bovine respiratory disease before obvious clinical signs appear.
A new study has found Bovine Leukemia Virus DNA in biting insects, adding evidence for a possible role in the virus’ transmission.
New Missouri-based research offers insight into how bovine anaplasmosis spreads naturally and why infected ticks have remained so difficult to detect.
Veterinary and entomology experts break down the biology of ALHT “explosions” and provide a roadmap for managing theileriosis risks.
Prompt action can help preserve joint function, while delayed treatment may lead to chronic lameness and reduced longevity.
Technology can identify lame cows sooner, but experts say better hoof bath management is what keeps cows healthy in the first place.
Bovine tuberculosis control changes dramatically depending on where the disease survives. Canada’s recent investigations have focused on tracing rare infections through cattle movements, while Michigan’s long-running battle centers on managing the disease in white-tailed deer.
From vaccinations to diagnostics, misconceptions about BVD can leave costly gaps in herd health programs. Veterinarians Dr. Robert Larson and Dr. Christopher Chase help separate fact from fiction on one of the cattle industry’s most economically important diseases.
With no fully approved drugs for New World screwworm in livestock, producers must rely on conditionally approved products and emergency use authorizations — all used exactly as labeled and under veterinary guidance.
After nearly 14 years without foot-and-mouth disease, Europe faced multiple unrelated incursions in 2025 and 2026. Rapid detection, regionalization and vaccine readiness helped contain the virus and offered lessons for animal health professionals worldwide.
After a spring of drought followed by heavy rain and high grass, Asian longhorned ticks overwhelmed Travis Mundy’s pastures in a matter of days, killing two head and threatening cattle across multiple locations.
Heat stress affects the cellular and immune systems that protect dairy cows from disease, creating impacts that extend far beyond production losses.
A single tick can start an infestation, and the parasite it carries stays in your herd forever. Now in 27 states, the invasive tick is reshaping how producers manage herd health — here’s what experts want you to know.
Models can’t yet tell you exactly when New World screwworm will reach your area. Cattle movements, weather and reporting will decide how far — and how fast — it goes.
The USDA strike team uses dispersal by air and vehicle along with ground release chambers to keep the devastating flesh‑eating pest from gaining a foothold in U.S. livestock and wildlife.
Research in beef-on-dairy cattle is challenging long-held assumptions about when these costly lesions develop.
After 60 years of successful eradication, NWS has been detected in Texas. Understand the history of this parasite, the science behind the Sterile Insect Technique and USDA and TAHC’s actions to protect the U.S. livestock industry.