Weekly Livestock-Equine News: April 20, 2026

Boehringer Ingelheim introduces vaccine for mastitis prevention in dairy cows

The vaccine, LENZELTA, targets two key mastitis pathogens, S. aureus and E. coli, supporting farmers and veterinarians in tackling infections proactively, according to the company. LENZELTA is administered in two doses during the dry‑off period. By focusing on prevention at a critical stage of the lactation cycle, the vaccine is intended to help create more stable conditions for milk production and animal well‑being.

Now is the time to vaccinate dairy cattle against H5N1

Viruses like H5N1 evolve over time, according to Dr. Gregory Gray of the Division of Infectious Disease and Department of Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Texas Medical Branch. The more they spread, the more species they infect, and the more opportunities they have to change. Dairy cattle may now be acting as what researchers describe as a “training ground” for H5N1 to adapt to mammals, including humans. The answer is straightforward: By reducing with vaccination how much virus is circulating in dairy herds, you reduce the chances of it spreading to other animals, other farms and people.

Stopping the next epidemic

With the U.S. swine industry losing roughly $1.2 billion every year to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV-2), researchers are turning to big data and evolutionary biology to get ahead of the next outbreak. Just as a triathlete must balance speed and endurance, a virus must balance its ability to rapidly replicate inside a host with its ability to persist long enough to spread to the next farm. USDA has extended a grant to the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine to find the sweet spot where the virus is most dangerous and use that data to understand why some new variants are more likely to become the next national epidemic.

Global expansion of foot-and-mouth merits monitoring in the US

The ongoing expansion of FMDV serotype SAT1 in the Middle East and Eastern Europe has implications for FMD-free countries, including the United States, because it increases the complexity and uncertainty of global FMD risk. Its emergence in new regions adds to the diversity of circulating serotypes in those regions, complicating preparedness and response planning, particularly when vaccine stockpiles may not include well-matched SAT1 strains. At the same time, continued transboundary spread heightens the risk of introduction through established pathways such as international travel, contaminated animal products, and fomites.

USDA mulls reopening of Mexican border to feeder cattle trade

A decision is expected in two to four weeks on whether the U.S. will begin reopening the U.S./Mexico border to feeder cattle trade, according to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Work by the USDA to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm, including continuing efforts to ramp up sterile male fly production on both sides of the border, is progressing, she said. Prior to the border closing in November 2024, U.S. imports of Mexican cattle had averaged 1.18 million head annually through the previous decade. Mexican cattle imports equaled 3.4% of the total U.S. calf crop from 2015 to 2024, according to Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist.

Uptick in orf in UK sheep farms tied to misuse of antibiotics

Orf is present on nearly nine in 10 UK sheep farms, according to research by the Royal Veterinary College. Despite being a viral condition, more than 65% of farmers reported using topical antibiotic sprays, while over a quarter used injectable antibiotics, highlighting a gap between recommended practice and on-farm treatment. At the same time, only 23.8% of farmers said they would consult a vet when orf is suspected, leaving most diagnosis and treatment decisions in the hands of producers. Orf causes lesions on the lips, muzzle, udder and feet, leading to pain, reduced feeding and slower growth, as well as raising the risk of mastitis. The disease can also be transmitted to humans.