Weekly Livestock-Equine News: September 7, 2026

GenCurix to develop early response system for livestock viruses

South Korean biotech firm GenCurix will lead the development of a molecular diagnostic platform called AIDMAN, intended to automatically analyze airborne livestock viruses in the field. The company is doing so as the organizer of the 2026 Industrial Technology International Cooperation Project ‘Daza-Eurostars3’ supported by the Korea Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology (KIAT).

Dechra announces launch of equine sedative and analgesic

Domidine is a generic version of detomidine, a potent alpha-2 agonist indicated for use as a sedative and analgesic in horses to facilitate minor surgical and diagnostic procedures. It has been used for 10 years in Europe, the UK, Canada and Mexico.

Boehringer Ingelheim gets OK for launch SCOVELLA in Great Britain

SCOVELLA, an oral liquid, is the first licensed equine-specific SGLT-2 inhibitor developed for the treatment of hyperinsulinemia in insulin-dysregulated horses and ponies that are not responsive to changes in husbandry and exercise regimens, according to Boehringer Ingelheim. By lowering elevated insulin concentrations, it helps veterinary surgeons address the key driver of laminitis. Insulin dysregulation is estimated to account for over 90% of all laminitis cases.

USDA identifies five Ohio farm-vet shortage areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified Holmes and Tuscarawas counties and Richland and Ashland counties in Ohio as areas of rural food-animal veterinary shortages for 2026. They include 10 must-serve counties, where veterinarians receiving federal loan repayment must perform qualifying work. They also list 18 may-serve counties, where those veterinarians can provide additional qualifying service, according to USDA’s 2026 veterinary shortage records.

New program to address persistent veterinary gaps in rural Kansas

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Task Force has supported the creation of the Developing Veterinary Medicine in Rural Kansas, or DVM‑RK, program, to help address gaps in food‑animal veterinary care. The program will support early-career large-animal veterinarians in rural Kansas, regardless of where they attained their degree, to help them establish financial stability and move toward practice ownership.Participants must commit to three years of veterinary practice in a qualifying rural county or a food‑animal‑focused practice. Community service is also required as part of the program.

Illinois joins national Swine Disease Reporting System

The Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has joined the SDRS network, which provides information that supports disease prevention, biosecurity, disease monitoring and disease forecasting throughout the U.S. swine industry. The state laboratory is expected to provide insights into pathogen activity and disease trends in the eastern Corn Belt and surrounding swine-producing regions.