9 Things You Should Be Doing Now About HPAI

Industry and regulatory agencies have realized that the window for containing the virus to a localized region is closing or has closed, perhaps leading some producers to adapt a fatalistic attitude. There are at least four good reasons why producers should continue making biosecurity efforts:

1) In the other 13 affected states, not every dairy was affected, yours could be one of those in California that isn’t.
2) The longer infection is delayed, the further we get into cooler weather, which reduces disease severity and forced culling.
3) There may be additional support funding for lost milk and cows available in the future which is not available now.
4) The longer infection is delayed, the greater the chance a vaccine for cattle will be available if your herd does become infected.

There are a number of comprehensive guidance documents about setting up biosecurity programs including those from CDFA and USDA. Based on studies and observations over the last 6 months however, there are at least 9 things producers should absolutely be doing now…

9 Things You Should Be Doing Now About HPAI If you not doing them already.

• Stop bringing untested lactating cows into the herd. Infected cows can be asymptotic 2 to 3 weeks before exhibiting symptoms. Ideally, new additions should be segregated for 30 days as well.
• Segregate returning youngstock for 30 days. While the level of risk returning heifers play in disease spread is unknown, we do know apparently normal youngstock can carry the virus. To be safe returning heifers should be segregated from resident cattle for 30 days.
• Provide farm-specific boots and coveralls. Dedicated outer-wear that remains on the dairy reduces risk of bringing the virus onto the dairy or home to their families.
• Avoid sharing employees with workers from other herds or flocks.  In studies in other states, employee cohabitation was a risk factor for spreading the virus between dairies and flocks.
• Stop all non-essential visitors. Work with essential visitors (vets, hoof trimers, AI or equipment technicians) to ensure they only bring in sanitized equipment or vehicles. See this article about dairy visitors.
• Keep rendering trucks off the dairy. Move rendering pick-ups to a peripheral part of the facility so dead haulers don’t have to drive through the dairy. CDFA released guidance on dead stock pick-up this week.
• Set up an HPAI protocol. Even if you’re not using it now, setting up a HPAI treatment protocol (in DairyComp, DelPro, PCDART etc.) in advance will allow you easy documentation of which cows were affected, greatly assisting later application to USDAFSA for assistance for lost milk.
• Prepare equipment for drenching. Construct or order equipment necessary to rehydrate large number of cows efficiently. Some commercial companies will manufacture “drench carts” Morris Levin and Drench-Mate. A variety of commercial drench powders (TechMix, MB Restore, Drench-Mate) or homemade electrolyte recipes are being used effectively.
• Stock up on PPE for employees. Free Personal Protective Equipment is available directly from the state, but it’s unknown how long supplies will last so, so act now.