The Minnesota Board of Animal Health announced new testing requirements for lactating dairy cows, which will be effective June 18 through December 31, 2024.
As fair season approaches, livestock and poultry exhibitors around Minnesota are working diligently to prepare their animals for local, county and state fair exhibitions. However, behind the scenes, H5N1 Influenza A infections have been interrupting production in poultry and dairy cattle farms in Minnesota.
University of Minnesota Extension hosted an online workshop about influenza and biosecurity to bring awareness and ideas to exhibitors and exhibition decision-makers. A recording of the webinar is available now.
Marie Culhane, DVM, professor in the UMN College of Veterinary Medicine, talks about influenza and its rules in production animals. She also presents an update on the situation, showing where influenza is around the world, in the U.S., and Minnesota in particular. She describes how H5N1 Influenza A is moving across the U.S. in poultry flocks, dairy herds and many other animal species while highlighting why this knowledge is important to all livestock and poultry owners.
Extension poultry educator Abby Schuft shares practical biosecurity applications that families, fair boards and event organizers can use to prevent and reduce the spread of disease among livestock and people. Key concepts are to have a written biosecurity plan, frequently wash hands, particularly when entering and exiting any and every barn, wear clean clothing and footwear when visiting other locations on the fairgrounds, and minimize sharing any equipment with others.
Joe Armstrong, DVM, Extension cattle production educator, fields questions about influenza in dairy. Because raw milk is currently a very high disease transmission risk, you should use your own milking equipment, follow prescribed milking procedures and handling of raw milk, and find alternative options for public milking demonstrations and celebrity milking contests at fairs.
Resources
- USDA Recommendations to Minimize Influenza Transmission at Dairy Cattle and Livestock Exhibitions
Michigan State University Fair and Exhibition Animal Health Planning Guide
Biosecurity Performance Standards for Raw Milk Collection and Transport
MN Board of Animal Health Resources
Biosecurity for exhibitors
Permission is granted to news media to republish our news articles with credit to University of Minnesota Extension. Images also may be republished; please check for specific photographer credits or limited use restrictions in the photo title.