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Indiana BOAH ends HPAI testing for interstate dairy cattle movement

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health says lactating dairy cattle no longer have to be tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza before leaving the state.

Denise Derrer Spears says the USDA has updated the National Milk Testing Strategy’s state-of-origin status.

“We’ve been testing milk from dairy farms on a monthly basis,” she says. “We’ve achieved stage 4, which is the unaffected status. Since 2024, we’ve tested more than 11,000 dairy cows in Indiana.”

She tells Brownfield the agency will continue to monitor the state’s commercial milk supply to maintain its unaffected status.

“We know through proven testing that pasteurization works,” she says. “The dairy products on the grocery store shelves are not going to be affected because if it is found, that milk gets diverted.”

Spears says producers should call the state veterinarian in the state of destination to ensure there aren’t any additional state requirements that differ from the federal standards.

Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk.

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AUDIO: Denise Derrer Spears, Indiana State Board of Animal Health