Latest News From Animal health

South Dakota Dairy Producers encourages all dairy producers to closely monitor their herd and contact their herd veterinarian immediately if cattle appear symptomatic.

Steve Troxle, state commissioner of agriculture, said he is waiting for more diagnostic information from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and will work collaboratively with North Carolina dairy farmers.

Bacteria, viruses, and protozoa all have crafty methods of making preweaned calves sick. Veterinarian Don Sockett shares his advice on fighting these organisms through effective cleaning and sanitation routines.

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners is making the name change, as it more accurately reflects the issue.

Kay Russo, DVM, Novonesis technical services manager for dairy and poultry, emphasized the situation is rapidly evolving and more clarity will come with time as researchers learn more.

Sid Miller, commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture, says the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza impacting beef cattle in the state's panhandle – where dairy cows have been infected – is minimal.

As cattle are fed to heavier end points, the incidence of BCHF is increasing. The beef industry is stepping up to help producers and veterinarians make production and selection decisions to reduce the occurrence of BCHF.

Livestock producers and veterinarians are urged to practice good biosecurity practices to prevent transmission of the disease. Five states have also issued restrictions on dairy cattle movement.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that a human case of bird flu has been confirmed in Texas and identified in a person who had direct exposure to dairy cattle presumed to be infected with the disease.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture announced that HPAI, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, has been found in dairy cattle in Idaho.

In affected cowherds, the illness impacts nearly 10% of the animals, causing reduced feed consumption and a 10% to 20% decline in milk production. 

Each of the pathogens exhibits slightly different clinical signs and often at different times.

Bovine lameness is one of the costliest animal health issues to the beef industry and it’s also a major animal welfare concern that we can mitigate.

Gene editing has been used experimentally to produce polled calves and calves with lighter-colored haircoats. Now, USDA researchers, have produced a calf with reduced susceptibility to bovine viral diarrhea virus.

NASDA supports farmers and ranchers’ ability to safeguard animal health through the responsible use of vaccines.

To give cattle producers more flexibility and convenience in their fly control program, Cargill has partnered with Central Life Sciences to develop a feed-through fly control bolus containing Altosid IGR.

Cow-calf producers know their deworming program is an essential part of their overall parasite management plan, but what isn’t as clear is which animal to deworm and when.

Subclinical hypocalcemia has been reported to affect up to 73% of U.S. dairy cows on third or greater lactations, and costs an average of $150 per case. But there are typically no visible symptoms.

Cryptosporidia is one of the most common scours-causing pathogens in preweaned calves, and, unfortunately, it strikes in the early weeks of life when calves are most vulnerable.

The “maternal” discussion is far more complex than a healthy live birth and seedstock producers are using more data and knowledge to create better dams each year.

Is the blanket approach of giving calcium boluses to every fresh cow really the best route to prevent milk fever?

Proper timing, product dosage and application are key for combating lice and keeping cattle productive.

 The House of Representatives passed the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act on Tuesday. It will help fight illicit use of the product in humans while preserving access to the drug for animals.

Remote drug delivery devices to treat cattle are increasingly popular among producers, especially for use with cattle on pasture. Many veterinarians, however, continue to question whether such tools warrant use at all.

Liver abscesses in finished beef-cross cattle continue to frustrate feeders and packers. Severe liver abscesses negatively impact cattle performance in a number of ways.

Between 60% and 70% of U.S. dairies have mycoplasma at least as a component of the respiratory disease that they deal with, according to Geof Smith, DVM and a dairy technical services veterinarian with Zoetis. 

The problem occurs in nearly 50% of cows in the first 24 hours after calving, says Jesse Goff, DVM and ISU professor emeritus. He details four nutrition strategies to prevent or treat the problem so cows aren't culled.

Although mastitis, an infection of the udder, is often considered a dairy cow problem, the disease can also impact beef cows. Here's what to look for to keep beef herds healthy.

Understanding why scours occurs is the first step in preventing the problem.

Calves coming down with illness often are very good at masking their symptoms. Use these methods to detect sickness or stress early on.

Have we hit the low point for the average productive lifespan of dairy cows?

Norbrook announces the introduction of Tauramox Injectable Solution for the control of key internal and external parasites in beef and dairy cattle.

While trace mineral deficiencies can vary widely by animal and region, the most common ones Jeffery Hall, DVM, PhD, DABVT, sees in cattle today are insufficient copper, manganese, selenium and zinc.

The company, based in Columbia, Mo., manufactures vaccines for livestock to aid in the protection of numerous diseases caused by gram-negative bacteria. 

A producer asked Beef Cattle Institute experts to address how to give medical care to an animal in the field. Options listed: darting, roping, trailering or walking to a facility, doing nothing. What would you choose?

AABP is offering online materials veterinarians can download and use with Spanish speaking caregivers of dairy and beef cattle. Some of the guidelines available address dehorning, castration, transportation and more.

The heat is no joke, especially for cattle producers across the country as they look for ways to keep cattle cool and comfortable. Here's what some producers are doing.

Cattle in some parts of the U.S. are struggling to deal with the heat and high temperatures Mother Nature has delivered.

Could fewer vaccinations reduce the incidence of BRD in beef-on-dairy calves? Some bovine veterinarians believe so. Dr. Dan Thomson shares four practices he says will serve these calves and the ag industry better.

Somatic cell count averages for 2022 were highest in the year's late fall and winter months. Below are some considerations for managing mastitis as the weather changes.

The 2023 U.S. CattleTrace Symposium, which will be held November 14 and 15 at the American Royal Center, Kansas City, Mo., is now open for registration.

The best and most effective technologies in dairy production today are not necessarily the ones with the most bells and whistles. Rather, they’re the ones that simply “let cows be cows.”

Merck Animal Health announces that its dairy monitoring technology products are now aligned under the SenseHub Dairy brand.

Here's a look at a recent report on the U.S. susceptibility to JEV related to the availability of competent mosquito vector species, susceptible maintenance avian hosts, as well as intensive travel and trade activities.

Annoying. Bothersome. Irritating. Inconvenience. Pest. No matter how you describe Musca domestica, aka the house fly, and its friend the gnat, one thing’s for sure – they are a nuisance and a threat to your swine herd.

Pinkeye is a painful eye disease that affects cattle worldwide. Here’s a look at the causes, signs, treatment, control and prevention of pinkeye, provided by K-State’s Beef Cattle Institute.

Calves and heifers aren’t as susceptible to heat stress as cows, but they do suffer from it to some degree, and their production is diminished as a result.

As temperatures ratchet up, the disorder is more frequently seen in fed cattle ready for slaughter. Veterinarians offer their take on what contributes to the problem and seven recommendations to help prevent it.

The PAC Summit for Industry Leaders will be held July 12, 2023, at the Holiday Inn in Kearney, Nebraska. The event features an exciting line-up of speakers and topics.

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is awarding $2.29 million through the National Animal Health Laboratory Network Farm Bill program to advance APHIS’ animal health preparedness.