A study by the University of Washington Bird Pest Management Group examined the impact of birds on the state's dairy farms, including the economics of milk production and livestock health.

Poultry eating cattle feed can deplete nutrients in the diet. Also, birds contribute to the ingress of pathogens on the feed table and increase the risk of morbidity in animals.

Modern storage methods provide good access to bird feed. In the study, milk producers reported a feed wastage of $ 55. per cow per year, resulting in annual losses of $ 5.5 million. in the western region of the state and 9.2 million dollars. in the eastern region. European starlings were the most implicated in this loss. A survey of commercial dairy farms in Pennsylvania, New York and Wisconsin found that dairy farms reporting 10,000 or more birds per day lose $ 64,000 annually on feed.

Ricky Woods, USDA biologist confirms that one starling can eat 1 cent of feed a day - and that's not all. Some of the feed is thrown away due to bird contamination, and livestock consuming such feed can become infected with E. coli, salmonella and other infections.

The key to "defeating the birds" is to be diligent. Deterrent activity must be ongoing and there must be a different solution for each situation.

Milkua