With our interest in matters connected to “One Health” and with a particular perspective on "sustainability," there are many topics which attract our attention. This month’s newsletter highlights a few news items which are not fundamental to the work we do, but will be of background interest.
Several sources have reported on the prospect of a Super El Nino in 2026. El Nino weather patterns, which are centred on the Pacific Ocean but have worldwide impact, are one of the recurring trends in the global climate. Many models are predicting that the second half of 2026 will see the development of Super El Nino conditions, with resulting increased rainfall and flooding in some areas, and serious droughts in others. The temperature of Pacific Ocean surface water is already steadily rising and models are predicting a 50% chance of a Super El Nino event (when temperatures are >2.5C above the baseline) by late in the year.
While El Ninos occur every few years, super events have only been recorded in 1982-83,1997-98 and 2015-16. All the indicators suggest that 2026 will be the hottest year ever recorded, beating the previous hottest ever years of 2023, 2024 and 2025.Â
Meanwhile in the Atlantic, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which includes the Gulf Stream, is steadily waning with many scientists believing that the cooling effect of melting Greenland ice is a major cause. The AMOC current brings warm salty water to the coastlines of western Europe and is a major factor in moderating the climate of these regions. It is claimed that there is a strong possibility that changing ocean currents will release deep stored carbon dioxide, further adding to the ever present release of that gas from the burning of fossil fuels.
The picture isn’t a promising one and while somewhat distant from our usual VetSalus spheres of interest, the potential for negative impacts on food production and animal welfare are considerable.
On a much smaller scale, it is possible to find some potentially more positive news!
Nature reported in early April that researchers have discovered a “treasure trove” of antiviral proteins in bacteria genomes. As bacteria have been fighting off viruses for millions of years, there is hope that this previously unrecognised source of weaponry could give rise to a new range of potential treatments.
And of course viruses are in the news again with the widespread reporting of an outbreak of Hantavirus on a cruise ship. Hantavirus, the zoonosis that few veterinarians will have previously encountered, was named after the Hanta River, in Korea and the virus was a common pathogen of soldiers in the Korean War. The single stranded RNA virus is usually associated with rodents, like rats and mice, but human to human transmission does appear to be possible, especially in the humid, potentially over-crowded conditions of a cruise ship; however, a global epidemic seems extremely unlikely at this time.
Few of our newsletters are published without at least one mention of methane but for once this story does not directly concern its eructation by ruminants. New Scientist recently carried an article on anaerobic bio digesters, which are being utilised in some farming systems to dispose of manure and generate methane. The digesters, which are essentially mechanical rumens, can trace their development back to World War 2, when they were used as a source of energy in countries running out of other fuels.Â
More recently, the state of California has been providing funding for the construction of digesters on dairy farms. Research has shown that the utilisation of bio-digesters reduces methane output on dairy farms, on average, by about a third. Of course, when this methane is burned as a fuel, carbon dioxide is released but the short term potency of methane as a greenhouse gas is reduced.The state funding of digester development has been controversial, with some parties suggesting the money would be better spent on solar panels.
At the time of writing there are no reports of veterinarians being called to treat methane fermenters with indigestion but this is surely only a matter of time? Â
Reproduction is at the heart of carbon efficient farming. Numerous articles, including our recent series “How Vets Reduce Carbon Footprints” have shown that animals failing to conceive in a timely manner are linked to the unproductive emission of greenhouse gases and veterinarians have been working for many years to improve reproduction in commercial situations like the modern dairy farm. It is thus interesting to learn of a new development, one which has the potential to reduce the use of steroid hormones in cattle breeding.Â
Scientists at the University of Saskatchewan have been developing programs using a GnRH (Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone) antagonist. This simple protein has been used in human reproduction for many years but patent constraints have made it too expensive for commercial use on farms.The timely injection of the GnRH reduces follicle development but a new wave of follicles appears to predictably emerge 3.6 days later. While further development work is required, the new protocol has the potential to enhance cattle reproduction interventions.
A debate is underway in the UK and veterinarians are being encouraged to participate. Moves underfoot to reduce the widespread blanket treatment of animals, particularly companion animals, with parasiticides will attract a wide range of participants including industry players, with financial repercussions to consider, environmental agencies and politicians. It is important that veterinarians, who should be at the centre of this discussion, fully engage. At VetSalus, we have written on this topic before - see for example https://vetsalus.com/news/2025/parasiticides-in-the-environment .
It is important that veterinary professionals bring some rational, science based considerations to what promises to be an emotional debate.
This newsletter has used A.I. resources to search for references but these were reviewed before using and the article has been written and edited by a human brain.
If you are interested in the work of VetSalus, you will find a wide range of articles and educational material on our web site: www.vetsalus.com