If you missed the September 18 call, the recording is now available:
Click here to access the recording.
Here are important highlights and takeaways from the panel discussion:
- Within the past month, California has reported 9 positive cases. California is a newly affected state, and data indicates that HPAI is slowly spreading via equipment and people versus infected cattle movement across premises.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures (PDA) encourages PA dairy farms to sign up for the lactating dairy cow health monitoring program. They would like at least 460 dairy farms enrolled to make data-backed statements on Pennsylvania’s HPAI-free status. Higher participation in the program could allow PDA to quickly control and potentially stop HPAI from spreading to other dairies and surrounding poultry farms. Click here to learn more about the program, and click here to view answers to frequently asked questions.
- The PA Dept. of Agriculture continues to offer free assistance in developing farm biosecurity plans. Click here to view a FARM biosecurity packet. You can email RA-ahds@pa.gov for assistance.
- The PA Dept. of Agriculture and the World Dairy Expo have been working together to facilitate animal testing before and after the show. More information will be shared soon.
- Nathan Brearley, from Portland, MI, milks 500 cows, maintains a closed herd, and uses bolus technology to monitor his cows’ rumination and body temperatures. Brearley felt they were prepared to quickly detect and treat HPAI in their herd. However, HPAI hit his herd fast and soon half his herd had elevated temperatures, with an average temperature being 5.1 degrees above normal. Brearley cited lasting effects throughout his herd, such as negatively affected rumen function, late term abortions, and decreased milk production. To read an additional firsthand account from another Michigan dairy farmer’s experience with HPAI on their farm, click here.
- Michelle Koch with Koch Turkey Farms spoke to her experience as an end-user dealing with HPAI. In 2023, they had three farms come back positive for HPAI through surveillance testing. Overall, Koch Turkey Farms depopulated 57,000 head, which is over 2 million pounds of bird and roughly 7 million dollars lost. These losses were not only felt by them as the integrators, but the growers as well. Koch stressed the importance of having, enforcing, and maintaining biosecurity protocols, especially with how fast HPAI can spread.
- Stacylyn Himmel, Head Cattle Buyer for Cargill’s Wyalusing, PA plant, recounted Cargill’s experience when HPAI was initially detected in Texas. Cargill purchases beef and dairy cattle across the U.S. and eastern Canada, so they have worked closely with state and federal regulations on animal movement and documentation. They have implemented a whole new process to track out-of-state cattle, which has a 90% compliance rate. Himmel urges farmers to listen to their veterinarians and PDA staff to ensure PA does not have to go through this.
- Rod Hissong from Mercer Vu Farms in Chambersburg, PA covered his farm’s experience participating in the PDA’s bulk tank surveillance program. With their satellite dairy in White Post, VA, at least once per week, Hissong transports cattle across PA, MD, WV, and VA state lines. Once enrolled in the surveillance program, he attested that the bulk tank testing process was quicker and easier than testing individual cows. Hissong mentioned food safety and being proactive were some of the driving forces behind signing up for the program.
Note: The USDA has confirmed that there is no threat to human health and milk. Dairy products remain safe to consume.
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