State agriculture officials say Alabama continues to steer clear of avian flu in cattle
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — News 19 is working to ease your fears about the state’s milk supply after bird flu was detected in dairy cows and milk across the country.
Alabama’s agriculture commissioner says milk in Alabama is safe to drink.
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“We import most of the milk that we drink,” Commissioner Rick Pate said. “And we don’t have any reason to believe that pasteurization won’t remove the influenza.”
Pate says he is on calls with the USDA nearly every day to get the latest information surrounding the illness and cattle.
“We just want people to be aware but not overly concerned,” he said. “Your food supply is safe and abundant, and we’re really working hard, like the amount of time we’ve spent following this issue, even though it’s made its way to Alabama. We’re on top of it.”
Under a new federal order lactating dairy cows in the country will now have to be tested for the virus, with negative results, before they can be sent across state lines.
However, Pate says there aren’t many dairy cows in The Yellowhammer State.
“I think there are about 19 dairy farms in Alabama,” he said.
The commissioner says the majority of cattle farms are raising beef cattle, and the food supply has not been affected anywhere in the country.
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