The agency has received criticism for changing its original testing windows.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has responded to criticisms of the tempering of its initial emergency order for bird flu in dairy cows after pushback from industry officials and state leaders. The agency’s original order had proposed a negative bird flu test taken within seven days for all dairy cows being transported across state lines. The agency had even considered more stringent requirements, such as a three-day window for testing.
Dairy industry officials urged the USDA in the spring of this year to have some leniency, citing logistical burdens, which led to the final order in April that required a 14-day window for bird flu testing. While critics agreed that a three-day or seven-day test window would have been expensive and strenuous, some public health experts claim this relaxed order led to the bird flu outbreak experienced over the summer, with 33 infected herds expanding to 330 infected herds across 14 states.
A USDA spokesperson stated, “Any changes or clarifications to the Federal Order have been made with the objective of protecting animal and public health by following scientific best practices, using the best available data, and ensuring the appropriate balance between compliance and feasibility for producers.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Chief Veterinarian Rosemary Sifford to be led by God as she fulfills her role in the USDA.
- That Secretary Vilsack and USDA officials respond to agricultural health concerns with wisdom.
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