1. Florida issues New World screwworm emergency animal import rule
The last outbreak in the U.S. occurred in September 2016, when NWS was confirmed in Key deer from a wildlife refuge in Monroe County, Florida.
By Ann Hess,Content Producer
National Hog Farmer
April 28, 2026
With New World screwworm detections in Mexico inching closer to the U.S. border, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has taken aggressive action to protect the state by issuing an emergency rule placing temporary restrictions on the importation of animals from high-risk counties in Texas. The restrictions require all animals imported into Florida originating from a high-risk U.S. county to undergo increased veterinary screenings and treatment, if necessary.
"Today we are taking aggressive action to further protect Florida and our agricultural producers from the real threat of the New World Screwworm," said Commissioner Simpson. "We know how costly and dangerous this pest can be to our agricultural industry if it takes hold, and we will use every tool at our disposal to protect our state. We're also calling on Florida's producers, veterinarians and animal health professionals to remain aware and act quickly if they suspect something unusual."
All warm-blooded animals originating from a high-risk county being imported into Florida must be accompanied by an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection documenting that all animals listed have been inspected and found free of contagious and infectious disease and pests, including NWS. No alternative movement documents will be accepted in lieu of an OCVI.
2. Register today for the 2026 ISU McKean Swine Disease Conference
Main conference to include updates on the National Pork Board's National Swine Health Strategy and New World screwworm status and response plans.
Iowa State University
National Hog Farmer
April 29, 2026
Iowa State University is eager to host the 2026 ISU McKean Swine Disease Conference, once again offering two preconference workshops on enteric diseases and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome management. For those who registered for the main conference, there is no additional cost to attend the preconference workshops, thanks to the generosity of the conference sponsors. Both pre-conference workshops will take place on Tuesday, June 23, at the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine campus, followed by the main conference scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames, Iowa.
This conference is once again planned in conjunction with Iowa Swine Day, which will be held on Thursday June 25. Although the events are separate, this provides the opportunity to feature two extraordinary conferences here in Ames.
Register today here: https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/swinedisease/register/
Early Bird Registration (on or before June 7): $265
Late Registration (after June 7): $315
3. New Research Targets Heart Failure Risks in U.S. Cattle Herds
AGDAILY Reporters
April 29, 2026
The American Shorthorn Association has announced a collaborative research effort with Simplot's Land and Livestock division, focused on better understanding and reducing the risk of Bovine Congestive Heart Failure - an emerging challenge impacting cattle performance, feedlot profitability, and animal welfare across the U.S. beef industry.
BCHF, which is sometimes referred to as "late-stage heart failure" has become a growing concern in modern cattle feeding systems. Industry data suggests that approximately 4 percent to 5 percent of fed cattle can be affected by severe cardiac issues at harvest, contributing to death loss and reduced efficiency. As cattle are bred for increased growth, performance, and carcass value, understanding and managing this risk has become increasingly important.
Through this partnership, the ASA and Simplot have evaluated approximately 10,000 Shorthorn-influenced animals within one of the largest and most comprehensive BCHF genomic databases in the world. Simplot's Land and Livestock division's dataset includes over 35,000 animals with detailed phenotypic measurements - such as heart and lung scores - paired with genomic information, making it a leading resource for studying this condition.
Full text: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/research-targets-heart-failure-risks-143302830.html
4. Three Horses Test Positive for EIA at Colorado Training Facility
EDCC Health Watch
Equus Magazine
April 29, 2026
On April 13, three horses at a training facility in Weld County, Colorado, tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA), according to the state veterinarian. The three horses were Quarter Horse geldings used for racing. They were tested due to a previous positive case at the premises. All three horses were euthanized, and 15 horses remain exposed.
5. Biomarkers help crack the code on saving more equine lives
Researchers at Penn Vet leverage biomarkers to better detect human-caused inflammation in horses and help prevent further complications.
PENN Today
April 29 2026
In both animals and humans, biomarkers can signal that something has gone awry. For clinicians, they are valuable tools-once they are identified.
At Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine, David Levine, associate professor of clinical large animal surgery, uses biomarkers as effective detectors of inflammation-early indicators of infection that can then be stopped, avoiding complications and even saving equine lives.
Mary Robinson, associate professor of veterinary pharmacology, is director of Penn Vet's Equine Pharmacology Laboratory, and acting director of the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory. She uses biomarkers to determine whether horses that race at Pennsylvania's Standardbred tracks have been illegally doped by horse trainers attempting to gain an unethical advantage and potentially harming the horses.
At both of her labs, Robinson and her staff have studied biomarkers and continue to work to break new ground. Their work helps enforce the rules and regulations for horse racing, but for Robinson, there is an even greater issue at stake.
Levine has found that SAA detects infection-related inflammation earlier and more accurately than fibrinogen, a long-used acute phase protein biomarker. In addition, there are handheld devices that can easily and quickly measure SAA from a simple blood sample.
Full text: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-vet-biomarkers-help-crack-code-saving-more-equine-lives
6. While Waiting for the Vet: Managing Uterine and Rectal Prolapses on Farm
What you do in the time before your veterinarian arrives can make a critical difference in how easily a prolapse is corrected.
By Andrea Bedford
Bovine Veterinarian
April 29, 2026
Finding a cow with a prolapse is the kind of situation that raises urgency immediately. You call your veterinarian, but they may be 30 to 60 minutes away. What you do during that window can influence how straightforward the case will be once they arrive.
The goal is not to fix the prolapse yourself but rather to stabilize the situation and prevent it from getting worse. Erika Nagorske, a large-animal veterinarian with 4 Star Veterinary Service, shares the following advice for producers while they wait for their vet to arrive and address a prolapse.
Control Movement First
The most important first step is containment. A prolapse becomes more difficult to manage when the animal is moving, circling or slipping. Movement increases contamination, swelling and the risk of further damage.
"Every situation's different, but if her entire uterus is prolapsed after she's calved, there are really big blood vessels attached to that," Nagorske says. "If she's running around like crazy and not confined, those blood vessels can tear."
Keeping the animal calm and contained is the most effective way to protect both the tissue and the outcome.