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Small Pests, Bigger Threats: Flies and Gnats Spread Swine Rotaviruses and Sapovirus

Annoying. Bothersome. Irritating. Inconvenience. Pest. No matter how you describe Musca domestica, aka the house fly, and its friend the gnat, one thing's for sure - they are a nuisance and pose a threat to your swine herd.

Everyone knows the small stature of flies and gnats and their ability to fly allows them to easily enter and exit barns and vehicles while bringing with them viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens. For the first time ever, a study led by Allison Knox of the Walcott Veterinary Clinic in Walcott, Iowa, shows the ability of house flies and gnats to transmit rotavirus and sapovirus in swine nurseries.

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Cow-Calf Corner: Why Early Pregnancy Checks Make or Break Cow-Calf Profits

Video: Cow-Calf Corner: Why Early Pregnancy Checks Make or Break Cow-Calf Profits

In this Cow-Calf Corner update, Mark Johnson, OSU Extension beef cattle breeding specialist, highlights the importance of early pregnancy checks for replacement heifers. He explains how timely testing helps producers identify open cows and implement effective culling strategies to protect herd efficiency and profitability.