Alberta’s Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) is funding new research to address the growing threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), specifically the H5N1 strain, in livestock.
With a $239,832 investment, RDAR is supporting a project led by the University of Calgary to monitor and assess the potential transmission of H5N1 to Alberta’s dairy and swine herds. The initiative comes in response to confirmed H5N1 cases in U.S. dairy cattle, where, as of July 2024, infections have been reported on 168 farms across 13 states.
The study will explore whether the virus is already present in Alberta’s livestock and examine transmission risks from environmental sources, such as contamination by migratory birds. Researchers also aim to develop effective diagnostic tools and farm-level strategies to help producers prevent and manage potential outbreaks.
In addition to on-farm biosecurity support, the project will include a region-specific economic analysis to guide response planning and inform future policy decisions in Western Canada.
