USDA sets new testing rules for dairy cattle health

Apr 26, 2024

By Farms.com

The USDA has taken a proactive approach to combat the spread of the H5N1 avian influenza among dairy cattle with new measures set to take effect on April 29, 2024. This action follows detections of the virus adapting to mammals, presenting a significant risk to the livestock industry and necessitating robust response strategies.

Under the new Federal Order by USDA’s APHIS, all dairy cattle destined for interstate movement must be tested and confirmed negative for the Influenza A virus at certified laboratories. This step is part of a broader effort to create a controlled environment that minimizes the risk of the disease spreading across state lines.

Additionally, the detection of positive cases must now be promptly reported to APHIS by both laboratories and state veterinarians. This mandatory reporting is critical for effective disease surveillance and management, allowing for rapid responses to potential outbreaks.

The USDA’s measures also include comprehensive guidance on managing dairy cattle, emphasizing the importance of stringent biosecurity practices to protect livestock from infection. The collaboration with CDC and FDA ensures that public health remains safeguarded and that the food supply, particularly milk, remains safe through effective pasteurization and handling protocols.

With these actions, the USDA aims to fortify the livestock sector against the threat of H5N1, ensuring the health of dairy cattle and the continuity of the dairy industry in the face of emerging infectious diseases.

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.