October 5, 2007

Canada's poultry industry to help bird flu afflicted farm

Saskatchewan's poultry industry will provide some financial assistance to the farm where bird flu was discovered last week, according to the chief executive of the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan.

The presence of highly pathogenic H7N3 bird flu led to the culling of nearly 50,000 birds at Pedigree Poultry last week. Compensation to the farm owners for the loss of the birds falls to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The owner made a public appeal for funds to cover the cost of cleaning and disinfecting the facilities, which the agency does not cover.

Clinton Monchuk of the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan said it is definitely a big financial burden, and it is the benefit of the entire industry to cleaned up the problem.

The level of financial support offered by the group is not disclosed.

Monchuk noted the operation will also take a financial hit due to loss of production.

The broiler-breeder operation has been under quarantine since last week.