Klebsiella spp. infections are an important cause of severe clinical mastitis and recurrent infections, resulting in a poor response to antimicrobial agents and causing substantial economic impacts on...

Background: Haemaphysalis longicornis (Asian longhorned tick) presents a growing threat to cattle health in the United States, causing anemia, weight loss, and even death. Despite the expanding range of this tick and the urgency of preventive action, effective communication strategies tailored to agricultural audiences, especially cattle producers, remain underexplored. Social media offers a scalable tool for risk communication, but its efficacy in this demographic and disease context is unclear. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different digital communication strategies—specifically social media message framing and source credibility—in influencing U.S. cattle producers’ engagement, risk perceptions, and adoption of tick-borne disease preventive behaviors. Methods: A quasi-experimental study using a 2×3 factorial design was conducted with 116 cattle producers in the Southeastern U.S. Participants were randomly assigned to view simulated Facebook posts varying by message source (Extension agent vs. cattle producer) and message framing (prevention-oriented, fear-based, neutral). Participants reported their likelihood of engaging with the post (emoji reaction, commenting, sharing), their perceptions (fear, attitudes), and their intention to adopt preventive behaviors. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson correlations. Results: Participants were more likely to engage with posts through emoji reactions than by commenting or sharing. Posts from cattle producers, particularly those using prevention-oriented or fear-based framing, elicited higher engagement than neutral messages. Prevention-oriented messages consistently evoked greater concern about tick risks and more proactive attitudes toward management. While fear-based posts were viewed as exaggerated and less credible, neutral messages from Extension agents were unexpectedly effective in prompting certain preventive behaviors. Social engagement was moderately correlated with attitudes (r = 0.54–0.72) and preventive actions, with attitudes showing stronger associations with behavioral intent than fear. Conclusions: Carefully framed, prevention-oriented messages, especially when shared by credible sources, are more effective than fear-based or neutral content in promoting engagement and tick prevention behavior among cattle producers. This study provides empirical support for tailoring digital communication strategies to agricultural populations and contributes to the design of effective social media interventions for vector-borne disease prevention.

Canada ranks seventh in the G20 for agri-food influence; Scottish pigs are gene-edited to be immune to swine fever; and New World screwworm a threat in Canada? No, but this tick could be. It's your na...

From Agriculture in Motion in Langham Saskatchewan--Canada's chief trade commissioner and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe talk trade with the U.S. and China; the latest in drought-tolerant alfalfa and ...

A heads up for cattle producers, there's a deadly tick in the United States, and researchers at Oklahoma State University are concerned.

The lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreak has spread across the country, with 18 cases in state veterinary districts and 1 521 deaths countrywide. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform chief veterinary officer Dr Johannes Shoopala said this last week. Shoopala said 7 127 clinical cases have been reported across the country. “The current LSD outbreak is notably more widespread and severe compared to previous incidents in the country,” he said. The Kavango East and West, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, and Ohangwena regions are the regions accounting for the majority of reported cases and fatalities. Shoopala added that the LSD outbreak is of national concern, with variable intensity in the regions. According to him, the ministry has intensified disease surveillance and livestock movement. He said a vaccination campaign to contain further spread has been launched. By 8 May, 414 670 head of cattle had been vaccinated, he said. “Of these, 325 428 animals were vaccinated by government teams with government purchases of vaccines. Vaccination by the government has been focused primarily in areas that reported the highest numbers of LSD,” said Shoopala. Farmers vaccinated an additional 89 251 head of cattle. This follows intensive awareness of the disease by the Directorate of Veterinary Services and other stakeholders. “The directorate continues to engage with farmers and communities, offering technical support and disease management guidance,” said Shoopala. He added that other control measures include movement restriction targeted vaccination protocols. “All cattle destined for export are required to be vaccinated against LSD at least 12 days, and not more than twelve months, prior to export, in line with the international health certification standards. These numbers aim to ensure the safety of Namibian meat products, reassuring trading partners and preventing further economic disruption in the livestock sectors,” said Shoopala. Paulus Wilhelm, a farmer in the Kavango East region, says he lost six head of cattle to LSD. “I had to buy vaccines from a pharmacy and take them to my cattle post. There, I carried out intense vaccinations, and those that were affected survived. At my other cattle post in the Ohangwena region, currently I have two head of cattle affected, but I decided not to vaccinate because I don’t think they will survive , it’s too late”. He says another farmer at the Likokela cattle post lost about ten head of cattle due to LSD. “It’s really sad to see how people lose their livelihood due to LSD”. Joshua Hailume, also a farmer, says his cattle were also affected but survived. “Thanks to the vaccination initiative and awareness campaigns on the radio, I acted on time,” he says. The post Lumpy Skin Disease Kills Over 1 500 Cattle appeared first on The Namibian.

[Namibian] The agriculture ministry has introduced stricter cattle movement controls at Okakarara, following a lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreak in the veterinary district.

The agriculture ministry has introduced stricter cattle movement controls at Okakarara, following a lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreak in the veterinary district. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform’s veterinarian for the Okakarara district, Rossalia Paulus, on Monday said animal gatherings are permitted at Okakarara, Okamatapati, Okondjatu and Otjituuo. “Villages with active or new LSD cases will remain restricted on the Namibia Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLits),” she said. She said only cattle vaccinated 12 days before and not over 12 months with valid LSD vaccination certificates are permitted to participate at auctions. “All animals must be presented at the auction pens by 17h00 the day before the auction or on permit day,” Paulus said. She said consignments will be returned to farms if one animal is found with clinical signs of LSD upon inspection. “Cattle movement within the Okakarara veterinary district is allowed, provided the cattle are vaccinated at least 12 days before and not more than 12 months,” Paulus said. She said movement permits will be issued to applicants with valid LSD vaccination certificates only. The post Ministry tightens lumpy skin controls, Okakarara cattle need jabs and documents to move appeared first on The Namibian.

Govt warns against lumpy skin disease in Oshikoto cattle  The Namibian -

The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the Oshikoto region has reported that two head of cattle are affected by lumpy skin disease on a daily basis, with 561 currently critically affected. The directorate’s head, Junior Paulus, says the disease was first detected on 18 November 2024 in the Nehale Lyampingana constituency. Paulus says 46 deaths were recorded in January 2025 alone. “The affected constituencies are Nehale Lyampingana, Okankolo, Eengodi, Olukonda, Oniipa, Onyaanya, Onayena, Omuthiya and Omuntele,” he says. Paulus says 12 543 cattle have been vaccinated and 509 farmers in the region have been educated. “We have managed to treat more than 500 infected cattle,” he says. The DVS head says the directorate has distributed medicine to more than 120 farmers to control biting insects that spread the disease. It is also busy vaccinating animals against lung sickness. Mangetti Farmers’ Association chairperson Bro-Matthew Shinguadja says the association is currently in the process of vaccinating cattle. “The disease is countrywide, so we are waiting for the government to intervene,” he says. He says the association has encouraged its farmers to buy the vaccine and vaccinate their cattle. “Farmers should take the official information rather than fake information in regard to the vaccination of the animals,” he says. Shinguadja says farmers can get expert information from private animal doctors and Agra. The post Govt warns against lumpy skin disease in Oshikoto cattle appeared first on The Namibian.

The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the Oshikoto region has reported that two head of cattle are affected by lumpy skin disease on a daily basis, with 561 currently critically affected. The directorate’s head, Junior Paulus, says the disease was first detected on 18 November 2024 in the Nehale Lyampingana constituency. Paulus says 46 deaths were recorded in January 2025 alone. “The affected constituencies are Nehale Lyampingana, Okankolo, Eengodi, Olukonda, Oniipa, Onyaanya, Onayena, Omuthiya and Omuntele,” he says. Paulus says 12 543 cattle have been vaccinated and 509 farmers in the region have been educated. “We have managed to treat more than 500 infected cattle,” he says. The DVS head says the directorate has distributed medicine to more than 120 farmers to control biting insects that spread the disease. It is also busy vaccinating animals against lung sickness. Mangetti Farmers’ Association chairperson Bro-Matthew Shinguadja says the association is currently in the process of vaccinating cattle. “The disease is countrywide, so we are waiting for the government to intervene,” he says. He says the association has encouraged its farmers to buy the vaccine and vaccinate their cattle. “Farmers should take the official information rather than fake information in regard to the vaccination of the animals,” he says. Shinguadja says farmers can get expert information from private animal doctors and Agra. The post Govt warns against lumpy skin disease in Oshikoto cattle appeared first on The Namibian.

An outbreak of lumpy skin disease has resulted in 196 reported cases and 43 cattle deaths in the Oshikoto region since November last year. Chief animal health technician at the state veterinary office in the Oshikoto region, Lumeta Lomboleni, on Thursday said the disease was first detected on 8 November 2024 in the Nehale Lyampingana constituency’s Mangetti area. It has since spread throughout the region, with the highest concentrations of cases reported in the Omuntele, Omuthiya, Oniipa, Onayena and Eengodi constituencies. “Twenty-two deaths were reported in the Nehale Lyampingana constituency where the disease started, and the other 21 deaths were recorded throughout the region,” he said. Lomboleni advised farmers to vaccinate their cattle against the disease. “We urge farmers who can afford the vaccine to vaccinate their animals against this disease or visit local sites during our vaccination period that is ongoing in the region so their animals can be vaccinated,” Lomboleni said. He further emphasised the importance of waiting 21 days after vaccination before moving cattle to allow for the development of sufficient immunity and prevent disease transmission. “Farmers relocating vaccinated cattle are requested to present vaccination receipts and bottles alongside travel permits if they have vaccinated their animals themselves,” he said. Lomboleni called on farmers to continue reporting suspected cases to their nearest veterinary office and to bring their animals to designated vaccination sites. “We are currently busy with the vaccinations and we are requesting farmers to bring their animals to the nearest cattle crush and other places as announced,” he said. He also warned against consuming meat from animals that have died from lumpy skin disease, citing potential toxicity. The post Nearly 200 cases of lumpy skin disease reported in Oshikoto appeared first on The Namibian.

Scientific Reports - Evaluation of humoral immune response and milk antibody transfer in calves and lactating cows vaccinated with inactivated H5 avian influenza vaccine