Weekly livestock news: January 15, 2024

Avian flu continues to take a toll

For the third consecutive winter, highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to take a toll on domestic and wild birds in the United States and beyond, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. In recent weeks, outbreaks of the H5N1 variety of the virus led to the losses of commercial flocks in several Wisconsin counties and a game bird production and hunting facility in Pennsylvania. It also affected wild birds, including cases in mallards, northern pintails and trumpeter swans in Wisconsin in the last month. And it continues to be found in more mammal species, including the first known case in a polar bear in Alaska and elephant and fur seals in the sub-Antarctic region. The outbreak is already the deadliest ever for U.S. poultry producers. Since February 2022, H5N1 outbreaks and related culling operations have wiped out a record 79.3 million poultry across 47 states, according to the USDA.

France detects bird flu on vaccinated duck farm

France has detected avian flu on a duck farm in the west of the country, the first such outbreak since the government started vaccinating against the virus last year, Reuters reports. The Vendee prefecture said highly pathogenic avian influenza had been detected on a farm with 8,700 ducks in the town of Notre Dame de Riez. All of them had been vaccinated, it said. France launched its vaccination campaign early last October, targeting ducks only since they can easily transmit the virus without showing symptoms. The vaccine isn’t supposed to fully protect birds from catching the disease but rather to limit its spread and thus avoid massive preventive culls. It comes in addition to standard biosecurity and control measures.

Oklahoma State University launches Center for Rural Veterinary Medicine

The Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine announced plans to create a Center for Rural Veterinary Medicine representing a team-based approach to the study of rural veterinary care and associated challenges and shortages, and the development and implementation of strategies to address these challenges. The current vision for the program includes a service component in underserved and rural regions, as well as outreach programs to mentor youth in these regions to help prepare them for STEM careers, including veterinary medicine. One CRVM program, the Integrated Beef Cattle Program for Veterinarians, has already started.

High school students learn about veterinary careers at National Western Stock Show

VET10, a National Western Stock Show educational program, offers students an opportunity to see what veterinarians do day-to-day. Students at the recent event were placed in groups and rotated through four different veterinary stations, including small animals and feeding, large animals, equine and rodeo, and embryology. “These are high school students, so they are starting to think about applications, scholarships, all of that,” said Jennifer Hartman, a volunteer veterinarian. “We want to give them that opportunity to come to events that are worth putting on an application and a resume.” The program is now in its sixth year, KDVR reports.

Virus poses threat to pets and livestock

Two feral pigs recently found in Calaveras County, California, were discovered to be infected with pseudorabies (PRV), a virus that can be lethal for pets. County leadership says this is the first time the virus has been detected there. PRV is known to affect domestic and feral swine, cattle, dogs, cats, sheep and goats. It also poses reproductive problems for livestock. PRV is primarily spread through direct animal-to-animal (nose-to-nose) contact between an infected pig and a non-infected pig or other susceptible species. It may also be spread by breeding and if present on things like boots, clothing, feed, trucks and equipment. Transmission to dogs and cats typically occurs through contact, bite wounds or the consumption of raw feral pig meat. CBS News Sacramento has more.

What to include in treatment plans for calves with respiratory illness

Calves are prone to respiratory disease and pneumonia after they’re weaned, say veterinarians at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute. K-State veterinarians Brian Lubbers, Bob Larson and Brad White addressed the importance of making a treatment plan. “That plan should include a case definition that would indicate when the animal would need treatment and what those steps would be,” Lubbers said. In the case of a respiratory illness in calves, some signs would be difficulty breathing and/or coughing, a reduced appetite and depressed behavior, among other things. If those signs are observed, the second stage of the plan might include bringing the calf into the chute for a closer inspection. Regarding treatment, Larson said producers will want to have medicine at the ranch before sickness hits. Along with antibiotic treatment, it’s important to include comfort care.