1. NIFA invests $990K in screwworm and bovine theilerios research
Innovative efforts needed to alleviate impacts pest and disease events across the food and ag system.
By USDA
Beef Magazine
May 29, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food & Agriculture has funded - through the Rapid Response to Emerging and Re-emerging Pest and Diseases Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems program - one project that addresses the threat of New World screwworm and one project that addresses the spread of bovine theileriosis.
Rapid responses to pest and disease events are critical to maintaining a secure, accessible, safe, nutritious, affordable and abundant food supply.
Innovative Extension and applied research efforts are needed to alleviate the impacts pest and disease events across the food and agricultural system.
The Rapid Response to Pests and Disease Events program, funded through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, is designed to rapidly deploy strategies and fill knowledge and information gaps to protect the nation's food and agricultural supply chains - and the people who support and rely on them - during and after the emergence or re-emergence of pests and diseases associated with animal production systems and/or the emergence or re-emergence of invasive diseases, insects and weeds associated with plant production systems and/or toxins affecting the health of either plant or animal production systems.
2. Soybean meal supports sow immune health, milk quality
Study tested high- versus low-protein dietary approaches across gestation and lactation.
By Thomas D'Alfonso, Ph.D., worldwide animal nutrition focus area director, USSEC
Feedstuffs
May 27, 2026
As genetic selection continues to push litter sizes past 20 pigs,¹ the nutritional demands on sows during gestation and lactation have never been higher. That pressure puts a spotlight on dietary crude protein - specifically, how much is needed and whether synthetic amino acids can replace the protein that soybean meal naturally provides.
A recent University of Illinois study examined whether reducing dietary crude protein through lower soybean meal inclusion - and replacing it with crystalline amino acids - can adequately support sow health, immunity and reproductive performance, or whether higher soybean meal inclusion remains the better choice.
Researchers at the University of Illinois tested two dietary approaches across gestation and lactation. The first was a high-protein diet based on corn and soybean meal. The second reduced soybean meal and added crystalline lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan and valine to meet estimated amino acid requirements. A total of 154 gilts and sows were used to evaluate nitrogen balance, reproductive performance and immune indicators.
Full text: https://www.feedstuffs.com/swine/soybean-meal-supports-sow-immune-health-milk-quality
World-First Focused Ultrasound Equine Clinical Trial Underway
Newswise
May 29, 2026
A research team at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine has begun a world-first clinical trial exploring the use of focused ultrasound to treat sarcoid tumors in horses.
Sarcoids are the most common form of equine skin tumor, and though they are benign, they are invasive and can pose a serious health risk to nearby vital structures or become infected. Current treatment options include surgical excision, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, but these treatments can be limited by anatomic location, and recurrence is common. If left untreated, horses with sarcoids can require euthanasia due to poor quality of life.
The trial, led by Sophie Bogers, PhD, DACVS, assistant professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, will explore the safety and feasibility of using histotripsy - a non-thermal method of using focused ultrasound to mechanically destroy targeted tissue - to treat equine sarcoid tumors. The team will use a histotripsy system customized to treat shallow targets. The study parameters were developed based on the Virginia Tech team's positive results using a similar method to treat canine and feline soft tissue sarcomas. Following the histotripsy treatment, the research team will surgically remove the sarcoids to assess the tumor's immune response to the treatment. ?
In all five horses will be enrolled. The first participant was treated earlier this month.
"We are so fortunate to be able to study histotripsy as an emerging therapy for horses," said Dr. Bogers. "Sarcoids have long been a clinical frustration for veterinarians and owners, alike.?The horses seem to tolerate treatment extremely well, and I am excited to develop it into a viable option for horses suffering from these tumors."
Full text: https://www.newswise.com/articles/world-first-focused-ultrasound-equine-clinical-trial-underway
Wisconsin Mare Tests Positive for EHV and Equine Influenza
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
May 29, 2026
On May 28, a 3-year-old mare in Polk County, Wisconsin, tested positive for equine influenza, equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), and equine herpesvirus-4 (EHV-4). The mare developed a fever and cough on May 25. She is currently quarantined.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1145197/wisconsin-mare-tests-positive-for-ehv-and-equine-influenza/
Two Confirmed, 4 Suspected Strangles Cases in Nebraska
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
May 29, 2026
On May 22, two horses at a boarding facility in Douglas County, Nebraska, tested positive for strangles. The horses developed clinical signs one week before being tested.
Four additional horses are suspected to be positive, and 50 horses have been exposed.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1145193/2-confirmed-4-suspected-strangles-cases-in-nebraska/
4. Swine webinar to explore disease prevention strategies
By Glenda-Lee Vossler
HighRiverOnline.com
May 29, 2026
Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) will host a national webinar on June 17 aimed at helping producers better understand disease risk and reduce antimicrobial use in swine production.
The webinar, Disease Risk and Antimicrobial Use in Swine: From Post-Weaning Diarrhea to System-Level Prevention, begins at 1:00 p.m. ET and features two leading researchers: Dr. Vahab Farzan of the University of Guelph and Dr. Gustavo Silva of Iowa State University.
Research Focus on Post-Weaning Diarrhea
Dr. Farzan will present findings from Swine Cluster 4 research, including results from a pan-Canadian epidemiological study on post-weaning diarrhea in nursery pigs. His presentation will focus on bacterial strains, key risk factors, and management challenges tied to the condition.
Systems-Level Disease Prevention
Dr. Gustavo Silva of Iowa State University will provide a broader systems-level perspective, focusing on how diseases such as PRRS and other endemic conditions spread within swine production systems. He will highlight the role of biosecurity, surveillance, and risk assessment in reducing disease pressure.
[Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KuvwetoYQs6Hhkuo0IigpQ #/registration ]
Full text: https://highriveronline.com/articles/swine-webinar-to-explore-disease-prevention-strategies
5. A history of veterinary medicine as America celebrates its 250th anniversary
The American Veterinary Medical History Society has developed resources chronicling the profession's evolution in the U.S.
By Julie A. Jacob
AVMA News
Published on May 28, 2026
As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary this year, it's an auspicious time for the veterinary profession to take a look at its history as well.
"The AVMA proudly joins our fellow citizens in celebrating the 250th anniversary of our great nation," says Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, AVMA president. "For 163 of those years, the AVMA has been an important part of our society, playing a vital role in animal wellbeing, public health, medical research, ecological stability, food security, and national defense.
"Even before that, General George Washington directed in 1776 that all Cavalry have farrier support. This recognition of the importance of animal care led to the 1916 establishment of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. Personnel from the veterinary corps have served in every major U.S. conflict since World War I. Moving forward in service to our clients, our patients and our communities, we honor our national semiquincentennial with optimism for the future of our country."
In an interview with AVMA News, Dr. Howard Erickson, professor emeritus at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, who has taught a course on the history of veterinary medicine, shared highlights of the profession's evolution over the past two-and-a-half centuries.
Further information is taken from the book, "The AVMA: 150 Years of Education, Science, and Service," and other historical publications.
Full text: https://www.avma.org/news/history-veterinary-medicine-america-celebrates-its-250th-anniversary
6. New lab using AI to crack the code of farm animal behavior
DAT-AI-LAB will build databases of species-specific behavior to eventually help improve animal health and welfare decisions.
University of Pennsylvania
Feedstuffs
May 29, 2026
An innovative new initiative that aims to use the power of AI to crack the code of animal behavior and help farmers and agriculture celebrated its official launch at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's (Penn Vet) New Bolton Center on May 20.
DAT-AI-LAB, a collaboration between Penn Vet researchers and AgriGates, a Philadelphia-based ag-tech firm, has already begun working with animals from the Swine Teaching & Research Center and New Bolton Center's dairy herd, collecting data that may one day better inform livestock care and management and advance animal husbandry in an agriculture-rich state.
"AI opportunities in animal agriculture are limited only by imagination and science-backed research and implementation," said Andrew Hoffman, Penn Vet's Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine. "We look forward to engaging stakeholders, connecting investors, founders and innovators with the academic AI ecosystem at Penn and our partners and meeting the grand challenges and opportunities for the future."
Last year, AgriGates received a grant from the state's first $10 million round of Agriculture Innovation Grants. Daniel Foy, co-founder of AgriGates and the new lab, said the money helped kickstart DAT-AI-LAB, which stands for Data Analysis Technology for Artificial Intelligence in Livestock Animal Behavior. In addition, Pennsylvania's Center for Poultry Livestock Excellence contributed over $200,000 over the past three years to help develop the AI and machine-learning technology to study animal behavior and, most recently, to help create the lab.
"Animal behavior is an underappreciated, universal economic indicator for the identification of clinical problems and the early diagnosis of health and welfare in animals," Foy said.