Avian influenza detected in dairy cattle

Chicago | Reuters— Samples of milk collected from sick cattle in Kansas and Texas tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, but the nation’s milk supply is safe, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Monday March 25.

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The USDA, along with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are investigating dairy cows in Kansas, Texas and New Mexico with symptoms including decreased milk production and low appetite, the USDA said.

So far, “unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk” collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas tested positive for highly pathogenic avian flu, the government said. A cattle swab test from another dairy in Texas also was positive.

Based on findings from Texas, wild birds, which spread the virus globally, appear to have introduced the virus to cattle, the USDA said. Testing indicates the risk of human infection is low, according to the agency.

“At this stage, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health,” the agency said. It added there should be no impact on prices for milk or other dairy products.

U.S. dairy industry groups urged importers not to ban or restrict shipments of U.S. dairy products because of the detections.

Importers have limited purchases of U.S. poultry since the nation’s worst-ever outbreak of the disease began in chicken and turkey flocks in 2022.

Prior to the announcement that milk samples from sick cattle had tested positive for avian influenza, Canadian milk commissions were urging Canadian producers to be on the lookout for symptoms of an “emerging health concern” affecting dairy cattle. The Canadian commissions were made aware last week U.S. dairy producers were reporting high onset of and high morbidity from Texas Agalactiae Syndrome, with confirmed cases in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico.

Lactating cows are considered particularly vulnerable.

Clinical signs include:

• decreased herd level milk production
• acute sudden drop in production with some severely impacted cows experiencing thicker, concentrated, colostrum-like milk
• decrease in feed consumption with a simultaneous drop in rumen motility
• abnormal tacky or loose feces and some fever

The Texas Animal Health Commission says symptoms of the disease last between 10 and 14 days. Affected producers have reported older cows in mid-lactation may be more likely to be severely impacted than younger cows and fresh cows or heifers.

Producers are being asked to be diligent in their farm level biosecurity, especially with individuals that have recently been in the U.S. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has also asked for heightened border controls around people who have been on farms in the U.S.

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) recommends limiting animal movements from U.S. sources. If animals are brought from the U.S., they should be quarantined on-farm and monitored very carefully for any illness symptoms, especially those listed above.

Producers are also asked to report any potential symptoms to their local veterinarians. If your animals are exhibiting the above symptoms, do not consume any raw milk. DFC is working with CFIA to monitor the situation and will continue to update should there be further developments.

-with files from Jeff Melchior, Glacier FarmMedia