DES MOINES, Iowa – Dairy farmers and poultry producers in Iowa are being encouraged to enhance their biosecurity protocols and practices to combat the spread of bird flu.
“Through our daily communications with federal partners and colleagues in other states, as well as with Iowa State University and industry stakeholders, we continue to seek and learn new information about this developing and evolving situation with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI),” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “There are still many questions that are not yet fully answered, so we will remain closely engaged as we carefully evaluate our response to these changing dynamics. Consumers can feel confident that pasteurized milk and dairy products and properly prepared poultry continue to be safe to enjoy.”
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is not aware of any cases of HPAI in dairy cattle or poultry in Iowa as of April 12. Iowa’s last case of HPAI in a commercial poultry flock was reported on November 23, 2023. The state’s last case in a backyard poultry flock was reported on December 19, 2023. Other states, including Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Idaho, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and South Dakota have all reported cases in recent days or weeks.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has biosecurity recommendations for dairy herds to utilize. In addition, the Department has numerous other biosecurity resources for poultry producers and livestock farms to reference on its website.
“Heightened biosecurity on both poultry and cattle farms is critically important to keeping our livestock healthy. We would strongly recommend farmers work with their veterinarian and have a very good understanding of the health status of any herd that they are receiving any cattle from,” says State Veterinarian Dr. Jeff Kaisand. “Veterinarians, poultry producers with sick birds or dairy farmers seeing unusual or suspicious illnesses should report them to the Department at 515-281-5305.”
For additional information on HPAI, please visit the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.
