Understanding HPAI Transmission Risk on Dairy Farms

Oct 20, 2025

Beginning in early 2024, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in U.S. dairy herds, threatening milk production. Yet little is known about how the virus spreads in cows. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Michigan State University (MSU) are investing $225,201 into a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to understand how HPAI is transmitted in dairy cows.

Infected dairy cows experience sudden drops in milk production, lowering milk quality and causing significant economic losses for farmers. Cases of HPAI have also been observed spilling over from cattle to dairy workers. The level of risk for dairy workers from this novel spillover transmission poses and how it occurs is still under study.

Researchers led by Dr. Catalina Picasso, MSU assistant professor of large animal clinical sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine, are detecting and quantifying the risk of environmental HPAI transmission for animals and humans by mapping results from animals and air samples collected at dairy farms experiencing cases of avian influenza.

Click here to see more...

Video: Welfare That Works on Farm - Dr. Anna Wallenbeck

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Anna Wallenbeck from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences discusses how producers can evaluate and improve pig welfare in practice. She discusses group housing, social behavior, transport, slaughter practices, welfare regulations, and production economics. Dr. Wallenbeck also examines how management decisions influence pig welfare and farm competitiveness. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Animal welfare legislation is one animal protection measure, but we still have to look at the animals to understand their actual welfare.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Anna Wallenbeck is an Associate Professor in Animal Production Systems, Senior Lecturer in Animal Welfare, and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Her work connects animal welfare, production systems, and practical solutions for livestock farming. Learn more from Dr. Anna Wallenbeck on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.