In the spring of 2024, H5N1, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, began to emerge as a disease that was impacting dairy cattle. Since that time, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has been working to establish the safety of the food chain, specifically for meat and milk.
While research is ongoing to answer questions regarding transmission, biosecurity and testing of bulk milk tanks in dairies has been stressed, says Dr. Kathy Simmons, chief veterinarian for the NCBA in this interview with RealAgriculture’s Lyndsey Smith at CattleCon in San Antonio, Texas.
Studies at the ARS and the USDA have shown meat to be safe, says Simmons. It is possible that the reason for the prevalence of the disease in dairy cattle and not in beef could be explained by the virus’ affinity for milk. Dairy animals are more often in close proximity to one another, where as beef cattle in pasture are more spread out, and lactating beef animals are not in feed yards.
Simmons and Smith also discuss foot and mouth disease being found in Germany and new world screwworm, which is a pest that hasn’t been seen in the U.S. since 1966, outside of an episode in the Florida Keys in 2016, which was quickly eradicated. The threat of screwworm has led to the border between the States and Mexico being closed to cattle as of November 2024.
All three health risks underline the need for farmers and ranchers to review, update, and enhance their biosecurity plans and protocols, Simmons says.
Listen to the full interview below.
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