Being sick is the worst. With the combination of feeling awful and not being able to perform daily tasks as normal, being sick is something most people dread and will try to avoid at all costs.
Arguably enough, the one thing worse than being sick is watching someone else be sick, considering that there’s not much you’re able to do for them in that given moment. Many parents may share this notion, and it’s safe to say that this indescribable feeling is felt by farmers when their herd gets sick.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has been present in dairy cattle throughout mainly the Midwest and Southern regions of the United States since March. Many dairy farmers have grown conscious of the people and animals let on and off their farm and have since implemented biosecurity practices in an effort to prevent any potential disease spread and outbreaks.
I had heard little pieces here and there about the HPAI virus, but I was able to fully understand the severity and extent of the disease when I moved out to the Midwest this summer. Not being entirely familiar with the disease at the time, I found it heartbreaking to hear about the struggles that dairy farmers and their families were facing. It was a relief as farms began to recover.
When I left for the summer in mid-June, HPAI hadn’t been confirmed within the California dairy industry and was mainly heard about through whispers or conversations about other regions of the nation.
Shortly after I arrived back home this summer, the HPAI virus made its way to California. My newly understood information coupled with the fear of my family’s dairy being affected led me and several dairy farmers in the state to grow wary of the virus and its associated impacts.
USDA has confirmed there to be 34 dairies in California to be affected by the HPAI virus so far. All impacted dairies have been quarantined, and unaffected farms are exploring biosecurity options and measures to prevent the virus from becoming widespread throughout the state.
Several fall shows, fairs, and dairy cattle events are being canceled in the effort to protect the dairy industry and its farmers. Only time will tell what’s in store for California’s dairy industry, but dairy farmers are determined to protect their herds, communities, and livelihoods from the impact of HPAI.
Morgan Oliveira was the 2024 Hoard’s Dairyman editorial intern. She grew up working on her family’s dairy farm near Hilmar, Calif. As a student at Cal Poly University, Oliveira is majoring in agriculture communications.