Avian Influenza Detected in Non-Commercial Flock in Indiana

May 05, 2023

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health has reported that a non-commercial flock of 23 birds in Posey County has tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. This detection marks the first Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza case in Indiana this year.

While the initial test was a presumptive positive, the samples have been sent to the national USDA laboratory for confirmatory testing, and results are expected in the next few days. The affected flock is not available for sale or consumption.

The avian influenza virus is a highly contagious disease that affects both domestic and wild birds. Infected birds can die quickly, and the virus can spread rapidly through a flock. It is important for bird owners to practice good biosecurity measures, such as maintaining a clean environment, keeping wild birds away from domesticated birds, and monitoring the health of their flocks.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health is working closely with the USDA and local veterinarians to monitor and contain the situation. Anyone who suspects a bird may be infected should contact their local veterinarian or the Indiana State Board of Animal Health immediately

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.