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Division of Animal Health
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Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued guidance for state animal health officials, accredited veterinarians, and producers related to the Federal Order designed to reduce the risk of HPAI (H5N1) spreading among cattle and poultry. The Federal Order will be effective Monday, April 29, 2024 and requires:
- Mandatory testing for interstate (across state lines) movement of dairy cattle
- These steps will be immediately required for lactating dairy cattle. USDA requirements for other classes of dairy cattle will be based on scientific factors concerning the virus and its evolving risk profile.
- Lactating dairy cattle are required to receive a negative test for Influenza A virus at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory using an NAHLN approved assay prior to interstate movement.
- Sample collection and testing must take place no more than seven days prior to interstate movement.
- Nonlactating dairy cattle - including heifers, dry cows, and bull calves - are not currently subject to testing for interstate movement due to their risk profile.
- Lactating dairy cattle from herds which have tested positive for Influenza A are not eligible for interstate movement for 30 days from the most recent collection of any sample that tests positive from any individual animal in the herd.
- Nonclinical lactating dairy cattle moving interstate direct to slaughter are not required to have a premovement test but must move on a certificate of veterinary inspection.
- Clinical lactating dairy cattle are ineligible for interstate movement or movement to slaughter.
- Mandatory reporting of positive tests
- Laboratories must report positive Influenza A nucleic acid detection diagnostic results (e.g. PCR or genetic sequencing) in livestock to USDA APHIS
- Laboratories must report positive influenza A serology diagnostic results in livestock to USDA APHIS
Sampling Guidance
- For groups/lots of 30 or fewer animals moving interstate, all animals being moved must be tested.
- If more than 30 animals are moving interstate, then only 30 animals total must be tested.
- Milk/udder secretion samples must be taken from lactating dairy cattle prior to interstate movement.
- Each quarter is sampled and combined into one sample for laboratory submission.
- Submissions must be between 3-10 mL of milk per animal.
- Sample collection and testing must take place no more than seven (7) days prior to interstate movement.
- Samples must be collected under the supervision of a licensed or accredited veterinarian.
Current guidance includes that healthy lactating dairy cattle moving interstate direct to slaughter are not required to have a premovement test, but must move on a certificate of veterinary inspection at this time.
DATCP will continue to share information from USDA on the Federal Order as the situation continues to evolve.
The FDA and USDA continue to emphasize that the commercial milk supply is safe because of the required diversion of milk from sick cows and the pasteurization process. Pasteurization has continuously proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses in milk.
Dairy and poultry producers should continue to enhance their biosecurity efforts and monitor and control disease in their herds and flocks. DATCP is closely monitoring HPAI (H5N1) in dairy cattle and continues to encourage producers that notice unusual clinical signs in their cattle 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).
For more information and resources:
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Division of Animal Health
https://datcp.wi.gov
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