“We Bounced Back Fast” How Joe Soares Dealt With H5N1

When the H5N1 bird flu virus began affecting dairy herds, farmer Joe Soares knew it was only a matter of time before it reached his operation. But thanks to a proactive approach and support from AHV (Animal Health Vision), Joe’s farm weathered the storm with minimal disruption.

“We were able to bounce back quick,” Joe shared. “The cows didn’t suffer much, and we didn’t lose nearly the amount of milk that a lot of other facilities did—even compared to our own other site.”

A Gentle Yet Effective Protocol

Joe’s strategy centered around early intervention and cow comfort. Rather than taking an aggressive approach that might stress the animals, he consulted with AHV and implemented a protocol using AHV’s Aspi and Booster solutions. The farm’s SCR monitoring collars played a key role in identifying early signs of illness, allowing Joe and his team to act fast.

“We saw improvement on the monitor the very next day,” Joe said. “By the third day, the cows were completely off the SCR collar. It was great—they bounced back quick.”

Comparing Outcomes: Joe vs. His Brother

Joe’s brother, who runs a nearby facility, took a different approach—relying mainly on vitamin B injections. The results were stark: while Joe’s herd recovered within a week, his brother’s cows experienced months of ups and downs.

“We were giving a lot of pills that first week, but by the second week, everything got better,” Joe explained. “My brother’s herd took much longer to stabilize.”

Health Outcomes

Udder Events

Milk Production

• Turlock (AHV): 88 lbs/cow/day
• Chowchilla (Traditional): 77 lbs/cow/day
• Difference: +11 lbs/cow/day

Comparative ROI Analysis

Both dairies were affected by avian influenza (H5N1) at nearly the same time under similar management practices.

Step 1 – Extra Milk per Cow

• 11 lbs/cow/day × 365 days = 4,015 lbs milk/cow/year
• At $20/cwt milk price (=$0.20/lb): Extra revenue = $803 per cow per year

Step 2 – Herd-Level Impact

• Turlock (2,500 cows): $2,007,500/year additional revenue • Chowchilla (5,500 cows, if AHV applied): $4,416,500/year potential additional revenue

Step 3 – Subtract Protocol Costs

• Difference in cost: $27.31 more per cow for AHV
• Extra cost for Turlock (2,500 cows): $68,275
• Extra cost for Chowchilla (5,500 cows): $150,205

Step 4 – Net ROI

• Turlock: $2,007,500 (milk revenue gain) – $68,275 (extra cost) = $1,939,225 net benefit/year
• Chowchilla (if AHV was applied): $4,416,500 – $150,205 = $4,266,295 net benefit/year

Efficiency in Treatment

One of the biggest advantages Joe noted was the ease and speed of administering AHV’s bolus treatments. Unlike drenches, which can be stressful and time-consuming, the boluses were quick to apply—especially with the help of AHV’s provided applicators.

“We didn’t have to lock the cows up for long,” Joe said. “We treated them as they came out of the milk barn—did our breeding, our treatments, all at once. One lock-up, and done.”

Looking Ahead

Joe plans to stick with the same protocol if another outbreak occurs. “It worked great,” he said. “Honestly, we thought it was going to be harder than it was. But with AHV’s help, we got through it fast and strong.”

Joe’s experience highlights the power of preparation, monitoring, and the right health solutions in protecting herd health—even in the face of a serious threat like H5N1.