By Jamie Martin
Dairy farmers now have fresh hope in the battle against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Texas A&M AgriLife Research are investing $300,404 through a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to create a practical milk decontamination strategy.
The HPAI virus has been detected in milk from infected cows. Presently, farmers are advised to heat treat or pasteurize this milk before it can be used or discarded. But these methods require costly equipment and are difficult to apply to the large volumes produced by modern dairy operations.
“Our goal is to develop a practical, science-based solution that dairy farmers can implement quickly and affordably. We are collaborating with the University of Georgia to identify effective on-farm decontamination strategies that help reduce the spread of HPAI and protect both animal and human health,” said Dr. Sushil Paudyal Assistant Professor of Dairy Science at Texas A&M University.
Working with the University of Georgia, the project aims to provide farmers with a low-cost way to slow virus transmission and safeguard dairy workers.
FFAR’s ROAR program funds urgent research to protect the nation’s food supply from emerging threats. "Dairy farmers need tools and strategies to prevent the further spread of avian influenza in their herd once it is detected. Equipping farmers with a cost-effective, on-farm decontamination tool will minimize economic losses and reduce risks for farm workers. FFAR’s rapid funding will help deliver this solution for farmers," said Dr. Miriam Martin LeValley Scientific Program Manager.
By creating a chemical decontamination process, this research could reduce economic losses and help maintain herd health, offering a much-needed alternative to expensive on-farm pasteurization.
Photo Credits: gettyimages-anna-tarazevich
Categories: National