Weekly Livestock-Equine News: September 29, 2025

Texas A&M researchers study complex interactions that protect foals from pneumonia

In a study of foal pneumonia – one of the leading causes of disease and death in foals – Texas A&M researchers gave a group of foals live Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) bacteria and then, weeks later, analyzed their blood cells. The foals’ innate immune system responded in a phenomenon called trained immunity. But how a pathogen in the gut stimulates a trained response in the bone marrow remains a mystery that researchers are studying.

New study maps JEV risk factors for US pork producers

A study led by Brendan Cowled of Ausvet Pty Ltd, lists important lessons learned from the 2021-2022 Australian experience with Japanese encephalitis virus and makes recommendations to assist the U.S. industry in preparedness should JEV ever arrive in the U.S. The authors recommend that the U.S. educate swine farmers on how to recognize and report JEV and explore the potential to include JEV testing in existing public health surveillance programs.

Australia affirms safety of antibiotic neomycin

Australian regulators affirmed chemical product registrations and associated label approvals of neomycin, an antibiotic contained in certain veterinary products for use in companion and food-producing animals. Neomycin had been evaluated due to concerns that its use could exceed the Australian Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). The decision related to the use of oral, intramammary (to treat conditions such as mastitis in dairy cows) and injectable preparations.

Salt AI, developer of drug discovery applications, announces $10 million funding round

Salt AI, a developer of AI-enhanced drug discovery applications, announced a $10 million funding round led by Morpheus Ventures, with participation from Struck Capital, Marbruck Investments and CoreWeave. The company says it enables research and healthcare teams to “rapidly integrate, visualize and deploy AI models” in the drug discovery process.

Canada to seek, support ag tech startups

Canadian innovation hub Mars Discovery District is planning to host ag tech startups from “the farm to the shelf,” focusing on resilient infrastructure, logistics and traceability, waste and circularity, and automation. The first cohort will focus on digital supply chain. Innovation is considered crucial to secure Canada’s food system, combat agriculture’s carbon footprint and expand export markets in the face of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.

Mexico reports New World screwworm 70 miles from US-Mexico border

Mexico confirmed a case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. This is now the northernmost detection during this outbreak. Sabinas Hidalgo is located near the major highway from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, to Laredo, Texas, reported to be one of the most heavily trafficked commercial thoroughfares in the world.