Monthly milk testing will look for H5N1 in samples

Implementation is planned for the mandatory National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This comprehensive program aims to bolster highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI/ H5N1) surveillance of the nation’s dairy cattle herds, ensuring swift action to identify and address H5N1 affected herds.

Under the NMTS, Wisconsin will initiate mandatory monthly milk sampling. With help from industry partners, it is expected that one milk sample will be obtained, per dairy farm, each month, and tested at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL).

These samples will primarily be gathered through existing milk quality labs that work with licensed bulk milk weighers and samplers, ensuring minimal disruption to dairy operations, while obtaining farm-level results.

If H5N1 is detected, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATC) Division of Animal Health, will be notified by the WVDL and the Division of Animal Health will notify the farm.

The Division of Animal Health will work with affected farms, regarding quarantine requirements.

Farms may continue shipping milk if it meets “normal” milk standards under ATCP 65.20 (milk that is not bloody, stringy, off-colored or otherwise abnormal). Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration, and USDA continue to emphasize that the commercial milk supply is safe, because of the pasteurization process.

Any H5N1 detections will also be confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).

Stakeholders are encouraged to visit datcp.wi.gov for additional information.