Weekly Livestock-Equine News: July 6, 2026

Can the US fight screwworm without the hands it once had?

Feed trucks, side-by-sides and helicopters can help ranchers quickly identify New World screwworm in their herd, but they can’t replace daily, close-up visual checks for wounds. And that calls for cowboys. When the U.S. eradicated screwworm in 1966, the fight relied on sterile insect releases along with day cowboys who rode sunup to sundown roping and doctoring calves. Today’s cattle industry includes more animals with fewer people, heavier wildlife pressure and a cowboy shortage. Efficiency might come at a cost when the labor‑intensive pest returns.

Pictor Holdings reports study on assay for BRD pathogen

Carlsbad, California-based Pictor announced the publication of an independent peer-reviewed study conducted at Texas A&M University and published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science evaluating the Pictor PictVet assay for monitoring anti-Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) IgG antibodies in bovine nasopharyngeal swabs. M. bovis is a significant bacterial pathogen responsible for Bovine Respiratory Disease. While molecular techniques such as PCR can detect the presence of M. bovis DNA, they do not provide information about the animal’s concurrent immune response.

Colorado State opens Livestock Hospital

The 15,000-square-foot facility is located adjacent to the existing Johnson Family Equine Hospital, consolidating CSU’s large animal services, including pharmacy, support staff, anesthesia and animal care teams. The hospital features surgery suites where veterinarians can perform standing surgeries, reducing the need for general anesthesia; flexible stalls, which can be opened for cattle or calves; isolation facilities; and treatment areas specific to small ruminant animals such as goats, camelids, alpacas and llamas.

North Dakota State U opens enhanced swine research facility

Over the past four years, the NDSU Foundation led a fundraising campaign to support a new 600-head expansion barn and a 50-seat classroom addition to the university’s existing swine research unit. The expanded capacity will allow researchers and Extension specialists to conduct commercially relevant studies in swine nutrition, production efficiency and animal welfare. The project also significantly increases space for teaching and hands-on student learning, helping NDSU remain competitive in recruiting and training students interested in livestock production.

Puerto Rico adopts voided claim rule for racehorse protection

The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission approved a voided claim rule adding new protections for horses injured in claiming races and bringing the territory closer in line with similar safeguards increasingly adopted in U.S. racing jurisdictions. Voided claim rules remove the financial incentive to enter unsound horses in claiming races in hopes of transferring ownership before an injury becomes apparent. The new rule calls for claims to be automatically voided if a horse dies on the track, suffers an injury requiring euthanasia, or is scratched at the starting gate by the official veterinarian.

Parasight System expands parasitic fecal testing capabilities

The company has expanded the testing capabilities of its All-in-One Veterinary Diagnostic Analyzer to identify Nematodirus and Trichuris species in sheep, goats and cattle. In livestock, infections caused by Nematodirus and Trichuris can impact growth rates, feed efficiency, productivity and overall herd health. The new capabilities mean a single analyzer platform is now capable of supporting both companion animal and livestock diagnostics.