DATCP announced milk testing plan

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced the implementation of the mandatory National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This program provides surveillance of the nation’s dairy cattle herds, ensuring swift action to identify and address H5N1 affected herds. Wisconsin will soon initiate mandatory monthly milk sampling. With help from industry partners, it is expected that one milk sample will be obtained per dairy farm each month and tested at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL). These samples will primarily be gathered through existing milk quality labs that work with Licensed Bulk Milk Weighers and Samplers, ensuring minimal disruption to dairy operations while obtaining farm-level results.