Avian Flu has led to the culling of excess of 5 meter commercial layers and 2.5 meter broiler breeders. That represents some 20% to 30% of the flocks on the floor respectively, according to Izaak Breitenbach, CEO of Poultry SA.
If unresolved, avian flu could lead to more culling of chickens.
“We have already seen a shortage of eggs in the market and expect that meat might be in short supply in about 6 to 8 weeks.”
The current problem is caused by the H7 strain of the disease, which has mutated from low pathogenic H7 in chickens to High Pathogenic.
” Highly pathogenic means that the disease causes serious symptoms and leads to almost 100% mortalities.”
Areas affected, include borders of greater Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and Free State and Western Cape.
Dr Coetzee of the Bird Clinic, a vet for parrots, says it is most likely that shore birds, wild birds and pigeons will be affected, if the strain is not contained.
The strain identified in the Cape, is H5N1. About 25 farmers are affected.
Last week, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development reported a loss of 1 426 226 chickens.
About 107 705 of the total amount, died as a result of the flu, while 1 318 521, were culled. The outbreak is mostly in Gauteng.
Free range and backyard chickens are also susceptible, they are also “maintained in one spot” to contain infection.
Infections of bird flu were reported by poultry farmers in Europe and the United States, back in May 2022. About 37 million chickens were culled in the US as a result of HPAI H5.
Picture: Free-range chickens