🦠 Colorado mandates HPAI testing 🐄 Eicker pushes replacements 🍦 Nestlé's innovation

2024-07-26

Colorado institutes mandatory herd-level HPAI testing (4 minute read)

On July 22, the Colorado Department of Agriculture issued an order requiring all licensed commercial dairy herds in Colorado to submit weekly bulk tank samples for HPAI testing. Colorado has been dealing with the spread of HPAI for nearly three months, including spillover infections into commercial poultry operations resulting in the loss of over 3 million birds in July alone. The State Veterinarian sees this surveillance as a necessary next step in controlling the spread of the disease. The order will remain in effect until further notice.

Eicker argues against focus on longevity (7 minute read)

Steve Eicker wants dairies to have healthy, productive cows and he thinks that proactive replacement is a key strategy. According to Eicker, focusing on cow longevity hurts the long-term profitability of the dairy; the least profitable cows should be replaced. Replacement heifers have the best genetics, tend to be healthier, and are generally higher producing (when you account for selection bias) than older animals. Additionally, younger cows in better condition yield better beef checks, lowering net replacement costs. Eicker contends younger herds are also better for public perception and animal welfare, as older animals have more health issues, like mastitis and lameness.

Nestlé develops process to maintain creaminess of reduced-fat milk (3 minute read)

Nestlé has developed a propriety process to aggregate milk proteins such that they become similar to the size of fat droplets in milk. The added creaminess from the proteins allow manufacturers to reduce the overall fat and calorie content without compromising texture; the process yields an end product with a creamy mouthfeel, similar to higher fat products. The technology has, so far, been used in the production of powdered milk products. Nestlé will have to navigate the, often strict, regulations around milk fat content of specific dairy products.

The microbiome of dairy calves impacts their early life growth (60 minute read)

Researchers characterized the hindgut microbiota of 408 Holstein dairy calves from birth to 70 days, analyzing a total of 1045 fecal samples. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to identify and classify the dominant microbiota at different ages. The calf microbiota was shown to go through several transitions as the calf ages, becoming more stable over time. Calves with Bifidobacterium as a dominant member of the microbiome were observed to have improved growth and feed conversion; these bacteria have also been identified in lactating dairy cows and correlated with positive health status in previous research. Using a mouse model the researchers performed fecal microbiota transplantation, showing greater growth and hindgut development in the mice receiving the Bifidobacterium transplantation. Methane production was also reduced in the Bifidobacterium calves, likely due to competition with methanogens. Probiotics or nutritional strategies to promote the abundance of Bifidobacterium in calves has the potential to improve pre-weaning growth, impact methane production, and improve long-term productivity.

Small CDC study shows no asymptomatic avian influenza infections in farm workers (6 minute read)

A small study in Michigan tested farm workers from two dairies that had experienced avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreaks. A total of 35 workers, whom had been exposed to sick cattle, participated. The study looked for antibodies that would indicate the farm workers had been infected with the virus. None of the samples from the farm workers had antibodies against H5N1. The findings suggest asymptomatic infections are not occurring in people.

171 sickened by Salmonella outbreak from raw milk (2 minute read)

A Salmonella outbreak has been traced to unpasteurized milk from Raw Farm in Fresno, California. The outbreak occurred between September 2023 and March 2024, causing 171 confirmed cases and 22 hospitalizations. It is suspected that the outbreak is larger than the confirmed case count, particularly because until last week the size of the outbreak was reported as 19 cases. This is the largest recorded outbreak since the early 2000s.

Butterfat on the rise in US dairy herd (2 minute read)

Historically, 3.75% butterfat has been the benchmark for Holstein herds. Butterfat has been increasing for over a decade and in the May USDA Milk Production Report, that number reached 4.17%. Isaac Salfer, assistant professor of dairy nutrition at the University of Minnesota, attributes these increases to genetic selection and three feed-related improvements: improved ration formulation, increasing forage quality, and better feed management.

"Milk Every Moment" campaign launched in UK (2 minute read)

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has launched a milk promotion campaign in the UK targeting Gen Z, as they move away from home and form their purchasing habits. The campaign seeks to position milk as a part of a health-concious lifestyle. Influencers and social media are being used to reach younger consumers where they get their information. The campaign has recently been expanded following a successful pilot.

China plans to reduce beef and dairy production (1 minute read)

The price of animal products continue to fall in China, as increasing production outstrips falling demand in the slowing economy. In the first half of the year meat, egg, and dairy production increased 0.6%, 2.7%, and 3.4%, respectively, while beef and milk prices have fallen by over 12% and meat imports have decreased by 13.4%. Regulations were enacted in March to reduce breeding sow populations and in June to control beef cattle production. Additional regulations are planned to limit dairy and beef production in an effort to limit further price decreases. The details of these new measures were not reported.