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...

HPAI H5N1 Virus in Dairy Cattle – What We Know

In March 2024, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1), commonly referred to as bird flu, was confirmed in domestic U.S. livestock for the first time in a dairy operation in Texas. Since then, the virus has spread to 172 dairy operations across 13 states, raising widespread uncertainty throughout the dairy and livestock markets. Industry participants have raised concerns about the outbreak's potential impact on consumer perception and demand for dairy and meat products, though government agencies reiterate that the national food supply remains safe. Expana is closely monitoring the...

Penn State Tests Dairy Herd for Bird Flu in Support of State Surveillance Effort

Animal health experts in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have announced that — out of an abundance of caution — they will test the University’s dairy herd for highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, under a voluntary state testing program.

The announcement comes amidst an outbreak of bird flu that has affected dairy cattle in more than a dozen states since March. As of July 19, the virus had not been found in Pennsylvania dairy herds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state animal...

Brazil Stops All Exports of Poultry Meat to China

According to an official Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) document released today (19 July) Brazil has taken a precautionary measure to temporarily suspend the issuance of international sanitary certificates for poultry meat exports to the People's Republic of China. Sanitary certificates requested from 17 July will not be issued until further notice.

This is an updated measure from a previous declaration from MAPA banning poultry meat and meat products originating solely from the State of Rio Grande Do Sul.

Meanwhile, MAPA also declared today (19 July) an animal health...

Brazil Reports First Outbreak of Newcastle Disease in Poultry Since 2006

Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) has reported an outbreak of Newcastle disease in a commercial poultry flock in the municipality of Anta Gorda, Rio Grande do Sul state.

MAPA said the poultry farm was immediately quarantined. All birds will be culled, the farm disinfected, and a complementary investigation will also be carried out within a 10 km radius around the area where the outbreak occurred, in accordance with the national Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease Contingency Plan...

Philippines Plans to Soon Roll Out ASF Vaccine

The office of the President of the Philippines announced that the Department of Agriculture (DA) would roll out an African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine by September. The initial rollout will be for government use, with commercial use to follow.

According to the DA, the commercial trial for the vaccine is expected to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month, allowing the DA to start mass trials. However, the UK government noted in an ASF outbreak in Asia assessment report that the department... 

ANALYSIS: May Turkey Export Volume Reveals Generally Conservative Changes from April

May’s turkey export data showed that volume comparisons with April were mostly conservative compared with the five-year average changes. The total amount of turkey sold to foreign buyers decreased by approximately 1%, compared to a five-year average increase of 5% for this period. Moving from April to May, the top three export buyers of U.S. turkey remained as Mexico, Canada, and Jamaica absorbing 31.76 million pounds, 1.10 million pounds, and 0.77 million pounds, respectively.

Mexico was the primary driver of the overall decrease in turkey...

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Wyoming Dairy Herd

The Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) have received confirmation from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) of the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a dairy cattle herd in Wyoming. The detection was first identified in samples received by the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in a dairy farm in Wyoming.

The Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) have received confirmation...

MDARD: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Three New Dairy Herds

Today, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring announced the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in additional dairy herds from Clinton, Gratiot, and Ionia counties. Testing through the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory detected this case. Samples have been sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories for additional confirmatory testing.

Regardless of species, biosecurity remains the best tool available to combat HPAI. On May 1, 2024, Director Boring issued the Determination of Extraordinary Emergency HPAI Risk Reduction...

MDARD: Designates Two Bovine Tuberculosis Testing Areas

Today, due to the detection of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in wild deer from Benzie, Crawford, and Otsego counties during the 2023 deer hunting season, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Dr. Tim Boring has designated two bovine TB testing areas. One area includes specific portions of Benzie and Manistee counties, and the other includes portions of Crawford and Otsego counties. Testing all the cattle and bison herds within these areas will help to protect animal health, public health, and market access for Michigan's cattle, meat, and milk products...

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch Laying Off About 400 Staff in Michigan Due to Bird Flu

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch is temporarily laying off about 400 employees in Michigan due to the spread of bird flu.

The company's chief human resources officer Stephanie Kempa said the virus impacted the company's hen population at some farms in Ionia County.

"The company plans to rehire many positions as hen replenishing and egg production increases," Kempa said in a letter to the state Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

ANALYSIS: Checking-In on Turkey Market Supply Factors

Although mid-May trade conditions have been slow to shift the undertone surrounding whole-body turkeys and raw materials, there is no shortage of variables which are weighing heavily on the minds of market participants as they refine their expectations for the road ahead. Central to many turkey-related conversations remains disease.

As illustrated by this week’s chart, year-to-date (YTD) commercial HPAI outbreaks have risen about 84%, or 229.6 thousand head, when compared to a similar period one year prior...

INSIGHT: Experts Challenge Allegations of Poultry Litter in Feed Spreading HPAI in Cattle

In the weeks since the unprecedented discovery of US cattle testing positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), some mainstream media outlets have attempted to connect this to the use of poultry litter in cattle feed.

However, those familiar with the science and with the workings of the US livestock and poultry industry find the idea rests on shaky grounds.

Experts believe cattle infected by wild birds

In a document published on 26 April, the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) stated “The genetic and epidemiological data indicate spillover of the virus from...

Bird flu Outbreak in Dairy Cows Fails to Deter US Raw Milk Sellers

U.S. sellers of raw milk appear undeterred by federal health warnings for consumers to avoid drinking unpasteurized milk in light of a bird flu outbreak that has affected dairy herds in nine states and sickened at least one dairy farm worker.

Thirty of the 50 U.S. states permit the sale of raw milk, which accounts for less than 1% percent of U.S. milk sales. A nationwide survey of pasteurized milk - heated to kill pathogens - found avian flu virus particles in about 20% of samples tested...

USDA Confirms Detection of Avian Influenza in Dairy Cattle in Colorado

Yesterday, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed a detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cows in Northeast Colorado. This is the first detection of avian influenza diagnosed in cattle in Colorado. Detections of HPAI in dairy cattle have occurred in eight other states.

On Monday, April 22, the Colorado State Veterinarian’s office received a notification of a dairy herd demonstrating clinical signs consistent with HPAI in cattle. Samples submitted to the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tested presumptive positive for HPAI on April 24, and were confirmed by the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory on April 25.

INTERVIEW: Six Months On, France’s World-First HPAI Vax Campaign Seen as Successful

Early April marked six months since French authorities, along with the country’s poultry sector, embarked on an ambitious effort to vaccinate every commercially-raised duck on the mainland against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The decision made it a global pioneer; although HPAI vaccines had been used in non-exporting countries to protect food security, no major exporter has done so, and the world has been closely watching the experiment. As an industry representative told Feedinfo last year, “We’re a bit like the guinea...

ANALYSIS: Tightening Turkey Production Trends

Given the relatively serene state of the turkey market here in early Q2, market participants are keeping their eyes trained on the stats as they refine their expectations for the road ahead. When it comes to supply-facing variables, disease remains a top consideration, and with good reason. In just the first four months of the year, about 346 thousand commercial turkeys have been impacted by HPAI. Although this figure represents only a small fraction of the industry’s annual production potential, it is one part of a more complex scenario currently unfolding on the supply...

USDA Actions to Protect Livestock Health From Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza

To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA is sharing a number of actions that we are taking with our federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread.

Today, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order requiring the following measures, effective Monday, April 29, 2024:

Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle

• Prior to interstate movement, dairy cattle are required to receive...

Cow-to-Cow Transmission Confirmed as a Factor in Spread of H5N1

In an update provided by the USDA, the agency confirmed that cow-to-cow transmission is a factor in the spread of H5N1 bird flu in dairy herds.

However, it remains unclear exactly how the virus is being moved around. “We know that the virus is shed in milk at high concentrations; therefore, anything that comes in contact with unpasteurized milk, spilled milk, etc. may spread the virus,” explained the USDA.

The government stressed the importance of biosecurity, including the movement of people, animals, vehicles, and...

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in North Carolina Dairy Herd

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was detected in a dairy herd in North Carolina on April 10, bringing the number of states with confirmed cases of HPAI in livestock to seven. 

HPAI has previously been detected in nine dairy herds in Texas, three in Kansas, two in New Mexico, and one each in Michigan, Idaho, and Ohio. The movement of cattle from affected herds in these states to North Carolina has been suspended. 

“This is an evolving situation, and we are waiting for more diagnostics from NVSL and will work collaboratively with our federal partners and dairy farmers in North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler...

USDA’s APHIS Answers Questions on Detection of HPAI in Dairy Cattle

Following the recent string of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detections in dairy herds in several states, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the rapidly evolving situation.

As of Apil 3, 2024, six states have confirmed cases of HPAI in domestic livestock. The first confirmation was on March 25 in dairy milking cattle in Texas. Since then, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Idaho, and Ohio have also reported HPAI in dairy cattle herds.

Below are some of the questions...

States with HPAI-Infected Dairy Cows Grows to Six

A herd of dairy cattle in Ohio has been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), increasing the number of states with dairy operations affected by the virus to six.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) on April 3 announced it had received confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) of HPAI infection in a dairy cattle herd in Wood County, Ohio.

The USDA previously confirmed the H5N1 strain of HPAI in dairy cattle on seven Texas farms, two in Kansas, and one each...

ANALYSIS: Exploring Factors Influencing the Turkey Market

Although market-swaying spot trade activity is off to a fairly uneventful start in April, there are no shortage of variables that are lingering on the minds of turkey market participants as we proceed into spring. At the top of the "figurative" list is HPAI, which has been slow to relinquish its grasp on the poultry (and egg) industry. Through the first three months of the year, commercial HPAI turkey cases advanced by about 50%, or 70 thousand birds, from the year prior...