Category: Dairy

SALEM, Ohio — A judge for the U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio issued a temporary restraining order against the popular Mt. Hope Alternative Animal Auction in Millersburg, Ohio, a multi-day-long auction where over 200 different species of domestic and exotic animals are sold, citing the auction’s violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

A preliminary complaint filed on Sept. 6 cited numerous and repeated violations of the law, spanning from inadequate veterinary care and unsafe housing of animals in enclosures, to improper animal handling, inaccurate record keeping and sales of animals from unlicensed sellers.

This year’s auction, which was set to take place Sept. 19-21, was canceled, according to the auction’s website, due to the temporary restraining order. In a statement online and on their Facebook Page, Mt. Hope wrote, “We are very sorry to do this so close to the auction but do not feel comfortable attempting to hold the sale. We apologize to all of our customers but feel this is the best decision at this time.”

Mt. Hope Auction President Thurman Mullet declined to comment pending further litigation.

The complaint

According to the complaint, since 2022, Mt. Hope has been cited by USDA for neglecting to provide 39 different animals at its facility during the Alternative Animal Auctions with proper veterinarian care. The court provided a detailed account of events that took place at Alternative Animal Auctions with photographs, including government inspectors’ discovery in September 2022 of a small, dead ram in the facility’s main sale barn.

The inspectors concluded that the auction staff had not carried out enough daily observations to notice the dead ram or to determine that it required veterinary care before it died. 

On the last day of the September 2023 auction, inspectors saw a calf lying down with its back legs splayed. A member of the public reported that the calf, which was later found to be unable to walk, had been in the same position since the day before. More animals in the fall 2023 auction, including two nilgai, a kind of Asian antelope, and several cattle, were discovered to be malnourished with ribs, scapula, pelvic bones and individual vertebrae exposed.

The complaint said that although Mt. Hope Auction has made clear that buyers and sellers are responsible for the animals they consign, the auction has not ensured that there are enough staff members on duty to effectively monitor the health and welfare of the thousands of animals at the auction each day and to promptly report any problems to the attending veterinarian. 

“The lack of diligence regarding the health and well-being of the thousands of animals that are part of the Alternative Animal Auctions has caused many animals to suffer, and will continue to do so unless (Mt. Hope) and its attending veterinarian alter their practices in compliance with the AWA,” the complaint reads. 

The USDA conducted 11 inspections of Mt. Hope Auction in the last two years, all of which have identified “multiple violations of the AWA and its regulations and standards,” for a total of 69 AWA violations in less than two years.

Thirteen of these violations were classified as critical or direct, the two most serious types of AWA citation.

“Despite written inspection reports and oral exit interviews after every inspection, as well as an Official Warning from USDA, (Mt. Hope) has been unable or unwilling to come into compliance with the AWA, showing a disregard for the applicable laws, the well-being of the animals that come to the Auctions and the safety of the public,” the complaint reads.

PETA

The temporary restraining order follows numerous complaints and reports issued from PETA, the animal rights organization, about alleged abuses and other incidents occurring at the Mt. Hope Alternative Animal Auctions. 

PETA reporting dating back to 2022 includes numerous incidents of alleged cruelty at the Mt. Hope Alternative Animal Auctions, some of which are also included in the court order as evidence of poor conditions at the auctions.

“Mt. Hope auctions off sick, injured and neglected animals for scofflaw sellers who can’t be bothered to provide them with basic, needed veterinary care or even adequate food and water,” said PETA Foundation Senior Director of Captive Animal Welfare Debbie Metzler in a press release the organization issued in July in response to a February USDA inspection report at Mt. Hope.

Next steps

In addition to ensuring that all animals present at its Alternative Animal Auctions are provided with adequate veterinary care, including daily observations to assess their health and well-being and the use of appropriate methods to prevent, control, diagnose and treat diseases and injuries, U.S. District Court Judge John Adams ordered Mt. Hope to begin keeping complete veterinary records of all animals evaluated or treated at Alternative Animal Auctions, including those that die.

The order also requires establishing a safe distance and/or barriers between animals and people and that USDA inspectors be able to access Mt. Hope facilities and records without interference or harassment.

Mt. Hope was given two weeks from the date of the order to comply.

STOUFFER’s is moving beyond the frozen aisle with a new boxed mac and cheese. STOUFFER’s Supreme Shells & Cheese offers 10% more cheese sauce than the leading shelf-stable shells and cheese product, to deliver a more cheese forward flavor profile, the company states. 

STOUFFER’s Supreme Shells & Cheese is made with dry pasta and a liquid cheese sauce and will be offered in two flavor varieties, Cheddar Cheese and Three Cheese, with additional innovations to rollout in 2025 and beyond.

• Cheddar Cheese: A bold take on classic comfort, this high-quality, supremely creamy cheddar cheese variety will become your pantry’s new best friend.
• Three Cheese: Enjoy the perfectly cheesy sauce trifecta of Wisconsin white cheddar, gouda and parmesan blended to create an elevated taste experience for cheese lovers.

“Americans love their mac and cheese, and so do we! We saw an opportunity to expand beyond our fan-favorite frozen options by introducing STOUFFER’s Supreme Shells & Cheese to provide a more cheese forward flavor experience than what’s currently available in the aisle,” said Megan McLaughlin, Senior Brand Manager for STOUFFER’S. “We can’t wait for shoppers to try this new product and taste the SUPREME difference.”

Look for STOUFFER’S Supreme Shells & Cheese on shelves in the brand’s classic red color with new gold accents on the box. The new mac and cheese will be available on Amazon, and at select national retailers beginning this month for an MSRP of $3.99 per 12 oz. box with continued rollout in 2025 (prices may vary by retailer).

Source: American Dairy Coalition

Comments on USDA’s proposed Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) pricing formula changes close on Friday night, Sept. 13 at 11:59 p.m. EDT at the Federal Register Docket AMS-DA-23-0031-0002. American Dairy Coalition has prepared its official commentto file and invites others consider signing on. 

USDA’s proposed milk pricing changes could reduce farm milk prices, and substantially so in some regions, where proposed increases in Class III make allowances would take $1.00 per hundredweight from the Class III price, but only half of the cheese and whey processors participated in the voluntary cost of processing survey used to determine this.  

In its comment, ADC requests USDA’s reconsideration of these make allowance increases, which would be more fairly evaluated through mandatory, audited cost of processing surveys.

During an ADC webinar on Aug. 29, featured presenter Danny Munch, American Farm Bureau economist, charted the impact for each FMMO of all proposed changes in USDA’s Recommended Decision. The make allowance increases for the Class III and IV products would remove an estimated $1.25 billion annually from manufacturing class prices used in all FMMOs, according to AFBF’s static analysis of 2019-23 pool data.

USDA proposes implementing these make allowance increases for processors right away, but would delay for 12 months the proposed updates on milk composition that would benefit dairy farmers by adding what AFBF estimates is $200 million annually across all FMMO pools.

Because both proposals impact risk management, ADC questions why processors would receive their proposed new income from farmers right away, but farmers would have to wait 12 months for theirs. 

The ADC comment also points out that the recommended decision brings back the higher-of method for setting the Class I base price mover, but introduces complexity with a two-mover system that would price extended shelf life (ESL) milk differently. ADC could find no definition in the hearing record for creating this new fifth class of milk. A two-mover system was not part of the hearing’s scope, and was not vetted with opportunities to present evidence. 

Why is this important? The 2022 Ag Census showed a record drop in dairy farms, down 39.4% at 24,470 compared with 40,336 in the 2017 Census five years earlier. Large percentage declines in US dairy farms have been an on-going story, but the most recent decline stands out, according to a jointly authored paper by Ohio State University and Illinois State University economists. A major chunk of this five-year loss of dairy farm small businesses between the 2022 and 2017 Censuses includes the first three years in which the average-of method (plus a 74-cent adjuster) has been used to calculate the skim portion of the Class I base price mover instead of the previous higher-of method.  

The industry saw the unintended consequences of the legislated change in the Class I mover to a new average-of method in 2019. Now, some milk will be priced using the previous higher-of, after a large volume of hearing testimony showed the losses and disorderly marketing that resulted. However, after the hearing concluded, USDA created a new and undefined class for ESL milk in its recommended decision, which would be priced using the average-of, with a 24-month rolling adjuster and a 12 month lag. 

ADC’s comment points out that not only is this more complicated and less transparent, the new ESL class was not defined in the hearing, and the proposed two-mover system was not vetted. 

Read ADC’s full 19-page comment here  

Individual dairy farmers and organizations may sign on by filling out the form at this link  

In addition, ADC has provided tools for farmers to individually comment. To read about how to do that and consider a template to personalize, go to this link

The Racing Report is a five-part photo essay shot at short tracks in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania that will run in Farm and Dairy through the summer. Each month we have brought you a different theme to ponder from a different track.

For the fifth and final installment, photojournalist Matthew Chasney got rained out of two races in two different states over Labor Day Weekend.

I originally intended to shoot the final Racing Report for this year at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, West Virginia. I drove down from Cleveland with my friends Brian and David to shoot the legendary Hillbilly 100 dirt late model race. Unfortunately, Mother Nature and the brass at Lucas Oil Dirt Series had different plans. 

While we were on our way south, the decision was made to cancel the race because the track was too muddy from rain the night before. A rainout in an extreme drought — go figure. 

I learned the bad news from a gas station attendant about 10 minutes from the track who took one look at my tie-dyed 2007 Hillbilly 100 T-shirt and said, “Oh hun, they ain’t racin’ tonight on account of the rain.” I sent a photo of us feigning sadness and sent it to my editor Rachel along with the news. There was nothing to do but laugh about it. 

I had to scramble and figure out a plan b. On our way down we passed Midvale Speedway near New Philadelphia, Ohio and they had a full parking lot. I’d always wanted to visit this 3/10 mile asphalt track and this, evidently, was my night. 

I got to the track just in time for compact class driver Jakob Keller to load his car onto the trailer. He was done for the day. Jake led the heat race until a caution bunched up the field on the second to last lap. He got outraced in turn 2 and finished a more than respectable second. He liked his chances in the B-Main but a broken alternator took him out before he could turn a single lap. Racing isn’t fair. 

Keller and his team have been mired in bad luck recently. They totaled two cars last season and blew a couple of motors. This race felt like a real turning point, though. They had the pace and luck was on their side. Until it wasn’t. The third-generation racer understands the value of patience and he takes setbacks in stride. When mechanical gremlins strike the calm and measured Keller says “You’ve just gotta roll with it, there’s nothing you can do about it.” For Jake, just racing is enough. 

We went our separate ways and I headed down to take photos of the modified feature as dark clouds loomed in the west. On the first lap, two cars got into each other in turn 4 and a lengthy caution came out to clean up oil that had been spilled across the entire track. While cleanup crews were dealing with that, rain began to fall. The majority of fans made the exodus to the parking lot while a few die-hards put on their ponchos and waited it out. 

The boys and I discussed our options and played amateur meteorologist while we watched the jet dryer turn some hot laps. In fact, I saw more laps from it than I did from any race car. The rain picked up and we decided to head home. I had been there for an hour, and I photographed precisely two laps of green flag racing. Racing resumed in the early morning — a credit to Midvale’s crew. 

Regardless, I still had a racing report to file. As Sturgill Simpson said “That’s the way it goes, life ain’t fair and the world is mean.” Or, in the words of Jake Keller, “If it’s meant to happen, it’s gonna happen.” I had a deadline, so it was time to make it happen. 

You can’t fight the weather (or a broken alternator). There’s enough to be upset about in this world, but a drive to West Virginia with friends, a late summer shower and an hour at the race track don’t make that list. It was a good reminder that the universe doesn’t operate on our terms, but it’s up to us to make it what we will.  After all, where would the joy in life be if you expected only wins and sunny days?

I hope you’ve enjoyed the Racing Report as much as I have enjoyed making it. We’ll see you again next spring.

Lifeway Foods Inc. announced the brand’s first expansion of kefir distribution in the South African market. The offering of Lifeway Kefir and ProBugs, exported from the United States, is currently shipping and available on shelves now.

The retailers will be a mix of independent and health food stores, along with limited initial placements at established chains such as Pick n Pay and Shoprite.

“We are excited to introduce the U.S. kefir leader to consumers in South Africa,” said Lifeway President and CEO Julie Smolyansky. “Lifeway is taking a thoughtful approach to global expansion and seeking out markets that are primed for success and can be accessed without major capital investment. The trends around cultured dairy drinkables have never been better, and I look forward to strategically building the Lifeway business worldwide.”

Danish company 21st.BIO has become the latest company to have achieved a self-affirmed GRAS status for its beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) ingredient, bringing another precision fermentation-derived, animal-free whey protein ingredient to the US market.

The company – which part-licenses its fermentation technology from Novonesis – says the ingredient is ‘highly nutritious’ and can be used in the food industry as well as the medical, adult and sports nutrition space.

In the US, it will be available under license to manufacturers who wish to scale-up its production. It’s the first food protein that the Denmark and California-based firm is making available through its development program, which includes supporting protein producers in taking their products to market, from upscaling production to achieving regulatory approval.

But is there enough new product development activity to justify the level of supply that the US market is seeing from protein producers?

Animal-free dairy protein: busted flush or nutritional powerhouse?

The US is the largest global market where regulators deem fermentation-derived proteins safe for human consumption, paving the whey for food innovations such as cow-free ice cream and other dairy alternatives with improved functionality compared to plant-based products. In the nutrition sector, manufacturers are also betting on cow-free ingredients, including for innovations such as hybrid protein powder.

Besides 21^st​.BIO, Perfect Day, Vivici, Remilk, and ImaginDairy are the other players that have obtained a self-affirmed GRAS status for BLG derived through precision fermentation, making the US fermentation-derived protein market a relatively crowded space given its niche status in the overall dairy alternatives industry.

Elsewhere, New Culture’s cow-free casein has been used to create vegan mozzarella, which has in turn featured on the menu of chef Nancy Silverton’s Pizzeria Mozza. And TurtleTree, which makes GRAS-certified animal-free lactoferrin, recently partnered with nutrition company Strive to launch an immunity-boosting beverage aimed at the adult nutrition and ready-to-mix protein powder market.

In the consumer food space, however, a mixed picture.

In 2023, Perfect Day told AgFunderNews​ it would sell its consumer products arm The Urgent Company in order to focus on B2B; the company has since made leadership changes and partnered with ice cream maker Breyers​, a Unilever company, to manufacture cow-free dairy ice cream. But Unilever has since announced it would spin-off its entire ice cream division as part of a cost-cutting productivity plan, leaving the fate of its brands hanging in the balance. 

General Mills also chose to shut down its animal-free cream cheese brand Bold Cultr​ – weeks before a planned expansion into retail. Nestlé too briefly explored cow-free dairy​ in a partnership with Perfect Day.

At the same time, the likes of Strive’s FreeMilk and Bored Cow’s animal-free milk alternatives form part of the success stories within the category in US food retail.

R&D rumblings signal future NPD potential

Dairy heavyweights such as Danone, Leprino Foods Company and the Bel Group are working behind the scenes to leverage animal-free proteins and come up with superior dairy alternatives in their respective portfolios. Leprino’s partnership with Fooditive has made the mozzarella major the exclusive rightsholder for its fermentation-derived casein​; and Danone wants to bring precision fermentation to the masses through a France-based project​. The Bel Group​ is also working with numerous foodtech companies to develop functionally and nutritionally-superior cheeses.

All this suggests there’s more to come from the animal-free dairy alternatives space.

Source: National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals – Dairy Cattle, Section 2.4

Ventilation

Good ventilation, whether natural or mechanical, brings in fresh air and effectively removes dust, airborne pathogens, gases, and excess heat and humidity (6). Dust and ammonia irritate animals’ eyes and respiratory tracts and can make cattle more susceptible to respiratory infections. However, definitive thresholds for cattle have not been established, including for ammonia (6).

The risk of pneumonia and other calf diseases can be dramatically reduced through good ventilation (without drafts) and the provision of adequate air space (i.e., at least 6 m³ [212 ft³] per calf up to 6 weeks of age and 10 m³ [353 ft³] per calf up to 12 weeks of age) (22). One of the biggest pneumonia risks for young calves is sharing airspace with older cattle (23).

Temperature and Relative Humidity

Mature dairy cattle are generally able to tolerate low temperatures better than high temperatures (6). When the ambient temperature is above the thermoneutral zone, heat stress occurs because heat load (accumulated both metabolically and from the environment) is higher than the animal’s ability to dissipate heat (6). The specific ambient conditions (temperature, humidity) that lead to heat stress vary based on the cow’s previous temperature acclimation as well as level of milk production, breed, and other factors (6). High-producing cows are most susceptible to heat stress due to the increased energy demands of milk production (6).

The thermoneutral zone for young calves (up to 3 weeks of age) is 15–25°C (6). Particular attention should be paid to temperatures inside calf hutches, which can far exceed ambient temperatures on hot days (6).

REQUIREMENTS Facilities, including hutches, must provide cattle with fresh air; prevent the build-up of harmful gases, dust, and moisture; and minimize the risk of heat and cold stress.

RECOMMENDED PRACTICES

1. consider how many days above or below ideal temperatures for cattle are experienced in a typical year when choosing an appropriate cooling system
2. monitor cattle routinely for behavioural responses to heat stress, which occur prior to dips in productivity (e.g., increased standing time with shorter lying bouts, panting or increased respiration rate, competition for cooling resources, increased drinking bouts) (6)
3. ensure good ventilation in milking parlour holding pens
4. limit reliance on misters and sprayers in high humidity regions (6)
5. always evaluate air quality, temperature, and speed at cattle level (resting and standing)
6. if ammonia is ever readily detected by smell, test actual concentrations and take remedial action to ensure it stays below 5–10 ppm
7. remove manure and soiled bedding from facilities frequently
8. avoid housing calves in the same air space as older cattle to minimize the occurrence of pneumonia (22)
9. house calves in well ventilated (but draft free) buildings or in hutches that provide ample fresh air through doors, windows, and top vents
10. avoid situating calf pens in areas of the barn that tend to be cooler (these conditions are associated with higher disease risk for calves) (24)
11. avoid exposing cattle to sudden extremes of temperature
12. design and locate enclosures to take advantage of prevailing summer winds and reduce the amount of solar radiation that enters the barn (barns with an east-west orientation allow less heat from the sun to enter) (6)
13. ensure appropriate seasonal orientation of hutches (i.e., winter: with the opening facing south to maximize sun exposure; summer: in shaded areas or with the opening facing north to maximize shade)

When facing cold stress:

14. gradually increase energy intake of calves and heifers in anticipation of cold weather to ensure that growth and weight gain are maintained during periods of cold temperatures
15. protect cattle from wind and moisture
16. protect cattle, and especially young calves, from drafts (e.g., build temporary walls/shelters in open-sided barns in the winter)
17. ensure that the relative humidity inside a housing facility does not exceed 75%
18. provide calves with clean and dry calf coats in addition to deep bedding (6)

When facing heat stress:

19. avoid unnecessary procedures or other stressors during the hottest times of the day
20. provide cattle with access to shaded areas (6)
21. increase air flow by opening barn doors and vents fully and adding more fans, especially in areas where cattle are misted/sprinkled (e.g., holding areas) (6)
22. open all vents in hutches or elevate the back of the hutch (by 20 cm [8 in], as a guide) (6)
23. sprinkle or mist the backs of cattle when they are feeding or otherwise away from resting areas (wetting cattle in resting areas may increase mastitis risk) (6)
24. modify hutches to have a reflective covering in the summer (6)
25. choose sidewall heights and overhangs of the roof to reduce sun exposure to stalls, walkways, and bedded packs
26. use shade cloth when and where needed to minimize the effects of sunlight that enters the barn.

Fresh Del Monte Product Inc. appointed Dr. Imad Farhat as senior vice president, Specialty Ingredients. Dr. Farhat will spearhead the company’s vision to develop groundbreaking ingredients, derived from both Fresh Del Monte’s portfolio and other agricultural products.

Dr. Farhat will focus on harnessing the power of nature to drive Fresh Del Monte’s long-term strategy in the ingredients industry. His focus will be on developing innovative, nature-derived ingredients that align with the company’s core mission of providing healthful products to consumers worldwide. By sourcing these products directly from nature, Fresh Del Monte continues its commitment to fostering a harmonious relationship between people, the products they consume, and the environment.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Farhat to Fresh Del Monte. His expertise is a critical addition as we deepen our commitment to sustainable practices that harness the full power of nature,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and CEO of Fresh Del Monte. “We believe nature holds the blueprint for a harmonious and sustainable future, and Dr. Farhat’s innovative approach will be key in unlocking its boundless potential while also driving the development of value-added, higher-margin products that enhance consumer offerings.”

Dr. Farhat comes to Fresh Del Monte after nearly 20 years at dsm-firmenich, where he served as senior vice president, Taste for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, playing a defining role in key platforms for the company such as Sugar Reduction and Encapsulation. Prior to dsm-firmenich, he was an Associate Professor of Food Physical Chemistry at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. Dr Farhat has authored more than 70 scientific publications and has an extensive patent portfolio in areas of food science.

Source: CDCB

The August 2024 CDCB evaluations have incorporated several changes outlined in  August 2024 Evaluations: What’s New.

How were the genetic evaluations impacted by these changes?

The most significant changes have affected all yield traits (Milk, Fat and Protein) and Heifer Livability, along with correlated traits such as Productive Life and Cow Livability in some cases. Breed Base Representation (BBR) values have been updated, as the annual reference population update was paired with the introduction of a revised (smaller) SNP list.

The combined result of these updates is that values for the Lifetime Net Merit $ (NM$) index shifted.

Let’s break down each change and its impact on the evaluations, using bull data as a representative sample. Similar trends are anticipated for cows and heifers.

305-AA: A New Standardized Yield Measurement

The introduction of 305-AA (Average Age) has likely been the most noticeable change in the August 2024 evaluations. This new standardization for yield records adopts a completely different standard (transitioning from the 305-ME mature equivalent to a 36-month average age), and the age, parity, and season adjustment factors are updated. Season adjustments are now calculated across five U.S. climate regions, compared to the previous three geographical regions, which more accurately reflects environmental differences. Most importantly, the new factors are breed-specific, meaning each breed experienced different impacts from this change.

• Holsteins see an increase in Predicted Transmitting Ability (PTA) for Milk, Fat and Protein, resulting in a slight upward trend of about +10 to +15 NM$, depending on the bull group (genomic or proven).
• The most notable change is a significant reduction in Jersey PTAs for Milk, Fat and Protein (around -100, -6, and -6 pounds, respectively). This reduction leads to a decrease in NM$, averaging between -70 and -50 NM$.
• Brown Swiss, Guernsey, and Ayrshire bulls experience more stability, with smaller fluctuations around zero.

Heifer Livability

Heifer Livability values showed larger-than-usual changes due to the inclusion of two years’ worth of previously missed records. Also introduced was a new editing criteria that is more specific to herd conditions and has a small extra-effect. As more data is incorporated into this Heifer Livability, reliability for many animals increased. These changes also indirectly affect correlated traits like Productive Life (PL) and Cow Livability (LIV), with PL decreasing by an average of -0.2.

SNP List and BBR Reference Population Updates

This update impacted specific animals or groups. It did not significantly affect overall statistics – except for crossbred animals. A BBR reference population update typically alters the purebred/crossbred status of animals and adjusts the weights used to calculate final PTAs for crossbred animals. When combined with a new SNP list, these changes become more pronounced, leading to greater variability in crossbred evaluations in this August run. As mentioned previously, most of these changes will affect animals genotyped at low density or with incomplete pedigrees … and animals with BBR changes. The haplotype status of many animals has changed in the August run, due to the SNP list update, particularly the adjustments in HH6 (sixth Holstein haplotype affecting fertility) and JNS (Jersey Neuropathy with Splayed Forelimbs) to incorporate more direct information.

Few states or nations put on a dairy cattle show like the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, where 50,000 visitors and vendors from nearly 100 countries will see 1,800 owners exhibiting 2,500 or so of the best dairy cattle in the galaxy.

Organizers of this year’s Expo, however, are working overtime to keep one party crasher out — highly pathogenic avian influenza or bird flu. New rules, new testing and new paperwork for the Oct. 1-4 gathering are all aimed to keep it bird flu-free.

But, “In the unfortunate event of a positive Influenza A individual cow test,” explained Expo organizers Aug. 21, “we have been informed by the [state of] Wisconsin… that all cattle on site… will be temporarily quarantined…”

Moreover, if deemed necessary, “additional quarantine measures could be added.” Once the animals are allowed to leave America’s Dairyland for home, further quarantine may be required by other U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

The dairy sector has a lot riding on getting the rules right. In 2023, an estimated 230 million pounds of raw milk sold as fluid milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and a myriad of other products added $800 billion to the U.S. economy, according to the International Dairy Foods Industry Association.

And, note, many today’s rules are working: While bird flu has been detected in 191 dairy herds across 13 states, only 13 human cases of bird flu have been tied to cows.

True, but bird flu infections on dairy workers outnumber infections on poultry workers.

To date, reports Helena Bottemiller Evich in the Aug. 23 Food Fix, her weekly look at food policy on Capitol Hill, “There… was just one reported case… in a human” from poultry in 2022, however, since then “nine of the 13 more recent human cases” have been linked to poultry.

There are two, clear reasons for that slow transfer of bird flu from poultry to humans than from cows to humans.

First, bird flu is so deadly and so fast moving in poultry that once it’s detected, infected flocks are almost immediately destroyed so the source of the disease — and potential for human transfer — is quickly and effectively eliminated.

In July, it was estimated that 100 million chickens and turkeys have been destroyed since the latest outbreak of avian flu began in February 2022.

The second reason is less deadly but more troubling: While the human cases detected in dairy workers have, so far, “been very mild,” continues Food Fix, “… it’s likely that health officials are not detecting all of the human cases due to limited testing.”

In fact, the report continues, “Those most at risk are farmworkers and farmers who have direct contract with animals that may be infected.” Both groups, however, are “not exactly incentivized to get tested.

Undocumented workers could lose their jobs and farmers “fear a loss of income if they can’t easily sell their milk or their cows.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture does offer voluntary testing of milk to determine the presence of bird flu in any dairy herd. So far, though, “Of the roughly 24,000 farms that sell milk,” reported the New York Times recently, “only 30 are participating.”

Food Fix updated those low numbers in late August to note that now USDA “only shows 26 herds are participating,” or 0.1% of all herds nationwide. USDA, however, told the Times that the poor turnout shows “the system is working as designed.”

Indeed, 26 herds only leaves 23,974 or so herds where it’s not working. Close enough for government work, right?