Date of publication: Apr 11, 2022 • 15 minutes ago • 3 minutes of reading • Take part in the discussion Canada Chicken Breeders have decided to shrink the national herd by 12.6 percent this summer. Photo by Getty Images / iStockphoto
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Poultry farmers in Alberta bear the brunt of the spread of bird flu in Canada with at least 166,000 farm birds dead or dead in what federal officials call the unprecedented spread of the disease.
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It is the province hardest hit by poultry destruction, accounting for about 64% of the approximately 260,000 production birds lost in Canada to the highly contagious virus transmitted by wild, mostly waterfowl. As of Sunday night, the disease had been detected on six Alberta farms in Wetaskiwin, Ponoka, Paintearth, Kneehill and Mountain View counties and quarantined the last two jurisdictions not far from Calgary in the north and northeast of the city. . “This is an unprecedented year for the spread of avian influenza worldwide; it has spread rapidly since it was detected last year,” said Mary Jane Ireland, Canada’s chief veterinarian. “We expect to have more findings (explosions).”
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The disease was first reported in Canada last December in Newfoundland and Labrador and has since spread to Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta and possibly Quebec. The higher incidence of bird flu, Ireland said, is due to increased “environmental pressure on migratory birds at the moment”. It is important that producers ignore any idea that the threat is excessive – as was the case with the COVID-19 pandemic – and take strict precautions, Ireland said. “We are asking producers, small flock owners and large producers to step up their biosafety measures,” he said. “I understand how difficult this is for poultry producers and small herd owners; it is a very embarrassing and stressful situation.” At Park Lane Farms just east of Calgary, numerous measures are being taken to keep the herd of 5,000 meat-free chickens free of the flu, said owner Jerry Kamphuis.
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“No one is allowed on the farm – the director is the only one taking care of the birds and we have all kinds of protocols, including baths for boots,” he said. “Of course it’s a big concern because it would ruin my business.” These concerns are particularly acute now with the return of migratory birds in the spring, Kamphuis said, adding that a federation-imposed control zone restricting the movement of animals, equipment and products has been extended to his farm. At her farm west of Okotoks, where she raises specialized chickens and turkeys, Beth Laing said she has always taken biosecurity measures seriously, but worries she can only do so much. “You can do what you can, but if someone gets infected a mile below, it could kill my flock,” said Laing of KB Ranch Heritage Breed Poultry.
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“If (an infected) herd flies and moves in your place, you may not be able to do much to stop this flu. “The scary part is the uncertainty.” Federal officials say the flu does not appear to be transmitted from one farm to another, but it is known to be transmitted to humans. It is unclear what impact the virus could have on consumers, who have already seen food prices – including poultry costs – rise sharply last year as inflation reached 30-year highs, Donald Boucher said. Director of Agriculture and Agriculture. Agri-Food Canada. “We are not able to link (with food prices), but there are definitely industry adjustments to ensure the supply chain,” Boucher said. “Prices are in the minds of Canadians, so we are definitely monitoring the situation.”
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Poultry farmers are advised to monitor closely for symptoms of avian influenza in their flocks, such as reduced egg production, swelling around the birds’s eyes and neck, sneezing, lack of energy, movement and coordination, dead animals and diarrhea. Operators should reduce exposure to poultry feed that can attract wild birds, avoid importing new birds, keep their farms clean and minimize visitors, Ireland said. “People can transmit the disease through clothes or shoes, and tires and wheel wells can also be cleaned,” he said. [email protected] Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn More news, fewer ads, faster upload time: Get unlimited, ad-lite access to the Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites for just $ 14 / month or $ 140 / year. Register now through Calgary Herald the Calgary Sun..
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