Cost Effective Milk Decontamination Strategies
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Texas A&M AgriLife Research are joining forces to help dairy farmers fight Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). A new $300,404 Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant supports work to create farmer-friendly milk decontamination strategies.
Milk from infected cows can carry the HPAI virus and must be treated before use or disposal. Current recommendations call for on-farm pasteurization or heat treatment to kill the virus. However, this process requires expensive equipment and is impractical for large herds producing thousands of gallons of milk each day.
“Our goal is to develop a practical, science-based solution that dairy farmers can implement quickly and affordably. We are collaborating with the University of Georgia to identify effective on-farm decontamination strategies that help reduce the spread of HPAI and protect both animal and human health,” said Dr. Sushil Paudyal Assistant Professor of Dairy Science at Texas A&M University.
The project also involves scientists from the University of Georgia. Their combined efforts aim to give farmers a low-cost method to reduce the spread of HPAI within herds and protect workers who handle raw milk.
FFAR’s ROAR program funds urgent research to protect the U.S. food supply from sudden threats. "Dairy farmers need tools and strategies to prevent the further spread of avian influenza in their herd once it is detected. Equipping farmers with a cost-effective, on-farm decontamination tool will minimize economic losses and reduce risks for farm workers. FFAR’s rapid funding will help deliver this solution for farmers," said Dr. Miriam Martin LeValley Scientific Program Manager.
This research offers hope for dairy producers seeking an immediate, practical way to contain HPAI and keep their herds healthy while avoiding expensive pasteurization equipment.
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