USDA Expanded Support for Producers and Recommendations to Minimize Influenza Transmission at Dairy Cattle Livestock Exhibitions

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced expanded support for producers to help stop the spread of HPAI in dairy cattle, including for producers who do not have a herd that has tested positive. This support equips producers with tools they can use to keep their herds and workers healthy and reduce the risk of the virus spreading to additional herds. These financial options include supporting biosecurity planning and implementation; reimbursing producers for veterinary costs associated with sample collection for H5N1 testing, and offsetting shipping costs for influenza testing at laboratories in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. Maine DACF is working to message producers directly with more specifics on the financial support program.

USDA APHIS also posted recommendations to minimize influenza transmission at dairy cattle livestock exhibitions. The recommendations reiterate the need for lactating animals moving interstate to an exhibition or show must have a negative test result from samples collected within seven days of movement. No cases have been detected in Maine livestock to date. Should there be an HPAI cattle detection in the state, we will reevaluate and adjust movement and testing recommendations related to events.

According to USDA and the FDA, pasteurized milk, dairy products, and meat remain safe to consume as pasteurization and cooking kill harmful microbes and pathogens in animal products. Maine DACF reminds dairy cattle producers, exhibition organizers, exhibitors, and others to check the USDA APHIS website and the Dairy Cattle and HPAI : Division of Animal and Plant Health: Maine DACF. There are additional resources available on the Maine DACF Animal Health page.