By Blake Jackson
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL), a robot named Becky formally known as a Biomek i5 plays a vital role in managing hundreds of milk samples each month.
This automated liquid handler helps streamline laboratory processes, contributing to WVDL’s national leadership in detecting H5N1 avian influenza on dairy farms.
Every month, the lab tests at least one milk sample from every dairy farm in Wisconsin, processing about 5,000 samples to monitor and prevent an H5N1 outbreak among dairy cattle.
The virus poses a serious risk since increased circulation could lead to new, more dangerous strains capable of affecting multiple species, including humans. Experts at UW-Madison note that the current risk to humans remains low.
The testing is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Milk Testing Strategy, introduced in December 2024 to monitor and contain the spread of bird flu in cattle.
The program’s mission is “to go from unknown prevalence to disease freedom across the country,” explains Keith Poulsen, WVDL director and UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) faculty member.
Under federal orders, herd owners with H5N1-positive cattle must provide data for contact tracing, while dairy operations must submit raw milk samples for testing. As a Level 1 National Animal Health Laboratory Network lab, WVDL plays a key role in this process.
So far, no cases of avian flu have been found in Wisconsin dairy cattle, and researchers at UW-Madison continue developing a promising two-pronged vaccine to protect against H5N1 and strengthen both animal and national health security.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-anna-tarazevich
Categories: Wisconsin, Education, Livestock, Dairy Cattle