Weekly Livestock-Equine News: September 14, 2026

Researchers suggest methods to prevent Alpha-gal syndrome

Researchers identified several allergen-specific monoclonal antibodies that could block the body’s allergic reaction to alpha-gal, a molecule found in cows and pigs that can lead to a life-threatening allergic reaction among people who have experienced a tick bite. The researchers were from National Institutes of Health, University of North Carolina and the Mali Internal Center of Excellence in Research.

Private company to assume field veterinary services in Canadian province

Starting April 1, 2027, Carleton AgriSolutions – an agricultural supply and seed wholesale company in Hartland, New Brunswick – has agreed to be the provider of field veterinary services for the province, after New Brunswick announced this spring it would end provincial veterinary services due to budget deficits. Carleton will offer services for dairy and meat cattle, poultry, pigs, sheep, goats and horses. As services move to the private sector, animal owners are prepared to pay more, said Danielle Connell, president of the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick.

Wisconsin drops below 5,000 dairy herds, reflecting decades-long nationwide trend

As of Aug. 1, Wisconsin counted 4,991 dairy operations, down from 5,222 a year earlier and 5,470 two years ago. It’s a reflection of the steady decline across the entire U.S. dairy industry. In 1960, the USDA recorded 95,000 herds nationwide; in 1980, 44,000; in 2000, 19,232; and in 2024, 5,470.

Fighting HPAI among poultry involves planning, infrastructure, financial risk: British study

Strengthening resilience to avian influenza among poultry flocks will require action beyond individual farms, according to research from Great Britain’s Royal Veterinary College. Decisions about where new poultry developments are located, how existing facilities are upgraded and how disease risk is managed will become increasingly important for maintaining a resilient and sustainable poultry sector. Poultry is the UK’s most popular meat.

Horse smuggling proving hard to stop along remote US-Mexico border

News organization Reuters reports that illicit animal movements persist along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border, often taking the same routes used to smuggle drugs and people. Smuggled animals range from high-value horses bought for racing and rodeos to dogs used in illegal fighting rings and cattle. “It’s easy for [smugglers] to pay someone $500 or $1,000 per horse to cross it, load it onto the trailer, and drive off,” said Presidio County Sergeant Deputy Sheriff Jaime Sanchez.

‘Fox parvovirus’ found in pigs in Europe

A rare parvovirus variant, genetically related to a virus previously identified in fox feces, was detected in pigs in Belgium over the summer. To date, infections appear to be generally mild and self-limiting, according to the Swine Disease Global Surveillance Report. Affected pigs typically recover within a few weeks, and deaths have not been associated with the disease. The challenge is that researchers are still investigating how the virus entered farms, how it spreads among pigs, and its potential impact on swine production.