Weekly Livestock-Equine News: March 10, 2025

Nearly 6,000 fired USDA workers ordered back to work … for now

An independent federal board has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to temporarily reinstate close to 6,000 employees fired since Feb. 13, finding reasonable grounds to believe the agency acted illegally in terminating them. The Merit Systems Protection Board ordered the USDA to return the fired workers to their jobs for 45 days while an investigation continues.

Finishing mortality in swine production on steady rise

Finishing mortality, i.e., the period from the end of nursery to harvest weight, has experienced a steady increase since 2018. Potential reasons include disease pressure (PRRS, PED and respiratory), weaning weight, reduced antibiotic use, labor shortages and extreme weather. Nursery mortality, which measures the percentage of pigs that die after weaning but before moving into the finishing phase, has also shown a steady increase, though less extreme than finishing mortality.

Microwave-size sensor detects bird flu particles

Engineers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a sensor that can detect the presence of bird flu particles in the air and potentially keep farmers from having to cull their flocks. Using so-called “wet cyclone” technology, the mini fridge-size machine sucks in air, spins it in liquid to trap particles and sends an alert when it detects the virus. Similar machines have been used to detect the coronavirus.

TTF may be practical option for post-weaning disease surveillance

Tongue tip fluids can aid in detection of key pathogens affecting swine during the grow-finish phase, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, porcine circovirus, porcine parvovirus, Lawsonia intracellularis and influenza A virus, according to a study funded by the Swine Health Information Center. TTF could offer producers solutions to respond and improve herd health management when conventional sampling methods are unavailable or impractical, researchers said.

Tests confirm H5N1 in another Idaho dairy herd

The US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed an H5N1 avian flu detection in Idaho dairy cattle, the state’s first since October. So far it’s not clear if the finding is linked to a bulk milk detection or from illness symptoms. Since early 2024, APHIS has reported 977 H5N1 detections in dairy cattle from 17 states.

Many H5N1 questions still unanswered

Epidemiological investigations of an HPAI H5N1 genotype in Michigan dairy herds and poultry flocks found three key potential risk factors for transmission: shared personnel (including some dairy employees who also worked on poultry premises), shared vehicles, and frequent visitors (e.g., regular visits by veterinarians, nutritionists/feed consultants and/or contract haulers). Michigan State Veterinarian Nora Wineland notes there are still many questions surrounding the virus that need to be answered.