USDA Issues Federal Order Requiring Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle

Yesterday afternoon, USDA announced several actions to further protect livestock health against the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Inflluenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle as well as other livestock populations. This includes a Federal Order requiring the following measures, effective Monday, April 29, 2024:

Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle

• Prior to interstate movement, dairy cattle are required to receive a negative test for Influenza A virus at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory.
• Owners of herds in which dairy cattle test positive for interstate movement will be required to provide epidemiological information, including animal movement tracing.
• Dairy cattle moving interstate must adhere to conditions specified by Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Mandatory Reporting

• Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A nucleic acid detection diagnostic results (e.g., PCR or genetic sequencing) in livestock to USDA APHIS.
• Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A serology diagnostic results in livestock to USDA APHIS.

Media coverage 
As expected, this issue continues to generate coverage in both traditional and social media.

Both national and regional dairy checkoff organizations have increased media monitoring to stay abreast of the situation and believe most stories are fact-based and neutral (even when a headline is more sensationalized).

We encourage you to continue to share your own positive dairy story to ensure consumers are seeing good news about dairy farmers and dairy farming. It’s also important to be vigilant about only sharing news from verified sources, such as your State Department of Agriculture or federal agencies.

Please contact Beth Meyer (bmeyer@milk4u.org) if you have any questions.