Fewer than 900,000 birds in domestic flocks have died due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), otherwise known as “Bird Flu”, this year, said the USDA. The department recently completed a review of bird flu outbreaks that date from February 2022.
Agriculture Undersecretary Jenny Moffitt said “lateral spread” of HPAI from farm to farm via contaminated equipment and clothing was reduced to 15% of HPAI cases this time, compared to 70% of outbreaks in the 2014-15 epidemic.
A record 58.65 million birds have died from HPAI infections or the culling of infected flocks with this most recent outbreak, compared to 50 million birds during 2014-15. Both episodes drove up egg prices for consumers and caused hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for farmers. The USDA said improved biosecurity measures by operators have vastly reduced outbreaks among commercial flocks over the past year. “Biosecurity is our best defense,” states USDA.
In March, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said it had spent more than $670 million to contain highly pathogenic avian influenza and to indemnify owners for their losses in the ongoing outbreaks. Outlays included more than $414 million in compensation for “depopulated” birds and eggs, $142 million to cull flocks, dispose of dead birds and activities to kill the virus, and $114 million in personnel, state agreements and field costs.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
We trust that the poultry industry is rapidly approaching an end to the most recent outbreak of the Bird Flu. It is devastating and costly to poultry producers, government agencies and consumers. All indications are that the poultry industry is going to have a much healthier and more profitable year in 2023. If that is the case, they will be looking for more trucks. Make sure you reach out to poultry producers near you. Target them through your marketing and social media campaigns. Put your inventory on AgTruckTrader.com if you haven’t already done so – after all, it’s free to CAD members. What do you have to lose?
