Yesterday, the Colorado Agricultural Commission approved, and Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg adopted an emergency rule to help limit the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Colorado. Since the initial detection of HPAI in dairy cattle in March 2024, the virus has spread to dairies in at least nine states, including Colorado.
On April 24, 2024, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), United States Department of Agriculture, issued a federal order to prevent the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Yesterday, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed a detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cows in Northeast Colorado. This is the first detection of avian influenza diagnosed in cattle in Colorado. Detections of HPAI in dairy cattle have occurred in eight other states.
Based on data collected and shared by Trupanion, a pet insurance provider, data suggests the number of canine respiratory disease cases has significantly dropped since the peak in the last few months of 2023. Colorado State University veterinary experts are also reporting a drop in cases.
On January 31, in coordination with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, CDA’s Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA) program staff worked to remove more than 80 dogs from Just 4 Jacks Ranch Sanctuary in Lyons, Colorado. Under the PACFA rules and regulations, anyone sheltering, housing or harboring more than 15 dogs and/or cats is required to have a pet animal care facility license.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on how the agencies will collaborate to manage the reintroduction of gray wolves and work to prevent wildlife and livestock conflicts.
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed a new case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a backyard flock in Weld County, Colorado. The flock experienced a high mortality event, losing 20 of 24 chickens in the flock, after exposure to sick and dying wild geese on the premises. The remaining birds in the flock were euthanized.
On September 25th staff from CDA, USDA and the Colorado Attorney General's Office toured an aquaculture facility to learn more about Colorado’s aquaculture industry. The team was able to learn how fish are grown and stocked, the differences in water sources, regulatory considerations, and fish health and veterinary medicine considerations. Learning more about aquaculture will help CDA and USDA to better support the needs of the industry.