Update on Illness in Dairy Cattle from DATCP

Update on Illness in Dairy Cattle from DATCP 

Madison, Wis. – An illness has been reported in dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico. Affected cows presented with decreased milk production, decreased feed consumption, and reduced rumen motility. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are investigating these cases. 

Yesterday, USDA APHIS announced that tests collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and two dairy farms in Texas have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Per their press release, "At this stage, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health." Read the full release. 

At this time, Wisconsin has not made any changes to import requirements for cattle from Texas, Kansas, or New Mexico in response to these cases. Current import rules for cattle can be found on the DATCP: Cattle & Bison Movement webpage. It is important to check requirements prior to importing animals from any state, as requirements can change. Requirements such as official identification and certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs) help ensure all cattle entering Wisconsin are healthy prior to import. Tuberculosis testing is required for cattle imported from Texas and Michigan. The DATCP Division of Animal Health encourages producers to practice good biosecurity, including isolating new additions to the herd for at least 7 - 10 days. Further information on biosecurity practices can be found on the DATCP: Basic Biosecurity webpage and SecureMilkSupply.org. 

If producers notice unusual clinical signs in their cattle, they are encouraged to work with their herd veterinarian. To report herds with unexplained symptoms, veterinarians should contact DATCP at (608) 224-4872 (business hours) or (800) 943-0003 (after hours and weekends). 

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Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Division of Animal Health https://datcp.wi.gov