1. Enhanced biosecurity training helps beef cattle producers secure operations
Agents and veterinarians learn to develop ranch protocols in Texas A&M AgriLife training
By Blair Fannin
AgriLife Today
December 1, 2025
As Texas livestock producers keep a watchful eye on emerging pests and other challenges like New World screwworm, farm biosecurity is at the forefront.
To help producers become better prepared for threats, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides enhanced biosecurity training through a program developed by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, NCBA.
"If we are going to continue to have a secure beef supply, we have to look at emerging diseases," said Tom Hairgrove, DVM, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension cattle veterinary specialist in the Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station. "This program was originally designed for the threat of foot-and-mouth disease but can be adapted to other emerging diseases and threats such as New World screwworm.
"To deal with emerging threats, many producers need to be looking at how they operate, how people access the ranch and how they exit," Hairgrove said.
NCBA, through the Beef Quality Assurance, BQA, program, has focused on improving biosecurity tools and awareness for cattle producers. This effort has progressed to include preparing for industry disease threats like foot-and-mouth disease, FMD. The Secure Beef Supply Plan for Continuity of Business was developed for FMD preparedness and provides biosecurity safeguards and contingency planning steps for ranchers and ways to prepare before a disease outbreak occurs. NCBA received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program to improve the Secure Beef Supply plan through educational tools and outreach.
Full text: https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2025/12/01/enhanced-biosecurity-training/
Two Arizona Horses Test Positive for Vesicular Stomatitis
The cases are located in Gila and Santa Cruz counties.
EDCC Health Watch
EquiManagement.com
December 1, 2025
On Oct. 31, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed findings of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) in horses on two separate premises in Cochise County, Arizona.
Since then, the two affected premises in Cochise County have been released from quarantine, and two new cases have been reported, including one case in Gila County and one in Santa Cruz County.
The last outbreak of VSV in the U.S. occurred from May 2023 through January 2024, affecting 319 premises across California, Nevada, and Texas. VSV circulates annually between livestock and insect vectors in southern Mexico and only occasionally results in incursion to the U.S.
Equine Influenza Case Confirmed at Nebraska Boarding Facility
The case is located in Lancaster County.
EDCC Health Watch
EquiManagement.com
December 1, 2025
On Nov. 13, a 16-year-old Morgan gelding at a boarding facility in Lancaster County, Nebraska, tested positive for equine influenza. The horse developed clinical signs on Nov. 7, including a snotty nose and cough. He is currently recovering.
3. Eight more suspected swine fever cases as Spain struggles to limit export damage
By Reuters
November 30, 2025
MADRID - Eight more wild boar with suspected cases of African swine fever were discovered near Barcelona, La Vanguardia newspaper reported on Sunday, as Spain struggles to limit the damage to a pork export industry worth billions of euros a year.
The newspaper cited sources close to the Catalan agriculture ministry. Two cases have been confirmed, and 12 others have shown signs they may also have the disease but are undergoing tests to confirm this. If confirmed, it would bring the number of infected animals to 14.
The Catalan government, which declined to confirm the number of cases, on Sunday requested the help of specialists from the army to contain the outbreak.
About a third of Spanish pork export certificates have been blocked after the first outbreak of swine fever in Spain - the European Union's top pork producer - since 1994, Spain's agriculture minister said on Saturday.
4. FFAR funds research to protect U.S. farms from HPAI [edited]
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research has been investing in science-based solutions, funding 16 projects across poultry, swine and dairy.
By Jasmine Bruno, scientific program director, Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
Posted by the Swine Health Information Center
National Hog Farmer
November 26, 2025
As migratory birds head south for the winter, they unwittingly carry an unwelcome passenger, the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu. With each stop at a pond to drink or a field to feed, they shed the virus, spreading it invisibly across landscapes and into new hosts. In recent weeks, HPAI cases have surged nationwide, with the virus detected in 65 commercial and backyard flocks across the country in October and affecting an estimated 3.6 million birds, according to the USDA.
The persistence and adaptability of HPAI make one thing clear: efforts to control and prevent the disease since the current outbreak began in the U.S. in early 2022 have fallen short. Despite widespread biosecurity measures and culling protocols, HPAI continues to evolve and spread, reigniting concerns about the U.S. preparedness to respond to outbreaks.
That is why the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research has been investing in science-based solutions targeting HPAI since the current outbreak began, funding 1#6 projects across poultry, swine and dairy. FFAR identifies and supports the most promising research aimed at safeguarding animal health, protecting producers and strengthening the nation's food security.
5. SA to launch nationwide cattle foot and mouth vaccination in 2026 [Africa]
By Tshepo Mongoai
SABCNews.com
November 26, 2025
The Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has announced a vaccination drive for the entire national cattle herd against foot-and-mouth disease, at scale and at speed.
He made this announcement at the African Farmers Association of South Africa leadership and partnership conference in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Steenhuisen says millions of doses will be rolled out from early next year in the hardest-hit provinces first.
"The Ministry of Agriculture has made a policy change, and that we will be moving to vaccinate the entire national herd in South Africa, against what's now coming. This is going to be essential if we are to get on top of the disease. What we have been doing today has not worked."
Steenhuisen adds, "We are trying to put up little blazes all around the country where we're pacing an inferno across the province. We intend to apply to the World Organisation of Animal Health. Once the vaccine rollout has reached sufficient scale, to be recognised as foot and mouth free with vaccination."
Full text: https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/sa-to-launch-nationwide-foot-and-mouth-cattle-vaccination-in-2026/
6. VEHCS will be unavailable on Tuesday, 12/02/2025, from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM ET.
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
December 1, 2025
New Release: VEHCS will be unavailable on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM ET for the deployment of VEHCS version 10.2
Source: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/3fdc04c