Dairy Cattle & Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Important News for Dairy Farmers, Cattle Haulers, Veterinarians, and Others Involved the movement of Dairy Cattle

• December 16, 2024 - Letter to Dairy Farmers RE: USDA HPAI Federal Order Issued December 6, 2024 (PDF)
• June 27, 2024 - HPAI Updates for Maine Dairy Producers and Information on Worker Protection
• May 31, 2024 - USDA Expanded Support for Producers and Recommendations to Minimize Influenza Transmission at Dairy Cattle Livestock Exhibitions
• The USDA has issued a Federal Order effective Monday, April 29, 2024, that impacts the movement of lactating dairy cattle. Read the full Federal Order (PDF). Read the UDSA’s Guidance Document (PDF).
• May 10, 2024 - USDA, HHS Announce New Actions to Reduce Impact and Spread of H5N1- USDA is announcing assistance for producers with H5N1 affected premises to improve on-site biosecurity in order to reduce the spread.
• All lactating dairy cattle moving across state lines must receive a negative test for Influenza A unless cows are being moved direct to slaughter. For more on testing requirements.
• Lactating dairy cattle moving interstate direct to slaughter are not required to have a premovement test but must move on a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) or the Owner Hauler Statement (OSS) (PDF) or the cull cow worksheet (Excel) for use. Most states will accept the OSS or worksheet; however, producers/haulers/veterinarians and others should check with the State of Destination for nuances (e.g., Pennsylvania, a waybill will be sufficient as long as the animals go directly to a licensed meat establishment, Oklahoma requires a CVI and will not allow for the alternative documents).
• Cows moving direct to slaughter on a CVI or other approved documentation must have RFID tags or other acceptable forms of official ID.
• For more on RFID tags and Requesting them from DACF.
• For more on Other Acceptable Forms of Identification.

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CVI Requirements

As noted in the APHIS Requirements and Recommendations for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock, dairy cattle moving direct to slaughter on a CVI must have individual official identification recorded.

USDA’s final rule on Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison was released in April, 2024. During this transition window over the next 180 days metal, non-electronic identification (EID) tags for animal identification will continue to be allowed, but soon only RFID tags as the official eartag for use in interstate movement of cattle will be allowed.

DACF Animal Health can provide producers, veterinarians, and others with RFID tags for cattle. Before we can send tags, a Premises Identification Number (PIN, also commonly called a "Prem ID") is required. A PIN is a unique code that is permanently assigned to a single physical location.

Setup PIN Request RFID Tags

USDA HPAI Cattle

On May 23, 2024, USDA released support options to include dairy producers whose herds have not tested positive for H5N1. Financial support will be available to:

• Support biosecurity planning and implementation
• Reimburse producers for veterinary costs associated with sample collection for H5N1 testing.
• Offset shipping costs for influenza A testing at laboratories in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.

More information is available here: USDA, HHS Announce New Actions to Reduce Impact and Spread of H5N1 | USDA.

Please note that we don’t yet have specifics from USDA on accessing this funding. As we receive additional information we will be sure to post it here. Feel free to reach out to us using the contact information at the bottom of this page.

More Resources from USDA

• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Detections in Livestock
• USDA Support for Producers with Affected Dairy Premises (PDF) - USDA is offering additional support for producers who have HPAI confirmed positive dairy herds so they have tools to eliminate the virus and can protect their animals, themselves, their families, and their employees.

Testing & Reporting in Cattle

• USDA Guidance Document - Effective April 29, 2024 (PDF)
• Federal Order requiring testing and reporting HPAI in livestock (April 24, 2024)
• Disease Information: Animal Health: Division of Animal and Plant Health: Maine DACF (reportable disease form for online disease reporting)

Human Health

• Maine CDC H5N1 Guidance for Farm Workers English/Spanish (PDF)
• U.S. CDC PPE document, English/Spanish Version (PDF)
• Farm PPE Order Request Form (PDF) - Deadline and ordering info for PPE
• Recommendations for Workers
• FDA Milk safety guidance during HPAI outbreak in cattle
• Questions and Answers Regarding Milk Safety During Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Outbreaks | FDA

Farm Biosecurity Practices

• HPAI Biosecurity: Protecting Your Dairy Herd (Courtesy MA Department of Agricultural Resources) (PDF)
• Dairy Farm Biosecurity: Preventing the Spread of H5N1
• APHIS Recommendations for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock For Workers (PDF)
• Recommendations for Producers
• National Milk Producers Federation Dairy Biosecurity Recommendations – HPAI and More
• EPA Approved Disinfectants to Control HPAI virus
• DACF Webinar: Update on HPAI Detections in Dairy Cattle (April 11,2024) - Following the recent HPAI detections in cattle, Maine DACF Animal Health held a one-hour webinar on April 11, 2024 to disseminate information and answer questions. This event was intended for cattle producers and others that may be impacted by this recent animal health event.

Farm Biosecurity Plans

• FARM Everyday Biosecurity Reference Manual
• FARM Everyday Biosecurity Plan Template (PA Fillable pdf)

Wildlife Management to Protect Against HPAI

• Manage wildlife to prevent avian influenza
• Maine DIFW contacts for permits for depredation of wild birds

Do you have questions or concerns about HPAI in dairy cattle?

If your concern is about the health of an animal or the implementation of the federal order:

• Animal Health Program, Animalhealth.AGR@maine.gov or (207) 287-3701

If your concern is about food safety:

• If dairy, Linda Stahlnecker, linda.stahlnecker@maine.gov or (207) 287-7623
• If beef, Dr. Jennifer Eberly, Jennifer.eberly@maine.gov or (207) 287-7512
• If general or other, Celeste Poulin celeste.poulin@maine.gov or (207) 287-4456

If your concern is about access to funding or resources or anything else:

• Craig Lapine, craig.lapine@maine.gov or (207) 557-1623