WHAT'S NEW?   

The USDA has released an update on its web page regarding the cattle illness affecting Kansas, Texas, and New Mexico.

Wild migratory birds believed to be source of infection; viral testing and epidemiologic efforts continue 

"As of Monday, March 25, unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as an oropharyngeal swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Additional testing was initiated on Friday, March 22, and over the weekend because farms have also reported finding deceased wild birds on their properties. Based on findings from Texas, the detections appear to have been introduced by wild birds. Initial testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans, which would indicate that the current risk to the public remains low."

Commercial milk supply remains safe due to both federal animal health requirements and pasteurization.

"At this stage, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health. Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption; milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the food supply. In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce."

To read the full article, please click the link below:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/news/sa_by_date/sa-2024/hpai-cattle

New Mexico’s State Veterinarian Issues Update on Animal Health Situation
Illness impacting some dairy cattle in New Mexico and Texas is  under investigation

The New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB), working in conjunction with other local, state and federal agencies, is aware of an ongoing Animal Health Situation at dairies in Texas and New Mexico.  The NMLB is utilizing its vast resources to ensure the food supply chain remains safe and secure.

Veterinarians in New Mexico are being urged to check with other states on receiving requirements of all cattle prior to shipment.

Recently, dairy farms in the Texas Panhandle experienced a still undefined illness in some dairy cows. Affected dairy facilities are reporting that only a portion of the herd (an estimated 5% to 20%) is showing clinical signs. Observed symptoms include:

  • Reduced milk production
  • Unexpected drop in feed intake
  • Thick, colostrum-like milk
  • Tacky feces +/- diarrhea
  • Low-grade fever
  • Dehydration
  • Mild respiratory symptoms

The New Mexico Agriculture Livestock Incident Response Team (NM-ALIRT) – a cooperative effort between NMLB, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and New Mexico State University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (NMSU ACES) – has been activated.  Together they will help provide a timely response throughout this Animal Health Situation.

Importantly, there is no known threat to the state’s milk supply nor have there been any known deaths of cattle linked to the illness.  Furthermore, symptoms are only being reported primarily in mid-lactation cows and older milkers.  Other livestock such as horses, beef cattle, sheep and goats are not being impacted.  There is also no known threat to human health.

In Texas, which was the first to report the illness, most dairy cows are recovering within two to three weeks.  However, in some cases, milk production has been slow to return.  This could cause a financial strain on some dairy producers in the state.

Dairy producers are encouraged to implement enhanced biosecurity measures by limiting the amount of traffic into and out of their properties and restricting visits to employees and essential personnel only. Routine and quality testing continues to occur to ensure that only safe milk and meat enter the food supply. Impacted dairy cows are being segregated, as is normal practice with any animal health concern.

New Mexico producers and veterinarians who observe any of the symptoms listed above are strongly encouraged to contact the New Mexico Livestock Board. 

Updates will be posted to the NMLB website.

The states listed below have special import requirements, or imports of cattle are not allowed at all. Click on the state below for more information regarding that state.

If a state is not listed, we are not aware of any change in requirements. Check with that state.

January 11, 2024

Opening of Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) Fiscal Year 2024 Application Cycle

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) announces the opening of the fiscal year (FY) 2024 application cycle. NIFA anticipates that approximately $10 million in funding will be available in FY24 to help mitigate food animal veterinary service shortages in the United States. VMLRP helps qualified veterinarians offset a significant portion of the debt incurred in pursuit of their veterinary medical degrees in return for their service in certain high-priority veterinary shortage areas.

The VMLRP supports NIFA’s Animal Systems portfolio by facilitating professional workforce development in critical agricultural sectors related to animal health and well-being. The program contains two general categories of participation:

  • Mitigation of private veterinary practice shortage situations.
  • Mitigation of public veterinary practice and specialty veterinary discipline shortage situations.

VMLRP awardees commit to providing at least three years of food animal veterinary services in a designated veterinary shortage area in return for payments of up to $25,000 of student loan debt per year with a maximum of $75,000 for a three-year contract. VMLRP awardees are eligible to reapply to continue to serve their originally awarded shortage situation area in the last year of their contract or one year after their contract ends.

The VMLRP Request for Applications (RFA) and the 2024 veterinary shortage situations are now available. A new requirement this year is a Letter of Intent (LOI). Specific instructions are available in the VMLRP RFA. The deadline for LOI is April 1, 2024, and the application deadline is April 12, 2024.

Please refer to the VMLRP Annual Report for more information about the program.

Questions about the VMLRP application process may be sent by email to VMLRP.applications@USDA.gov