1. New Research Aims to Refine Antibiotic Use in Beef & Swine
Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
March 26, 2026
Antibiotics are commonly used to treat many livestock diseases. Using these medications properly helps keep them effective over time by reducing the chances that resistant bacteria survive and spread, which can make infections harder to treat. The International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA), a multi-partner consortium created by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), has awarded three grants totaling $2,928,257 to promote judicious antibiotic use in beef cattle and swine.
ICASA and matching funders are awarding Pipestone's Dr. Francisco Cabezon $277,344 to track antibiotic-resistant bacteria on Midwestern pig farms. He is testing pigs of different ages over time to observe how resistance changes as animals grow, and whether it is influenced by the timing and type of treatments. By understanding when resistance is most likely to develop, farmers can make more informed treatment decisions and improve antibiotic effectiveness.
ICASA and matching funders are awarding Kansas State University's (K-State) Dr. T.G. Nagaraja $203,965 to investigate the bacteria that cause liver abscesses in feedlot cattle, a common and costly condition affecting animal health and production. By pinpointing the source of bacteria, the researchers aim to help producers better understand the cause of liver abscesses and determine novel targets for interventions.
Lastly, ICASA and matching funders are awarding K-State's Dr. Brad White $2,446,948. White and a multidisciplinary research team are advancing 2024 ICASA research examining why some feedlot cattle develop deadly lung problems after getting bovine respiratory disease, and how to better predict which animals are at risk. Early findings from their ICASA project highlight patterns that could improve how the industry identifies and manages high-risk cattle. This award provides an additional year of research, bringing the total ICASA investment in the project to $4,893,893.
Full text: https://foundationfar.org/news/new-research-aims-to-refine-antibiotic-use-in-beef-swine/
2. ASF South Korea: 150,000 pigs culled as virus found in feed
Pig Progress
March 25, 2026
South Korea is going through a difficult phase in an attempt to get African Swine Fever (ASF) under control. In the 1st 3 months of 2026, at least 148,000 pigs had to be culled on 24 farms. In addition, almost 500 tons of feed are being destroyed in as authorities have reason to believe it was infected with the virus.
That cull rates become clear from data provided by the South Korean Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MAFRA). The majority of the recent farm outbreaks occurred on farms in the north east of the country, where the virus is also occurring in wild boar. Nevertheless, the virus also emerged on various farms in other provinces. Amongst the farms found infected with ASF in January and early February 2026, at least 4 had about 20,000 pigs on-site, explaining the relatively high cull rates.
3. Equine Influenza Case Confirmed in Washington
EDCC Health Watch
EquiManagement.com
March 25, 2026
One horse in Pierce County, Washington, recently tested positive for equine influenza. The horse was purchased at the Billings Livestock Horse Sale in Montana. It is currently recovering.
Full text: https://equimanagement.com/news/edcc-health-watch/equine-influenza-case-confirmed-in-washington-3/
4. Genomics and the Evolving Role of the Bovine Veterinarian
When producers look to their veterinarians for genomics advice, many may not feel fully confident leading that discussion. Here's how you can prepare yourself to help producers take the first step.
By Andrea Bedford
Bovine Veterinarian
March 25, 2026
Genomic testing is gaining traction in the beef industry, but for many producers, adoption still feels out of reach. The tools are available and the data is powerful, but the starting point is often unclear.
Increasingly, producers are looking to their veterinarians for guidance. The challenge is that many veterinarians are still defining what their role in genomics should look like.
Insights from Dr. Kirk Ramsey, professional services veterinarian, and Kelsey Luebbe, genomics technical services scientist, both with Neogen, highlight both the opportunity and the uncertainty shaping this shift.
5. University of Arkansas set to host event on poultry robotics
By Dylan Sherman
Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette
March 26, 2026
The University of Arkansas will host a poultry robotics and automation research event on April 9 at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences.
Researchers at the university will share what they have learned and developed in robotics technologies, including tools for deboning, detecting foreign materials and pathogens and using virtual reality to operate equipment remotely.
The Center For Scalable and Intelligent Automation in Poultry, a multi-state research group created in 2023, is responsible for the research. Partner researchers include food scientists and engineers from the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Fort Valley State University.
Full text: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/mar/26/ua-set-to-host-event-on-poultry-robotics/
Truck carrying bird flu-positive dead birds overturns, shuts down Indiana interstate
By Emily Sanderson
WLWT.com
March 26, 2026
Whitley County, Ind -- Residents were asked to avoid the area in northern Indiana after a truck transporting dead animals rolled over, shutting down the interstate.
The interstate was shut down while first responders and hazmat teams investigated.
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Authorities said the truck was carrying dead birds that had tested positive for bird flu and were being transported from area farms.
The dead birds were placed into bio bags, but some were breached in the crash.
Source: https://www.wlwt.com/article/truck-bird-flu-dead-birds-overturns-indiana-whitley-county/70855118
Avian flu strikes 9 more Indiana poultry facilities
By Stephanie Soucheray, MA
CIDRAP News
March 26, 2026
In the past week the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) has tracked nine new H5N1 outbreaks in Indiana poultry facilities.
The most recent three notifications came from Elkhart and LaGrange counties, and involved over 20,000 commercial duck meat birds. Earlier this week Adams County, Elkhart, and LaGrange counties also reported duck meat outbreaks affecting 3,000 to 8,600 birds.
The only commercial outbreaks outside of Indiana this past week came from Box Elder County, Utah, and Kanawha County, West Virginia, where 10 and 220 birds were affected, respectively.
Two detections in red foxes
In the past 30 days, H5N1 has been confirmed in 85 flocks, including 45 commercial and 40 backyard flocks, affecting a total of 10.10 million birds. Indiana accounts for 26 of the affected commercial flocks, and 11 affected backyard flocks.
Detections in wild birds continue to slowdown this week, with just 20 reports recorded by APHIS, including a Great Horned owl in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and several hawks across New York state.
Finally, in mammal detections, a red fox in Nome County, Alaska, is confirmed to have been infected with H5N1, as has a red fox in Westchester County, New York.