1. Chronic Wasting Disease detected in Ballard County wild deer [KY - edited]
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
January 7, 2026
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has confirmed a new case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a wild deer in Ballard County. This is the third case of CWD confirmed in Kentucky's wild deer population, and the second case in Ballard County.
Two independent types of tests were performed on tissue collected from a 2-1/2-year-old male white-tailed deer that was hunter-harvested on Nov. 16. The preliminary screening test indicated the tissue was considered a suspect positive. The secondary test agreed with the first test and confirmed the presence of the abnormal proteins that cause CWD.
With Ballard and surrounding counties already within the CWD Surveillance Zone due to the previous detection of the disease in 2023, no changes are expected to the surveillance zone counties or management requirements. Counties in the CWD Surveillance Zone include Ballard, Breckinridge, Calloway, Carlisle, Casey, Fulton, Graves, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Laurel, Lincoln, Marshall, McCracken, McCreary, Meade, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Union, Wayne, Webster and Whitley.
Full text: https://fw.ky.gov/News/Pages/Chronic-Wasting-Disease-detected-in-Ballard-County-wild-deer.aspx
Avian influenza strikes Kansas commercial pullet flock [edited]
By Roy Graber
WATTAAgNet.com
January 8, 2026
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has again struck in Kansas, this time affecting a commercial table egg layer pullet flock.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported that the presence of HPAI was confirmed on January 6 in pullets in Pottawatomie County. There were 380,000 birds in the flock.
So far in 2026, HPAI has been confirmed in commercial poultry or gamebirds in three states. According to APHIS, the other situations involved a commercial upland gamebird flock in Butte County, California, and a commercial meat turkey flock in Sampson County, North Carolina.
Avian flu strikes again in North Carolina
Sampson County has lost two commercial poultry flocks to avian influenza so far in 2026.
By Roy Graber
WATTAgNet.com
January 9, 2026
Two commercial turkey flocks in North Carolina have been hit by highly pathogenic avian influenza in less than a week.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported that the presence of the virus was confirmed in a flock of commercial turkey breeder hens on January 7. There were 20,200 birds involved.
This flock infection follows an earlier reported case of HPAI in a commercial flock of 14,000 commercial meat turkeys. That case was confirmed on January 2.
Both situations occurred in Sampson County.
3. ARS identifies way to reduce antibiotic use in feedlot cattle
Researchers evaluate effects of administering a metaphylaxis dose to 100%, 66%, 33% or 0% of high-risk beef cattle as they enter feedlot.
Agricultural Research Service
Beef Magazine
January 7, 2026
Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service have identified methods to reduce antibiotic use in livestock, potentially saving the U.S. beef industry between $50 million and $100 million per year and reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance in cattle production settings.
Metaphylaxis is the process of treating a group of animals with an antibiotic that shows no signs of disease but have been exposed to an infectious disease. This intervention is often used under veterinary directions to protect cattle with a higher risk of disease due to exposure to illness. Metaphylaxis is used in cattle at entry to the feedlot and can help prevent widespread disease outbreaks.
ARS scientists in Lubbock, Texas, worked with university partners to evaluate the effects of administering a metaphylaxis dose randomly to either 100%, 66%, 33% or 0% of high-risk beef cattle groups as they entered the feedlot.
The results showed that treating the entire group or only two thirds of the cattle in a group at entry reduced illnesses by 61% in the first 35 days.
This study shows the effectiveness of metaphylactic antibiotic intervention on as few as two-thirds of cattle in a group, thereby reducing antibiotic use by one-third, which saves money, decreases risk of antimicrobial resistance and maintains cattle health.
4. Illinois strengthens animal agriculture support with expanded health and inspection staff
By Jared White
BrownfieldAgNews.com
January 9, 2026
The director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture says the agency's support of animal agriculture is stronger than it's been in decades.
Jerry Costello tells Brownfield that a full staff of animal health professionals has the state prepared.
"We have four field veterinarians who have been brought on, along with 9 field investigators." He says, "From an animal health and welfare aspect and animal disease preparedness, unfortunately, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when."
He says IDOA has also prioritized the processing side.
"We were in about the low to mid 70s as far as meat and poultry inspectors." He says, "For the first time in the history of the agency, we're over 100 inspectors for meat and poultry. That has been something that has paid dividends."
5. MicroRNA Imbalance in Cows During Paratuberculosis Infection
Bioengineer.org
January 8, 2026
In recent advancements in the field of veterinary genomics, researchers have uncovered a significant relationship between microRNA expression and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in cows. This bacterium is known to cause Johne's disease, a chronic infection that primarily affects the intestines of ruminants and can lead to severe economic losses in the dairy and beef industries. The implications of this research are profound, highlighting a potential avenue for early diagnostic tools and novel therapeutic strategies in managing this disease.
The study authored by Wang, Bissonnette, and Dudemaine offers a comprehensive analysis of microRNA dysregulation within various tissues in affected cows. Specifically, investigations were carried out in the jejunum, jejunal lymph nodes, and caecal Peyer's patches. These regions are critical for understanding the disease's pathology, as they play essential roles in immune response and intestinal health. The identification of microRNA profiles associated with infection could pave the way for understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning the disease.
Full text: https://bioengineer.org/microrna-imbalance-in-cows-during-paratuberculosis-infection/
6. Lawyer turned state veterinarian brings crisis leadership to Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech News
January 8, 2026
Former Minnesota and South Dakota state veterinarian joins faculty to teach regulatory medicine.
Beth Thompson spent a decade making decisions most veterinarians never face: whether to shut down livestock markets when disease threats emerge, how to coordinate multi-agency responses to animal health crises, and which rules and regulations would protect both animal agriculture and public health.
As state veterinarian for Minnesota and then South Dakota, Thompson led animal health protection for two states with massive livestock industries. Now she joins the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as associate professor of practice in the Department of Population Health Sciences and Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine, bringing frontline experience to students and practicing veterinarians exploring regulatory careers.
Full text: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/01/vetmed-beth-thompson.html