Contact: aphispress@usda.gov Animal Health Officials Working Quickly to Protect U.S. Livestock and Wildlife WASHINGTON, D.C., June 3, 2026—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the detection of a New World screwworm (NWS) in a bovine in Zavala County, Texas. NWS is a serious pest that affects livestock, pets, wildlife, […]

Researchers at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, led by Dr. Carrie Finno and graduate student Briana Brown, have reported the genetic cause of a fatal neurologic disease, equine juvenile spinocerebellar ataxia (EJSCA), in American Quarter Horse foals. A genetic test is available through the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL). Foals with EJSCA display incoordination within […]
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Posted by Mark Andrews for Equine Science Update: Horse owners are very familiar with hoof trimmings: they are a routine by-product of farrier visits and are usually swept up and discarded without much thought, if not eaten by the dog first. However, recent scientific research suggests that these small clippings may have much greater value than […]
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Posted by Mark Andrews, Equine Science Update: Horses are highly social animals that form close bonds with other members of their group. Because of this, it is reasonable to expect that the loss of a companion may affect their behaviour and emotional wellbeing. However, until recently, there has been surprisingly little scientific research into how […]
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Have You Ever Taken Your Horse Trailer to a Weigh Scale? Most owners haven’t and many are surprised when they learn how much they’re actually towing once horses, tack, water, and equipment are added. Safe and legal towing hinges on the manufacturer‑assigned ratings on your vehicle and trailer, including GVWR, GCWR, GAWR, payload, and tongue […]
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Our interview with Lane Kail and SS Walk The Line didn’t go exactly as planned after the Amateur Ranch Riding on Friday, especially when Lane was gently encouraged by Logan Pluhar not to jokingly trash talk his dad. Read on for the introduction, and watch for the bloopers! SS Walk The Line, by Wimpys Little […]
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April 6, 2026 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Gastrobim (omeprazole) oral paste for the treatment of gastric ulcers and prevention of gastric ulcer recurrence in horses and foals four weeks of age and older. Gastrobim is a proton pump inhibitor, a class of medications that act by blocking the pumps in the […]
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