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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Not every dairy cow needs a federal bird flu test to cross state lines. Under current USDA guidance, lactating dairy cattle moving from a state with Unaffected State Status under the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) are exempt from the federal pre-movement test. Lactating cattle leaving affected or provisionally unaffected states generally still need a negative approved test before interstate movement. Nonlactating dairy cattle, including heifers, dry cows, and bull calves, are not currently covered by this federal testing requirement. State-specific rules may still apply.
Which dairy cattle need a federal test before interstate movement?
The requirement depends on two things: whether the animal is lactating and the NMTS status of the state it is leaving. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) currently applies the individual pre-movement test to lactating dairy cattle leaving affected or provisionally unaffected states. Lactating cattle leaving a state with Unaffected State Status do not need that federal test. APHIS’s current movement update describes the exemption; its detailed livestock movement guidance explains the covered animals and requirements.
| Animal and origin state | Federal pre-movement test |
|---|---|
| Lactating dairy cattle from an affected or provisionally unaffected state | Required: a negative approved Influenza A test before interstate movement. |
| Lactating dairy cattle from a state with NMTS Unaffected State Status | Not required under the federal individual pre-movement testing rule. |
| Nonlactating dairy cattle, including heifers, dry cows, and bull calves | Not currently covered by this federal interstate testing requirement. |
This table describes the federal baseline, not permission to ship an animal on a particular route. State animal-health authorities may impose additional requirements, and APHIS says cattle showing clinical signs are not eligible for interstate movement under its current guidance.
What does “Unaffected State Status” mean?
Unaffected State Status is a state-level designation within the NMTS, a USDA surveillance and response framework. It is supported by ongoing testing and surveillance; it is not a permanent designation that means monitoring has stopped. The strategy’s stages cover national milk silo monitoring, determining state status, detecting and responding to virus in affected states, demonstrating absence in unaffected states, and working toward demonstrating H5 freedom in U.S. dairy cattle. APHIS explains the NMTS and current state status here.
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Do not confuse an unaffected state with a herd that has “Monitored Unaffected” status. The latter is a separate, voluntary herd-level program designation.
What test is required, and who can arrange it?
For cattle still subject to the federal rule, APHIS requires a negative Influenza A test before interstate movement. Testing must use an approved assay at a laboratory in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). Sample collection is arranged through a veterinarian or another state-approved process, as applicable. A home or retail test kit is not a substitute for this official testing pathway. See APHIS’s testing information and movement requirements.
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How to check a shipment before it leaves
- Identify the animals. Determine whether each animal is lactating. The federal individual testing rule described here does not currently cover nonlactating dairy cattle.
- Check the origin state’s current NMTS status. The federal test exemption applies to lactating cattle moving from states with Unaffected State Status. Do not rely on an old status listing; surveillance-based designations can change.
- Confirm testing if the animals are covered. If lactating cattle are leaving an affected or provisionally unaffected state, arrange the approved Influenza A test through the appropriate veterinarian or state-approved collection process and NAHLN laboratory before movement.
- Check both states’ rules for the route. Contact the animal-health authority in the state of origin and the destination state for shipment-specific conditions. Federal guidance does not replace state requirements.
- Do not move cattle with clinical signs. APHIS’s current guidance says cattle with clinical signs are not eligible for interstate movement.
Because state status and state requirements can change, a general article cannot establish that a specific shipment is cleared. Confirm the rules for the animals, origin, destination, and planned movement date with the relevant state authorities.
Can a dairy herd use weekly milk monitoring instead?
Some participating herds can use the voluntary Dairy Herd Status Program as a herd-level monitoring pathway. A herd that records three consecutive weeks of negative weekly bulk-milk tests at a NAHLN laboratory can qualify for Monitored Unaffected status. Continued weekly bulk-tank testing and program participation allow interstate movement without individual pre-movement testing otherwise required under the April 2024 order. This herd designation is distinct from the origin state’s NMTS status, and it is not automatic: the producer must participate and meet the program’s ongoing testing conditions. APHIS describes the Dairy Herd Status Program.
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Why did USDA establish the movement rule?
USDA announced the original Federal Order on April 24, 2024; it took effect April 29. It required pre-movement testing for lactating dairy cattle moving interstate and reporting of positive results. USDA cited the need to understand the outbreak and limit spread, including evidence of transmission between cows in affected herds and between herds associated with cattle movements. The April order remains the foundation of the movement-testing rule.
On December 6, 2024, USDA announced a separate Federal Order requiring raw-milk samples for testing upon request from entities handling milk intended for pasteurization, along with related positive-result reporting. That later order did not replace the April interstate movement order. APHIS’s Federal Order information covers both orders. The agency’s NMTS FAQ, last modified January 13, 2026, confirms that the April order remains in force: NMTS FAQ.
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Does the cattle movement rule mean pasteurized milk is unsafe?
No. The movement rule is an animal-health measure and should not be read as evidence that commercial pasteurized milk is unsafe. APHIS says pasteurization effectively inactivates HPAI virus and that milk from affected animals is diverted or destroyed to prevent it from entering the food supply. CDC considers the public-health risk low. APHIS’s current update provides these public-health statements.
APHIS also notes that the virus can move between farms on equipment, people, or other items. It recommends enhanced biosecurity and asks producers to promptly report clinical signs in livestock or unusual sick or dead wildlife to their state veterinarian. See APHIS’s producer guidance.
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