Tag: H5N1

NMPF’s Jonker, Hain See Bird Flu Lessons One Year Later

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Dairy farmers have boosted biosecurity and researchers have learned much about the H5N1 bird flu virus in dairy cattle one year after its introduction, top NMPF experts said in a Dairy Defined podcast. Still, the hope is that the virus may leave the dairy herd completely. 

“We’re still learning things about the virus and how it’s being transmitted from farm to farm, and we still need some answers on that, but hang in there, we’re going to get through this,” said Dr. Jamie Jonker, NMPF’s chief science officer. “I do believe we’re going to eliminate the virus from the U.S. dairy cattle population. I think it’s just a matter of when, not if.” 

Since the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus was first reported in cattle in March 2024, more than 1,000 dairy herds have been infected, Jonker said. Still, successful eradication has taken place in some areas, and the lack of evolution of the viruses within cattle has created hope. Dr. Meggan Hain, NMPF’s chief veterinary officer, said biosecurity practices are key to containment and elimination. The National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program offers a wealth of materials that can assist, she said.  

Bird flu has “given us a chance to really learn some of the lessons of, where do we have opportunities, where are there things that we’ll want to sort of dig into so that we’re better prepared in the future if we do get challenges,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of things we can take away from this that we can really make improvements on.” 

To learn more about biosecurity responses in dairy, visit the FARM Program website at nationaldairyfarm.com. For more of the Dairy Defined podcast, visit Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music and search under the podcast name “Dairy Defined”. 

FARM Biosecurity Remains Leader on H5N1; First In-Person Training Approaches

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program is preparing for its first in-person FARM Enhanced Biosecurity training, with H5N1 in dairy cattle still a significant concern one year after it was first identified.

The Program has released five new guides and one-pagers in the past year that give farmers necessary tools to protect their farms. The two-day in person training, set for April 30-May 1, will provide FARM program evaluators with the opportunity to learn how to help farmers develop an enhanced biosecurity plan.

The training also provides a networking opportunity with other dairy professionals and a chance to hear from a Virginia dairy producer about the process and lessons learned from implementing a FARM Biosecurity–Enhanced plan.

This training is supported by a cooperative agreement with USDA National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan (NADPRP). The agreement supports expanding the resources available through the FARM Biosecurity program, such as additions to the current online module and a second in-person training set for 2026 in Washington.

For questions, please contact Miquela Hanselman, mhanselman@nmpf.org.