USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service has indicated that it will routinely sample slaughtered dairy cows for the presence of H5N1 virus as a component of the National Residue Program.
Application of PCR will eliminate holding times. Carcasses that test positive will be diverted from the chain of meat supply.
A preliminary survey conducted in May on ground beef derived from culled dairy cows failed to reveal the presence of virus. It is apparent the FSIS program will concentrate on culled dairy cattle. As yet there have been no reports of sampling programs on beef from feed lots representing the bulk of supply.