Biosecurity resources for livestock owners

The Secure Milk Supply website offers comprehensive materials on dairy biosecurity practices, including posters and information sheets in English and Spanish.

Additional biosecurity resources can be found at the following links:

• Biosecurity - National Dairy FARM Program
• Biosecurity Practices for Dairy Operations (Texas A&M University)
• Biosecurity for cattle operations (University of Minnesota Extension)
• Farm Biosecurity - CFSPH (Iowa State University - Center for Food Security and Public Health)
• Information on HPAI Detections in Livestock from USDA - APHIS
  • Information for State Animal Health Officials, Accredited Veterinarians and Producers
  • Information for farm workers
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• Dairy Biosecurity Recommendations – HPAI and More (American Association of Bovine Practitioners)
• Influenza A in Bovine Species: A Narrative Literature Review (National Library of Medicine)

HPAI Public Town Hall

CDA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment hosted a joint virtual Town Hall meeting to provide updates on the status of avian influenza in Colorado, discuss the pre-testing requirements for dairy cattle, and answer questions about the situation in Colorado.
 

Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Lactating Dairy Cattle 

Lactating dairy cattle are defined as a cow that is producing milk, regardless of the volume of milk that she is producing. This does not include dairy calves, pregnant heifers, or dairy cows that are ‘dry’ or no longer producing milk.  The Federal Order will be applied initially only to lactating dairy cattle. 

Nonlactating dairy cattle – including heifers, dry cows, and bull calves – are not currently subject to testing for interstate movement due to their risk profile. 

Prior to interstate movement, lactating dairy cattle are required to receive a negative test for Influenza A virus at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory.
 

Sample Collection and Testing for Interstate Pre Movement Testing of Lactating Dairy Cattle

Samples are to be collected by an accredited veterinarian, or a state licensed veterinarian, or a sample collector approved by the appropriate state animal health official. Designated individuals on production sites can be trained to collect milk samples and nasal swab samples for diagnostic testing. [State Animal Health Officials are determining a process for approval]

• Samples must be collected under the supervision of a licensed or accredited veterinarian or as determined by the respective State Animal Health Official.
• Milk samples: Samples to be collected include milk/udder secretions from individual cows. Each quarter is sampled and combined into one sample for submission to the laboratory. Submissions must be between 3-10 ml of milk per animal. Additional testing guidance can be found here.
  • Pooling of milk samples can be done only at the laboratory.

For groups/lots of 30 or fewer animals moving interstate, all animals being moved must be tested. If more than 30 animals are moving interstate, then only 30 animals total must be tested.

• Sample collection and testing must take place no more than seven (7) days prior to interstate movement. 
• Samples for interstate pre movement testing need to be submitted to an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) Laboratory for testing. The Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is an approved NAHLN laboratory.

APHIS will reimburse for all interstate pre movement testing at NAHLN laboratories; therefore, this testing at NAHLN laboratories will be completed at no cost to the producer/submitter. At this time, APHIS is not reimbursing accredited or licensed veterinarians for sample collection or shipping.  
 

Cattle Moved Directly to Slaughter

Nonclinical lactating dairy cattle moving interstate direct to slaughter are not required to have a pre movement test but must move on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) or other documentation of movement approved by the sending and receiving State Animal Health Officials and provided to the sending and receiving state animal health officials. [State Animal Health Officials are determining an alternate document for approval]

Clinical lactating dairy cattle are ineligible for interstate movement or movement to slaughter.
 

Certificates of Veterinary Inspection

The interstate movement of all lactating dairy cattle must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). The destination/receiving state(s) will continue to use CVIs as a basis to track the interstate movement of lactating dairy cattle.

All cattle on the CVI must have individual official identification. The individual official identification must be recorded on the CVI. 

The CVI must include a statement that the cattle are both free from, and have not been exposed to, a known contagious and infectious disease.
 

For Cattle with Positive HPAI Test Results

Lactating dairy cattle from herds which have tested positive for Influenza A are not eligible for interstate movement for thirty (30) days from the most recent collection of any sample that tests positive from any individual animal in the herd. After the 30-day period, animals must be tested again for movement.

If there are specific circumstances for isolating test-positive cattle and moving to another premises across state lines, this would need to be discussed and agreed upon with the respective State Animal Health Officials and APHIS.

Notification of any HPAI positive cattle must be made to the State Veterinarian’s office at 303-869-9130.