Weekly livestock and equine news: April 15, 2024

Dairy farmers, fearing drop in milk demand, take steps to prevent bird flu infection in cows

Dairy farmers in the United States are trying to contain the spread of bird flu by banning visitors, cutting down trees to discourage wild birds from landing, and disinfecting vehicles coming onto their land, Reuters reports. The outbreak has been confirmed in Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Michigan, Idaho, New Mexico and North Carolina. These outbreaks primarily affect lactating cows, the USDA said, reducing milk production and requiring farmers to isolate sick animals while keeping their milk out of the food supply. U.S. milk production grew to nearly $60 billion in 2022, but dairy farmers now fear a drop in demand for milk and cheese after the USDA reported bird flu in unpasteurized milk samples. Agricultural officials say pasteurized milk is safe.

States restrict cattle imports after avian flu infects dairy cows

In an effort to prevent domestic cattle from being exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, 17 states have restricted cattle imports from states where the virus is known to have infected dairy cows, the AVMA reports. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will not be issuing federal quarantine orders at this time, nor is the agency recommending any state quarantines or official hold orders on cattle. “However, we strongly recommend minimizing movement of cattle as much as possible, with special attention to evaluating risk and factoring that risk into movement decisions. Do not move sick or exposed animals,” the agency reported.

Research grant aims to speed development of African swine fever vaccine

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research awarded a $1 million Seeding Solution grant to Kansas State University to develop safe and rapidly deployable vaccines to prevent African swine fever. Elanco Animal Health, K-State, Kansas State University Innovation Partners and MEDIAN Diagnostics provided matching funds for a roughly $2.6 million total investment. “Should the virus reach the U.S., output from this research could slow the virus’ spread, protect millions of U.S. pigs and safeguard our food supply,” said Dr. Jasmine Bruno, scientific program director at FFAR. Morning Ag Clips reports.

FDA approves antimicrobial drug for cattle and swine

The FDA has approved Pradalex—a pradofloxacin injection solution—for certain respiratory diseases in cattle and swine. Pradofloxacin, sponsored by Elanco, is a medically important antimicrobial in the fluoroquinolone class and may only be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian as a single injection. Approval for Pradalex is in certain ages and classes of cattle for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease and for use in swine for the treatment of swine respiratory disease.

U.S. researchers develop Japanese encephalitis virus diagnostic test for swine

A recent economic assessment shows the emerging Japanese encephalitis virus is a risk for the United States that could result in potential economic implications greater than $500 million. As such, the Swine Health Information Center says it’s critical to establish a reliable way to detect JEV in swine samples prior to an introduction or outbreak. In a SHIC-funded project, researchers established assays for JEV and its five genotypes. “Development of a JEV test for U.S. veterinary diagnostic labs that can accurately and efficiently detect multiple JEV genotypes will help the U.S. pig industry monitor and respond rapidly to a potential JEV incursion,” SHIC says. The newly developed novel assay is more specific than previously published ones and can detect very small amounts of the virus, Bovine Veterinarian reports.

New farm bill remains unlikely as Congress reconvenes

A new farm bill is unlikely to pass soon, according to Politico, as the bill wasn’t mentioned among the U.S. Senate’s top priorities when it reconvened. The lack of mention in the Senate comes as “Washington insiders” predicted introduction of a new farm bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, potentially in days, according to reporting from AgWeb. Even so, based on the trajectory of past farm bills, it’s unlikely a new one would be passed this year. Swine Web has more.

New SoundByte: Zycosan

Zycosan (pentosan polysulfate sodium injection), an equine osteoarthritis treatment, is the first and only FDA-approved pentosan product for horses, according to manufacturer Dechra. While other products are indicated for use in specific joints, Zycosan isn’t limited that way, the company says. Find out more in the SoundByte from Veterinary Advantage.