Comment: No room for raw milk

Comment: No room for raw milk

Bird flu infections in U.S. dairies underscore reasons pasteurization rules are a good idea

I was on the edge of the conversation, waiting for the speaker at the ag-event-of-the-week to finish mingling so I could corner him for an interview. His conversation with a few of the event attendees had turned to dairy. The speaker came from the U.S., where rules on the sale of raw milk for human


“We’ve never seen anything like this before — never, ever, ever.” – Shayan Sharif, University of Guelph.

Flu strain in U.S. dairy cattle may be a different beast

Strain infecting dairy cattle in U.S. behaves erratically, says bird flu specialist

Veterinarians and food safety officials have been scrambling for about a month to understand the origin and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in U.S. dairy herds across several states. Many potential vectors have been considered, from migratory birds, direct cow-to-cow transmission and milking equipment. A University of Guelph veterinary professor has one word to





Cattle in south-central Manitoba graze through the vestiges of snow during a mid-November warm streak.

Beef braces for bird flu

Avian influenza strain may not affect beef cattle the same as dairy

The strain of bird flu infecting U.S. dairy herds could become a problem for the beef sector, but it may not have the same effects as it did in the dairy barn, according to New Mexico’s state veterinarian.

(MartineDoucet/E+/Getty Images)

Explainer: Avian flu in dairy cows warrants close attention

Farmers should identify unusual signs of disease in cattle and have them examined by a veterinarian

An emerging disease syndrome was originally identified in dairy cows in Texas. These cows were identified by animal care workers and veterinarians as having the main clinical signs of reduced milk production and decreased feed intake. Approximately 10 per cent of the cows seem to show clinical signs on affected farms. No deaths occurred and cows seemed to recover with supportive care within two to three weeks. However, loss of milk production was significant. These same farms reported deceased wild birds on their properties.