Iowa’s first two cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cows hit a 4,500-head operation in O’Brien County and a 250-head dairy in Sioux County last week.

The Iowa outbreaks were followed by a positive diagnosis of herds in Minnesota and Wyoming, bringing the total number of states with confirmed cases to 12.

“Given the spread of (HPAI) within dairy cattle in many other states, it is not a surprise that we would have (cases) given the size of our dairy industry in ...