Veterinary Medicine

Compounded Drugs in Livestock: Regulations, Uses and Benefits

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:25:21 GMT

“Compounding pharmaceuticals are drugs that we start with an approved drug in livestock and poultry,” says Dr. Brian Payne, veterinarian and director of research and development and technical services for Veterinary Pharmaceutical Solutions on a recent episode of DocTalk . “We change the format of it so that it’s more applicable to the livestock species.”

In livestock medicine, you may face situations where no labeled drug exists for a specific species, condition or route of administration. In those cases, compounded drugs may provide an alternative by adapting approved medications into formulations better suited for food animal production systems.

Why Compounded Drugs Are Used in Livestock Medicine

One reason compounding plays a role in food animal medicine is the limited number of pharmaceuticals developed specifically for livestock species.

“There’s a limited amount of resources being spent on livestock today on new pharmaceuticals,” Payne says. “But there’s a lot of really good pharmaceuticals out there that veterinarians want to use for livestock. If we can take those active ingredients from FDA-approved products and get them into the right format, you have a whole other tool for your producers.”

Rather than creating entirely new drugs, compounding allows veterinarians and pharmacists to modify existing FDA-approved medications into formats better suited for livestock production.

How Compounded Drugs Improve Drug Delivery

One advantage of compounding is the ability to create alternative delivery methods that may better fit livestock production systems.

Many treatments traditionally require injections or running cattle through a chute, which can increase labor and stress for animals and handlers. Compounded formulations may allow treatments to be delivered through oral suspensions or drinking water systems when appropriate.

“If you’re putting it through the water, it can minimize handling, which is always a positive,” Payne says. “And also if you need to choose a drug that’s different, now you have the ability to administer it that way.”

Alternative delivery routes may also allow veterinarians to select drugs with different pharmacologic profiles when needed.

“It gives you the ability to choose a drug that’s different and administer it in a way that works for the operation,” Payne says.

Veterinary Regulations for Compounded Drugs

Despite some misconceptions, compounded drugs used in livestock are subject to regulatory oversight.

“We always have to start with an FDA-approved product,” Payne says. “Once we start manipulating or compounding those drugs, we have to follow procedures to make sure that’s cleanly done.”

Compounding itself can be performed either by a veterinarian or a pharmacist.

“Once a veterinarian gets their license, they have the full ability to compound themselves or a pharmacist can compound,” Payne explains. “A producer can’t compound on their own.”

A decision framework from the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act and FDA guidance that prioritizes approved treatments before considering compounded options should be followed:

Use an FDA-approved drug for the species, condition and route of administration when available.
Consider extra-label use of an approved product when appropriate.
Use compounded formulations when no approved option meets the clinical need.
Ensure the compounded drug begins with an FDA-approved product.
Establish appropriate withdrawal intervals to prevent residues.

Withdrawal Times and Quality Control

Residue avoidance remains a critical responsibility when using compounded drugs in food animals.

“There’s zero tolerance for any residues in compounded products, and we have to keep that in mind,” Payne says. “It’s the responsibility of the veterinarian to prescribe that with a withdrawal period.”

Withdrawal intervals may be determined using pharmacokinetic information, including drug half-life and available research data, to estimate when residues are no longer present in the animal.

Quality control is another important component of pharmaceutical compounding. Compounding pharmacies may test compounded batches to ensure the drug concentration matches the intended formulation.

“We want to check to understand if the potency we say is in there is actually in there,” Payne says.

Compounded Drugs as an Additional Tool for Livestock Veterinarians

Compounded drugs are not intended to replace approved pharmaceuticals. Instead, they provide another option when labeled products are unavailable or impractical for a particular situation.

For veterinarians managing herd health across diverse livestock systems, that flexibility can be valuable.

“It gives you another set of tools to utilize,” Payne says.

FDA Approves Exzolt Cattle-CA1 for Prevention and Treatment of New World Screwworm

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 19:35:54 GMT

On December 4, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted conditional approval to Exzolt Cattle-CA1, a fluralaner topical solution from Merck Animal Health, for the use in beef cattle (≥ 2 months of age) and replacement dairy heifers (< 20 months of age). The approved uses include prevention and treatment of larval infestations by New World screwworm (NWS), and treatment and control of cattle fever tick.

“The FDA is leveraging every resource and authority at its disposal to ensure producers and veterinarians have the critical products they need to protect their livestock and safeguard our food supply against NWS and cattle fever tick,” said Timothy Schell, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, in a press release . “We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that animal drugs are safe and effective and that food from treated animals is safe to eat.”

While NWS has not yet been detected in the U.S., the threat persists just south of the border with a new case being reported yesterday. Cattle fever ticks, present along the U.S.-Mexico border in south Texas, are competent vectors of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina — agents of bovine babesiosis (Texas cattle fever).

“The threat of New World screwworm represents a growing concern to U.S. agriculture, potentially causing devastating economic losses for cattle producers that could reach hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Rick DeLuca, president of Merck Animal Health, in a news release . “We worked closely with the FDA to accelerate availability so that veterinarians and cattle producers will have access to a powerful new tool to protect cattle from these serious parasites, helping to safeguard the industry’s economic future and the nation’s beef supply.”

The conditional approval status reflects FDA’s determination that Exzolt Cattle-CA1 is safe for its labeled use and is reasonably expected to be effective, while requiring that its sponsor, Merck Animal Health, submit further data demonstrating its effectiveness over the next five years to support full approval.

Administration and Use Considerations

Exzolt Cattle-CA1 is a ready-to-use pour-on that delivers the active ingredient, fluralaner, to act systemically against infestations. Administration involves applying a narrow band of the solution from between the shoulder blades to the tailhead. It will be available in the first quarter of 2026 by prescription in 250 mL, 1 L or 5 L bottles.

After administration, there is a 98-day withdrawal period before slaughter to ensure meat from treated animals is free of drug residues. Use is prohibited in lactating dairy cattle, dairy calves, veal calves or bulls over one year of age that are intended for breeding.

This approval of Exzolt Cattle-CA1 complements that of Dectomax-CA1 , which was authorized in September 2025 for prevention and treatment of NWS infestations in cattle. Together, these two products give veterinarians and producers their first pharmacologic defenses against NWS.

Vesicular Stomatitis Outbreak in Arizona

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:00:39 GMT

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has released a situation report on vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) after the virus was identified on two Arizona farms this month.

While both reported cases were in horses, VSV also affects cattle, swine and other ruminants. The farms on which the virus was identified both also house cattle, though none have been found to be clinically affected.

In response to this outbreak, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced temporary import restrictions on horses, ruminants and swine from the U.S. until further notice. The import of horses, swine and ruminants from VSV-affected states for all purposes is prohibited. Animals from other states that have been in a VSV-affected state at any point in the three weeks prior to import will be denied entry to Canada. Special accommodations have been made in collaboration with USDA regarding animal import for major Canadian livestock competitions and exhibitions.

What is Vesicular Stomatitis?

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease primarily spread by biting midges and flies, but can also be spread via animal-to-animal contact or exposure to saliva or fluid from ruptured vesicles. It is also important to protect yourself if working with infected animals as it is transmissible to humans causing an acute influenza-like illness.

VS is named for its characteristic vesicular lesions that form around the mouth, nose, udders and hooves. Along with these lesions, clinical signs of VS include:

excessive salivation (often accompanied by raised blisters on the lips, gums and tongue)
fever
feed withdrawal leading to weight loss

In cattle and horses, lesions around the hooves can lead to lameness, while teat lesions in dairy cattle can lead to mastitis and a severe drop in milk production. Affected swine usually first show signs of lameness caused by foot lesions.

Controlling Vesicular Stomatitis

While VS does not usually cause the death of an animal, it can lead to economic losses due to prevented animal movement and impacts on international trace. Farms with VSV positive animals must quarantine for 14 days after lesions appear on the last case at the location.

The last VS outbreak occurred from May 2023 through January 2024 affecting 319 locations across California, Nevada and Texas. VSV circulates annually between livestock and insect vectors in southern Mexico, only entering the U.S. when environmental factors support the northern movement of vectors.

If you suspect an animal might be infected with VSV, you should immediately contact local state and federal animal health authorities.

Veterinarian Becomes Disease Detective: Nichols Connects Animal Disease and Human Health

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:26:37 GMT

Growing up on a New Mexico ranch, veterinarian and public health leader Megin Nichols says she learned early the health of animals, humans and the environment are deeply connected.

Initially planning to practice small animal medicine, she says her plans began to pivot when she met a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) epidemic intelligence service officer who sparked her interest in public health. That realization led her to pursue a master’s degree in public health at the University of Minnesota, with a focus on food safety and biosecurity. Her career has included roles in local, state and federal health departments, investigating foodborne illness outbreaks and developing strategies to prevent them.

“Life has a way of taking you in places you never anticipated,” she shared during the 2025 Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture Oct. 6 at Kansas State University.

Today, as the CDC’s director in the division of foodborne, waterborne and environmental diseases, she lends her expertise to efforts involving disease investigation, food safety, antimicrobial resistance and agriculture literacy.

Megin Nichols has more than 15 years of zoonotic disease experience and has served at the federal and state levels. She has served as the lead of the Enteric Zoonoses Team investigating multistate outbreaks of Salmonella and E. coli. Prior to joining CDC, Nichols worked as the Principal Investigator of the Active Bacterial Core Surveillance Program at the New Mexico Department of Health for five years.

(Angie Stump Denton)

One Health: Connecting Animal Disease and Human Health

Nichols’ work focuses on the One Health concept.

“One Health is recognizing the health and well-being of humans, of animals and our environment are all interconnected,” she explains. “One Health is something that many of us do every single day and are very, very aware of, especially if you have ties to agriculture and the land. But One Health as a concept oftentimes is difficult to fully understand.”

Nichols says One Health is:

Ongoing relationships with animal agencies.
Understand the culture of agriculture.
Having access to integrated human and animal surveillance.
Protocols for conducting joint response investigations.
Agreements for sharing biological samples and lab results.
Established lines of communication with agriculture and animal industry.
Plans for unified communication messaging.
Need to build linkages and trust before and outbreak.

“What happens in one area can significantly impact others — whether it’s a wildfire, a disease outbreak or environmental changes,” Nichols summarizes.

Pandemic and Disease Response Insights

Nichols was a leader in investigating and finding unique solutions for the livestock industry and specifically meat packing industry related to COVID-19.

“In April 2020, I got a call from my supervisor saying there are some meat, poultry packing plants that are going down because of labor shortages and illness,” she explains.

She selected and lead a team to figure out how to get the plants opened back up safely and to find unique solution to deal with the related animal welfare issues.

Summarizing the experiences, Nichols reports the estimated economic cost of COVID-19 is $14 trillion. Along with supply chain disruptions the industry experienced changes in consumer behavior, labor shortage and complex operations challenges. On a positive note, she says the industry did experience a lot of innovation and uptake of technology due to the pandemic, which resulted in innovative approaches to workplace safety and communication.

“We saw innovative strategies where if one person got sick, they looked around that worker and said, ‘OK, who do we need to monitor quickly for symptoms?’” she says.

Nichols also discussed the increase in salmonella outbreaks during the pandemic. She links the rise to the increase in backyard poultry ownership and the improper handling of backyard chickens.

“Many new chicken owners were unaware of disease transmission risks,” she explains.

Nichols also shared insights to H5N1 influenza and emphasized the complexity of tracking and preventing. She highlights the need for integrated, cross-species surveillance and communication strategies.

She also touched on emerging threats, including New World screwworm (NWS) . Her message emphasized the importance of prevention, control and preparedness.

She shares these five key strategies related to NWS:

Surveillance. Early dection through wound inspections and reporting in livestock.
Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). Ongoing release of serile male flies to prevent reproduction.
Biosecurity. Movement control of imported animals and monitoring at entry points.
Public Awareness. Education for doctors, ranchers, veterinarians and travelers.
Rapid Response Planning. Multi-agency coordination to contain outbreaks swiftly and deploy sterile flies.

Agricultural Literacy, Communication is Key

“Growing up in the middle of nowhere, I also came to understand that not everyone appreciates — or even understands — where their food comes from,” Nichols says.

She shared a 1993 study that revealed significant gaps in public knowledge about agriculture. She summarizes understanding food systems involves knowing:

Where food comes from.
How it’s produced.
Its impact on economy, environment and technology.

Throughout her lecture she shared the importance of transforming complex scientific concepts into engaging, accessible insights that resonate with students, farmers, ranchers and public health professionals alike.

“It doesn’t matter how much information we have if we don’t get it out to the people,” Nichols says.

She stresses the importance of agricultural communication specialists in translating scientific information and engaging audiences.

“Don’t leave the communications to the scientists,” she says.

Nichols emphasizes that agricultural literacy and effective communication are crucial for bridging knowledge gaps and building public understanding of food systems.

She shares this advice for agricultural advocates:

Bring agricultural perspective to discussions by speaking up and sharing lived experiences.
Challenge misconceptions with personal stories by focusing on storytelling rather than technical details.
Understand your audience and use relatable language and provide context.

Nichols stresses the importance of preparedness and collaboration. She explains the importance of local-level discussions and community preparedness, suggesting that some of the most effective emergency preparedness conversations happen “at the coffee house” or during casual community gatherings.

How Nebraska is Tackling the Critical Rural Veterinarian Shortage in a New, Unique Way

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:49:47 GMT

A critical shortage of food-animal veterinarians is unfolding across rural America. A 2023 Farm Journal Foundation study found more than 500 counties across the U.S. lack enough veterinarians to care for livestock. The pipeline of new graduates simply isn’t keeping up; only 3% to 4% of today’s veterinary students choose to practice food-animal medicine, compared to about 40% four decades ago.

Experts warn the shortage poses risks beyond farm gates. Veterinarians are a front-line defense for animal health, and without them, food production and U.S. food security could be at risk.

And even though USDA announced plans to address the shortage by announcing their own Rural Veterinary Action Plan in August , Nebraska was ahead of the curve, launching their own program last year.

Nebraska’s Homegrown Solution

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), in partnership with Gov. Jim Pillen and state leaders, is working to reverse that trend through the Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinary Program .

“Through the governor and a lot of our state leaders who recognize the need for production animal health DVMs out in rural Nebraska … they partnered with us to identify and develop a scholarship program for these students,” says Deb VanOverbeke, head of UNL’s department of animal science.

The program specifically targets Nebraska students who aspire to practice large-animal veterinary medicine in rural communities.

Scholarships That Start Freshman Year

Unlike most programs that support students late in their training, Elite 11 identifies and supports them as soon as they step on campus.

“These cohorts start as freshmen in college … They’ve identified that they want to go down the path of practicing veterinary medicine in rural Nebraska with production animals,” VanOverbeke explains.

Each year, up to 20 incoming animal science or veterinary science students are accepted into the program. During their first two years, they receive scholarships covering 50% of tuition. After that, 11 students and two alternates are selected for full tuition scholarships during their junior and senior years.

Those selected also earn automatic admission into UNL’s preprofessional veterinary medicine program, run in partnership with Iowa State University.

A Long-Term Commitment

Financial barriers are one of the biggest deterrents for veterinary students. By providing tuition support early and guaranteeing a pathway forward, UNL hopes to ease that pressure.

“It’s going to take us eight years to get these students to be practicing veterinarians in rural Nebraska,” VanOverbeke says. “But so much of the student burden is financial. This scholarship gives them a way to see a path forward.”

The program also includes a major incentive after graduation. Students who practice in a rural Nebraska community for at least eight years in food-animal medicine become eligible for 100% loan forgiveness.

Students Already Seeing the Impact

For students like Sydney Hutchinson of West Point, Neb., the scholarship program has already changed her trajectory.

“I always knew I was interested in doing something with an agricultural background,” Hutchinson says. “I’ve showed livestock, helped with routine stuff on the farm, like vaccinations, pulled a few calves. Those things got me interested in veterinary medicine.”

Originally, Hutchinson planned to attend Kansas State University, but when she learned about UNL’s program, she changed course.

“Nebraska is home to me. That’s where I’ve always seen myself coming back to,” she says. “Having this program show up at just the right time worked out great.”

Now in her second year at UNL, Hutchinson says she knows her calling isn’t in small animal clinics, but in rural, large-animal work.

“Finding large-animal veterinarians is a struggle in the state, especially those that want to come back and work in rural areas,” she says. “Addressing that problem first and foremost is great. It’s going to have a great long-term impact on Nebraska and its ag industry.”

Building a Future for Rural Veterinary Medicine

By investing early in students, providing financial support and creating a clear career pipeline, Nebraska hopes to strengthen its veterinary workforce for years to come.

For Hutchinson, the investment feels personal.

“To have them investing in the next generation — it’s huge,” she says.

If successful, the program could provide a model for other states facing the same critical shortage of rural food-animal veterinarians.

Your Veterinarian: A Critical Partner for Success

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:24:44 GMT

When it comes to livestock production — whether beef, dairy or swine — a knowledgeable large-animal veterinarian is a critical resource for producers.

The veterinarian’s duties have grown through the years from emergency calls and service to now include consultation and planning to improve cattle and dairy herds as well as swine operations.

Craig Bieber of Bieber Red Angus in Leola, S.D., says working with a vet is essential to his herd’s success.

“I don’t know how people do it without a relationship with their vet,” Bieber says. “A good working relationship is so important. As producers, we can’t be on top of every animal disease or problem there is.”

Bieber says he is lucky to have a comprehensive clinic with five veterinarians near his ranch. He meets with his team of veterinarians three or four times per year to discuss health strategies.

“Our diversified livestock operation uses a team of veterinarians for the health and well-being of our cattle, swine and sheep plus our livestock guardian dogs and family pets,” says Sarah Jones of Red Hill Farms in Lafayette, Tenn.

The Jones family works with its primary veterinarian, Roger Thomas of Thomas & England Veterinary Services in Smiths Grove, Ky.

“Dr. Thomas is essential to our operation,” Jones says. “Without our team of veterinarians, we couldn’t provide the very best care for our livestock. Dr. Thomas is our first call for issues we are not comfortable treating without consultation. Our operation also uses additional veterinarians for pregnancy ultrasound, cattle embryo transfer, sheep artificial insemination, sheep embryo transfer and swine consulting.”

In an unscientific survey, Drovers asked its Facebook followers, “How important is your veterinarian to the success of your operation?”

One follower wrote, “Essential. Having our veterinarian of a little over 40 years, we have created herd health programs for pre-breeding and pre-calving, as well as vaccination programs for calves at birth and weaning. We review these programs every year.”

Another said, “Our vet from Vale Veterinary Clinic is key to the success of our program through integrated research and herd health management our vet is priceless!”

Unfortunately, a few respondents noted they don’t have a close large-animal veterinarian near them or that they must take individual animals to an equine veterinarian for consultation, affirming the need for more large animal vets.

(Farm Journal)

The evolving role of dairy veterinarians

Traditionally seen as the guardians of animal health, focused primarily on treating sick individual animals, today’s dairy veterinarians are expanding their roles.

Scott Bohnert of Bohnert Jerseys in East Moline, Ill., exemplifies the modern dairy farmer’s reliance on veterinary expertise. At his dairy, home to 700 Jersey cows and an equal number of replacements, Bohnert leans heavily on his long-time veterinarian, Ryan Schaefer of Blue Grass, Iowa. Their working partnership of more than 15 years highlights the evolving importance of veterinarians in dairy.

Schaefer collaborates closely with Bohnert, conducting routine herd health and pregnancy checks twice a month — but their relationship goes far beyond basic animal care.

With a deep understanding of the dairy industry’s challenges, Schaefer consults closely with Bohnert on various critical topics. This trusted advice plays a pivotal role in helping Bohnert and his team drive their dairy operation forward.

“Ryan and I work very well together,” Bohnert says, acknowledging how Schaefer’s insights into disease prevention, vaccine management and industry trends keep his farm thriving in a competitive market.

This collaboration reflects a broader trend in agriculture where veterinarians serve as essential consultants instead of just animal doctors. Their role extends to strategic decision-making, helping farms navigate through diverse challenges like disease outbreaks, regulatory changes and economic pressures.

Swine veterinarian’s critical role

The swine producer and veterinarian relationship is critical in managing health issues in the swine herd.

“I can’t overstate how important our farm’s relationship is with our veterinarian,” says Mike Paustian, a swine producer from Wolcott, Iowa. “We treat that relationship as one of the key parts of our team that we’ve assembled to help advise our farm.”

Paustian, who is contact with his veterinarian every week, challenges the misconception that veterinary involvement is costly.

“I don’t see how you’re going to get a bigger bang for your buck than getting a veterinarian who knows your herd, to provide input into issues you’re having,” he says.

Paustian says he also appreciates a veterinarian who approaches work with a sense of curiosity and a desire to understand things better, which aligns with his own approach to constantly seek improvement.

Ben Barcovtch, a pig farmer from Berwick, Pa., says a strong veterinarian relationship is essential to the success of his pork operation.

“They support proactive herd health, help improve productivity, strengthen biosecurity and provide expert guidance during health challenges,” Barcovtch says. “The vet practice I work with is a key partner in maintaining animal well-being and our overall profitability.”

The veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is the basis for interaction among veterinarians, their clients and their patients, and it is critical to the health of animals.

“Our VCPR is a partnership that allows more proactive and long-term strategies instead of just responding to needs as they arise,” says Rob Brenneman, owner of Brenneman Pork in Washington, Iowa. “This allows both parties to focus on preventative care, optimized service offerings focused on system health and stability.”

Thank you

April 26 is World Veterinary Day . Observed annually on the last Saturday of April, the day aims to celebrate the contributions of veterinarians to the health of animals, people and the environment. “Animal health takes a team,” is this year’s theme and summarizes the collaboration between veterinarians and beef, dairy and swine producers.

“I believe that sincerely communicating appreciation is one of the most important things farmers and ranchers can do for their veterinarians,” says Jones of Red Hill Farms.

Veterinarians are considered trusted advisers with an integral role in the livestock industry. A recent survey released by Boehringer Ingelheim shows 94% of animal owners appreciate the work of veterinarians, compared to only 49% of veterinary professionals feeling who think the profession is appreciated.

The survey is part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s “Going Beyond” campaign, which seeks to spotlight aspects of veterinary work that too often remain unseen and underrecognized.

In support of World Veterinary Day, the “Going Beyond” campaign also released a video asking animal owners to guess what type of professional meets the description of a range of compelling job responsibilities and characteristics.

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6 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Wildlife Biosecurity Breaches

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:59:27 GMT

Wildlife serve an important purpose, but they can also be a major threat to livestock. It’s not possible to keep all wildlife out, but steps can be taken to decrease their activity. Before taking any action, make sure that the wildlife you want to control are not endangered, threatened or protected in your area.

One way you can keep unwanted visitors out is by buttoning up your biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases and pathogens.

1. Compromised exclusion
When damage occurs to barriers you put up to keep birds away, that can actually create more habitat. Now birds can get in and get behind the barrier which serves as the perfect protection from predators. Nests of wild birds are an indicator that birds are using your Line of Separation for housing.

Robin nest on barn ledge.

(USDA Wildlife Services)

2. Breaches in the foundation
Keep buildings and fences in good repair. Seal holes where wildlife can enter. Anything over 1 square inch is possible for a house sparrow to get into. Repair screens and doors and replace rotting or damaged wood. Nests of wild birds are an indicator that birds are using your Line of Separation for housing.

3. Holes/construction issues
Repair holes in buildings or barns to prevent entry. Regularly check and repair damaged screens on windows and doors

4. Spilled feed
Remove excess feed and feed spills as these can attract bird flocks. It’s not uncommon for birds to defecate while eating. This becomes an opportunity for mice and other rodents to eat the spilled feed and bird poop before heading back into the barn. Keep a broom and lidded garbage container at every feed storage area for quick cleanups.

Feed spillage

(USDA Wildlife Services)

5. Standing water
The virus itself can live in water for months if it’s cold. If you see water, consider it positive for virus. Don’t walk or move equipment through or near standing water— this could track wildlife feces or other contaminants with the virus into your barns.

6. Clutter and tree management
Clutter and trees around the farm provide the perfect habitat for birds and other wildlife to find refuge. Reduce natural food sources by removing fallen fruit and mowing grass often.

Your Next Read: Don’t Be Deceived: Wildlife Pose Serious Threat to Livestock Producers

Legislators Reintroduce Bill to Recruit and Retain Veterinarians in High-Need Areas

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:44:19 GMT

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation to help recruit and retain veterinarians in underserved and rural areas, was reintroduced by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Representatives Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and John Larson (D-Conn.).

“In nearly every state in the country, there are shortages for veterinarians, especially in rural areas,” Sen. Smith says. “This record shortage causes serious harm to the health of animals and the public. Providing additional funding to the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and updating the tax code to better serve veterinarians will allow more qualified vets to do vital work with our animals in underserved communities.”

Strongly endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), this would expand the reach and maximize the allocated funding of the highly successful VMLRP, which can help to attract veterinarians in USDA-designated veterinary shortage areas by assisting with the significant obstacle of educational debt. It would also end the federal taxation on VMLRP awards, allowing more veterinarians to participate in a program that offers up to $120,000 over three years for student loan repayment in exchange for service in one of the designated shortage areas. In addition, it would align the tax code with human and other healthcare professions’ award funds.

“Veterinarians are vital to the work of America’s farmers and ranchers and the integrity of our food supply chain. Yet many areas of the country suffer from lack of access to their services,” Rep. Smith says. “This bipartisan bill would make commonsense tax relief available to veterinarians who choose to live and work in the communities which need their help to care for their livestock and protect the agriculture industry from pests and disease. I thank my colleagues for joining me in reintroducing it.”

In 2025, the USDA declared 243 rural veterinary shortage areas in 46 states, which is the highest number of shortage areas ever, AVMA said in a release. Since 2010, the USDA has awarded 883 VMLRP awards to veterinarians; meanwhile, 2,197 applications have been received to participate in the program since its inception.

“Recruiting and retaining veterinarians through the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act is key to protecting our nation’s food supply, preserving animal welfare, and upholding public health,” Sandra Faeh, AVMA president, said in a release. “Livestock and public health veterinarians are essential to strengthening the nation’s animal health infrastructure and agricultural economy. We urge Congress to address this increasingly important issue by passing the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act.”

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Is the Swine Industry Ready for H5N1? Texas Veterinarian Says “No”

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 20:26:37 GMT

Nearly one year ago, USDA made a shocking announcement. Highly pathogenic avian influenza type A H5N1 (H5N1) was identified in milk and in cows on two dairy farms in Texas and two dairy farms in Kansas. A disease no veterinarian had previously feared in cattle had jumped from wild birds to domestic cows.

Scanlon Daniels, a large animal veterinarian with Circle H Headquarters in Dalhart, Texas, received a call 10 days prior to that announcement that he will never forget from one of his dairy clients that something wasn’t right with some of the cows.

“My client sent me a text: ‘I think I might have it,’” Daniels says.

He went out to the dairy, collected samples from four cows and submitted them to Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) as any good swine vet would do, he explained, during the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting. He also took some nasal swabs and tested those in his own lab. He did a follow-up, collecting samples from 20 different cows later on that week and sent those to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

The four cows that initially presented symptoms of decreased rumination, decreased activity and nasal discharge were eventually confirmed to have H5N1. Right around that same time, he said there were reports from Texas Animal Health Commission about a backyard poultry flock in the county next door diagnosed with H5N1.

Scanlon Daniels shares his experience with H5N1 in Texas.

(Jennifer Shike)

“We had a suspicion that it could have been influenza, because of what was going on with some of the detections in birds in that area,” Daniels says. “But from my standpoint, I was thinking about flu from all my experiences dealing with it in pigs, and it didn’t present as a primary respiratory pathogen. It presented as a mastitis pathogen. Once we knew to look for it in milk, it was super easy to find, but we had to get over that hurdle to be able to rapidly identify it.”

In the past 15 years, Daniels grew his practice to develop its own laboratory capabilities, conducting PCR and Elisa testing for swine, dairy and beef clients. This, combined with his involvement with H5N1 from before it was even identified as an issue in cattle, caused him to bring up an incredibly important question for the swine industry: Are you ready for H5N1?

Who is Steering the Ship?
To date, H5N1 has been discovered in one pig that was on a hobby farm with H5N1-infected poultry. Although this is considered an isolated incident and hasn’t been discovered in the commercial swine population, it needs to be on everyone’s radar, Daniels says.

Andrew Bowman, DVM, one of the country’s top swine influenza experts, joined The PORK Podcast during a special report on H5N1 last fall. A professor in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at The Ohio State University, he is well-known for his expertise in swine production medicine, veterinary public health and epidemiology.

“Across the swine industry, we routinely deal with influenza, so we’re pretty well versed in flu,” Bowman says. “But this adds a whole other character to the scene that we really don’t want reassorting with the flu viruses we already have.”

One of the things that makes H5N1 different than other new swine disease outbreaks is that the USDA has jurisdiction over H5 in any animal, so they have the regulatory authority, Daniels says.

“USDA had no rules or regulations around H5 in cattle, and we’re at the same place today in the swine industry,” Daniels adds. “If we were to find H5 in swine, USDA would have the authority and there are no rules or regulations around it.”

This has made the discovery of H5N1 in dairy cattle challenging in the past year, because it’s taken a long time for those regulations to be developed.

“There’s the state and federal aspect of that, where states have autonomy to set their own rules, and then federal rules can come in place that everybody has to abide by,” he points out. “There’s been this slowly evolving plan with a patchwork of regulations by different states. That’s been challenging to keep up with as a veterinarian and a producer.”

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has likely amplified concerns around influenza’s ability to be transmitted from humans to animals and from animals to humans.

“This has resulted in a high concern about influenza being the next COVID. Yes, that could happen. Today it hasn’t to that degree.”

Scanlon Daniels

People are fearful of government influence and interaction, he says.

“No one wanted to be first or second or third to get H5N1 in their dairy cattle – just like no one wanted to be first to get COVID-19. There was a reluctance to test because of the uncertainty of it,” Daniels explains. “People fear government overreach or regulations that wouldn’t be applied in a fair or equal way across the industry.”

The Stakes are High
Everybody has a stake in this issue, Daniels says. The challenge is that everybody comes to it with differing priorities regarding the issues at hand.

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners invited seven different groups that have the ability to provide vaccine to share about their technologies on a webinar. This gave avian and bovine veterinarians alike exposure to their vaccine technology.

“The hard part is getting everybody to agree on what needs to happen,” Daniels says.

But he believes the vaccine question is worth talking about.

“If it was just another influenza, we would have had a vaccine available in a couple weeks, honestly,” he says. “The government has the ability to authorize vaccine use under an emergency use exemption. For all the concerns that have been talked about with export markets, and how people might respond from a trade standpoint, they haven’t been willing to look at that. But if we could use vaccine on an experimental use basis, we would know a lot more by now about the value of that intervention.”

In a USDA update on March 20, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said USDA is exploring the viability of vaccinating poultry for highly pathogenic avian influenza. However, Rollins said the use of any vaccine for poultry or any animal species has not been authorized at this time.

“I know there has been some misreporting on that,” Rollins said. “The day we rolled out the plan, I actually talked about the fact that we’re not ready to vaccinate. We need to do some more research, and so that has not changed, but I do look forward to this next process of learning more about getting more research done and perhaps seeing what makes sense for the country moving forward, once that is concluded.”

Another concern on Daniels’ mind is the implication with human health. Influenza A viruses are common in people. They are constantly changing and reassorting.

“Influenza viruses exist and circulate in people all the time,” says National Pork Board chief veterinarian Dusty Oedekoven . “The threat of influenza virus infection is ever present. It’s why healthcare providers recommend people get annual influenza vaccines to prevent against new strains of the virus that are emerging all the time.”

Daniels says the unknown transmission opportunities between humans and animals, especially pigs, can be concerning.

“The transmission from people to pigs is a legitimate concern. As an industry, it might be worthwhile doing some serological surveillance.”

Scanlon Daniels

At a recent bovine practitioners meeting, they surveyed 150 veterinarians and found three of them have had prior exposure to H5N1, he says. Some of those had no contact with dairy or birds.

“It would probably be wise for us to do some serosurveillance to know if people working at hog farms have had some exposure and it hasn’t transmitted yet,” he points out.

For example, his lab had a lot of infected milk come through before they knew what it was.

“My staff had legitimate fears and concerns we had to address,” Daniels says. “Fortunately, we didn’t experience any illness or lost time outside of the normal. That could have been different. We can’t lose sight of the human aspect of it. I am a human, a swine vet and a beef producer, so I can understand several aspects of it from a balanced way.”

Hurdle By Hurdle
At the end of the day, the swine industry has a lot to learn from what the dairy industry experienced in the past year, he says.

“On one hand, we have advantages relative to bovine veterinarians because we have a strong background and applied experience in diagnostics and strong working relationships with state and federal animal health officials,” Daniels says. “We have a mindset of disease elimination when possible and strong integrated relationships with producers. The swine industry also has the ability to direct Pork Checkoff dollars toward research (the dairy industry does not).”

On the other hand, he says many of the factors that have caused consternation will continue to be problematic if HPAI is identified in swine. Studies need to be done looking at H5N1 in swine, he says. If a sow is infected, does it transmit to pigs? Can her pigs shed it to contact controls? How could the movement of wean pigs spread the disease?

He also wonders if pigs have some cross-protective immunity at this point because influenza is pretty much endemic in almost all swine populations. And, even though it presents in the mammary system in cows, he argues the swine industry could do some additional work in growing pigs, because it would be easier to deal with there than on a sow farm.

One of the biggest hurdles is that H5N1 is a select agent. Once samples are known to be positive for H5N1 antigen, there are many requirements related to storage, handling and testing that come into play. Space is limited to research H5N1 and Daniels is concerned at the delay in testing this virus in swine.

“Another challenge is H5N1 is of economic significance to dairy producers but has not been great enough to stimulate much independent industry action.”

Scanlon Daniels

For comparison, the relative economic impact of H5N1 in dairy is estimated to be approximately 10% that of a porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) outbreak in swine, he says.

“We have seen growing interest by veterinarians and producers in eliminating H1 and H3 influenza infections in swine, but the interest and adoption is less than what we see for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and PEDV,” Daniels says. “Would we see the same if H5N1 was identified in swine?”

He believes the swine industry still has an opportunity to develop the response to H5N1 in commercial swine before it occurs.

“It’s time to get some of these questions answered that are important to us,” Daniels says. “If it were to happen, we need to be prepared to address some of the risk factors, things that are real versus the fear of the unknown.”

Your Next Read: Influenza Expert Gets Real About the H5N1 Risk to Your Swine Herd

Editor’s Note: On March 12, APHIS confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H7N9 in a broiler chicken breeder flock in Mississippi. APHIS has previously documented H7 low pathogenicity avian influenza in U.S. wild bird surveillance this year and in previous years, but this is the first HPAI H7 case in commercial poultry in the U.S. since 2017. This H7N9 virus is a fully North American virus of wild bird-origin and is unrelated to the Eurasian H5N1 currently circulating in the U.S. Spillovers of avian influenza from wild bird sources can occur due to breaches in biosecurity. APHIS closely monitors these subtypes because H5 and H7 LPAI viruses in poultry species such as chickens and turkeys can mutate into highly pathogenic avian influenza.

More Funding Going to Tackle HPAI H5N1, Egg Imports are Now Underway to Stabilize Supply

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:41:08 GMT

On Thursday morning, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins gave an update on progress the Trump administration is making on the five-prong strategy it unveiled Feb. 26 to combat avian influenza virus type A (H5N1).

Speaking to industry stakeholders, media and offices of elected officials, Rollins focused on the administration’s work to lower egg prices and improve supply, while also emphasizing the importance of biosecurity in protecting U.S. poultry flocks from the virus.

Regarding egg prices, she said wholesale prices are down nearly 50% from their peak in late February from $8.53 then to $4.08 currently.

However, Rollins said she realizes that wholesale prices don’t automatically show up as reductions in retail prices.

“I know for some of us who are shopping that we’ve seen egg prices drop immediately, which has been true for me. But then we’ll hear from people in other parts of the country where they have yet to see that reduction on their grocery store shelf.”

With Easter just a few weeks away, she acknowledged that egg demand is always “unusually high during the season,” and that egg prices could potentially move back up.

To help address the egg shortage, Rollins noted that shell egg exports have declined by 8%, “keeping more eggs in the U.S. and lowering prices.”

In addition, the Trump administration is allowing egg imports as a temporary measure to stabilize prices and supply. Rollins’ chief of staff Kailee Buller said this measure would likely be discontinued once those measures were achieved.

USDA Focuses On Biosecurity For Poultry Operations
Rollins said biosecurity in poultry flocks will continue to be a major part of the Trump administration’s plan to address H5N1, moving forward.

“Our pilot programs have proven that biosecurity is the most important thing our farmers can do to protect our flocks against the disease, at least right now,” she said.

The USDA is working closely, she said, with its federal partners including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to “combat avian flu as a unified federal family.”

On Wednesday, USDA announced it is expanding the availability of its biosecurity assessments to commercial poultry producers.

“These assessments, which were previously available on a limited basis have been extremely successful in improving biosecurity on individual premises and preventing the introduction or spread of avian influenza,” Rollins said.

While USDA is exploring the viability of vaccinating poultry for H5N1, she said the use of any vaccine for poultry or any animal species has not been authorized at this time.

“I know there has been some misreporting on that,” Rollins said. “The day we rolled out the plan, I actually talked about the fact that we’re not ready to vaccinate. We need to do some more research, and so that has not changed, but I do look forward to this next process of learning more about getting more research done and perhaps seeing what makes sense for the country moving forward, once that is concluded.”

Dairy Is Not Part Of USDA’s Primary H5N1 Focus
No information was offered during the conference call to address the issue of H5N1 in dairy cattle or other livestock or animal species.

Mike Watson, administrator of USDA-APHIS, said right now USDA is focused on the poultry vaccine.

“We’re looking for a vaccine that has sterilizing immunity but also an opportunity for us to have different introduction methods for the vaccine right now, as injections are the only possibility,” he said. “We need new tools, whether it’s water based, aerosol based, those kind of things. We’re looking for manufacturers to really look at what those options might be, to really provide us with a vaccine that matches the current strain but also is highly effective. And again, this is really focused on poultry.”

Buller said there is already quite a bit of research at USDA on the topic in dairy.

“Please rest assured, we are thinking of you all (in dairy). We know you all are impacted. But for this particular strategy, we have been hyper-focused on the poultry side. USDA has separate work streams as we’re working through this on the cattle and dairy side.”

One of the media asked whether Sec. Rollins had talked further with HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding his idea of letting H5N1 burn through poultry flocks to identify birds that might have immunity or show resistance to the virus.

Buller answered the question, as Rollins had stepped away from the call. “I have not been engaged specifically with those conversations with the Secretary and Secretary Kennedy,” she said. “They are talking very regularly and you are aligned on the approach, but in terms of that specific topic, there’s no further light I can shed on that at this time.”

Assessments Available To Poultry Operations
USDA is offering two different, free, voluntary biosecurity assessments for poultry operations not currently affected by HPAI.

The first is a wildlife biosecurity assessment. The second is a general biosecurity assessment. Poultry producers can request one or both of these free assessments.

Per the wildlife biosecurity assessment, Rollins said USDA will conduct on-farm assessments at poultry facilities and provide recommendations to producers for facility repairs and wildlife management techniques. The assessments include a series of regular engagements, including wildlife hazard identification surveys, wildlife abundance surveys and wildlife management on the premises.

“USDA has assessed approximately 130 facilities to date (in 2025), and plans on doing significantly more moving forward and expanding that program,” she said.

For the general biosecurity assessment, USDA will work with poultry producers to review biosecurity plans and physical measures.

“This is a proactive resource for premises that are outside of avian flu control areas to identify and mitigate potential biosecurity gaps,” she said.

Funding Is Ramped Up To Address HPAI In Poultry
The USDA announced on Thursday that up to $100 million in funding will be available to support projects on avian influenza, prevention, therapeutics, vaccines and research.

“USDA will invest up to $100 million in these projects, which will identify and foster innovative solutions to fight avian flu and directly support American producers,” Rollins said during the conference call.

Funding is available through a competitive process to for-profit organizations, including manufacturers of vaccines, biologics and therapeutics, as well as states, universities, livestock producer organizations and other eligible entities, she noted.

USDA will prioritize one or more of the following. First, it will support the development of novel therapeutics to address HPAI in poultry. Second, it will support research to further understand the risk pathways of avian influenza for producers and to inform improved biosecurity and response strategies.

“Let me just say, as a quick aside, I’ve had multiples and multiples and multiples of conversations with some of our chicken farmers across the country —many of them have been highly successful at not having the bird flu infect their populations,” Rollins said. “Better understanding of risk pathways and realizing what best practices are is a big part of (this work).”

The third focus is on the development of novel vaccines to protect poultry from H5N1 while promoting biosecurity.

“That will all be part of the research funding opportunity that we announced about an hour and a half ago,” Rollins said.

USDA will test the efficacy of therapeutic interventions to prevent the virus and treat infected flocks.

“USDA, in consultation with HHS, has already had multiple conversations with Secretary Kennedy and leaders in the NIH and CDC, but will also be exploring prevention strategies to promote biosecurity in agriculture and in humans, to ensure limited impact on American farmers,” Rollins noted.

USDA is offering a webinar to assist interested applicants in learning more about the funding opportunity and how to submit a proposal on Tuesday, April 1 at 12 p.m. Eastern. No details on how to participate in the webinar have been communicated yet.

“As we try to do everything under this president and here at USDA, we will be as fast and efficient and effective as we can possibly be, working around the clock,” Rollins said.

Buller added that Sec. Rollins and her staff will continue to host update calls regularly.

“It’s very important to Sec. Rollins that we are showing progress on this five-prong plan and being honest and open with the public about what we’re up to and the progress and potential challenges that we have ahead,” Buller said. “We have an open door here, and we remain open to having conversations and hearing from stakeholders.”

Elanco Launches Pradalex for Treatment of Livestock Respiratory Diseases

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 03:35:58 GMT

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced the availability of Pradalex (pradofloxacin injection) for the treatment of swine respiratory disease (SRD) and bovine respiratory disease (BRD).

The first new molecule and injectable antibiotic treatment to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat BRD and SRD in roughly two decades, Pradalex offers livestock producers a new tool in the toolbox.

“SRD is the most prevalent cause of nursery and grow-finish pig deaths in the U.S. creating substantial production and economic losses for producers and accounting for additional annual costs of up to $5 per pig,” the company said in a release. “In the cattle industry, BRD — or ‘shipping fever’ — is one of the most frequent and costly stocker and feedlot diseases, affecting the health and wellbeing of animals and potentially costing producers $1 billion annually.”

Available in 100 mL and 250 mL volumes, Pradalex is indicated for the treatment of BRD and SRD and kills major BRD and SRD bacteria, including Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and Mycoplasma bovis in cattle and Bordetella bronchiseptica, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Glaesserella (Haemophilus) parasuis and Streptococcus suis in pigs.

“The launch of Pradalex further demonstrates Elanco’s commitment to bring new tools and innovations that help address some of our customers’ biggest challenges,” José Manuel Correia de Simas, executive vice president, U.S. farm animal at Elanco, said in a release. “Pradalex is a new molecule with a novel mode of action that treats respiratory diseases in beef and swine, strengthening our portfolio of solutions and providing veterinarians and producers with multiple choices to prevent and control respiratory challenges.”

The treatment is a convenient single-dose, low-volume antibiotic with “excellent syringeability and an industry-leading withdrawal period,” the company said in a release. Pradalex’s structural differences result in a dual targeting effect that yields improved potency compared to similar antibiotics, Elanco added.

Because Pradalex is rapidly absorbed and distributed at the injection site, it can reach a high and effective therapeutic concentration in plasma within 45 minutes of administration to cattle and a high maximum therapeutic concentration in cattle lung pulmonary epithelial lining fluid within six hours. The company explained this aids in the fast in-vitro elimination of bacteria and limits lung damage in both cattle and swine. Its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile reduces the time needed to select resistant bacteria, contributing to judicious antibiotic use , Elanco said.

“Pradalex combines a high plasma peak concentration reached very quickly with a unique mode of action, resulting in comprehensive coverage of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens,” Pat Hoffmann, Elanco swine technical consultant, said in a release. “It makes an exceptional option for a spot treatment injectable intervention.”

Pradalex is indicated for the treatment of:

SRD in weaned swine intended for harvest
BRD in beef cattle (calves two months of age and over, steers, heifers and bulls intended for slaughter and replacement heifers and bulls intended for breeding and less than one year of age)
BRD in dairy cattle (replacement heifers and bulls less than one year of age)

Pradalex should not be used in swine intended for breeding (boars intended for breeding, replacement gilts and sows intended for breeding) and in nursing piglets. Pradalex should also not be used in male and female cattle intended for breeding that are over one year of age, in calves under two months of age, or in veal calves.

“At Elanco, we focus on bringing producers a broad portfolio of solutions to support their disease prevention efforts, starting with vaccines and feed additives that optimize the health outcomes of calves,” Ronald Tessman, Elanco beef technical consultant, said in a release. “When antibiotics are necessary, Elanco has a full range to fit producers’ needs. Pradalex is our newest antibiotic and is truly different from any other product on the market, giving producers another valuable tool that can be used in an integrated approach to reducing losses due to BRD.”

Learn more at farmanimal.elanco.com/us/swine/product/pradalex and pradalexforcattle.com .

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Preventing a One Health Crisis: How Science is Informing New Policy

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:43:22 GMT

The current One Health crisis brought about by the challenge of viral diseases and the need to improve the level of biosecurity practiced across species has spurred the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to take a big step forward to protect animals.

On Jan. 10, the House of Delegates of the AVMA voted unanimously to approve a resolution entitled “Biosecurity.” This resolution, authored by Scott Dee, DVM, and sponsored by the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, is based on scientific research documenting the ability of an evidence-based biosecurity programs to control PRRSV infection across a large-scale pork production system for an extended period.

“Globally, herds, flocks, companion animals, and exotic wildlife populations are at risk of infection by multiple agents, including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and African swine fever virus (ASFV) in pigs, along with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infection in multiple avian and mammalian species, resulting in a documented spillover into humans,” explains Dee. “Therefore, to protect the health and welfare of all that are at risk, veterinarians must practice biosecurity that is science-based, as historically, the practice of animal biosecurity has been long on marketing and short on science, resulting in mixed messages to animal owners and the public.”

Dee says the research not only proved the efficacy of science-based biosecurity, but also raised the question of how this new information could be leveraged beyond pigs and PRRSV for the benefit of “ all people short and tall, and all creatures great and small.”

Approval of the resolution led to an AVMA policy on biosecurity, as follows:

• Diseases of animals can be transmitted in many ways, including direct and indirect oral, airborne, and vector borne routes of transmission.

• Because of these many risks, prevention of disease transmission through the practice of biosecurity is critical to protecting the health and welfare of all species.

• To be effective, biosecurity programs should be, based on scientific evidence and current best practice(s) as applicable.

• The AVMA supports the protection of the health and welfare of animals through the practice of science-based biosecurity and encourages its members to become familiar with this approach.

“Since an AVMA policy on biosecurity did not previously exist, this was a logical first step to take,” Dee says. “As mentioned in the policy, all veterinarians across all species should become familiar with the science of biosecurity, follow an evidence-based approach to practice it in the field, and strive to bring answers to existing questions.”

Using scientific information from pivotal publications to write policy for the benefit of the profession is a novel approach when dealing with critical matters that affect animal and human health, Dee explains. Read more from the AVMA meeting here.

NPPC Raises Concern on USDA's Proposed Salmonella Regulation

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 18:50:58 GMT

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) recently raised concerns about the scientific validity and practicality of reaching the goal of protecting public health through the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) proposed “Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products.”

Under the regulation, FSIS would classify certain Salmonella levels and serotypes in raw poultry products as adulterants and, therefore, prohibit them from entering the food supply, NPPC explained in Capital Update.

Additionally, poultry slaughter operations would need to include in their procedures for addressing enteric diseases, such as Salmonella, microbial monitoring programs with statistical process control methods and specific sampling methods. NPPC said that the agency is proposing changes to its existing prevalence-based performance standards approach to Salmonella despite acknowledging that it “has been effective in reducing the proportion of poultry products contaminated with Salmonella.”

NPPC pointed out in its comments that to reduce illnesses, risk-based performance standards will incentivize establishments to evaluate their status by conducting Salmonella quantification testing.

“An adulterated determination can result in unintended consequences, such as food waste of safe products, and will not help protect public health,” the organization said. “NPPC also noted that because Salmonella isn’t an ‘added’ substance – it occurs naturally – it doesn’t meet the statutory definition of an adulterant, and that case law does not support Salmonella being classified as such.”

The microbiological testing FSIS is proposing involves a small portion of product, NPPC said, so it is not representative of all products. NPPC believes such testing should be used only for verification. The organization also cautioned FSIS about requiring the use of risk assessments that rely on serotypes to determine the bacterium’s virulence. Other factors, including handling, preparation, and infectious dose, also play a role in causing Salmonella illnesses.

“Consumer health and safety is at the forefront of the pork industry’s practices,” NPPC wrote. “Although the proposed rule is focused on raw poultry products, NPPC acknowledges the importance of food safety and taking a scientific approach to protect our nation’s food. Salmonella continues to be a high priority for the pork industry, as producers and processors implement strategies and look for improved ways to address the bacterium. The pork industry will continue its collaborative efforts with FSIS to deal with Salmonella through informed policy.”

Your Next Read: Unapproved Use of Aspirin in Dairy Cattle Prompts Reminder for Pork Industry

Unapproved Use of Aspirin in Dairy Cattle Prompts Reminder for Pork Industry

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 18:00:52 GMT

The increased use of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to treat pyrexia and pain in dairy cattle infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 prompted FDA to issue a warning to producers and veterinarians in October. Previously, FDA had stated that aspirin use was of low regulatory concern. However, due to its increased use because of H5N1, FDA has shifted its stance.

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration understands that veterinarians and dairy farmers may be treating lactating dairy cattle for pyrexia and pain with aspirin and wants to clarify that there are no FDA-approved aspirin products for use in cattle,” FDA said in a letter to veterinarians . “There are FDA-approved products for controlling pyrexia and pain in lactating dairy cattle that are safe, effective, and have established milk and meat withdrawal periods.”

How Does This Affect the U.S. Swine Industry?
The same regulations that guide the use of aspirin in dairy cattle also guide its use in swine, reminded Locke Karriker, DVM, professor at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) president-elect, in a recent Swine Health Information Center/AASV webinar.

“Currently, those regulations mean that there is no legal pathway to use aspirin in swine and it should be avoided,” Karriker says.

Under the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA), veterinarians may use only FDA-approved human or animal drug in food-producing species under specific conditions in an extra-label manner. The extra-label use of unapproved drugs in food-producing species is prohibited.

All FDA-approved animal products are required to carry one of the following statements on the label:

“Approved by FDA under NADA # XXX-XXX” (for brand name animal drugs), or
“Approved by FDA under ANADA # XXX-XXX” (for generic animal drugs).

With no legal pathway to use true aspirin in swine, experts are looking into other potential treatments and other nonsteroidals and how they may be evaluated.

“The industry, veterinarians and university-based clinical scientists are working to develop alternatives to aspirin use while exploring the development of products that contain aspirin and conform to regulatory requirements,” Karriker says. “This includes cooperation among the professional veterinary organizations for bovine, poultry and swine medicine as well as dialog with the FDA directly.”

Dusty Oedekoven, DVM, chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board, says this situation is a good example why involvement of a licensed, accredited veterinarian is important in providing timely care for animals while ensuring regulatory compliance and food safety.

“My recommendation to producers is to consult with your herd veterinarian regarding the use of any animal health products, including aspirin products (acetylsalicylic acid),” Oedekoven says.

Karriker adds that depending on the case context and clinical signs, there may be several options that do have a legal status.

Learn more here from this list of resources compiled by AASV:

Extra-label Drug Use (AMDUCA)

FDA AMDUCA website — Resource information from the FDA regarding AMDUCA.

AMDUCA and Extra-label Drug Use in Swine — A brochure providing an algorithm for the use of drugs in an extra-label manner and describing additional restrictions for the extra-label use of cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones.

AVMA: Extralabel Drug Use (ELDU) Algorithm — An online algorithm.

AMDUCA Revisited — JSHAP article describing AMDUCA in swine medicine.

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New Study Says Domestic Cats Need To Be Evaluated More For HPAI H5N1 Implications

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 21:07:11 GMT

Dairy cattle have garnered most of the agriculture industry’s attention in the past year, with regard to outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1.

Now, some researchers are turning their attention to other animals on the farm impacted by the virus: cats.

A new study published Monday in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infection addresses how domestic cats are affected by the virus and notes concerns such felines could offer the potential for HPAI H5N1 to evolve into a more dangerous version of the virus.

The study – which addresses the deaths of 10 cats in rural South Dakota last April – is not the first time researchers have raised concerns about the virus in cats and the potential for transmission to other mammals.

‘Urgent Need For Surveillance’
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Public Health said in June 2024 that a “20-year review of bird flu in felines suggests urgent need for domestic cat surveillance.”

Kristen Coleman, an assistant professor in the UMD School of Public Health, and an affiliate professor in the University of Maryland Department of Veterinary Medicine, said, “As companion animals, domestic cats provide a potential pathway for avian influenza viruses to spillover into humans.” (Researcher Warns Pet Cats Risk Getting Bird Flu)

“We looked at the global distribution and spread of bird flu infections in feline species between 2004 and 2024 and found a drastic rise in reports of feline infections starting in 2023, with a spike in infections reported among domestic cats, as opposed to wild or zoo-kept animals,” added Coleman, who was not involved in the South Dakota study.

There is no study that shows transmission occurs from HPAI H5N1-infected cats to humans. Furthermore, current research shows HPAI H5N1 does not readily spread among humans, though studies have noted one or two key mutations could change that fact.

The virus often does take a deadly toll on felines. According to the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health , infected domestic cats have a mortality rate of up to 67%.

Last week, the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Health Diagnostic Center published directions online for veterinarians testing cats for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) .

AVMA Weighs In
“Dozens of cats are known to have contracted the virus, including barn and feral cats, indoor cats, and big cats in zoos and in the wild (e.g., mountain lions, tigers, leopards, and bobcats),” according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). “Cats were already known to be susceptible to the H5N1 virus, with several feline cases linked to poultry or wild bird exposure before the cattle outbreak began,” AVMA said.

See Avian influenza A (H5N1) in cats for the Association’s recommended practices for dealing with any suspected of being infected by the virus.

‘A Possible Link’ To Local Cattle
The study published on Monday said virus-infected birds could have played a role in the South Dakota felines’ demise.

In addition, the report said: “The exact source of infection remains unclear; however, phylogenetic analysis of H5N1 sequences from two of the cats reveals a close genetic relationship to clade 2.3.4.4b strains previously detected in local cattle, suggesting a possible link.

“Additionally, the presence of bird feathers near the deceased cats indicates the likelihood that infection may have occurred through the consumption of virus-infected birds. However, because the disease typically requires several days to manifest post-ingestion, the exact timing of exposure is unclear. This evidence points toward a plausible cattle-to-bird-to-cat transmission pathway, supported by recent studies that identified H5N1 sequences across multiple species on affected farms, including dairy cows, wild birds, domestic cats, and raccoons.”

Many Mammal Species Impacted
According to USDA-APHIS, more than 200 mammal species in the U.S. have been infected by the virus since 2022.

Along with cows and cats, other U.S. mammals infected with the virus include a bottlenose dolphin, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, skunks, harbor and grey seals, opossums, squirrels, minks, otters, black bears, brown bears, polar bears, and a single pig on a backyard farm in Oregon, confirmed in late October.

The CDC encourages veterinarians and other individuals working with cats or other mammals that are suspected or confirmed positive for HPAI H5N1 to take precautions to prevent potential unprotected exposures.

The agency offers additional direction here: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Animals: Interim Recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring, and Public Health Investigations .

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I'm Going Into 2025 With Increased Concerns About HPAI H5N1

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 15:14:49 GMT

As we leave 2024 behind and start the New Year, the U.S. needs to step up its efforts to stop the spread of HPAI H5N1 — for all our sakes.

Based on the official numbers of virus cases reported in the dairy industry and beyond, in poultry and wildlife, it doesn’t appear we are moving fast enough individually or collectively to rein in this virus.

I’m trying to tread lightly on this topic, but candidly, I’m afraid.

The Impact On People

I’m very concerned about what this virus has the potential to do to human beings — our dairy farmers, farm workers, veterinarians — and, yes, the rest of us.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the “current risk to individual and population health remains low in the U.S.,” that statement is less reassuring to me as time marches on and the virus spreads.

As of Dec. 30, 2024, the CDC has confirmed “only” 66 cases of the virus in people. See H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation.

That number is likely very low, based on what veterinarians have told me since March 25, 2024, when the virus was first confirmed in dairy cattle.

More importantly, consider what scientists are saying.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reported on Dec. 30 that “the virus strain found in dairy cows in the U.S. may only need one mutation for it to be able to spread among humans, according to a study published in the journal Science in early December.”

Dr. Les Sims, a veterinary consultant who has worked internationally for over 30 years on the prevention and control of major infectious diseases of food-producing animals, warns in the article: “The longer this virus circulates unchecked, the higher the likelihood it will acquire the mutations needed to cause a pandemic. We need to act urgently to prevent this scenario.”

The AVMA’s complete article is available here:
Novel bird flu strain continues to threaten animal, public health

Virologists Share Their Perspectives
Another insightful article is The state of H5N1 infections and research as 2025 approaches, posted on Dec. 24 by Chemical & Engineering News. It notes:

“As more cows get infected with H5N1 bird flu, and more people get exposed to infected animals, there’s increased opportunity for the virus to evolve into a version that’s more capable of spreading between people,” says Ed Hutchinson, a virologist at the University of Glasgow. “The process could result in the virus accumulating mutations that allow for better replication and transmission, including between people.”

“Virologists are also concerned about a situation where a person simultaneously gets infected with H5N1 and human influenza virus H3N2 or H1N1, each of which is currently circulating as flu activity gains pace . But it’s hard to predict whether genetic reassortment between those viruses would create a version of H5N1 that’s more adept at spreading in humans,” says Richard Webby, an influenza virologist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in the Chemical & Engineering News article.

Consider what one physician told NBC News Science Reporter Evan Bush on Dec. 23:

“The traffic light is changing from green to amber,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who studies infectious diseases. “So many signs are going in the wrong direction.”

See Bird flu warning signs are going in the wrong direction

Impacts In Dairy, Poultry, Wildlife
The virus continues to spread in the dairy industry, and it’s alarming the toll it’s already taken in domestic poultry and wildlife. In summary:

In Dairy: On March 25, 2024, the USDA, CDC and FDA made their official confirmation of the virus in dairy herds in two states, Texas and Kansas. A short nine months later, on Dec. 30, 2024, we officially had 913 herds affected in 16 states, according to the CDC. See Domestic Summary.

In Poultry: the USDA says HPAI H5N1 outbreaks in poultry have been detected in all 50 states —1,324 commercial flocks and 729 backyard flocks—resulting in the depopulation of more than 125 million turkeys and chickens. See the Full Report .

In Wildlife: The virus has affected more than 200 wildlife species across the U.S. See Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Mammals.

Do What You Can
I don’t want to experience “another Covid” or a virus that could be even worse. I’m sure no one else does, either.

We must act individually and collectively to stem the spread of HPAI H5N1.

Please don’t “kick the can” on down the road and expect someone else to do your part. Take the steps you can to help, however small they might be.
That’s what I’m trying to do, too.

HPAI H5N1 is Content Focus of Special Issue

A Message to the Ag Industry about H5N1

California Issues State of Emergency Warning in Response to More Bird Flu Found on Dairies

New Zealand Reports First Case of HPAI

USDA Reports First H5N1 Detection in Swine

Navigating HPAI: Supporting Producers and Safeguarding Cows

What The Trump Administration's Mass Deportation Plans Could Mean for Agriculture

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:39:39 GMT

Farmers and food industry leaders are warning that President-elect Donad Trump’s plans to deport millions of immigrants could devastate agriculture — an industry in which immigrants make up a good chunk of the workforce.

Nearly half of all farmworkers are undocumented, and industries such as dairy and meatpacking plants are especially vulnerable to labor shortages.

“Admittedly, there are some people who slip through,” says Scott VanderWal, vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “Perspective employers are required to take documentation that appears to be legal and valid. There are times when that’s not the case and then ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] comes in and cleans house, the workers disappear and go wherever they take them and the employers are left without help.”

While the H-2A visa program has grown, it only covers seasonal work and cannot replace year-round jobs at meat processing plants and on dairy and pork farms.

“Our packing plants need labor. Many of our farms use temporary visa labor — educated, skilled individuals work on our sow farms,” says Lori Stevemer, president of the National Pork Producers Council. “We have been experiencing an increased number of denials over the past year, which really makes it a challenge to find workers. The H-2A visa doesn’t work well when we have animals that need care 24/7, year-round.”

Experts say mass deportations would disrupt food production, raise prices and jeopardize the stability of U.S. agriculture.

Deportation falls under the Department of Homeland Security. President-elect Trump has selected South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem to lead that agency.

“With Governor Noem at the helm, she’s going to bring common sense to that discussion and make sure we don’t close businesses, make sure we get everyone in line, get the workforce in line and then make sure we’re following our country’s rules,” says Hunter Roberts, secretary of South Dakota’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Meanwhile, farm groups continue to urge for reforms to immigration policies or a guest worker program to secure a stable workforce.

“At the same time as controlling the border, we need to overhaul our labor system,” VanderWal says. “We need to make H-2A apply to your own workers or come up with a decent program that will help.”

We need some type of H-2A visa reform to allow those workers to stay year-round, Stevemer adds.

Even then immigration is likely to continue to be a political hot potato in 2025, and labor shortages will continue to top the list of challenges for agriculture.

Texas Tech Veterinarian Weighs In On New World Screwworm

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 13:26:40 GMT

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has heightened import restrictions on animal products from Mexico since detection of New World Screwworm in a Mexican cow on Nov. 22. It has also intensified efforts in Central America to contain the spread of New World screwworm. Animal health experts say it’s warranted as it’s a significant threat to U.S. animal health.

“It can have a huge impact, certainly an economic impact, because it decreases the health and wellness of our livestock,” says Jennifer Koziol, associate professor of food animal medicine and surgery, Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. “We’re thinking about loss of animal use, and certainly thinking about our wildlife populations that could be decimated by this disease.”

The pest can infest any warm-blooded animal, including humans.

“The screwworm fly lies its eggs in an open wound on the animal,” Koziol says. “These larvae or worms just eat the flesh of that animal. It can be devastating to any animal that becomes infected with screwworm.”

Koziol advises producers to monitor herds, especially in the southern U.S., and use preventative measures, including sterile fly introduction or animal health products.

“It looks like Doramectin has about a 28-day efficacy period against this,” she adds. “Ivermectin is similar. We’re looking at those products and how we can use them as an aid in preventing disease.”

According to APHIS, it appears this case is isolated, which leaves the cattle industry asking when will the border restrictions ease for Mexican cattle and product imports.

Koziol says the border could likely open after Christmas or around the first of January.

“We’re working really hard to set up some pre-export pens that APHIS will go in and OK and feeling very good about the protocols set in place,” she adds.

Impact on Cattle Prices
Market analysts say when the border reopens it might hurt cattle prices in the South more than the North.

“They could break a little bit, but I think the reality of the deal is it looks like there’s enough people out there who believe that ownership is the key when it comes to having some cattle around them as tight supplies are very, very tight of yearling-type steers,” says Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek. “That’s going to still put a prop underneath the thing because the cash index is so strong.”

The price impact will likely be short lived.

Read more: New World Screwworm: Latest Update from USDA-APHIS

APHIS Increases Import Restrictions on Animal Products from Mexico on Confirmed Case of New World Screwworm

USDA Reports First H5N1 Detection in Swine

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:05:00 GMT

USDA announced on Oct. 30 the first reported case of H5N1 in a pig in an Oregon backyard farm. It’s important to note there is no concern about the safety of the nation’s pork supply as a result of this finding, USDA said. This farm is a non-commercial operation, and the animals were not intended for the commercial food supply.

“The confirmed case in Oregon poses no threat to consumer health or food safety; properly handled and cooked pork products remain safe for consumption,” Bryan Humphreys, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) CEO said in a statement. “The entire pork industry remains committed to safeguarding food safety and human and animal health.”

The case was discovered on a backyard farm that includes a mix of poultry and livestock, including swine. The Oregon Department of Agriculture announced on Friday, Oct. 25, that poultry on this farm represented the first H5N1 detection in Crook County, Oregon. On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories also confirmed one of the farm’s five pigs to be infected with H5N1, marking the first detection of H5N1 in swine in the U.S., USDA reports.  

“The livestock and poultry on this farm shared water sources, housing, and equipment; in other states, this combination has enabled transmission between species. Although the swine did not display signs of illness, the Oregon Department of Health and USDA tested the five swine for H5N1 out of an abundance of caution and because of the presence of H5N1 in other animals on the premises,” USDA wrote.

The swine were euthanized to facilitate additional diagnostic analysis. Although test results were negative for two of the pigs, and test results are still pending for two others.  
The farm has been quarantined to prevent further spread of the virus. Other animals on the farm include sheep and goats that remain under surveillance.  

“USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has conducted genomic sequencing of virus from the poultry infected on this farm, and that sequencing has not identified any changes to the H5N1 virus that would suggest to USDA and CDC that it is more transmissible to humans, indicating that the current risk to the public remains low,” USDA wrote.

H5N1 detections include viral genome sequencing to provide additional information of interest to medical professionals and the research community to improve understanding of the virus. Genetic sequencing for these samples is underway, but results may be inconclusive due to low viral levels in the samples, USDA said.   

Pork Producers Practice Biosecurity to Protect Pigs
Biosecurity is critical to eradicating H5N1 and other viruses. Not only does biosecurity protect the health of livestock, but it also protects the health of farmworkers and their families. For more information on protecting farmworkers, visit the CDC’s website .
___________________________________________________________________________
10 Powerful Take Homes to Enhance Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm
___________________________________________________________________________

The pork industry has worked alongside USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) since 2009 to carry out the swine influenza surveillance program to identify influenza viruses circulating in swine, proactively detect reassortment viruses that could impact public health, and gain knowledge to contribute to improved animal health diagnostics and vaccines, NPPC pointed out in a statement.

“Pork producers have always been proactive and diligent about implementing biosecurity plans as part of their daily production practices to assure animals wellbeing and food safety,” Lori Stevermer, NPPC president and Minnesota pork producer said. “This detection serves as a reminder for producers of all sizes to understand and address influenza virus risks.”

What’s Next?
USDA recently approved two vaccine field safety trials for vaccine candidates designed to protect dairy cows from H5N1, and continues to explore vaccine options for other species.   As USDA takes additional steps to protect the health of livestock, it will continue to work closely with CDC to protect the health of people and FDA to protect the safety of the food supply.

“These collective, collaborative efforts have helped protect farmworkers and farmers, the health and welfare of livestock animals, and reaffirmed the safety of the nation’s food supply. The U.S. government remains committed to addressing this situation with urgency,” USDA said.

Learn more about USDA’s response to HPAI in dairy cattle.

The situation is being monitored by local public health officials, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon State Veterinarian, Oregon Department of Agriculture, as well as USDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.   

Read More:
Get the Facts Straight on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Animal Health Experts Open Up About Future Disease Preparedness
How the Swine Industry Responded to H5N1 Outbreak in Dairy Cattle
A Message to the Ag Industry about H5N1

Professional Wellness Takes Center Stage for Veterinarians

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:12:08 GMT

Stress: It’s a factor in most professions, but particularly for veterinarians and especially for those just beginning their careers. The more it’s talked about, the better able veterinarians will be to cope with it. On Saturday, the AAVLD Plenary Session, taking place during the joint meeting of the U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) and the American Association of Veterinary Diagnosticians (AAVLD), addressed the topic of stress.

Michele Pich, President and Founder of Sundog Research and Support LLC, explains some of the factors that make the veterinary profession stressful:

Veterinarians are driven to perfection – they may have never failed at anything before
Long hours: 12-hour days, working holidays, working weekends and overnight work are typical within the profession
Never-ending flow of samples to test
Difficult losses: compassion fatigue is a common problem for veterinarians
Difficult work or home environment
Intergenerational/personality difficulties
Emotional toil
Burnout

“Everything is interconnected,” Pich says. “We don’t live in a vacuum. One case can trigger emotions and memories from many years ago.”

Moral Distress
Stress can be caused by “moral distress” too, Pich says. It’s “that experience of knowing the right thing to do but being in a situation where it might be impossible to do it,” Andrew Jameton explained in 1984. Pich notes it can mean knowing options are available for treatment; but, people choose not to or can’t afford the treatments needed.

To make matters worse, a survey of 900 veterinarians that Pich performed with her staff showed that 79% of those surveyed reported no training in self-care; and 71% of veterinarians reported no training in conflict resolution.

Awareness and Change
Pich says there are nine dimensions to wellness: occupational, intellectual, spiritual, social, emotional, physical, financial, creative, and environmental. Not all areas will be in harmony all the time, but it’s a matter of learning how to cope with stress.

“Change what you can, and don’t let the rest consume you,” Pich says. She suggests developing and following these 10 habits:

Have regularly scheduled discussions about how to make the workplace better
Eat healthy and drink lots of water
Exercise regularly
Be kind to yourself
Enhance your awareness with education
Understand that those close to you may not be there when you need them most
Exchange information and feelings with people who can validate you
Clarify your personal boundaries: with clients, coworkers, etc.
Express your needs verbally (saying it to yourself is not the same as saying it out loud)
Take positive action to change your environment

(Source: www.healthycaregiving.com and www.compassionfatigue.org )

Industry Takes Action
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) listened to its members and in 2010, passed the following resolution: “The AVMA recognizes the benefits of pet loss support helplines and groups for pet owners, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students, and faculty at colleges of veterinary medicine and veterinary technology and lay employees of vet practices and encourages their responsible establishment.” (AVMA, 2010).

Since that time, the AVMA has created an entire section on its website to assist veterinarians with wellbeing, including a self-help assessment tool.

Editor’s Note: For more information, contact the Michele Pich at SundogRSLLC@gmail.com

Why We Need to Reinvent Veterinary Care Now

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 13:50:38 GMT

What does veterinary care look like in the 21st Century? That question drove hours of conversation during the 21st Century Animal Health Symposium at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Ill.

A group of more than 125 veterinarians, animal health industry leaders and academia gathered to discuss the future of the veterinary profession on Oct. 27.

“I think our challenge is to reinvent how we deliver veterinary care. And care is about people, too. It’s about the receiver of care and the giver of care,” explained Jim Lowe, DVM, associate dean of Online Programs and Extension at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine .

Labor productivity is often a measure of economic success, he said.

“Veterinary productivity (care per vet hour) has not advanced at the same rate as the demand for care, which has led to overworked, frustrated veterinarians,” Lowe said.

Until the productivity gap is solved, he believes the industry will continue to see challenges around employee dissatisfaction and burnout.

“We have young vets being paid a tremendous amount of money when they graduate and they are still not satisfied,” he said. “We have to change some fundamental things around this.”

The Paradox

Adoption of medical technologies has resulted in better patient care creating more work, leading to increased professional dissatisfaction.

“Technologies have improved quality of care, but they often increase the workload required to manage each case,” Lowe said. “It’s much better for the patient, but we are killing the person delivering the care.”

That’s why a group of thought leaders are coming together to develop the Center for Veterinary Innovation.

“Meat production systems must continue to improve quality of animal care consistent with consumer expectations,” said Bradley Wolter, president of Windy Hill Meadows, LLC, and conference attendee. “The veterinary profession must take a leadership role in that objective as experts on the system. A center that creates an environment for supporting the profession with the capability of today’s technology will catalyze that role into becoming impactful.”

Lowe hopes the center can increase access to veterinary care and promote the sustainability of the veterinary profession by increasing the amount of care a veterinarian can provide while reducing the effort to provide that care.

“We have to figure out how do we – in this commodity market – create value for the animal owners and veterinarians,” he said. “I’m terrified we won’t have veterinarians in certain parts of the country in the future because no one wants to move there. How can we provide better access to care?”

Here’s the Ask

The model Lowe proposes will bring university, profession and industry together to solve problems.

“We think the University of Illinois can be a resource for the state with integration of technology, technology improvement, primary development, communication and education, combined with profession leaders to help articulate needs and share how they use new technology and industry to provide ideas, solutions and commercialization,” Lowe said.

They plan to build a new facility within the Round Barn Complex on the U of I campus to foster collaboration, creative thinking, problem solving and education to house the Center for Veterinary Innovation.

“We are putting a facility back in a spot that really started because of Extension,” he added.

So, what is the ask? Lowe is looking for people to join their journey to reinvigorate land-grant roots to address 21st century problems to improve how the veterinary industry delivers care, improves the sustainability of the profession and ultimately, the wellbeing of the animals.

Micah Jansen, DVM, Managing, Pork Technical Services Veterinarian at Zoetis, attended the conference and said it challenged her to think more deeply about how the industry can challenge itself to embrace technology to drive change in veterinary care.

“It’s not only about improving the actual care being delivered,” Jansen said. “It’s looking out for those veterinarians delivering the care so that they are engaged in their role.”

Midwest Veterinary Supply Forfeits Over $10M for Misbranded Drugs

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:49:39 GMT

A Minnesota-based company that supplies prescription drugs for animals to veterinarians, farms, feedlots and other businesses, Midwest Veterinary Supply (Midwest), has pled guilty to introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce and has agreed to pay more than $10 million in criminal fines and forfeiture, reports the United States Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Virginia.

“The FDA regulates animal drugs as part of its mission to protect the public health. Part of this responsibility includes ensuring that prescription animal drugs are lawfully distributed and dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription,” says Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis at the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ Metro Washington Field Office, in the report .

Court documents explain the company shipped prescription drugs from their non-pharmacy locations throughout the U.S. to end-users that were not authorized to receive prescription drugs, deeming the shipments misbranded from 2011 to 2021. Over the ten-year span, the company shipped at least $10,150,014 worth of misbranded drugs.

The law is designed, in part, to ensure that prescription drugs are kept within a controlled chain of distribution to prevent diversion and inappropriate use, says the report.

As part of the plea agreement, Midwest will forfeit the $10,150,014 of misbranded drug income and serve between one- and three-years’ probation. Additionally, the company will pay $1 million to the Virginia Department of Health Professions and a $500,000 fine.

74-Year-Old Veterinarian Offers to Give Away his Practice to Attract Replacement

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 17:42:59 GMT

A rural veterinarian in Faribault County, Minn., is offering to give away his practice, clinic, pickup and even the vet clinic cat, in an effort to recruit his replacement.

At age 74, Robert Bogan, DVM, can’t bear the thought of leaving his county without a veterinarian. Faribault County covers 220 square miles, includes 14,000 people and one veterinarian.

He told KARE 11 News that he hopes his offer will help bring in a veterinarian to handle those emergency calls that have the community deeply concerned about not having a veterinarian close by.

City administrator Mary Kennedy said she has never heard of anyone giving their business away. Bogan knows this is true, but he insists he is ready to sign over the deed to his Blue Earth clinic and everything inside but the pharmaceuticals.

A Challenging Road
Bill Rosenau, a Faribault County farmer and banker, told KARE that he’s been part of a group that’s been working for years to bring in a new veterinarian to the county. In fact, their efforts helped the county secure a spot in a federal program that could forgive, for their next vet, up to a $150,000 in college debt for a six-year commitment.

Rosenau said it’s been harder than anyone expected to draw a veterinarian to their rural community.

The problem is not unique to Faribault County. Many areas in rural America are struggling to find veterinarians, as vet school graduates are lured to more lucrative urban and suburban clinics.

In June, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced bipartisan legislation to address the shortfall of veterinarians in rural areas. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) Enhancement Act is designed to meet the growing demand for veterinarians nationwide by eliminating taxes on programs that encourage veterinarians to practice in underserved areas.

“Veterinarians provide essential support for the agricultural economy in so many rural areas and small towns in Michigan and nationwide,” Stabenow said in a press release. “But too many places lack the veterinary services they need. This bipartisan bill will provide incentives for veterinarians to practice in underserved areas, where quality veterinary care is needed to ensure healthy livestock and a safe food supply.”

Finding qualified veterinarians in agricultural communities is key to maintain animal health and welfare, Crapo said in a release.

A Glimmer of Hope
After five years of searching, Fairbault County has a glimmer of hope, KARE reports. Leyton Becker recently finished his freshman year at the University of Minnesota vet school and is interning with Bogan this summer. His salary is being paid by hopeful area business owners.

Becker grew up on a hog farm 20 miles from Bogan’s clinic. Not only does he know the area, he understands what the job requires.

However, Becker has three more years of vet school to complete, at which time Bogan would be 77, KARE reports. But the beloved veterinarian says he is willing to wait if his health holds up.

Read More:

Lawmakers Address Shortfall of Veterinarians in Rural Areas

Grandma’s Still Got It: 92-Year-Old Pig Showman Gets Back in the Ring

How Could PRRS 1-4-4 1C Sneak into Your Herd?

Vaccine Could Provide Cattle GHG Solution

Oh Baby: A Dairy Cow Birthing Center Spectacle

Consider Early Pregnancy Checking Beef Cattle During Drought

Professional Wellness Takes Center Stage for Veterinarians

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:08:04 GMT

Veterinarians are driven to perfection – they may have never failed at anything before
Long hours: 12-hour days, working holidays, working weekends and overnight work are typical within the profession
Never-ending flow of samples to test
Difficult losses: compassion fatigue is a common problem for veterinarians
Difficult work or home environment
Intergenerational/personality difficulties
Emotional toil
Burnout

Have regularly scheduled discussions about how to make the workplace better
Eat healthy and drink lots of water
Exercise regularly
Be kind to yourself
Enhance your awareness with education
Understand that those close to you may not be there when you need them most
Exchange information and feelings with people who can validate you
Clarify your personal boundaries: with clients, coworkers, etc.
Express your needs verbally (saying it to yourself is not the same as saying it out loud)
Take positive action to change your environment

USDA/CVB Issues Notice on Senecavirus A in Biological Products

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 04:36:17 GMT

The USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) recently issued CVB Notice 18-05 Detection of Senecavirus A (SVA) in Veterinary Biological Products to warn of potential contamination of swine vaccines.

According to CVB, Senecavirus A (SVA) is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family Picornaviridae that causes blister-like lesions on the mouth, snout, and hooves in susceptible swine.

These lesions, they note, are clinically indistinguishable from those caused by exotic agents including foot-and-mouth disease, swine vesicular disease, vesicular stomatitis, and swine vesicular exanthema. This virus was uncommon in the U.S. prior to 2015, but has become more prevalent since then, and is found as a contaminant in porcine trypsin and serum.

The CVB intends its notice to help ensure that veterinary biological product manufacturers who use ingredients of animal origin derived from swine are aware of the issue and can prevent the use of material that does not meet acceptable standards for purity and quality in the manufacturing process.

The CVB is now testing all Master Seeds and Master Cell Stocks that have been produced using ingredients derived from swine for the presence of SVA.

Access the CVB notice for more information.