By Scout Nelson
The Miracle of Birth Center at the Minnesota State Fair, known for showcasing baby farm animals and their mothers, will exclude birthing cows this year due to bird flu concerns in the dairy cattle industry.
State agricultural officials announced that fair organizers will not include birthing cows and newborn calves in the popular exhibit as a precaution. The exhibit will still feature dairy cow-calf pairs, but the calves will be weaned, and the cows will not be lactating.
"There will still be cute little calves and cows," said Kelly Andrews, executive director of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, one of the exhibit's organizers. "They just won't be lactating [cows]."
Fair officials are expected to release a statement regarding H5N1 precautions soon. "As I'm sure you can imagine, there are many different pieces to the fair's puzzle and specifically right now with regard to H5N1 and how things will play out with exhibitors and also the Miracle of Birth Center," said Lara Hughes, a fair spokeswoman.
The change in the exhibit comes after a report from Extension and College of Veterinary Medicine educators discouraged holding in-person lactating dairy cow exhibitions due to bird flu risks. Lactating dairy cattle are only a small portion of the dairy cows shown at fairs, with most being heifers not yet mature enough to produce milk.
While scientists have not determined the exact route of transmission for the virus, notable potential links include shared equipment, personnel, visitors, animal movements, and having other animals on site. Joe Armstrong, a livestock educator and veterinarian, stated that stopping the movement of animals would reduce the likelihood of bird flu spreading.
"Raw milk has the most virus in it," Armstrong said. "And that's being carried and mechanically moved by people and equipment."
Lucas Sjostrom, executive director of the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, said farmers should decide whether to show their animals. He noted that exhibiting a lactating dairy cow before judges can help market the cow's genetics to potential buyers.
"We have a tradition of some of the best genetic stock in the world," Sjostrom said. "So neighboring farms, neighboring states and neighboring countries do seek out Minnesota genetics regularly."
The Board of Animal Health requires testing of dairy cattle before arriving at county fairs. Some counties have already canceled exhibitions for lactating cattle or switched to virtual shows.
Since June, nine dairy herds in Minnesota have tested positive for H5N1, with the latest case in Stearns County. The total number of infected herds is likely undercounted as testing is not mandatory.
Colorado has reported nearly 50 infected herds and has mandated weekly testing of commercial dairy herds. A University of Wisconsin report suggests raw milk is a chief conduit for spreading H5N1 between dairy cattle herds and other mammals, including humans.
"This relatively low risk is good news," said Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, "since it means the virus is unlikely to easily infect others who aren't exposed to raw infected milk."
Minnesota banned poultry from events in 2015 during a separate bird flu pandemic.
Photo Credit: istock-simplycreativephotography
Categories: Minnesota, Livestock, Dairy Cattle