A dairy specialist with I-S-U Extension says the number of dairy entries at county fairs has been down in areas of northwest Iowa due to bird flu outbreaks. Fred Hall says entries in Sioux County for example, fell 30 percent, and it is a concern. Every competitor must show proof of a negative test to allow their cow in. Hall also stresses that pasteurized milk is safe to drink as the virus is not very durable and dies in the pasteurization process. The Iowa State Fair is one week away and Hall says officials with the Fair also expect fewer dairy cow competitors due to the bird flu.
