Weekly Livestock-Equine News: June 9, 2025

New SoundByte:4CYTE Epiitalis Forte

4CYTE™ is formulated exclusively with powerful Epiitalis® and is scientifically proven to enhance joint health and function in horses and dogs. Offering great flavor and palatability, 4CYTE can be used preventatively or for maintenance for joint care.

Palehorse Capital acquires online retailer of equine health products

Palehorse Capital has acquired HorsePrerace.com, an online retailer of equine health products. The acquisition coincides with the consolidation of veterinary and pharmaceutical-related domain names into the Vetr.com platform, including Coccidia.com, Giardiasis.com, Toltrazuril.com, Amprolium.com, Moxidectin.com, Hookworms.com, and Pinworms.com.

Global pork trade in flux

As U.S. pork exports lose ground in China due to trade tensions, other exporters are expected to step in, reports Dutch financial services company Rabobank. Up to 200,000 tons of additional European pork are expected to move into China in 2025. Brazilian producers also expected to gain share, potentially capturing up to 200,000 tons of additional exports to China.

Ranchers could pay billions if Congress fails to extend tax cuts, says Farm Bureau

If Congress fails to extend 2017 tax provisions, farmers and ranchers will be forced to pay $9 billion more in federal taxes every year, says the American Farm Bureau Federation. Failure to act would affect capital expense deductions, qualified business income deductions and the estate tax. Without an extension, the average farm would pay an additional $5,125 per year in taxes.

Purdue researchers develop new test for avian flu detection

Purdue University researchers have developed a paper-based diagnostic test for rapidly detecting avian influenza. Key features of the paper-based assay, which uses loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), are its simplicity and accessibility, said Mohamed Kamel, a postdoctoral research associate. “It requires minimal training and only a water bath for incubation, enabling it to deliver results visible to the naked eye.”

Horses’ facial expressions may reflect pain and emotional states

UK researchers have identified a previously undocumented equine facial movement involving the platysma muscle which causes the side of the face to tighten and making the underlying structures more prominent. The discovery, which has only been observed in humans and gibbons within species with existing facial action coding systems, may aid in assessing emotional states and pain in horses.

Swine Health Information Center unveils tool to track PRRS

The Swine Health Information Center has introduced a tool designed to improve understanding of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) trends, evolution and geographic distribution. In its May disease monitoring report, the Center explained the updated PRRS virus nomenclature and its application within SHIC’s disease reporting dashboards and BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) analysis tool.