Texas Dairy Farms Brace for Continued Threat of Avian Influenza After Outbreak
Source: The DairyNews
In early March, Sieto Mellema, a dairy farmer based in Dalhart, Texas, observed signs of illness among his cows, characterized by reduced milk intake and mild fevers. Eventually, 10% of his herd was affected by what was later confirmed to be an infection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu.
Despite the outbreak, Mellema reported no fatalities among the cows, and two-thirds of the affected animals recovered fully within 14 days, regaining their normal production levels. "It was peculiar that only second-calf and older cows were affected. Younger animals, including first-calf cows, youngstock, our beef cows, and the cross-bred calves, remained healthy," he noted.
The impact on milk production was significant, with an average loss of 1.5kg of milk per day over three weeks, totaling approximately 170,000 kgs of lost milk. This loss compounded the financial strain fr om already low milk prices at the time. The farm managed the outbreak by isolating symptomatic cows and providing supportive care, including fluids, electrolytes, and probiotics.
Fortunately, there were no cases of the virus spreading to humans on the farm. However, Mellema highlighted that many other dairies in the region faced similar challenges, suggesting that the official contamination figures released by the USDA might significantly underestimate the reality.
The farmer observed that the disease struck earliest and most noticeably on farms with cross-ventilation barns, which he learned have relatively less space per cow. This form of barn seemed to accelerate the spread of the disease compared to farms wh ere cows are kept outdoors, where the outbreak was milder and occurred months later.
Reflecting on the broader implications, Mellema expressed concern about the potential for reinfection and the virus's mutation, which could pose a risk to human health. "We all realize that we have probably not seen the end of all this yet," he concluded, emphasizing the ongoing risk as the disease could return in future seasons.
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The impact on milk production was significant, with an average loss of 1.5kg of milk per day over three weeks, totaling approximately 170,000 kgs of lost milk. This loss compounded the financial strain fr om already low milk prices at the time. The farm managed the outbreak by isolating symptomatic cows and providing supportive care, including fluids, electrolytes, and probiotics.
Fortunately, there were no cases of the virus spreading to humans on the farm. However, Mellema highlighted that many other dairies in the region faced similar challenges, suggesting that the official contamination figures released by the USDA might significantly underestimate the reality.
The farmer observed that the disease struck earliest and most noticeably on farms with cross-ventilation barns, which he learned have relatively less space per cow. This form of barn seemed to accelerate the spread of the disease compared to farms wh ere cows are kept outdoors, where the outbreak was milder and occurred months later.
Reflecting on the broader implications, Mellema expressed concern about the potential for reinfection and the virus's mutation, which could pose a risk to human health. "We all realize that we have probably not seen the end of all this yet," he concluded, emphasizing the ongoing risk as the disease could return in future seasons.
More information
