Bird Flu is Spreading in Dairy Herds. Midwest Farmers Say They're Vigilant but Not Alarmed

Midwest farmers and others in the dairy industry say they are staying vigilant but are not overly alarmed as bird flu spreads to a growing number of dairy cattle herds. Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has been found in eight states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This strain of avian influenza already had been detected in the U.S. in wild animals and poultry flocks, but in the last few weeks, it was found in dairy cows for the first time. The outbreak was first discovered in a herd in Texas and has since spread to dairy farms in New Mexico, Kansas, South Dakota, Idaho, Michigan, Ohio and North Carolina.

In the Midwest, Kansas’ Department of Agriculture and the USDA found the flu in three commercial dairy operations in late March. In a statement, Kansas Animal Health Commissioner Justin Smith said that they are working with federal and state health officials to monitor the situation.

“We encourage all livestock owners to practice enhanced biosecurity measures, especially limiting those who are moving on and off the premises,” Smith said. “We also encourage livestock owners and veterinarians to report cattle illnesses quickly so we can minimize any further impact in the state.”

Bird flu is often deadly for chickens, but so far it seems to be much milder for cows. The USDA advises farmers to look for symptoms including decreased milk production and decreased food consumption. So far, experts say only about 10% of the cows in an infected herd have gotten sick and for the most part, the cows have recovered.

That’s reassuring for dairy farmers, said Sean Cornelius, a third-generation dairy farmer and nutritionist in northwest Missouri.

“Everybody is very aware of the situation,” Cornelius said. “Farm owners, farm managers are definitely keeping in touch with their veterinarians and with their other resources to understand how the situation is evolving and I’d say not really alarmed by it, but being very vigilant.”

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