1. Merck Animal Health expands SenseHub dairy monitoring capability
Technology can now monitor bucket-fed, preweaned calves and provides new herd-level insights.
Feedstuffs
September 29, 2026
Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the U.S. and Canada, announced two advancements to its SenseHub® Dairy monitoring technology for U.S. dairy operations.
SenseHub Dairy Youngstock now has the capability to monitor bucket-fed, preweaned calves, and the new SenseHub Insights herd management dashboard helps dairy owners and managers monitor key herd-level trends, evaluate management processes and make timely, informed decisions.
"Together, the advancements extend actionable monitoring technology across more dairies and management needs," said Chase Milem, Merck Animal Health associate director, dairy monitoring. "The expanded technologies reinforce Merck Animal Health's commitment to practical innovation, user-friendly tools and service-backed technology for dairy operations."
Full text: https://www.feedstuffs.com/dairy/merck-animal-health-expands-sensehub-dairy-monitoring-capability
2. Death Under the Oaks: An Auburn Case Shows How Quietly Oak Toxicosis Can Kill
Vet Candy
September 29, 2026
A dead bull, a downed cow, and a stand of oak trees. A new JAVMA case report from Auburn University is a reminder that one of the oldest plant poisonings in cattle is still very much with us.
The first clue arrived before the patient did. About a week before a 4-year-old Angus-cross cow was brought to the Auburn University Large Animal Teaching Hospital, a bull from the same herd had been found dead beneath a group of oak trees. The rest of the herd seemed fine.
Then, in late spring, the cow went down. She had been off feed and unable to rise for two days by the time she reached Auburn. What the clinicians and pathologists found next, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, makes a strong teaching case for anyone who works with cattle.
A Cow in Crisis
By the time she arrived, the cow was lying sternal, could not stand, and appeared to be close to death. She was breathing hard at 44 breaths per minute, her heart rate was 76, she was drooling, and she had a ping on the left side. Her rectal temperature was below normal at 36 °C.
Her bloodwork told an even grimmer story. Blood urea nitrogen was 207 mg/dL, more than eight times the top of the reference range, and creatinine was so high the analyzer couldn't read it. Lactate was markedly elevated, sodium and chloride were low, and potassium was high. Taken together, the picture pointed to severe kidney failure, uremia, and a body under serious systemic strain.
3. CAHFS empowers all veterinarians to safeguard livestock
Goal with project is to demystify swine foreign animal diseases for general practitioners.
By Jessica Knight
National Hog Farmer
September 30, 2026
In today's globalized agricultural economy, a disease outbreak anywhere poses a potential threat everywhere. Highly contagious foreign animal diseases-such as African swine fever, classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease-have the power to devastate herds, disrupt national food supplies and inflict severe economic and emotional tolls on rural communities.
While specialized swine veterinarians are on constant alert, the reality of modern practice is that the very first warning sign of an outbreak might not appear on a commercial swine facility. Instead, it might be spotted during a routine visit to a mixed-species farm, a youth livestock project or a hobby herd-places often attended by mixed, general large-animal, equine or small-animal practitioners with limited swine experience.
Driven by a core mission to protect community health and safeguard agricultural systems, researchers at the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety* at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine have launched a vital new initiative. Funded by the USDA's National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program and developed with support from federal and state agencies, the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association and the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, CAHFS is offering a comprehensive, free suite of live webinars and self-paced online modules.
[* See: https://cahfs.umn.edu/?_sp=c92b87de-279d-4538-8a53-a0db3cc4f4d6.1790792934359 ]
4. Smart ranch tech cuts costs, boosts cattle health
Virtual fencing and monitoring systems can save ranchers in terms of time, money and labor.
By Sarah McNaughton-Peterson,Senior Editor, Dakota Farmer
FarmProgress.com
September 30, 2026
Technology is constantly evolving. With this, new innovations are making their way to the ranch, helping cattle or animal producers find solutions to their biggest problems.
Technology isn't seen as an option to replace animal stockmanship and husbandry; rather, it is incorporated into tools that support ranchers in their efforts. Today, certain devices can provide real-time health insights and behavioral data, ensure consistent access to water, enable precise medication dosing, reduce animal stress and allow more time for observation.
From water monitoring and animal health data collection to virtual fencing and other livestock infrastructure, these five options could help save time and money on your ranch:
* Ranchbot * Gallagher
* Elanco * Halter
* Monil
Full text: https://www.farmprogress.com/technology/smart-ranch-tech-cuts-costs-boosts-cattle-health
Wisconsin Quarter Horse Tests Positive for Equine Influenza
EDCC Health Watch
EquiManagment.com
September 30, 2026
On Sept. 25, a 10-year-old Quarter Horse mare in Polk County, Wisconsin, tested positive for equine influenza. The mare developed clinical signs on Sept. 22, including fever, cough, and bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge. She is recovering, and four horses have been exposed.
Kentucky Sees 2nd Equine WNV Case of 2026
EDCC Health Watch
Equus Magazine
September 30, 2026
On Sept. 29, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture confirmed West Nile virus (WNV) in a 9-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Clinton County. The unvaccinated horse developed clinical signs on Sept. 18, including ataxia, hyperesthesia, and inappetence. He is currently still alive.
This is Kentucky's second confirmed equine WNV case of 2026.
Full text: https://equusmagazine.com/news/edcc-health-watch/kentucky-sees-2nd-equine-wnv-case-of-2026
6. Indiana Pork formalizes Swine Health Advisory Committee
10-member committee represents broad cross-section of pork industry
MorningAgClips.com
September 30, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Pork has formalized its Swine Health Advisory Committee to help support statewide swine health efforts and ensure Indiana is represented in the National Swine Health Strategy and U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP). The 10-member committee represents a broad cross-section of the pork industry, including sow farm production, contract production, exhibition pigs, veterinary service organizations, cull markets, packers/processors and the Indiana Board of Animal Health.
The committee reviews and proposes US SHIP standards and resolutions, represents Indiana at the annual US SHIP House of Delegates meeting each September, monitors new and emerging disease threats and their potential impact on Indiana pig farmers, and stays engaged with the National Pork Board's National Swine Health Strategy.
Full text: https://www.morningagclips.com/indiana-pork-formalizes-swine-health-advisory-committee/