Weekly Livestock-Equine News: August 10, 2026

US confirms first case in five years of scrapie, degenerative prion disease, in sheep

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed classical scrapie in a sheep slaughtered at a facility in Oregon. Classical scrapie is a fatal, degenerative prion disease of sheep and goats. Prior to this confirmation, the U.S. had gone more than five years without a case. APHIS and state animal health officials have initiated an epidemiological investigation to determine the flock of origin, but the affected animal did not have an ear tag, which may limit traceability.

Texas equine therapy professionals wary of proposed rule change

The Texas equine industry is watching a proposed rule change that could reshape how complementary therapies – such as equine massage, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), chiropractic care and bodywork – are provided. Many practitioners of such therapies say the proposed rule would require every non-DVM session to be performed under a supervising veterinarian’s specific, case-by-case instructions. But supporters of complementary therapies say their therapies are commonly incorporated into a horse’s overall wellness program to help maintain comfort, mobility and performance while continuing to rely on veterinarians for diagnosis and medical treatment.

AVP stimulation test aids in equine HPAA dysfunction

A study in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine revealed that evaluating both the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol response to an arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulation test offers insight into the severity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) dysfunction in hospitalized foals. However, this assessment is limited to the pituitary and adrenal responsiveness to AVP stimulation and does not evaluate peripheral tissue cortisol responses or alterations in cortisol metabolism and clearance.

Australian farmers lobbying for veterinary telehealth

Farmers from New South Wales will back a request from rural farmers to lobby state government to allow vets to conduct telehealth consultations on animals from commercial operations. “As it stands, a farmer must transport a lamb, or representative animal of their commercial operation, to a vet surgery to prove they are a person involved with commercial animal operations,” said Region 5 executive councillor Gavin Tom. “This requirement must be repeated every year.”

Pet livestock: A new breed of care?

Pet cows need veterinary care, but large-animal veterinarians are not always eager to provide it. That’s why some companion-animal practices are filling the void. “As a veterinarian and practice owner, being able to step outside to see a horse in the parking lot or go on a farm call is beneficial for my mental health,” said one companion-animal vet in Missouri.

Swiss dairy cows struck by unidentified illness

Swiss livestock farmers are reporting symptoms in dairy cows such as fever and diarrhea, often accompanied by a significant drop in milk yield. The cause has not yet been identified, and government and universities are exploring both metabolic and infectious causes. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office pointed out that symptoms such as fever or diarrhea could indicate a highly contagious animal disease. According to the authority, a direct link to the current heatwave has not yet been scientifically proven, however, high temperatures place a considerable strain on high-yielding cows and make them more susceptible to disease.