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Healthy breathing is essential for racing pigeons and flying pigeons alike. It is the foundation of successful competition results, effective breeding, and maintaining a loft full of strong, energetic birds in peak condition. As the seasons change, so do the environmental challenges that put stress on a pigeon’s body.

During winter, cold winds, damp weather, high humidity, and sudden drops in temperature place significant strain on the respiratory system. At this time of year, the mucous membranes become more vulnerable to damage, the immune system weakens, and pigeons become far more susceptible to respiratory infections. These illnesses often begin subtly, with only a slight decline in performance, before gradually becoming more serious.

In this article, we examine how seasonal changes affect pigeon health, discuss the most common winter respiratory diseases, and share proven practical advice for prevention and treatment so your loft can remain strong, healthy, and competitive all year round.

Red poultry mite infestation is a complex problem for poultry farmers as its appearance can cause significant damage to poultry flocks. It can significantly reduce the bird’s performance, lead to poorer meat quality, reduced egg production, disease and even mortality. Conventional chemical eradication of mites can have a number of disadvantages. Fortunately, there is a proven, effective, natural method that can be applied through drinking water, with minimal labour input, to help control red mites cost-effectively!

The red poultry mite is one of the most persistent and economically damaging parasites in poultry farming. Most farmers only realize the true severity of an infestation once it has already spread through the flock — and by then, it becomes clear that this is not a problem that can be eliminated quickly.

Practical experience shows that eradicating an established red mite infestation rarely succeeds within just a few weeks. In most cases, it takes 6–12 months, and in severe situations it may take even longer than a year before a flock can be considered free of red mites.

The summer season brings significant challenges for poultry, as rising global temperatures make flocks more vulnerable to heat stress. Poultry are particularly susceptible to high environmental temperatures due to their physiological traits: the absence of sweat glands which limits heat dissipation, a full body of feathers, a higher body temperature, and their generally fatty nature. Rising ambient temperatures during summer not only lower poultry performance but also lead to immunosuppression, resulting in disease outbreaks and significant mortality. Summer stress affects broiler performance and is a significant factor in immunosuppression, causing considerable economic losses among poultry farms. Read on, to learn about effective management strategies to mitigate these challenges of the summer season in poultry farming, and ensure the well-being and productivity of your poultry flock during the hot summer months!

Summer is one of the most exciting times of year for racing pigeon owners! It is a time of great successes and failures, the birth of champions old and new, the testing of tried and new methods of training and coaching, a time when we can confirm that our methods and training have been successful, or when the lack of success forces us to rethink our tactics, feeding and training methods. The competition season is therefore perhaps the most exciting time of the year for those involved in the racing of homing pigeons, with questions and answers aplenty for breeders! Let's take a look at the things to look out for at this time of year!

Mastitis, the inflammation of the mammary gland, is the most prevalent and costly disease affecting dairy cattle farming worldwide in every country, including developed ones. This disease leads to significant economic losses due to decreased milk yield, poor milk quality, and additional costs associated with veterinary care and early culling of affected cows. Mastitis is particularly common in high yielding breeds such as Holstein-Friesian, where prevalence can be as high as 40%. Understanding the multifactorial nature of mastitis and exploring innovative new treatment approaches is crucial for mitigating these losses and improving dairy farm productivity. This article delves into the economic impact of mastitis, its causes, and emerging new treatments, to provide a comprehensive overview of this important animal health-care issue.

Tiszakécske, a town halfway between Kecskemét and Szolnok, is home to one of Hungary's pioneering certified organic farms, Éden Major, where the owners, Gábor Szokolai and his wife, have been living and working since 2016 to realise their lifelong dream of an organic farm for growing crops, producing eggs and raising livestock. The last time we visited Éden Major was in 2020, but the partnership has been ongoing ever since, and they have recently developed their organic poultry feed enriched with herbal and mineral supplements (marketed by Garuda Ayurveda), called the FITOBOOST poultry feed-range. With FITOBOOST poultry feeds, Gábor and his wife had great success in raising organic chickens, not only producing high-quality poultry meat, but also - to much of their surprise - significantly reducing the rearing time as well!

In the battle against climate change, methane emissions pose a significant challenge. Among the various sources of methane, cattle farming emerges as a significant contributor, particularly through the process of enteric fermentation in ruminant animals like cows, sheep, and goats. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas with a much higher warming potential than carbon dioxide. Reducing methane emissions from livestock is therefore a critical aspect of mitigating climate change. Strategies such as improving feed efficiency, providing feed supplements, and better waste management can help reduce methane emissions from livestock farms. In our article below, we look at how farmers can use natural feed supplements to support rumen function, which not only helps reduce methane emissions, but also contributes to healthier and more productive livestock!

Maintaining the balance and production of the microbes in the rumen is the key to improve productivity in dairy cows. Feed efficiency, nitrogen digestibility, and methane production in ruminants are affected by ruminal microbiota. In addition, ruminal microbes play a key role in maintaining life-long health and high productivity of the animals. In our article below, we will show how herbal formulations can help to balance the ruminal microbiome in dairy cattle and other ruminants without any unwanted side effects, and how they can also help to maintain the health of the animals and increase their overall productivity.

Respiratory diseases in horses can have a significant impact on the horse's value and work capacity by resulting in reduced stamina and limiting the horse's performance. Respiratory problems can also lead to reduced appetite, weight loss and poor coat quality, further reducing the horse's marketability and overall value.

Commercial boars (like many other farm animals kept in large housing systems) can face various reproductive disorders that impact their fertility and overall health. Addressing these issues effectively requires a comprehensive understanding of their causes and potential remedies. Synthetic hormones may provide short-term solutions but are not suitable for long-term management as they can lead to additional health issues and further hormonal imbalances. This article delves into common reproductive disorders affecting boars, their causes, and potential sustainable, natural solutions designed to enhance their reproductive health.

The bluetongue virus (BTV), a vector-borne viral disease primarily affecting domestic and wild ruminants, has reemerged aggressively in Europe over the past year. Despite efforts to control its spread, bluetounge virus continues to cause severe outbreaks in the livestock industry. First detected in the early 2000s, BTV has remained a persistent threat, with recent outbreaks spreading faster and with more devastating effects than ever before. In 2023, the virus re-emerged in the Netherlands and quickly spread to Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and Denmark. By the spring of 2025, it had also appeared in Austria.

Concerns are growing about the virus’s ability to outpace current vaccination and control efforts. To combat this, herbal feed-additives with immunomodulatory effects are being explored as a supplementary measure to enhance immunity and boost the success of vaccinations.

Preventive measures in the context of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

In modern animal farming, achieving optimal performance is no longer just about feed quantity and genetics. The health of the digestive system and immune function of animals like cows, sheep, goats, and pigs is now recognized as a cornerstone of productivity, profitability, and animal welfare.

In the shadow of the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Hungary, it is important to remind us how quickly livestock health can be compromised. Alongside veterinary measures and containment, supporting everyday resilience—through better digestion, stronger immunity, and natural products—can play a key role in long-term herd health.

Among the many factors that contribute to high-yield livestock production, supporting immunity, maintaining digestive balance, optimizing rumen function (in ruminants), preserving gut microflora, and combating harmful gut bacteria—especially those causing diarrhoea—are some of the most essential.

Kidney health plays a crucial role in poultry production, yet renal diseases in broilers and layers often go unnoticed until they result in serious health issues and economic losses. With increasing intensification in poultry farming, kidney-related problems are becoming more frequent due to nutritional imbalances, environmental stress, and infectious agents. Fortunately, advances in herbal veterinary solutions—such as Nephroboost, a natural liquid supplement—offer promising support for maintaining optimal kidney function.

One of the sneaky dangers of the summer and autumn months that every dog owner should be aware of is the grass awn. This seemingly harmless tiny grass seed is made dangerous by its special shape. With its sharp, hooked tip, it easily burrows under the dog’s skin or into body openings, causing severe pain and inflammation. Let’s take a closer look at what a grass awn is, why it is dangerous, how to prevent the related discomfort, and what to do if your dog gets a grass awn embedded in its body!

Skin problems are among the most common health complaints in dogs. Itching, redness, rashes, hair loss and pus-filled skin lesions can be caused by a variety of factors, some of which are allergy-related, while others stem from infections or external parasites. It is the owner's responsibility to recognise the symptoms, understand the causes and take the necessary steps to ensure their dog's health. Read on to learn about the most common triggers of allergic skin problems in dogs and how to prevent or treat them!

Few things bring as much joy to both dogs and their owners as a walk together in nature. Exploring forest trails, breathing in the scent of meadows, dashing through tall grass, or playing chase with other dogs—all of these are unforgettable experiences. These outings not only provide physical exercise, but also refresh the mind and strengthen the bond between dog and owner.

Unfortunately, these carefree moments can also hide dangers. Nature is home to many tiny creatures that can threaten your dog’s health: external parasites that can latch onto your pet almost unnoticed during your walk.