Weekly Livestock-Equine News: April 7, 2025

Dairy industry pleads for tariff negotiations

Dairy producers responded with concern to tariffs announced on Apr 2. To meet growing global demand, dairy businesses have invested $8 billion in new processing capacity in the United States, IDFA Senior VP Becky Rasdall Vargas was quoted as saying. “This growth depends on strong trade relationships and access to essential ingredients, finished goods, packaging and equipment.”

Ag Secretary Rollins to promote US agriculture exports abroad

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that she will visit six international markets in her first six months as secretary to expand markets and boost American agricultural exports. She will visit Vietnam, Japan, India, Peru, Brazil and the U.K. Other USDA trade missions planned include Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Côte d’Ivoire and Mexico.

Susceptibility to bovine TB in cattle traced to key genes

Researchers at University College Dublin, University of Edinburgh, and ETH Zurich have identified several genes and pathways involved in the bovine response to Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), the causative agent of tuberculosis in cattle. The findings could support the development of diagnostics and tools for breeding cattle with enhanced disease resilience,” according to one of the researchers.

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act heads to US House and Senate

The US Senate Agriculture Committee heard from nutrition experts and school officials in favor of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would reinstate whole and 2% milk in schools. Research shows that people who consume whole milk are no more likely to be overweight or obese, said Dr. Keith Ayoob, associate professor emeritus in the Department of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, during the legislative hearing.

Federal student loan borrowers uncertain of what’s next

Eight million federal student loan borrowers are waiting for courts to decide if their repayment plan is legal, while another 9 million are late on their payments and may be plunging toward default … all while the federal office that oversees student loans has been cut in half. As of March 7, 4.2 million borrowers were more than 90 days late on payments and nearly 5 million borrowers were between one and 90 days late.

First veterinary school in Utah to accept students in fall

Utah State University will accept 40 students this fall for the inaugural class of a new four-year veterinary degree program, making it the first and only veterinary school in Utah. Curriculum will include rural agricultural training, and full accreditation will be granted after the first class of students graduates. USU had been part of a collaborative veterinary program with Washington State University for more than a decade.