Innovate or die. The Australian poultry industry is opting for the former and the results promise to be intriguing.

With its latest half-year results, Australia-based poultry integrator Inghams Group highlights solid growth in poultry volumes, and strong improvements in the firm’s financial results.

Urgent regulatory action is needed to control the spread of Campylobacter in contaminated chicken meat across New Zealand, advocated a new paper in the journal Epidemiology and Infection.

Baiada Poultry Pty Limited is conducting a recall of Steggles Frozen Turkey Breast Roast products that come in 1-kilogram packaging, according to a notice on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website.

While there have been no further outbreaks in Australia over the past week, avian influenza controls remain in place where previous cases have been recorded. New outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) are reported in Russia and Taiwan.

Australia’s government has confirmed that a third type of the avian influenza virus has been detected in commercial poultry within one month. While the latest is defined as a mild form of the disease, it has brought mortalities to an emu flock. In Russia, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has spread to two new regions, and a further outbreak has been recorded among native chickens in Taiwan.

New cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) are reported in laying hens and emus in Australia, as well as among native chickens in Taiwan. The disease has returned to Russia’s Siberia, and a mild form of the virus has been detected again in South African ostriches after a one-year absence.

The COVID-19 pandemic and related stay-at-home orders had a meaningful impact on the financial performance of Australia-based poultry company Ingham’s Group.

While further cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed among poultry in Australia, Taiwan and Vietnam, multiple outbreaks have been reported in North Korea. For the first time in seven years, the mild form of the disease has been detected in two Australian flocks.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said chicken processors will be allowed to work together to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Stage 4 restrictions imposed by the Victorian government.

Recent mortalities and reduced production in poultry have been linked to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Countries confirming the latest outbreaks are on different continents, and three virus families are involved. Meanwhile, new research highlights the need to protect domestic poultry from wild birds, which represent the most likely source of infection.

The premier of the Australian state of Victoria has issued Stage 4 lockdown measures for Victorian meat and poultry processing plants, leaving two plants operated by Ingham’s to have to make adjustments.