1. Better Diagnostic Samples Start With Better Questions
Veterinary toxicologist Dr. Scott Fritz provides a practical framework for investigating cattle deaths and suspected toxic exposures before the samples ever reach the lab.
By Andrea Bedford
Bovine Veterinarian
September 3, 2026
When cattle are dying unexpectedly, it can be tempting to start collecting whatever samples are easiest to obtain. Dr. Scott Fritz says the best approach is to start with a guiding question.
Fritz, a veterinary toxicologist and assistant professor at Kansas State University and section head of toxicology for the Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, shared a practical framework for investigating suspected toxic exposures during the 2026 AABP Annual Conference. His advice centers on a simple principle: the diagnostic question should drive the samples.
Start With the Case, Not the Sample
Before collecting anything, go back to basic case investigation.
Fritz recommends establishing:
What is happening clinically?
Which animals are affected?
How many animals are affected?
Are certain age or production groups more affected?
What changed recently?
When did the problem begin?
What is the timeline relative to the suspected exposure?
2. Penn Vet Swine Center Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation
By Farms.com
September 7, 2026
Celebrating 25 years of impact, the Center combines research, education, and animal care to support the evolving needs of the livestock industry.
Penn Vet's Swine Teaching and Research Center at New Bolton Center is marking 25 years of leadership in animal agriculture, education, and swine research. Located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, the facility has become an important resource for students, researchers, and livestock producers while helping advance animal welfare practices throughout the industry.
According to Rita Giordano of Penn Vet, the Center has played a major role in shaping future veterinary and agricultural professionals.
Since its establishment, the facility has focused on combining hands-on learning with innovative research, providing students with real-world experience in modern swine production.
3. Modern hatchery innovations take center stage at animal wellbeing symposium
By John Lovett, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Magnolia Reporter
September 6, 2026
Leading poultry industry experts will gather this fall at the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing's 12th annual symposium, "Hatching the Future: Innovation in the Modern Hatchery," to explore innovations shaping modern poultry hatcheries.
The symposium will be held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, as a hybrid event, allowing participants to attend either online or in person at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences located at 1371 W. Altheimer Dr. in Fayetteville.
Registration is $10 for in-person attendance. There is no fee for students or virtual attendance. The deadline to register is October 1.
Registration: https://uada.formstack.com/forms/animal_wellbeing
This year's event will focus on the critical role hatcheries play in poultry production, highlighting how decisions made before chicks leave the hatchery can influence animal wellbeing, flock health and production performance throughout the grow-out period.
MDARD Confirms Detection of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in a Roscommon County Horse [MI]
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development News Release
September 8, 2026
LANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reporting a detection of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in an 18-month-old Quarter Horse filly from Roscommon County. The filly was unvaccinated and was humanely euthanized.
"EEE and other mosquito-borne diseases are preventable. By working with your veterinarian to be sure your animals are fully vaccinated, you can protect them from these viruses. This is Michigan's second case this summer and underscores the importance of vaccinations and mosquito control," said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. "These detections show that EEE, along with other mosquito-borne viruses, is present in the state s mosquito population. Taking steps to avoid mosquito bites is essential to reducing the risk of these diseases for both animals and people."
Eight New Equine WNV Cases Confirmed
The cases are located in Montana, Wisconsin, Colorado, Utah, and California.
EDCC Health Watch
EquiManagement.com
September 8, 2026
Eight new equine West Nile virus (WNV) cases have been reported to the Equine Disease Communication Center:
Montana
Beaverhead County, Montana: One horse tested positive.
Yellowstone County, Montana: One horse tested positive.
Hill County, Montana: One horse tested positive.
Wisconsin
Brown County, Wisconsin: An unvaccinated 6-year-old Quarter Horse mare tested positive on Sept. 3 and is currently still alive.
Colorado
Morgan County, Colorado: An unvaccinated yearling Quarter Horse filly tested positive after developing clinical signs on Aug. 30. She is still alive.
Utah
Salt Lake County, Utah: An unvaccinated 11-year-old Quarter Horse mare tested positive on Sept. 3 after developing clinical signs on Aug. 25. She is currently recovering.
California
Sacramento County, California: An under-vaccinated 3-year-old Oldenburg mare tested positive on Sept. 3 after developing neurologic signs on Aug. 27. She is currently recovering.
Sutter County, California: A vaccinated 10-year-old Paint gelding tested positive on Sept. 3 after developing neurologic signs on Aug. 28. He is currently recovering.
Full text: https://equimanagement.com/news/edcc-health-watch/8-new-equine-wnv-cases-confirmed/
Twenty Strangles Cases Confirmed at Private Washington Facility
EDCC Health Watch
EquiManagement.com
September 8, 2026
Twenty horses at a private facility in King County, Washington, have tested positive for strangles, according to the assistant state veterinarian. The outbreak started in June, and the horses are under veterinary care.
5. OSU unveils sites for new veterinary teaching hospital and Agronomy Discovery Center [OK]
Oklahoma Farm Report
September 8, 2026
In 2025, OSU received a historic $250 million state funding appropriation to support the construction of a state-of-the-art facility to advance veterinary education, food security and public health in Oklahoma. Total construction costs for the hospital are estimated to be $330 million, and private support will be critical to advancing programmatic elements of the project.
The new 275,000-square-foot veterinary teaching hospital will be built on a portion of the current OSU Agronomy Research Station property located north of State Highway 51 and approximately a half mile west of Western Road in Stillwater. As part of the transition, the northern portion of the site will remain dedicated to farmland, including the historic Magruder Plots, one of the longest-running wheat research experiments in the United States.