Reuters reports that the incident occurred in Monroe, Illinois on May 4. In the presence of dazzling fairy lights, farmer Luz Klotz fixed the brilliantly striped hair ribbon on Reba, a cow weighing 1,600 pounds who was reclining on the ground. Joey Pachl, a teenager, had spent $75 for an hour-long cow snuggling session at the farm in the hopes of impressing his fiancée and receiving an invitation to the high school prom.
Emma, a girlfriend who is passionate about animals, was impressed with Pachl. These kinds of visits have become essential for Luz and Dan Klotz, who own a small farm, in order to pay their feed expenses and ensure that their farm continues to function.
Because of social media, it is now all the rage in the United States to pay farmers to cuddle up with livestock that weighs half a ton. Cuddling dairy or beef cattle may be therapeutic for tourists, or it may just be an adventure for city residents who are searching for some good old-fashioned fun in the country where they live.
However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has verified the presence of bird flu in dairy herds in nine different states, which means that the practice of exposing the barn door to the public is now facing a new danger.
Researchers have concluded that the epidemic is likely more widespread among the nation's more than twenty-six thousand licensed dairy farms, given the discovery of H5N1 particles in about twenty percent of milk samples. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States have tracked over one hundred individuals exposed to the virus, and one dairy worker in Texas has tested positive for the virus.
Officials from the government have said that there is a minimal danger of human illness. Nevertheless, authorities from the state and federal governments are asking dairy and cattle producers to restrict the number of visitors from outside the country as much as they can.
This week, the director of the agricultural department in Michigan signed an emergency response order that includes increased sanitary procedures and access limits to dairy and commercial poultry farms starting on May 8. One dairy herd tested positive, prompting the issuance of the order.
The decree does not specifically prohibit cuddling cows. However, Tim Boring, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, told Reuters that "from a human-to-animal health standpoint, now is not a good time to cuddle cows." It is for the protection of both the cows and the humans.
If any limitations are implemented, small family farms that rely on cow-cuddling and other forms of agritourism business operations to provide a financial lifeline may be put in a difficult financial position. At the De Vor Dairy Farm and Creamery in northern Michigan, cow snuggling sessions are so popular that they sell out weeks in advance. These sessions also pay for the farm's insurance premium.
"I'm not worried about bird flu, because the farm is already open to the public and we already have safety measures in place," said Henk De Vor, a farmer from Holland.
In addition, Luz and Dan Klotz, who run Luz Farms in Illinois, have preventive measures in place to safeguard the safety of their guests and ensure that their farm continues to function normally. You can purchase a single bale of hay for one hour of cow cuddling, which is sufficient to feed their small herd for a maximum of one week.
Dan Klotz said, "It is of great assistance."
For the next two months, there are confirmed reservations for weekend sessions at Clarksville Cow Cuddling, which takes place at Mary's Land Farm in Maryland. Farmers also reported that demand is strong at The Cuddle Corral in Arizona, the Texas Gaushala Farm in Texas, and the Sunset View Creamery in New York. All three locations are within the state of Texas.
According to statistics provided by the USDA, more than 28,600 farms in the United States offered agritourism or recreational services of some kind on their property in 2022. These services included corn mazes and you-pick sunflower fields, as well as yoga sessions with baby goats. and feeding newborn piglets. These farms generated a total revenue of $1.26 billion, a 32% increase from five years ago.
Agriculture revenues in the United States are likely to take the worst drop in 18 years as a result of the downturn in crop prices, according to statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and small farms are particularly suffering from this.
As stated by Curt Covington, senior director of institutional credit at AgAmerica Lending, "Agritourism is a real economic driver for small farmers who have found a niche." "Agritourism is a real economic driver."
Yes, that is what she means
Public health professionals have expressed concerns about the spread of bird flu from migratory birds to dozens of species worldwide. During a media call, Rosemary Sifford, the chief veterinary officer for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), expressed her belief that the virus is currently spreading among cattle, mostly via contact with raw milk.
Reuters quoted the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as stating that the affected dairy farms ranged in size from 300 to 23,000 heads. However, the USDA has not publicly identified the dairy whose cows tested positive.
"Regardless of the size of their operation, all dairy producers should re-double their biosecurity efforts and be vigilant about monitoring for and controlling disease in their herds," a representative for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
Cow-cuddling hosts take precautions to ensure the safety of their guests and the animals they bring with them.
Joey's mother, Linda Pachl, was the one who first came across a post on Facebook describing the cow snuggling sessions offered by Luz Farms. She then proceeded to pitch the concept to her son. Joey approached the farmers and inquired about the possibility of constructing a banner in Emma's school colors that would read "Prom."
A week later, they draped the flag over the corpse of Yogi, a farm-raised calf, and played country music on the smashed-up radio inside the barn. He tapped Emma Maiers, his girlfriend, on the shoulder. "Well?" was the question he posed.
"I fall in love with cows!" Maiers, who was 16 years old, spoke. Pachl flashed a smile. It was not the response he had anticipated, but he was able to deduce that she intended to say yes.
