Bird Flu in cattle shows signs of containment says USDA

Oct 07, 2024
By Farms.com

USDA reports decrease in bird flu cases in dairy herds

Recent data from the USDA suggests that the spread of bird flu in U.S. dairy cattle is being effectively contained. While California reported outbreaks in 12 dairy herds last week, many states have not recorded new cases for weeks, indicating a potential decline in infections.

Eric Deeble, USDA Deputy Undersecretary, highlighted states like Colorado and Michigan as examples of reduced outbreaks.

Colorado has reported the highest number of infected herds at 64 but has not experienced new outbreaks since August 13. Michigan ranks third with 29 cases, the last outbreak occurring on September 9. Notably, California accounts for one-fifth of the total 256 herds affected across 14 states.

The CDC also reported that two dairy farmworkers in California contracted the avian flu virus but displayed only mild symptoms, which were anticipated given the state’s high number of infected herds. This year, 16 human cases have been confirmed nationwide, primarily among dairy and poultry workers.

To combat the spread of bird flu, Colorado has instituted weekly testing of milk from bulk tanks on dairy farms, while California has mandated testing for farms near infected herds. Michigan provides farmers with a choice between bulk tank testing or individual cow testing for fair exhibitions.

Despite the optimistic trends, experts caution that the virus is adapting and spreading efficiently among mammals. In response, the Department of Health and Human Services has invested $72 million to boost the U.S.

stockpile of H5N1 vaccines, aiming for 10 million doses by spring 2025. This initiative underscores the commitment to controlling the virus and protecting both animal and public health.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.