College of Veterinary Medicine Researchers Work With USDA to Address Bird Flu in Dairy Cattle

Researchers from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine received a $1.5 million cooperative agreement grant from the Department of Agriculture to work on collaborative projects aimed at understanding disease transmission and mitigating the impacts of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on dairy herds and the broader agricultural industry.

In February 2022, a new variant of the highly contagious virus was detected in U.S. commercial and backyard poultry, and it has since been identified in wild birds and an increasing number of mammals. There have also been 68 confirmed human cases, including one death.

The presence of bird flu in U.S. dairy cattle was first confirmed in early 2024, renewing urgent concerns for animal and farm worker health and the dairy supply chain. The virus has been far less lethal to cows than it is to poultry to date. However, its potential to disrupt dairy health and production, and growing recognition of interspecies transmission, underscores the necessity for immediate scientific investigation.

Scott Wells, a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is leading the collaboration among research teams, which includes experts in virology, epidemiology, microbiology, veterinary medicine and agricultural biosecurity. Nine projects funded under the grant will contribute critical understanding to a national effort to safeguard public health and food security, and to maintain food security of the U.S. dairy sector.

The teams’ research begins as the new national milk surveillance program comes into effect and as the USDA aims to control the disease by first identifying all infected herds, enabling states to take appropriate mitigation measures. In Minnesota, the surveillance testing will be conducted at the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

“Minnesota is unique in having multiple really strong livestock and poultry industries, including turkey, swine, and dairy  and HPAI affects all of them,” said Wells. “The University of Minnesota is well-positioned to help address this challenge, with cutting-edge diagnostic capacities and experts working across industries to look at influenza from many different angles.”

As this disease continues to pose global challenges, the findings from these projects will play a crucial role in shaping future surveillance, response and prevention strategies. The research conducted under this grant will provide key insights to inform best practices for dairy producers, veterinary professionals and policymakers alike.