Weekly Livestock-Equine News: May 26, 2025

New SoundByte: Pro-Stride® APS

Pro-Stride® APS from Zoetis is a regenerative medicine device that concentrates the healing properties within the horse’s blood to naturally help manage equine lameness and osteoarthritis.Find more in the SoundByte from Veterinary Advantage

Bird-flu vaccine for cattle aces early test

The first mRNA bird-flu vaccine for cattle was found to trigger a strong immune response to the virus and protection against infection in calves. Scott Hensley, a virologist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and co-author of the findings, is working on trials on lactating cows, among which much of the avian-flu transmission on dairy farms is believed to take place.

Industry survey sheds light on current dairy operations

Dairy producers are finding innovative ways to grow their businesses, according to a survey of 400 producers by Farm Journal. Two-thirds use at least one form of feeding technology to streamline the feeding process and provide precise nutrient delivery to livestock, and approximately one-quarter have embraced alternative land or dairy add-on revenue streams, including beef-on-dairy.

Mandatory milk testing to begin soon in Wisconsin

Mandatory milk samples will be collected from Wisconsin dairy farms and tested for the avian influenza virus as part of the national milk testing plan. “We’re going to be working with partners where we’re going to get one sample obtained per dairy farm each month that’s going to be tested at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab,” said Ag Secretary Randy Romanski.

U.S. SHIP seeks proposals for certification of pork operations

The USDA is seeking proposed standards and resolutions for its U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (U.S. SHIP) by May 31, 2025. The plan’s initial objectives are to develop and implement an African swine fever and classical swine fever monitored certification of U.S. pork production operations, i.e., farm sites and slaughter facilities.

Most animal-contact enteric disease originates in the home or backyard

Between 2009 and 2021, the most common exposure locations of enteric disease outbreaks were the private home (40%) and farm or dairy (21%), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ruminants (primarily cattle) were the most implicated animal category followed by poultry and turtles. Enteric illnesses affect the stomach or intestines and are typically transmitted from animals to humans through the fecal–oral route.