Bird flu infects another Iowa dairy herd

By Jack O’Connor

State officials announced over the weekend that another case of avian flu was found in a Sioux County dairy herd, marking June’s 11th case of bird flu in Iowa cattle.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s report on Saturday of pathogenic avian influenza in a dairy herd of 5,000 is the ninth report this month of avian flu within Sioux County’s dairy cattle.

The virus has primarily been found in herds in Sioux County, but there have also been reports in Plymouth and O’Brien counties.

Cows can generally recover from the infection within two weeks; however, the infection is often fatal in birds.

Since May 28, the department has announced two different turkey flocks and one chicken flock with bird flu.

Signs of avian flu in cattle include fever, dehydration, lethargy and a drop in milk production. In birds, signs of avian flu include diarrhea, a decrease in egg production, coughing and sudden increases in bird deaths. 

Bird flu in dairy cattle has also been reported in Minnesota, South Dakota, Michigan, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado and Texas.

Infections of Iowa flocks and herds this year include:

— June 22: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 5,000 cattle.

— June 21: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 500 cattle.

— June 21: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 45 cattle.

— June 20: A commercial turkey flock in Sac County with about 46,000 birds.

— June 19: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 100 cattle.

— June 17: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 10,000 cattle.

— June 15: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 520 cattle.

— June 14: A dairy herd in Plymouth County with about 3,000 cattle.

— June 14: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 1,000 cattle.

— June 12: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 1,700 cattle.

— June 7: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 250 cattle.

— June 5: A dairy herd in O’Brien County with about 4,500 cattle.

— June 2: A commercial turkey flock in Cherokee County with about 103,000 birds.

— May 28: A commercial egg-laying chicken flock in Sioux County with about 4.2 million birds.

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