2024-05-05 21:19:17
BISMARCK – Raw milk from North Dakota dairy cows carries a low risk of bird flu contamination, local producers say, but they’re still increasing precautions.
The so-called bird flu has been detected in dairy cows in nine other states,
and the Food and Drug Administration has advised once morest drinking raw milk.
This issue comes less than a year since
the North Dakota legislature lifted a rule once morest the sale of raw milk in the state,
although sales can only be at the direct consumer level, not to wholesale or retail outlets or across state lines.
There are currently regarding two dozen raw milk producers in the state.
One is Peter Bartlett of Bartlett Farms, Bottineau, who said he received a warning notice from the North Dakota Milk Producers Association. The notice advised caution when purchasing cows and keeping an eye out for disease in the herd. He said customers are not deterred.
“A pasture-based farm that doesn’t confine its animals in more close confinement like a conventional dairy would be much less susceptible,” Bartlett said.
Bartlett said he already follows three levels of safety protocols to ensure the health of his cows.
Since the restrictions on the sale of raw milk were eased last year, Bartlett has seen a steady and growing interest from consumers.
“In the last six months, we’ve had almost twice as many inquiries regarding milk,” he said. “So this is a good sign. I think now that the law has passed, people are looking at it as a valid option.”
Ty Petersen of Bev’s Best Dairy, Monango, agrees that larger dairy farms with limited cows are at greater risk for transmission and that smaller operators have a better handle on the health of individual animals.
He said he is not very concerned regarding bird flu infecting his cows.
“Just being a picky producer helps a lot, that’s a big part of it, and you know just being around those cows all day, you see things tear up.”
Ava Brokaw of Brokaw Ranch, Kulm, said she is very particular regarding the cleanliness of her cows and the quality of her raw milk.
“If I question something, I throw it away,” she said. “I would never sell anything where I questioned whether my cow was sick or not.”
Brokaw said she has “reached a ton of people” since the restrictions were lifted, and people should do their research on whatever it is they’re consuming.
“I have kids and I want to make sure that whatever I’m giving them is good, you know, so I’m reading up on the risks of it,” Brokaw said. “But for us, we’ve had more problems with purchased milk than raw milk.”
North Dakota’s Department of Agriculture regulates the production of pasteurized milk, but not raw milk.
The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services can only provide guidance, according to Heather Steffl, communications manager for the Public Health Division.
“Pasteurization is the safest choice,” Steffl wrote in response to an inquiry from the North Dakota News Co-op.
State Veterinarian Ethan Andress said consuming raw milk has “inherent risks” aside from the possible transmission of highly pathogenic bird flu.
“There are organisms that contaminate raw milk that have the potential to sicken and sometimes kill people.” He said it’s the same risk for all raw food, from oysters to meat.
Andress advised raw milk producers to minimize contact with wild birds and to ensure that feed is protected from exposure to wild birds because it is difficult to know if they are infected.
Milk production is a key indicator of a cow’s health. “The most common sign (of disease) is a drop in milk production,” Andress said.
But even with precautions, some infected cows may not show signs of illness.
“I think the most frustrating part of this is the asymptomatic part, that some of these cows have an infection but don’t get sick,” Andress said. “Just like humans when we get the flu, you have different levels of how badly people get sick and the same thing happens with cows.”
The closest the bird flu virus H5N1 has been found in dairy cows is in South Dakota. Other states where it has been detected are Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas.
No cases of bird flu have been detected in North Dakota, according to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Most cases from 2023 occurred in the fall.
Transmission risks still undetermined
Federal officials believe the virus is spreading among cows through contact with milk from other infected cows, but that further testing is needed.
It is also unknown whether people can contract the virus by eating raw milk from infected cows.
Pasteurization of milk inactivates the virus, according to the FDA. The agency tested commercially produced pasteurized milk and other dairy products in 38 states and found no live, infectious virus in pasteurized milk.
A recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that cats fed raw milk from cows infected with bird flu became ill and some died.
Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Organization at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, told NDNC that while “we don’t know if people can get H5N1 from drinking raw milk,” because of the high levels of viral very, “it’s very much a possibility.”
Animals such as cats, dogs and bears that eat dead birds have gotten sick, and some have died, from that consumption, Rasmussen said.
A May 1 FDA statement said the agency continues to test samples of pooled raw milk headed for pasteurization and processing for commercial use. The FDA strongly discourages the use of raw milk and recommends that the industry not manufacture or sell raw milk or raw milk products.
The FDA also recommended that precautions be taken when disposing of milk from infected cows so that it does not become a source of further spread.
This story was originally published on NewsCoopND.org
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