Minnesota dairy farmers on the lookout after South Dakota herd tests positive for bird flu
PIERRE, S.D. — Minnesota dairy farmers are on the lookout after officials announced Friday that a herd of cattle in South Dakota tested positive for bird flu.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza has been impacting bird populations in Europe and Asia since August of 2020. Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the bird flu had spread to cattle in dairy farms for the first time. The virus was detected in farms in Kansas and Texas.
South Dakota is now the eighth state with the avian flu confirmed in their cattle.
Dairy farmers in Minnesota are being advised to limit dairy cow exposure to wild birds, which is easier said than done in the midst of the spring migration.
"There are sound barrier things that you can do that deter birds from being around. And that's something we are heavily looking into," said Colette Thorson of Diers Corporation. "Everything is closed here. Even our own feed sources, generally, is from our field."
Cow collars also tell Thorson if one of her cows has stopped eating.
"It sends me alerts on my phone. It's very much like an Apple watch," said Thorson. "We do a lot here to control any virus of any sort."
Turkey flocks in Minnesota have been wiped out by the bird flu in the past, but Dr. Joe Armstrong with the University of Minnesota says so far, cows aren't affected the same way. Those that test positive, though, are being pulled from milk production.
"We are taking them out of the milk supply and food supply, the impacted animals, but that's the extent of it. There is no reason to be thinking about depopulating or culling or anything at this point because they are not dying. And so we are fortunately not having to worry about that," he said.
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The USDA says pasteurization kills bird flu, and milk and dairy products are safe to consume.
Symptoms of avian flu in cattle include a drop in milk production, loss of appetite, and changes in manure consistency. Producers should limit visitors and separate the sick and new animals, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources said.
Officials say they're not concerned about the safety of commercial milk supply as the U.S. typically has more sufficient milk supply in the spring.
Health officials say that while there have been cases of bird flu spreading to humans, the instances are rare.