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IDFA President CEO favors development of HPAI vaccinations

The President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association says vaccinations need to be developed to protect poultry and livestock from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Michael Dykes says, “It’s important that we get a program in place that begins to look at alternative ways of managing this virus.”

Dykes tells Brownfield USDA had predicted the H5N1 virus would burn out last fall, but that didn’t happen, and he’s concerned the virus could both spread and mutate.  He says that’s why IDFA, National Milk Producers Federation, United Egg Producers, and the National Turkey Federation have asked both the Biden and Trump administration’s USDA Secretaries for help. “We are urging the additional research and development of a vaccine that is effective, safe, and cost-effective for dairy farmers and for poultry operations. We’re also encouraging the department to work with our fellow partners and make sure that we don’t have any problems with the trade of our products.”

Dykes says the current strategy simply isn’t working. “Since 2022, we’ve killed millions and millions of turkeys and layers and broilers. Fortunately, we haven’t had a death loss in dairy cows, but we’ve had some increased culling rates and we’ve had a decrease in milk production.”

The Congressional Chicken Caucus has spoken out against vaccinating poultry because of the potential trade harm, but Dykes says he’s confident sick animals can be kept off the market. “From my discussions with the vaccine developers, they can detect the difference between vaccinated animals and currently infected animals to help with the management, both from a veterinarian’s perspective, and having been a practicing veterinarian myself, I can appreciate the importance of that.”

Dykes says the groups are awaiting a response from new Secretary Brooke Rollins.

AUDIO: Michael Dykes discusses the need for an avian influenza vaccination program and new options for dealing with H5N1 with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.