Weekly Livestock-Equine News: June 29, 2026

Questions remain about H5N1 disease spread among dairy cattle

Research from Ohio State University hints at why H5N1 outbreaks have confounded scientists, farmers and livestock handlers hoping to contain and prevent the disease. Tests for transmission among cows through milk machinery or through feeding of calves, and between birds and cattle through shared indoor air, didn’t show results of disease spread. As a result, scientists can’t yet provide evidence-based recommendations for practices that would stop the spread. “How it spreads from cow to cow becomes a very important question,” said Andrew Bowman, professor of veterinary preventive medicine at Ohio State. “We need to understand if there’s a way to change milking practices or farming practices … to limit cow-to-cow transmission, because we think spillover is going to happen again. It’s just a matter of time.”

‘Super El Niño raises concerns of long-term drought

With an exceptionally strong El Niño expected to peak later this year and last into 2027, AccuWeather climate experts say the conditions are in place for a multiyear drought that could threaten crop yields and water supply. With a 70% chance this event becomes a Super El Niño, history shows that following previous events of this magnitude, dry conditions in the Plains persisted for years afterward. Looking back over the last 12 months, the drought picture across the Plains has noticeably deteriorated. As of June 16 of this year, several states are experiencing “Extreme Drought” conditions, compared to virtually no drought in those regions a year ago, according to the Drought Monitor.

AVMA quantifies equine DVM debt

In 2025, graduates entering employment or internships in equine practice reported lower DVM debt on average than the rest of their graduating class: $148,061 vs. $176,391. At the same time, debt levels among equine graduates varied substantially. More than one in three reported debt of $200,000 or more, and about one in six reported $300,000 or more.

Five states now produce 50% of U.S. milk

California, Wisconsin, Idaho, Texas and New York (in that order) collectively produce over 50% of the nation’s milk, according to the USDA. This concentration is the result of a decades-long trend. The dairy industry’s geographical footprint is increasingly defined by its physical infrastructure rather than just land or climate. Established regions like California and Wisconsin remain dominant because of their deep-rooted manufacturing and processing capabilities, ranging from international export access to specialized cut-and-wrap cheese capacity, says Phil Plourd with Ever.Ag and the Wisconsin Dairy Productions Association. Since 2004, the number of licensed dairy herds has plummeted by 63%, yet total milk production has surged by 32%.

3D printing transforming design, manufacture of horse equipment

The intersection of digital fabrication and equine product design is creating new opportunities for horse care, equipment development and veterinary support, including custom-fitted tack, 3D-printed hoofwear and pads, pressure-relief bridle accessories and anatomical models used for veterinary education and planning. 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is a digital manufacturing process that creates physical objects from digital designs by successively adding material.

American dog ticks move in strange ways: U of Missouri researchers

The researchers concluded that bovine anaplasmosis – a tick-borne disease with financially devastating effects for producers – spreads in ways that scientists have yet to map out. Researchers analyzed the DNA of 1,500 American dog ticks and discovered that fewer than 1% of the male ticks actually carried the bacterium that causes bovine anaplasmosis. “Rather than waiting in the grass for a new host to walk by, these ticks may be moving directly from cow to cow while the livestock are huddling in the shade or grooming one another,” said Rosalie Ierardi, assistant clinical professor.