Federal and State Veterinary Agencies Share Update on HPAI Detections in Oregon Backyard Farm

There is no concern about the safety of the nation’s pork supply as a result of this finding.   

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Oregon state veterinary officials are investigating positive cases of H5N1 in a backyard farming operation in Oregon that has a mix of poultry and livestock, including swine. The Oregon Department of Agriculture announced on Friday, Oct. 25, that poultry on this farm represented the first H5N1 detection in Crook County, Oregon. On Tuesday, Oct...  

USDA Builds on Actions to Protect Livestock and Public Health From H5N1 Avian Influenza

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is planning to enhance national surveillance of H5N1 on dairy farms, building on measures taken by USDA since the beginning of the avian influenza outbreak. In partnership with state veterinarians, USDA will implement a tiered strategy to collect milk samples to better assess where H5N1 is present on U.S. dairy farms, with the goal to better inform biosecurity and containment measures, as well as to inform state-led efforts to reduce...

CDC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response Update October 29, 2024.

CDC continues to respond to the public health challenge posed by a multistate outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, or "H5N1 bird flu," in dairy cows, poultry and other animals in the United States. CDC is working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), state public health and animal health officials, and other partners using a One Health approach.

Since April 2024, CDC, working with state public health departments... 

New Study Finds a Relationship Between Eating Eggs and a Reduced Risk of Alzheimer's Dementia

For adults, eating eggs may support brain health – with research especially citing the egg’s naturally rich choline content.

A new study published in The Journal of Nutrition suggests an association between eating eggs and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s dementia in older adults. These findings are important as the prevalence of Alzheimer’s dementia—the most common type of dementia—is expected to increase with an aging population.

Researchers continue to explore how diet could impact risk for Alzheimer’s dementia. Whole eggs, with most of their...

FSIS to Start H5N1 Beef Monitoring Sampling

On September 16, 2024, the FSIS will be adding H5N1 influenza A monitoring in dairy cows at slaughter to its already robust national surveillance programs for pathogens and chemical contaminants.

FSIS will leverage its existing National Residue Program (NRP) and conduct H5N1 sampling in the muscle samples of dairy cow carcasses already collected for this program. Samples will be tested by FSIS laboratory personnel using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Carcasses sampled under the NRP are held by establishments pending results of residue testing...

ARS Scientists Discover Strategically Applied Livestock Grazing Can Benefit Sagebrush Communities

While a cow grazing in a field isn’t typically remarkable, United States Department of Agriculture scientists have identified potential ecological benefits of strategically applied livestock grazing in sagebrush communities across U.S. western rangelands.

As recently published in the scientific journal Ecosphere, the collaborative research effort among Agricultural Research Service (ARS) rangeland scientists at Burns, Oregon, and Fort Collins, Colorado, challenged the outdated dogma that livestock grazing in the sagebrush steppe always negatively impacts these ecosystems and, in fact, can convey desirable outcomes, particularly in regard to limiting both wildfire...

Study Confirms Mammal-to-Mammal H5N1 Spread

A new Cornell University study provides evidence that a spillover of avian influenza from birds to dairy cattle across several U.S. states has now led to mammal-to-mammal transmission – between cows and from cows to cats and a raccoon.

A new Cornell University study provides evidence that a spillover of avian influenza from birds to dairy cattle across several U.S. states has now led to mammal-to-mammal transmission – between cows and from cows to cats and a raccoon.

“This is one of the first times that we are seeing evidence...

Five Suspected Newcastle Disease Cases Test Negative in Brazilian Poultry

On 21 July, the Minsitry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) ruled out three potential new cases of Newcastle disease in poultry after testing additional samples taken from animals near where the first case was confirmed on 17 July. On 24 July, two further analyses of suspected cases within the Newcastle Disease protection zone revealed negative results.

"The negative results reinforce that the confirmed outbreak is an isolated sanitary event and that there are no signs of spread around the commercial farm where...

Cargill Invests $1 Million in Research on Methane Reduction in Cattle

Cargill, a global food and agriculture leader, has issued a $1 million grant to Colorado State University to help fund the university’s AgNext research program. The contribution will support cutting-edge research aimed at promoting sustainable animal agriculture practices and reducing the environmental impact of the beef industry.

“Working closely with industry partners like Cargill, researchers and producers, AgNext is helping develop innovative, scalable solutions that move the livestock industry toward a more sustainable future,” said Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, director of AgNext and Co-Pl...

Researcher Evaluates Increased Dark Periods After Placement of Broiler Chicks

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project by researchers at the University of Georgia that evaluated increased dark periods after placement of chicks. The research was made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Koch Foods. The research is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A summary of the completed project is below.

Project #732: Evaluation of Zero, Four and Six-Hour Dark Periods During the First Seven Days...