HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau recently announced it is monitoring the detection of avian influenza in dairy cattle herds following detection in several states in the west and Midwest.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) announced a response quarantine order that requires avian flu testing for any dairy cows coming to Pennsylvania from another state after several cases were detected in herds in the west and Midwest.
The quarantine, which applies to all dairy breeds and crosses with the only exception being animals going directly to slaughter, is being put in place "out of an abundance of caution," according to the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, which is also monitoring the cases.
Cattle from an infected farm may not be brought into Pennsylvania until the site tests negative, the PDA said.
"To be very clear, the avian flu in cattle is not the same as in chickens," the Farm Bureau said. "Cattle get cold symptoms which can be easily treated, while chickens typically die from this influenza."
The PDA’s order requires the following:
- Dairy cattle from a state where avian influenza has been confirmed in dairy cattle in the past 30 days may not be imported to, stopped off in or unloaded in Pennsylvania without testing of nasal swabs and milk.
- At least 30 animals, or all animals in loads with fewer than 30, must be tested within five days before movement.
- The animals must have been assembled as a group for at least 30 days with no new animals added in the 30 days before testing; otherwise, all animals must be tested.
- Testing is not required for calves under 1 year old, and for cattle moving directly to slaughter that are not commingled with cattle not moving to slaughter.
- Cattle from an infected farm may not be brought into Pennsylvania until the site tests negative.
To read the entire order released by PDA on Friday, April 5, click here.
