As the dairy industry moves into the second year of combating H5N1, maintaining momentum and commitment to biosecurity remains crucial. The past year has been a tumultuous period for the dairy industry, grappling with the onset of the H5N1 bird flu virus in dairy cattle. Dairy farmers have significantly strengthened biosecurity measures, and researchers have gained valuable insights into the virus. This ongoing battle was highlighted in a recent “Dairy Defined” podcast, where top experts from the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) shared their perspectives.
Understanding H5N1’s Impact on Dairy Cattle
The introduction of the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus to dairy herds in March 2024 caught the industry by surprise. Since then, more than 1,000 dairy herds have been affected. Thankfully, effective eradication efforts in certain areas raise hopes of completely eliminating the virus from the U.S. dairy cattle population. Jamie Jonker, NMPF’s chief science officer, remains optimistic about this possibility, emphasizing that the timeline is uncertain but achievable.