🧫 Waste milk and resistance 📈 Modest production gains expected 💉 First HPAI vaccine trial approved

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Feeding waste milk increases fecal antimicrobial resistance (3 minute read)

Authors of a recent JDS article concluded that feeding waste milk - pasteurized or unpasteurized - to dairy calves may contribute to the gradual selection of resistant E. coli, which, over time, could impact the effectiveness of treatments in the herd. The researchers used 21 HO x Gyr calves in each of three treatments: 1) saleable milk, 2) unpasteurized waste milk, and 3) pasteurized waste milk. Calves in both groups receiving pasteurized waste milk showed a significantly higher prevalence of resistant E. coli at 30 and 60 days of age.

Production and fertility can be improved simultaneously (4 minute read)

Historically, high milk production has been associated with reduced reproductive efficiency in dairy cows. Researchers at Guelph recently looked at the performance of 6,739 Holstein cows, based on their genomic daughter pregnancy rate (gDPR) and genomic merit for milk production (gMilk), to test this theory. Although there is some variation between different lactations, the results showed cows with high gMilk had lower first-service conception than those with low gMilk. However, cows with high gDPR consistently had higher conception than those with lower gDPR, regardless of gMilk status, and when selecting for both high gDPR and gMilk improvements can be made on both fronts simultaneously.

Analysts expecting modest production increases (3 minute read)

Rabobank analysts are expecting year-over-year global milk supplies to grow 0.14% in 2024 and 0.65% in 2025, as margins improve thanks to lower feed costs and rising milk prices in most of the major export regions. In 2025, the U.S. is expected to be the first region with a full year of milk production growth since 2021. Tight cattle inventories will limit growth potential, but with supply and demand in relative balance, this should help markets remain steady.

East coast co-ops launch new ingredient company (1 minute read)

Agri-Mark, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, and Upstate Niagara Cooperative have joined forces to launch Integrated Dairy Ingredients (IDI). IDI will initially produce non-fat dry milk, skim milk powder, and buttermilk powder, all of which will be rbST free, OU Kosher, and Halal certified. IDI is expected to begin sales in January 2025.

California doubles number of herds affected by HPAI (1 minute read)

On Wednesday, three additional herds in California were confirmed to be affected by HPAI, raising the state’s total to six. The three additional Central Valley dairies were in a “group targeted for testing due to elevated risks from their recent connections with the initial affected premises.”

USDA approves first field trial for H5N1 vaccine (1 minute read)

The USDA has approved the first field trial for an H5N1 vaccine for dairy cattle, following its notice on August 28 that it would be accepting applications for such trials. No additional details about the manufacturer, vaccine, or trial have been disclosed.

USDA accepting applications to offset milk loss from H5N1 (4 minute read)

The USDA is accepting applications through its ELAP program to help offset the milk production losses in herds affected by HPAI. To be eligible, herds must have a positive test confirmed by a USDA NVSL and the cow(s) removed from saleable milk production between 14 days before and 120 days after the positive test result. Milk loss payments will be based on a standardized 21-day period of no milk production, followed by 7 days at 50% production. The milk price used will be based on the USDA NASS monthly all-milk price. Applications must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the calendar year in which the loss is being claimed.

Canada to establish FMD vaccine bank (2 minute read)

The Canadian government has committed $5.6 million for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to establish a foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank and develop FMD response plans. The vaccines would be used only for controlling and eliminating an FMD outbreak. The U.S. has a similar FMD vaccine reserve.

A (cold) blast from the past (1 minute read)

If you’ve ever wondered how much energy is wasted by grocery stores’ open dairy cases, Big Y supermarkets did the math for you back in 2014. The supermarket chain expected to see 70% energy savings across 25 stores by simply adding doors in their dairy sections.

Commodity	Price	Change (1 wk.)
Class III Milk	23.18	+ 0.57
Corn	3.86	+ 0.02
Soybeans	9.91	- 0.02
Live Cattle	1.78	+ 0.03
Feeder Cattle	2.42	+ 0.08