ST. PAUL – Minnesota has its first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a dairy herd in Benton County, and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health is reminding farmers to take biosecurity measures to keep their animals safe.
Board of Animal Health spokesperson Michael Crusan says bio-security measures can be as simple as keeping their boots clean, using different footwear when going into a barn, having what’s called a line of separation, or a clean and dirty line, so that they’re not bringing potential germs from the outside into those areas where the animals are kept.”
Crusan says dairy farmers should monitor their herds and contact their veterinarian immediately if cows appear sick.
The symptoms in dairy mostly affect late-stage lactating cows and include fever, a drop in milk production, loss of appetite, and changes in manure consistency.
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