The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the release of its National Milk Testing Strategy requiring raw milk samples to be collected and shared with the USDA for testing and surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza -- HPAI -- H5N1 in dairy cattle. The new testing strategy aims to identify affected states and herds, enhance biosecurity measures to prevent transmission and protect the dairy workforce from exposure. By providing a uniform and structured testing system, the strategy will help ensure the safety of livestock in unaffected regions, support effective containment efforts and strengthen the overall biosecurity needed to eliminate H5N1 from the U.S. dairy herd.