Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne virus, most years presents a serious disease challenge to horses and other equines during the summer and fall months.
This year’s outbreak of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) hasn’t died out yet, but has tapered off significantly as fall weather freezes out the insect vectors associated with the disease.
Cow-calf producers know that a dam’s body condition during late gestation and through early lactation has long-term and economically significant impacts on cow and calf performance.
According to an analysis published in the journal Science, antibiotic resistance among bacteria affecting food animals has nearly tripled over the past 20 years.
When loads of stressed, high-risk calves arrive at the feedlot, it often makes economic sense to treat them all with antibiotics to prevent an almost-inevitable outbreak of bovine respiratory disease (BRD).
Cattle feeders first began using mass treatments for newly arrived calves back in the 1970s, as a means of controlling outbreaks of respiratory disease or “shipping fever.”
Numerous controlled and blinded trials have shown that in high-risk calves arriving at feedlots or stocker operations, mass treatment with an antibiotic significantly reduces BRD sick pulls and mortality.
This summer’s outbreak of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) appears to be losing steam, with no new states reporting positive cases in the USDA’s latest weekly situation report.
While researchers and the industry work to develop systems to better prevent BRD, timely treatments with antibiotics will remain a critical tool for minimizing losses associated with morbidity.
While the cattle industry continues to refine preventive measures, treatments and overall management, feedlot morbidity, mortality and costs associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) stubbornly refuse to improve.
Veterinarians and livestock producers have adapted to significant changes in antimicrobial regulations, and change will continue as the FDA works through its five-year plan for antimicrobial stewardship.
APHIS’ Wildlife Services and its cooperators will begin distributing baits on or about August 2 across rural areas by airplanes and in suburban or urban areas by helicopters, vehicles and bait stations.
This summer’s outbreak of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has mostly affected horses, but continues to spread across state lines and to new premises within states with previous cases.
As the summer progresses, insect-borne vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) appeared in Wyoming for the first time this year and spread to new premises in Texas.
In a release earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced approval of Monovet 90, the first generic monensin product for use in cattle and goats.
Cases of anthrax continue to appear in Texas livestock, but so far, the outbreak this summer has mostly remained confined to an area with a history of anthrax.
The well-regarded Stockmanship and Stewardship training programs continue this summer, with the next event scheduled for August 9 and 10 in Fort Collins Colorado.