MANTECA — A bird flu outbreak is impacting California’s dairy production.
In the Central Valley, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) says 34 total dairy farms have had bird flu, otherwise known as H5-N1, infections in their dairy herds, and that number will go up.
Dairy farmers like those at Dutra Farms in Manteca are working to keep the bird flu out. This farm has been affected by the outbreak.
Farmers said their priority is the cows and keeping them healthy.
“These cows work hard for us,” Larry Haworth said. “You got to keep them happy and healthy and give them everything they want.”
Haworth is a third-generation owner of Dutra Farms. His grandfather started it 80 years ago.
So when Haworth found out about the bird flu spreading through Central Valley herds, he grew worried.
“As every other operator in the industry is,” he said.
The outbreak isn’t necessarily fatal to cows but does decrease their milk production.