Private Sector

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0579-XXXX. The time required to complete this
information collection is estimated to average 20-40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

OMB Approved
0579-XXXX
Exp. XX/XXXX

HPAI Response

Dairy Herd Monitoring Plan
June XX, 2024

Please note: This is an agreement for herds to enroll in the HPAI Dairy Herd Status Program. These procedures
may be revised as the situation develops.
Premises Information
Premises ID #
State abbreviation, county, and special ID (if applicable)
Premises owner
Name of premises
Address of premises
Phone number
Contact person (if different from premises owner)
Contact phone number
Contact e-mail address
Animal Owner (if different from premises owner)
Address of animal owner
Phone number
Business Owner (if different from premises owner)
Name of authorized representative, if applicable
Address of business owner
OWNER/OPERATOR:
Signature: ____________________________________

Date: ____________________

☐VS INCIDENT COMMANDER OR ☐VS DISTRICT DIRECTOR/AREA VETERINARIAN IN CHARGE:
Signature: ____________________________________

Date: ____________________

☐STATE INCIDENT COMMANDER OR ☐STATE VETERINARIAN:
Signature: ____________________________________

Date: ____________________

This is a written herd and/or premises agreement developed between USDA APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) and
_______ (Insert State Agency) (hereafter, “the State” or “State”) with input from _______________________
(Insert herd owner and/or premises owner) (hereafter, “the Owner” or “Owner”). This herd will be handled in
accordance with any additional_____________________________ (Insert name of State) regulations and/or
requirements.
This agreement establishes conditions for which producers may enroll in the Voluntary HPAI Dairy Herd Status
Program, which provides alternative testing and movement options to the guidance – APHIS Requirements and
Recommendations for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock (originally published on
April 26, 2024).

HPAI Response
Dairy Herd Monitoring Plan

As this program is voluntary, an owner may decide to cancel participation in the Voluntary HPAI Dairy Herd Status
Program at any time unless otherwise required by State regulations or a State herd plan. The cancellation should be
in writing to a VS or State representative. This Voluntary HPAI Dairy Herd Monitoring Plan may be reviewed and
changes to it suggested at any time by any party signatory to it in response to changes in the situation of the herd
or premises, or improvements in understanding the nature of HPAI H5N1 epidemiology, or methods to prevent its
spread. Any changes must be agreed upon by all signatory parties.
If USDA APHIS VS and the State determine that the Owner has not met the responsibilities of this agreement, the
herd may lose the Monitored Unaffected Herd Status.

I. ANIMAL INVENTORY
The herd owner will provide the following information related to their herd inventory. The herd owner is also
required to provide inventory for other domestic species maintained on the premises.
Bovines present on premises (include number, sex, age, stage of lactation, if applicable)

Other species present on premises (list type and numbers)

II. ENROLLMENT - PROVISIONAL ENROLLED HERD TO MONITORED
UNAFFECTED HERD STATUS
1. Upon signature of this plan and collection of the first required samples the herd will be in Provisional
Enrolled Herd Status.
2. While in Provisional Enrolled Herd Status, premovement testing as outlined in the Federal Order and
associated guidance must be followed.
3. Surveillance Testing:
a) Weekly tests (PCR) of representative sample(s) from the bulk tank(s), or tanker(s) referred to
hereafter as Bulk Tank Milk (BTM) for a total of three weeks. (Delete options that do not apply)
 Each of the three weeks, one BTM sample is collected for each bulk tank emptying over
a 24-hour period, or a single collection cycle – whichever is longer.
 Sampling scheme: (insert description of agreed upon sampling scheme to include
number of samples and day of collection)
Alternative sampling protocols may be proposed dependent on individual dairy set ups (ex: use of
in-line samplers or collecting samples from tankers where appropriate). An alternative sampling
protocol must be approved by the Ruminant Health Center, and protocols must be designed to
include a representative sample of the milking string. In-line sampling is preferred when available

PREDECISIONAL DRAFT

2 of 5

HPAI Response
Dairy Herd Monitoring Plan

to ensure herd representation. Repeat sampling from more than one 24-hour period during the
week would increase diagnostic sensitivity with samples from 2 days for tanks holding milk from
500-1000 cattle and from 3 days for tanks holding milk from more than 1000 cattle. Three weeks
of sampling would still be required for enrollment and program designation.
b) At least one hospital/sick pen milk test (PCR) conducted the third week of testing. Sampling of
hospital/sick pen milk must include: (Delete options that do not apply)
 a bulk tank milk sample collected from a tank containing milk from all udder quarters of
all lactating animals in the hospital/sick pen on the day of collection, or
 a pooled or aggregated sample containing milk collected individually from all udder
quarters of all lactating animals held in the sick or hospital pen on the day of collection,
or
 individual milk samples collected from all lactating animals held in the sick or hospital
pen on the day of collection where an individual animal milk sample includes milk from
all udder quarters of each animal.
c) And at least one freshening pen milk test (PCR) if applicable. Sampling will follow the same
protocol outlined for hospital/sick pen tests.
Sampling hospital/sick/freshening pen milk should follow laboratory guidance (see/link to be
inserted).
4. The Owner will work with APHIS and/or the State to arrange for samples to be collected by an approved
sample collector.
o Sample collectors approved for bulk tank milk collection:
 A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) Sampler – may include a Bulk Milk Hauler/Sampler,
Industry Plant Sampler, or state employee as defined by the PMO guidance from U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service Food and Drug
Administration in combination with State authorities.
 Alternative samplers selected and approved by APHIS and the State Animal Health
Official when PMO Samplers are unavailable.
 Approved Sample Collector: (insert responsible party name)
o Sample collectors approved for hospital/sick pen milk collection:
 Accredited or licensed veterinarians
 Sampler collectors approved by APHIS and the State Animal Health Official
 Approved Sample Collector: (insert responsible party name)
5. The Owner agrees to maintain a log of sample collection numbers and dates. This log will be available for
review by APHIS VS and/or the State.
6. All testing will be for influenza A virus (IAV) PCR at a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN)
laboratory. All test results must be Not Detected. Instructions for sample collection and submission are
found here: [Will insert Link to NVSL HPAI Sampling Instructions once posted]
o If test results are positive at a NAHLN lab, samples will be forwarded to the National Veterinary
Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, IA, for confirmation. The herd will be designated as
Presumptive Positive.

PREDECISIONAL DRAFT

3 of 5

HPAI Response
Dairy Herd Monitoring Plan

o

If test results are positive at NVSL, the herd will be designated as a Monitored Affected herd, and
details outlined in section IV of this document will apply.

7. The Owner should continue to monitor the herd for clinical signs consistent with HPAI in dairy cattle and
report them immediately to their herd veterinarian, and subsequently to the AVIC and/or the SAHO.
8. Enhanced Biosecurity Plan Implementation
o Biosecurity is critical to reduce the introduction or spread of infectious disease onto a premises.
Strong biosecurity practices are important not only to prevent the entry of disease into a herd,
but they also help to limit the spread of a disease within a herd and prevent the transmission of
disease to humans. Enhanced biosecurity refers to steps taken above normal daily biosecurity
practices.
o The Owner should implement enhanced biosecurity prior to the enrollment. If the Owner does
not have an enhanced biosecurity plan, the Owner can work with the VS or State representative
to create a biosecurity plan. Resources include:
 Secure Milk Supply Plan
 Biosecurity- National Dairy FARM Program
 Biosecurity for dairy operations- TAMU
 Biosecurity for cattle operations- UMN Extension
 Farm Biosecurity- CFSPH (iastate.edu)
o The Owner may opt to take advantage of the USDA financial support for biosecurity planning and
implementation.
o These enhanced biosecurity plans should be available to be reviewed by a VS or State designee.
9. Adding Cattle to the Milking Herd
o The Owner may add additional cattle to the milking herd. However, USDA APHIS recommends
the following actions to reduce risk of introducing disease:
 Lactating cattle should be obtained from a herd of similar status, provided they have
been in the milking herd and that premises is participating in the Voluntary HPAI Dairy
Herd Status Program.
 Non-lactating cattle (ex: dry cows or heifers) should be isolated and tested for HPAI
prior to moving into the milking herd and having milk comingled with the lactating herd.
These cattle may be from the same herd or a herd of similar status. These cattle should
be isolated until they are tested.

III. MAINTAINING MONITORED UNAFFECTED HERD STATUS
1. Weekly testing of BTM for Influenza A Virus (IAV) by PCR (as outlined in section II.3a) with non-detect
results at a NAHLN laboratory for the duration of the program.
2. Testing of sick/hospital pen milk is required once every 4 weeks (as outlined in section II.3b).
3. While in Monitored Unaffected Herd Status, premovement testing for IAV, as outlined in the Federal
Order and associated guidance, is not required.

PREDECISIONAL DRAFT

4 of 5

HPAI Response
Dairy Herd Monitoring Plan

4. The Owner should continue to monitor the herd for clinical signs consistent with HPAI in dairy cattle and
report them to the AVIC and/or the SAHO.
5. If a week of BTM testing is missed, the following week must include the regular weekly BTM test AND one
sick pen milk test to maintain Monitored Unaffected Herd Status. If BTM tests are missed for two weeks in
a row, the herd’s status will revert to Non-Enrolled, and the herd will need to restart the protocol as
outlined in Section II and will need to follow premovement testing as outlined in the Federal Order and
associated guidance.
6. If a test result is non-negative at a NAHLN lab, the herd will be considered Presumptive Positive, and
samples will be forwarded to NVSL for further testing.
o If test results from NVSL are negative, the herd will retain Monitored Unaffected status.
o If test results from NVSL are confirmed positive, the herd will be designated Monitored Affected
Herd and procedures outlined in Section IV. below will apply.

IV. MONITORED AFFECTED HERD STATUS
1.

2.
3.

4.

5.

6.

An epidemiological investigation will be conducted by APHIS VS and/or the State.
Movement of lactating animals will be halted until a strategy for safe movement can be developed jointly
by VS and/or the State and implemented.
Optional Strategies:
o Conducting tests to identify infected animals – protocol will be determined during development
of the herd plan (examples include string testing, individual animal testing, etc).
o Additional periodic testing of BTM, sick pen milk, freshening milk, environmental testing, and
other appropriate testing at an interval determined by VS and the State.
o Voluntary removal of infected animals from the milking string by isolation, culling, etc.
Testing protocol to resume Monitored Unaffected Herd Status:
o Surveillance comprised of:
 Two consecutive weekly tests (PCR) of BTM samples as described in Section II.2a, and
 At least one hospital/sick pen milk test (PCR) conducted the second week of BTM
sampling, and
 Recommend sampling at least one freshening pen milk test (PCR) conducted the second
week of sampling.
o All tests must be not detected for IAV by PCR at a NAHLN laboratory.
The herd should demonstrate, for at least two weeks, an absence of clinical signs and production changes
(such as unexplained drop in milk production) associated with HPAI in the cattle, and herd illness rates not
above expected seasonal baseline levels (particularly for mastitis and respiratory disease).
Provided the herd has not had additional positive test results for two weeks and is not demonstrating
clinical signs, Monitored Unaffected Herd Status is regained.

PREDECISIONAL DRAFT

5 of 5