1. New mutations help the H5N1 bird flu virus infect cows but not people
The mutations target a specific sugar on the surface of cows' cells
By Tina Hesman Saey
ScienceNews.org
April 14, 2026
H5N1 bird flu viruses have acquired a molecular trick that makes them more easily infect mammary glands in cattle, but this adaptation does not appear to affect humans.
To infect cells, influenza viruses latch on to certain sugars decorating cell surfaces. Some H5N1 viruses have picked up mutations that allow them to grab one such sugar made by cattle but not by humans or birds, researchers report April 6 at bioRxiv.org.
Specifically, two mutations commonly found in H5N1 viruses infecting dairy cattle now allow the bird flu viruses to grip the sugar N-glycolylneuraminic acid, or NeuGc. Grasping this cattle sugar made it easier for H5N1 bird flu viruses to infect and grow in mammary tissue from cows, the researchers found.
Full text: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/mutations-h5n1-bird-flu-adapt-cows
2. Emerging Senecavirus A trends stress need for swine surveillance
Sharp increase in confirmed SVA cases underscores its role in triggering foreign animal disease investigations due to its resemblance to FMD lesions.
By Swine Health Information Center
National Hog Farmer
April 14, 2026
The Swine Health Information Center, in collaboration with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, hosted a recent webinar entitled "Senecavirus A as an emerging disease risk for FMDV" and is now available for on-demand viewing here. The webinar addressed Senecavirus A as a cause of vesicular disease in swine and the need for diligence to differentiate it from foot-and-mouth disease virus, a foreign animal disease of concern to U.S. pork producers.
SVA was first identified in U.S. swine in 2015 and is considered a significant health threat due to its similar clinical appearance to FMD. Recent monitoring has shown a change in SVA detection trends, warranting continued surveillance. Understanding the virus, its pathogenesis, routes of transmission, disease trends, as well as control and mitigation steps, can help producers protect their herd from this emerging disease and enhance prevention for other vesicular diseases such as FMD.
3. Strangles Case Confirmed in Florida
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
April 15, 2026
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, one horse at a private facility in Broward County has tested positive for strangles. One additional horse is suspected to be positive, and 13 horses have been exposed.
This is Florida's sixth confirmed strangles case of 2026.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1143737/strangles-case-confirmed-in-florida/
4. ISU publishes swine heat stress resources
Strategies to minimize stress in breeding herds and a summary of research findings are available for download.
By Marta Grant, Iowa State University
Feedstuffs
April 13, 2026
Swine producers can access new resources available from Iowa State University Extension & Outreach to mitigate summer heat stress. "Heat Stress in Swine Production: Breeding Herd Considerations" and "Heat Stress in Swine Production: Basic Research" are available for download from the ISU Extension Store.
Researchers have estimated that heat stress costs the U.S. pork industry over $520 million annually in economic losses. By incorporating practices that reduce heat stress, swine producers can maintain animal feed intake and efficiency during periods with warmer temperatures.
"Heat stress causes pigs to focus on survival instead of growth or reproduction," said Mark Storlie, extension swine specialist at ISU and author of the publications. "Minimizing heat stress can improve animal growth performance and productivity, positively impacting a pork producer's bottom line."
For more information, access the publications*, or contact Mark Storlie at mstorlie@iastate.edu.
[*See: https://shop.iastate.edu/search?q=heat+stress&search-button=&lang=default ]
Full text: https://www.feedstuffs.com/swine/isu-publishes-swine-heat-stress-resources
5. USDA Launches National Feeder and Stocker Cattle Dashboard
Farmers and ranchers now have instant access to dynamic, visualized data, with price movements, volume changes, and market comparisons all in an easy-to-read format
MorningAgClips.com
April 14, 2026
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today launched the National Feeder and Stocker Cattle dashboard*. This is the fourth launch of a new dashboard as part of ongoing efforts to make USDA's Market News information more user-friendly. Farmers and ranchers now have instant access to dynamic, visualized data, with price movements, volume changes, and market comparisons all in an easy-to-read format. AMS previously published the Livestock Auction, LMR Cattle, and Cattle Contract Library dashboards, and will continue to deliver tools to support producers as they make marketing decisions for their products.
[*See: https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/National_Feeder_Stocker_Dashboard ]
With the new National Feeder and Stocker Cattle dashboard users can create customizable filters to refine their view by date, sale type, region, class, and weight, giving them the flexibility to focus on the data that matters most to their operation. This interactive tool will replace the text and pdf reports currently posted on the AMS Market News website while also expanding processing, consumer transparency, and markets for farmers and ranchers.
For more information on the dashboard and its use, please view the linked video. If you have questions about the new dashboard, please contact Lonnie Peetz, Officer in Charge with the Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Division, at (816) 341-2106 or Lonnie.Peetz@usda.gov.
Source: https://www.morningagclips.com/usda-launches-national-feeder-and-stocker-cattle-dashboard/
6. Brain rotting disease found in Wallowa County cattle [EHD - OR]
By Bill Bradshaw
Wallowa County Chieftain
April 14, 2026
ENTERPRISE - Several dozen cattle in Wallowa County have succumbed to a neurological disease that primarily affects calves in the womb, according to a local veterinarian.
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease leaves the brains of calves undeveloped or underdeveloped in the womb, resulting in their being stillborn, or born with serious brain necrosis.
Randy Greenshields, veterinarian of Double Arrow Animal Clinic in Enterprise, said the disease typically affects wild ruminants, particularly white-tailed deer. A biting midge transmits the disease, and outbreaks typically occur in late summer or early fall, often during droughts. It causes high fever, respiratory distress, swelling of the head and neck and death within one to three days. Sometimes the calves are stillborn, born blind or unable to walk. When an affected calf is born alive, it often doesn't last.
Full text: https://eastoregonian.com/2026/04/14/brain-rotting-disease-found-in-wallowa-county-cattle/