Animal health
Surveillance, reporting and veterinary partnerships are framed as critical ways to prevent a single case from becoming a national crisis.
A new genetic innovation from the Agricultural Research Service aims to produce 100% sterile male flies, maximizing facility efficiency and safeguarding the U.S. livestock industry from NWS.
Following extensive industry feedback, the updated guide provides a science-based roadmap for states, ranchers and veterinarians to combat potential NWS outbreaks.
With more than 800,000 acres burned, a grassroots network of ranchers helping ranchers is providing a lifeline of hay and hope for Nebraska beef producers.
Even after losing a major export market, the U.S. bovine genetics industry bounced back in 2025.
Kansas State Veterinarian Dr. Justin Smith outlines a coordinated plan built on surveillance, targeted treatment and movement controls to protect cattle operations while preserving business stability.
With 86% of North American feed ingredient samples testing above the risk threshold for mycotoxins, livestock may face stacked biological stress.
Texas producers need to remain on alert as NWS continues to move north. The newest detection is in the state of Tamaulipas.
From Rudolph’s glow to Blitzen’s hooves, every detail passed inspection just in time for the big night.
Officials have confirmed the first case of highly pathogenic avian flu in a Wisconsin dairy herd.
Prevention, detection and long-term control of these diseases are key to avoiding a $300-billion impact.
In addition to increasing carcass counts, wolves decrease reproduction rates, weaning weights, calf health and human well-being — costs often uncompensated or uncounted.
Many larger dairies report having biosecurity protocols in place, according to a Farm Journal survey, but there are gaps in the relevancy of plans, farm security, hygiene and herd health practices, and training.
Megin Nichols, the CDC’s director in the division of foodborne, waterborne and environmental diseases, explains the ties between human, animal and environmental health.
Historically, colder temperatures have played a crucial role in controlling New World screwworm’s geographical spread.
With New World screwworm within 70 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, the livestock industry is on high alert. USDA continues to fight the northward spread of the parasite while debate continues on the border closure.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced a plan to build a facility near Edinburg, Texas. It will be capable of producing 300 million sterile flies per week to combat New World screwworm and is estimated to be in production in one year.
A shrinking labor pool is already having an impact, and ag experts say it’s only going to get tougher.
The image, the smell, the emotions: five cattle producers and veterinarians from around the world share their first-hand experience with New World screwworm.
Secretary Rollins takes decisive action and shuts down cattle, bison and equine trade due to further northward spread of the devastating pest in Mexico.
Identifying the flesh-eating parasite, which actually isn’t a worm, is key to keeping it out of the U.S. Recognizing a problem in an animal might come down to seeing a larval infestation in unusual circumstances.
Following a New World screwworm assessment by USDA staff in Mexico and ongoing conversations between Secretary Rollins and the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture, USDA will start reopening the ports for cattle, bison and equine.
As the fight to keep the flesh-eating parasite out of the U.S. intensifies, the economic impact on ranchers and the industry is top of mind. “This pest will be one that leaves quite a mark on our economy,” says one veterinarian.
Native to east Asia, the ALHT was first detected in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, it has spread to more than 20 states with recent confirmations in Illinois, Michigan and Iowa.
A 25-page criminal complaint alleges the researcher and her boyfriend were attempting to bring Fusarium graminearum into the country. The fungus causes significant diseases in a number of food crops, including corn, wheat, barley, soybeans and rice. Toxins from the fungus are harmful to humans and livestock.
NCBA’s Woodall says the goal is complete eradication — not just from the U.S., but from Mexico and Central America, ultimately pushing the fly back to its original range in South America.
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says climate models have consistently shown a ridge across western North America that could lead to drought development, drought continuation or even drought expansion across portions of the Plains and West.