Weekly Livestock-Equine News: July 20, 2026

New approach to measuring sheep weight under development

A system being developed by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, will capture measurements in real time as animals move through their environment. A multimodal sensor system is used to capture high-resolution 3D images of each animal as it moves in view of sensors. AI and computer vision algorithms then analyze the data to generate accurate estimates of body volume, liveweight (combined weight of the animal and fleece) and fleece weight.

Why are some chickens naturally disease-resistant? Research underway

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the University of California Davis are investing $300,000 in a research grant to identify and harness natural disease resistance in chickens as a tool to combat avian influenza. The project will explore whether some chickens naturally resist infection better than others and how that resistance can strengthen commercial poultry flocks. FFAR leverages public funds, allocated by Congress through the Farm Bill, to form partnerships that match those funds with private sector investments.

AI data centers are new competitors for prime dairy land, resources

According to analysis by the American Farm Bureau Federation and Data Center Map, there are 4,925 active or under-construction data centers across the U.S. These facilities are increasingly being sited in rural areas where energy access and transmission infrastructure are already in place — often the same infrastructure farmers rely on to power their parlors and irrigation. The paradox is clear: Agriculture depends on data centers for innovation, yet data centers are increasingly competing with agriculture for land, water and energy.

VR training tool transforming equine radiography

Murdoch University in Australia is transforming how future veterinarians learn high-risk clinical skills with a new equine radiography immersive virtual reality (VR) tool, which allows students to safely master complex radiography procedures, such as full lameness exams. “Poor technique can result in poor quality images and unnecessary radiation exposure, which not only compromise diagnostic accuracy but require repeat imaging—increasing stress and danger for everyone involved,” said Dr. Josie Faulkner, senior lecturer in the School of Veterinary Medicine. “This VR environment lets students refine these skills … without the risks associated with working around a 500-kilogram live horse.”

Researchers developing system to identify BRD before calves look sick

Researchers at Penn State are developing the CalfHealth System, an AI-powered platform to identify calves at risk for bovine respiratory disease before obvious clinical signs appear. By recognizing subtle deviations from normal behavior, researchers hope the system will give veterinarians and producers an earlier opportunity to intervene while supporting more judicious antimicrobial use. BRD is the leading cause of disease in post-weaned calves and the leading killer of post-weaned calves, according to Melissa Cantor, assistant professor of precision dairy science at Penn State.

Utah county reports avian flu outbreak leads to quarantine of half its dairy farms and cattle

Box Elder County in the northwest corner of Utah declared a local state of emergency after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza caused severe milk production losses and triggered quarantines affecting about half of its dairy farms and dairy cattle. Officials said a positive sample, first reported on June 25, led to mandatory quarantine measures and a monitoring period that could last up to 90 days, disrupting dairy operations across one of Utah’s key agricultural regions.