Bird flu is spreading rapidly among California dairy cows. Will milk prices rise?

93 California dairy herds have tested positive for the H5N1 virus as of Oct. 9.

California has roughly 1,100 herds and 1.7 million cows. It accounts for 20% of the milk produced in the country.

As a rapidly increasing number of California dairy farms suffer outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu, industry experts say it remains unclear just how the disease may affect the nation’s milk supply or pricing.

As of Oct. 9, the nation’s largest milk producing state had reported 93 H5N1 outbreaks in dairy herds — nearly doubling in the span of a week.

There have also been three confirmed and two presumptive cases of human infection. All five cases were among Central Valley dairy workers who had no known connection.

Click here to continue reading

By Susanne Rust

Oct. 10, 20243

www.latimes.com