Avian influenza continues to be a top concern among U.S. and global poultry producers. Here are five recent developments concerning the virus that are worth knowing:
1. Confirmed U.S. avian influenza cases dropping – The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) sent email notifications to stakeholders on June 10 and 11, stating that no new avian influenza cases had been confirmed on that day. On June 9, the federal agency noted only one new case, which involved a flock of 2,500 mixed game fowl.
2. USDA adjusts forecasts for egg production, prices – In its June 10 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, the USDA adjusted its forecasts for egg production and egg prices. As highly pathogenic avian influenza has severely reduced the current egg supply, the agency lowered its forecast for egg production in 2015 and 2016 from its estimates released in May. Subsequently, the agency raised its forecast for egg prices for both years. The agency now expects egg production in 2015 to be 7,994 million dozen eggs, and egg production in 2016 to be 8,141 million dozen eggs. The average price for volume dealers in 2015 will range from $1.60 to $1.66 per dozen. The average price for 2016 will range from $1.36 to $1.47.
3. First infected Minnesota turkey farm being repopulated – The first commercial turkey operation to be infected by avian influenza has begun to restock its flock. The Pope County farm, which had 44,000 turkeys, was not only the first flock in Minnesota to have a confirmed avian influenza case, but also the first confirmed case in the Mississippi flyway.
4. One more state has avian influenza confirmation – While the number of confirmed avian influenza cases in the U.S. has appeared to slow down, APHIS announced that one more state has been affected. Michigan has been added to the list of states where the virus has been detected, after highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza was confirmed in a wild Canada goose in Macomb County, Michigan. The total number of affected states now stands at 21.
5. More states enact poultry exhibition rules – Kansas became the latest state to cancel live poultry shows and fairs in an effort to prevent the spread of avian influenza. The Kansas Department of Agriculture announced the order. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced on June 11 that it would still allow poultry shows, but fair organizers must have the exhibitors certify that there have been no poultry mortalities on their premises for the 10 days prior to moving poultry to the event.
Bookmark the WATTAgNet avian influenza update page for current news and analysis concerning the virus and its impact on the global poultry industry.
