Dairy farm safety: combating avian influenza in cattle

The process of creating a vaccine is under active research, conducted by 24 companies in the United States . The agency is also conducting its own research at a laboratory in Ames, Iowa, to find the best vaccine candidate and test its effectiveness. Despite the fact that developing a vaccine takes time, the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture are aimed at creating an effective means of protection for cattle .

Zoetis and Merck Animal HEALTH are also actively involved in the development of vaccines for dairy cows in an effort to provide a timely response to possible diseases, including avian influenza in cattle. In addition, the USDA is conducting research on the potential spread of the virus between cows through the respiratory tract and is supporting farmers to improve biosecurity on farms.

Tom Vilsack emphasized that the main risk for the spread of avian influenza on dairy farms is the transport of equipment and the movement of people, not migratory birds. Ensuring a high level of biosecurity on farms is therefore key to preventing the spread of the virus.

The fight against avian influenza in cattle requires coordinated efforts from both the government and the private sector. The development of effective vaccines and strict biosecurity measures on dairy farms play an important role in ensuring animal safety and quality products for consumers.