AS OF EARLY JANUARY, 918 FARMS in 16 states have had confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). California accounts for 703, or three-quarters, of those cases. The state veterinarian has issued a ban on all dairy and poultry shows until further notice.
USDA ISSUED A FEDERAL ORDER IN DECEMBER that requires raw milk samples intended for pasteurization to be tested for the HPAI virus. Initial testing will take place on milk silos at processing plants in 28 states. Should a positive test be found, USDA will work with states to run verification tests on herds that contributed milk into that silo.
ONCE A POSITIVE TEST OCCURS in a state, regular testing will continue until no herds are impacted. Then, sampling frequency will decline as longer durations of negative tests ensue. When states are experiencing positive HPAI tests, enhanced biosecurity measures such as movement controls and contact tracing will be in place. USDA will provide funding assistance for these efforts.
THREE SERVINGS A DAY of dairy remained the recommendation for Americans aged 2 and older in the report released by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Despite mounting pressure from anti-animal activists, dairy maintained its own food group, and no plant-based beverages were considered nutritionally sufficient to be added to the list.
THE COUNCIL ON DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING (CDCB) released its five-year base change. This “rollback” on traits keeps numbers from appearing inflated. Generally speaking, the larger the rollback, the larger the genetic gains. Holsteins will roll back 45 pounds of butterfat and 30 pounds of protein; Jerseys 20 pounds of butterfat and 15 pounds of protein.
WHILE U.S. DAIRY EXPORTS FELL for the second consecutive month, overall sales were still 1.2% higher for the first 11 months. Cheese exports have continued to be strong and have grown every month through November. However, November’s gain was the smallest in a year.
CHEESE STOCKS DROPPED for the eighth straight month. Other-than-American cheese, paced by Mozzarella, has been down for 13 months. Overall, the category stands at the lowest level since January 2019.
CLASS III AND CLASS IV CONTRACTS for January to June traded in the $20 range as Class IV led the way at $20.80 average. The gap widened from July to November with Class III at $19.05 and Class IV at $20.20.
THE DAIRY MARGIN COVERAGE PROGRAM yielded its third-highest margin in November at $14.29, paced by lower feeds costs in all categories.
