DairyTalk 234: Biosecurity Before Technology: The Financial Lesson of H5N1 - by Helmut Demmelhuber

This article examines the economic and biological impact of H5N1
on the U.S. dairy industry and explains why prevention delivers
the highest return on investment. With losses reaching up to $950
per affected cow and nearly 90% of infections showing no obvious
symptoms, the virus often spreads unnoticed through milking
equipment and daily routines. The analysis shows that investments
in biosecurity, quarantine protocols, and controlled sourcing are
more effective for mid-sized farms than relying solely on
detection technologies. While pasteurization protects consumers
and federal aid programs offer partial relief, they rarely offset
long-term production losses and culling costs. The key takeaway
is clear: H5N1 is fundamentally a prevention and management
challenge, not just a diagnostic one. With comments on a "The
Bullvine"-article (January 13th, 2026) by Andrew Hunt:
https://www.thebullvine.com