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While “bird flu” — highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) type A (H5N1) — has been making headlines recently, the USDA says that pasteurization kills the pathogen. It confirms that dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt are considered safe to consume. At this time, beef cows have not been impacted, so meat is considered safe to consume as well.
On May 24, the USDA released a statement that its Food Safety and Inspection Service tested beef tissue from 96 dairy cows condemned at selected facilities and that viral particles were detected in the tissue samples of one of these cows. The USDA reported: "No meat from these dairy cattle entered the food supply."
On May 24, The New York Times wrote: "So far, the virus, which is known as H5N1, has only been detected in dairy cattle and not in the beef cattle that are raised for meat."
U.S. livestock producers, mindful of the impact diseases can have on their profitability, keep biosecurity measures at the forefront of their businesses. There are a number of strategies farmers have in place for the health of their cattle and the biosecurity of their farms. They are taking extra precautions amid recent news events.
In this post, we’ll explore:
Impact of Avian Influenza on the Cattle Industry
What Are Biosecurity Measures?
6 Steps for Biosecurity
What to Do If You Suspect a Biosecurity Risk on Your Farm
Highly pathogenic avian influenza type A has been making headlines recently, and it’s important to understand that “highly pathogenic” does not refer to its impact on humans. HPAI does not typically infect humans, and the CDC states that the risk to the general public is “low.”
On May 30, it was reported that a third U.S. dairy worker contracted H5N1. The individual developed flu-like respiratory symptoms, which are improving as they isolate. The first two individuals’ symptoms were pink eye. Even though federal officials say there is still low risk for the general population, and that there is no evidence avian flu can spread from person to person, this highlights the importance of biosecurity.
The impact of the influenza type A in U.S. cattle is difficult to quantify as this new disease outbreak is in the early stages. HPAI A(H5N1) was first confirmed in cattle in Texas in March, though it’s possible that it first jumped to lactating dairy cows in December. Nine states have confirmed H5N1 cases in dairy cattle, as of May 22, 2024:
Colorado
Idaho
Kansas
Michigan
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
South Dakota
Texas
A large population of cattle can become infected by the so-called “avian flu,” but infection generally results in a low mortality rate.
In response to the outbreak, the USDA currently requires any lactating dairy cow to be tested for Influenza A seven days before they can be moved across state lines; they may return to their home herd with that negative test result within 10 days. This specific test is a new regulation form the USDA, but this is not a new practice as there are already several diseases cattle need to test negative for in order to cross state lines, such as Brucellosis, Vibrio, Johnes, and TB. Producers are taking this extra effort now so that HPAI A(H5N1) does not continue to spread.
Biosecurity is “a set of management and physical measures designed to reduce the risk of introduction, establishment and spread of animal diseases, infections or infestations to, from and within an animal population,” according to The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) definition in the Terrestrial Animal Health code.
Testing for HPAI A(H5N1) is an example of a biosecurity measure for a specific virus, but livestock producers take a wide variety of measures to protect cattle from diseases both known and unknown.
Quarantine all cattle, both mature and calves, that arrive on your yard. They should be physically distanced from your other livestock.
Make sure they are given plenty of water and time to rest when they first arrive at the farm. Because cortisol levels may rise when the cattle are exposed to the perceived threats associated with change, it’s wise to put them in a quiet part of the field so they can get acclimated to their new surroundings,
Viruses, including H5N1, can be spread through bodily secretions, including:
Oral
Nasal
Urine
Therefore, ensure there is no opportunity for nose-to-nose contact or run-off from the quarantine pen to a neighboring pen.
Cattle should never be overstocked or crowded in their pens, as this leads to stress, which may cause:
Enhanced susceptibility to disease
Diminished milk production
Lower rate of reproduction
Provide cattle with plenty of space to lay down and move around. It’s typical to provide at least 300 square feet per head.
The pens should provide a clean, dry environment. One of the most critical aspects to keep in mind is that moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria. Adding a slight slope — even as minimal as 3% can be effective — to drain fluids away from feed is beneficial.
The age of the cattle, season, and type of bedding play a role in how often pens need to be cleaned, but in general:
Spot clean three times a day, removing soiled bedding and replacing it with fresh bedding
Sanitize equipment cattle comes in contact with daily
Thoroughly clean milking stations daily
Fully disinfect a station before a new calf or cow arrives
Conduct a deep clean of the barns annually
Ensure there is good air quality for both comfort and biosecurity. There should be proper ventilation so cattle have access to fresh air throughout the seasons. There are a number of instruments that can help measure air quality. Conditions to consider include:
Temperature
Dust
Contaminants
Cattle should have unrestricted access to clean feed and fresh water. Ensure cattle have fresh feed every day and quickly discard any feed that becomes contaminated. Flies are often attracted to feed, so be sure to replace food that hasn’t been eaten on a timely basis.
Flies can bite away at your profits when they irritate your cattle. Learn about fly control in the free FBN Grass Turnout Guide.
Cattle are less likely to drink water that is poor in quality. Water can easily become contaminated with soil, algae, minerals, manure, and more. When cattle drink poor-quality water or drink less than the recommended 8-35 gallons per day, depending on their size and individual circumstances, they may:
Lose weight
Have tighter skin
Become dehydrated
Have dry eyes
Experience stress
Therefore, ensure there is plenty of fresh water strategically located wherever cattle feed indoors or graze outdoors. Ensure the water neither freezes nor rises above 80 °F.
Feeding and water troughs should be:
Cleaned of debris daily
Cleaned regularly during heavy use
Chemically disinfected at least twice a year
Be sure that chemical disinfectants are thoroughly rinsed away before refilling the troughs so that cattle do not ingest harmful toxins.
One of the ways that HPAI A(H5N1) is spread is through contact with dead birds and bird droppings. Therefore, be mindful to immediately clean bird droppings or dead birds from pens and feeding areas.
Routine maintenance is essential for farm biosecurity. Regularly surveying pastures, pens, and facilities will help you stay prepared so that you can make any necessary repairs or adjustments before they become bigger, more expensive issues to fix.
Routine farm maintenance for ensuring biosecurity for cattle may include:
Repairing holes
Keeping fences secure from neighboring livestock
Ensuring there isn’t standing water in pens
Removing bird and rodent nests
Clipping pastures
Spraying weeds — be particularly mindful of weeds that are toxic to cattle
Preventing any access points for birds to enter pens, milking facilities, and other facilities
Do you want to make improvements to your ranch? FBN Finance offers financing solutions that can be used for:
Constructing livestock facilities
Repairing barns
Purchasing additional farmland
Learn more about farmland loans from FBN Finance here.
Cattle that are already stressed and have weakened immune systems may be more susceptible to diseases. Therefore, promoting the overall general health of your cattle will help to make them more resilient.
There is not currently a vaccine for Influenza type A. However, ensuring cattle are up to date on other vaccines is essential so cattle have a competent immune system.
It’s important to instill a culture of cleanliness among farm workers to help support biosecurity measures. Workers should receive regular training so they understand how to best keep livestock, facilities, and equipment clean and how they themselves should stay hygienic.
Provide workers with a wash station, and post reminders to wash their hands. They should also be encouraged to wear clean gloves when working with livestock.
Provide laundry facilities stocked with detergent and bleach so that workers can wash and sanitize their clothing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and work boots.
If you have quarantine pens, try to have separate equipment and staff working with these animals. However, if the same personnel are working with both native and new animals, have them wash their boots, hands, and change clothes if they become soiled.
As much as possible, limit the number of guests and non-essential visitors to your facility. Ideally, individuals should be provided with boots that are used exclusively on the farm. At a bare minimum, biosecurity measures should include hand sanitizing. If you share milk trucks, strive to have truck drivers wear booties and gloves when walking onto your farm.
When it comes to avian influenza, employees are at a low risk of getting sick from the birds. However, because it is impossible to completely eliminate risk, employees should use proper PPE when handling birds or bird droppings. Each employee should wear gloves and thoroughly clean their hands after any bird interaction.
If you suspect an animal on your farm is infected, isolate them and call your veterinarian. Monitor cattle so it doesn’t spread.
Call your vet ASAP if you suspect highly pathogenic avian influenza type A on your ranch. HPAI A(H5N1) is a federally reportable disease. Clinical signs of Influenza A are:
Decreased feed intake
Dehydrated fecal matter
Decreased water intake
Decreased milk production
Abnormal-looking milk (such as thick, yellow, or colostrum type consistency)
For more information, see the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recommendations here.
To help you maintain the health and wellness of your livestock, facilities, equipment, and workers, FBN offers a wide range of disinfectants, including:
Virkon S Disinfectant, a sodium-chloride-based disinfectant suitable for boots, facilities, and equipment
Tek-Trol II, a detergent concentrate with a wide spectrum to kill microorganisms
Intervention Disinfectant Wipes, hydrogen-peroxide wipes for cleaning the hard surfaces of transportation vehicles, crates, grooming equipment, and more
Antibacterial Hand Soap, for handwashing
Tek-Trol Aerosol, for spot-cleaning clothing
Iodine (1%), a topical antiseptic to use to treat cuts and sores on cows as well as prior to their surgical procedures
You can shop for all of your animal health needs 24/7 online through FBN. We offer a diverse range of products, including:
When you buy on FBN, you can get your product delivered directly to your farm so you don’t have to drive all the way into town for it. You can even select a delivery time that works for your schedule. If your product(s) requires a prescription, provide your veterinarian's contact information when you order, and we'll obtain the prescription from them.
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