The Biden administration said today it will provide nearly $200 million to fight the spread of avian flu among dairy cows, in the government's latest bid to contain outbreaks that have fueled concerns about human infections with the H5N1 virus.

US to provide nearly $200 million to contain bird flu spread on dairy farms

U.S. health officials warn dairy workers are at risk from bird flu
Chicago | Reuters – U.S. health officials on Friday warned that dairy workers remain at risk from the H5N1 bird flu virus that is infecting dairy herds, and urged them to wear protective gear to avoid infection. The U.S. CDC urged farmers, workers, and emergency responders to wear appropriate protective gear when in direct or […] Read more

Bird flu testing shows more dairy products are safe, US FDA says
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday that preliminary results of additional testing of more dairy products has shown that pasteurization inactivates the bird flu virus.

Protecting your cattle from flu
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has not detected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle or other livestock in Canada. Producers can protect their animals and themselves against spread of disease by monitoring cattle for clinical signs, including a sudden decrease in milk production; contacting a veterinarian with any suspected cases; practicing good biosecurity […] Read more

Beef sector braces for bird flu
Avian influenza strain may not affect beef cattle the same as dairy
Reading Time: 4 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – The strain of bird flu infecting U.S. dairy herds could become a problem for the beef sector, but it may not have the same effects as it did in the dairy barn, according to New Mexico’s state veterinarian. The main economic impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle has […] Read more

Dairy sector could see ‘return to normal’ in 2024
Stresses from borrowing and feed costs should ease: FCC
Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – A recent outlook released by Farm Credit Canada says there’s room for optimism in the dairy sector. “It has been a volatile few years for dairy producers, but 2024 is shaping up to be calmer — a return to a more normal environment, if you will,” FCC senior economist Graeme Crosbie said […] Read more

Bird flu pushes US dairy farmers to ban visitors, chop trees
North Carolina joins total states reporting outbreaks of avian influenza dairy herds
Dairy farmers in the United States are raising their defenses to try to contain the spread of bird flu: banning visitors, cutting down trees to discourage wild birds from landing, and disinfecting vehicles coming onto their land.

Seventeen U.S. states restrict cattle imports from avian flu-infected areas
Several U.S. states have restricted cattle imports from states that have seen infections of avian influenza Type A H5N1 in dairy herds.

USDA sheds new light on bird flu dairy herd infections
Virus may have been spread through milking equipment, dairy workers
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated stakeholders on how a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) strain may have spread to dairy cattle in several states yesterday.

Explainer: Avian flu in dairy cows warrants close attention
Farmers should identify unusual signs of disease in cattle and have them examined by a veterinarian
An emerging disease syndrome was originally identified in dairy cows in Texas. These cows were identified by animal care workers and veterinarians as having the main clinical signs of reduced milk production and decreased feed intake. Approximately 10 per cent of the cows seem to show clinical signs on affected farms. No deaths occurred and cows seemed to recover with supportive care within two to three weeks. However, loss of milk production was significant. These same farms reported deceased wild birds on their properties.