Colorado's Bulk-Tank Testing IDs More Avian Flu in Dairy Herds

Aug 07, 2024

By Lisa Schnirring

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) today reported its first avian flu outbreaks in dairy herds that are based on mandatory weekly bulk-tank milk testing, which went into effect on July 22.

The testing turned up nine more outbreaks in dairy herds, according to the CDA's line list, which now reflects 63 herds affected since late April.

More than half of Colorado's licensed dairy herds have been hit with outbreaks, many of them in Weld County, where the virus spread to a large commercial poultry farms and infected 10 livestock workers and poultry cullers.

So far, Colorado is the only one of 13 affected states to order regular bulk tank testing.

Officials haven't said if the cows at the farms identified through bulk tank testing had clinical signs.

As of today, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed 179 H5N1 outbreaks in dairy herds from 13 states. Among the total are 52 from Colorado, which has the most of any state.

Governor extends emergency declaration

In a related development, Colorado Governor Jared Polis on August 2 extended an emergency declaration an extra 30 days — through September 1 — to free up resources for the avian flu response in Weld County.

Polis first announced the emergency declaration on July 5.

Source : umn.edu

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.