Weekly Livestock-Equine News: October 5, 2026

Merck expands SenseHub monitoring system for calves

Merck Animal Health has widened its SenseHub Dairy monitoring platform with a version that can monitor bucket-fed, preweaned calves. In addition, the company announced a new herd management dashboard designed to help producers monitor key herd-level trends, evaluate management processes and make timely decisions. Merck reported that in one research study, calf monitoring with SenseHub Dairy Youngstock technology was associated with a 63% reduction in mortality compared with the control group, which was only monitored visually.

AAEP publishes revised salmonellosis disease guidelines

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published revised Salmonellosis Disease Guidelines, including clinical signs, risk factors, diagnostic sampling, biosecurity measures and other considerations of the clinical disease that results from infection with Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica. Clinical disease in horses is characterized by nonspecific signs, including fever, diarrhea, leukopenia and colic. Infections may result in endotoxemia and laminitis. Foals are susceptible to more severe disease, including hemorrhagic diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis, physitis and septic arthritis.

BiomEdit receives conditional licensure for biologic for necrotic enteritis in poultry

The Indianapolis-based animal health biotech company announced that the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (USDA CVB) has granted conditional licensure for Clostridium Perfringens Alpha Toxin and NetB Antibody Fragment, Live Limosilactobacillus Vector (CPerf LLV) – previously referred to as BE-101 – based on the demonstration of a reasonable expectation of efficacy in terms of reduced necrotic enteritis (NE)-associated mortality in broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens. BiomEdit said it will continue advancing CPerf LLV toward full licensure.

Hanoverian mare is first to test focused ultrasound for sarcoids

Researchers at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine report that Pea, a 9-year-old mare, was successfully treated for sarcoid tumors with histotripsy, i.e., focused ultrasound that produces a bubble cloud to break down tumor tissue. The researchers don’t yet know whether histotripsy can reliably keep a sarcoid from returning, but they reported that Pea tolerated the treatment standing and awake, with no apparent ill effects. Sarcoids form when bovine papillomavirus meets a horse’s own genetic susceptibility.

USDA proposes reducing the HPAI waiting period for imported poultry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to update federal import regulations for certain live bird and avian commodities by shortening the required waiting period following a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. Under the proposal, the current 90‑day requirement would be reduced to 28 days. APHIS invites public comments on the proposed rule for 60 days following its publication in the Federal Register on September 24, 2026.

Shamonda virus becoming a threat to cattle in Europe

An emerging virus, known as Shamonda virus (SHAV), has been identified in several European countries during 2026, most recently in the island of Jersey, off the coast of France. SHAV belongs to the same group of viruses as Schmallenberg virus (SBV), and is thought to be primarily spread by Culicoides biting midges. It mainly affects cattle, causing fever, diarrhea, lethargy and reduced milk production. Abortions have also been documented in infected cattle.