H5N1 marches on

In just over three months since it was first confirmed March 25, highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has continued to impact the dairy industry, in both incidents and precautions to reduce its spread.

As of July 10, the virus has been confirmed on 145 different dairy farm premises in 12 states — Idaho (28), Colorado (30), Michigan (26), Texas (22), Iowa (12), New Mexico (8), Minnesota (7), South Dakota (5), Kansas (4), Ohio (1), North Carolina (1) and Wyoming (1).

In the past 30 days, 53 newly-detected cases have been confirmed. They are limited to six states — Minnesota (July 2), Colorado (July 8), Iowa (June 28), Idaho (June 20), Texas (July 8) and Michigan (July 8).

In a July 3 press release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that a farm worker, this time in Colorado, became the fourth confirmed human case associated with the ongoing H5N1 outbreak affecting dairy cattle, along with one dairy farm worker in Texas and two in Michigan. The worker, who had been exposed to infected cows, suffered from conjunctivitis symptoms, and according to the CDC has since recovered from his infection. Two of the three other affected workers also suffered symptoms of conjunctivitis, while the third presented with flu-like respiratory symptoms.

While there have been four confirmed cases of cow-to-human transmission of H5N1, the CDC continues to rate the risk of infection to the general public as low. The CDC emphasizes that pasteurization of milk and cooking meat to proper recommended temperatures kills the virus, assuring the public that the food supply continues to be safe.

Based on the epidemiological data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, transmission appears to be most common through contact with raw milk, prompting the agency to caution dairy farmers to use care and caution in the milking parlor and when disposing of raw milk from infected animals, urging producers to heat-treat milk prior to discarding.

In addition to heat-treatment, officials encourage people exposed to infected animals to be vigilant in their use of appropriate personal protective equipment while taking care to practice good hygiene.

The USDA announced as of July 1, producers who have incurred milk losses due to a positive confirmation of H5N1 will be able to apply through their local Farm Service Agency office for Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish funds to help recover lost income.

To be eligible, dairy farmers will need to submit proof of a confirmed positive H5N1 based on the APHIS case definition, certifying the number of eligible adult dairy cows and the month those cows were removed from production.

The per-cow milk loss payment will be determined based on an expected 21-day period of no milk production, while the cow is removed from the milking herd, followed by seven additional days when the cow has returned to milk, but estimated to produce 50% of normal production. Payments will be calculated using the monthly all-milk price and national milk price. The deadline to apply will be January 30, 2025.

Since the USDA enacted a Federal Order April 29 requiring testing of all lactating dairy cows prior to crossing state lines, several states have taken action to require testing of those cows when moving within state, particularly when they will be exhibited at dairy cattle shows and other rules regarding livestock exhibitions.

To curb the spread of HPAI in Iowa, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship issued an order effective July 1 that will require testing for in-state movement for exhibition purposes and will prohibit dairy cattle originating in HPAI-affected herds from being exhibited.

According to the IDALS order, any dairy cattle intended for exhibition must have a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within seven days of arrival at the exhibition. Included with the CVI, any dairy cattle must undergo individual and bulk tank testing prior to issuance of the CVI for exhibition.

Throughout the upper Midwest, as the summer fair and show season kicks into full gear, there are unanswered questions and uncertainties surrounding the potential ramifications of exhibiting milking cows.

The Wisconsin Holstein Association had begun holding its series of nine district shows when the order was put in place. Two shows took place prior to the implementation of the order, while the remaining seven shows took place after testing was required.

Wisconsin Holstein breeders continued to support the activities of their association, despite the challenges presented by the testing requirements.

In total, 281 head of milking females were exhibited at the WHA district shows in 2024, down from 322 head exhibited in 2023 and 358 head exhibited in 2022.

In response to the testing orders and concern for reducing the spread of the disease, many local fairs across the upper Midwest are making the decision to exclude lactating dairy cattle from their shows this year.

Northwestern Wisconsin’s Barron County Fair traditionally has a large contingent of milking cows exhibited at their fair in both the junior and open divisions. The fair’s management made a decision to hold a virtual class for milking cows in response to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection order put in place June 19 requiring testing prior to in-state movement for exhibition.

“We wanted to be proactive, so we had long discussions with all the dairymen in our county that show,” said Kevin Roske, the manager of the Barron County Fair. “There are so many unknowns in this equation that no one wanted to take the risk of testing or exposing themselves to a situation that might impact their livelihoods.”

Roske said, the ones who lose out on the decision are the junior exhibitors who take pride in exhibiting their projects, particularly the milking cows they have usually been working with for years. That led to the development of an alternative plan.

“Last Saturday, someone went around to the farms, took photos of all the milking cows that would have been exhibited at the fair,” Roske said. “We will have our judge place them in a Hoard’s Dairyman-style contest, so that our youth still have the opportunity to showcase the cows they have put so much effort into.”

The main objective for Roske and his fellow Barron County fair board members, 4-H leaders and FFA advisors is to try give the youth the best experience they can, despite the limitations.

“The county fairs are all about the kids and they are the ones that suffer,” Roske said. “A lot of these kids missed out on showing at the fair four years ago because of COVID, and now they are facing this. These are years and experiences these kids can never get back.”