The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) implemented new interstate travel restrictions for dairy cattle effective this week to help prevent spread of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus.

Effective April 29, lactating cattle must test negative for influenza through a USDA-approved lab prior to transport across state lines. Producers with cattle that test positive for H5N1 are required to provide the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) with “epidemiological information, including animal movement tracing.”

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