November 23, 2007

Saudi culls total of 3.2 million birds, farmers to be compensated

Saudi culled about 3.2 million birds at 10 farms as a preventive measure on the spread of the H5N1 avian flu, Agricultural Minister Fahad Balghunaim said.

The minister said that birds in seven farms in Riyadh were culled. The other three farms were also culled since they are near the area where the virus first appeared.

Fahad also pointed that farmers lost huge investments in the poultry sector and would be adequately compensated by the ministry. The compensation is equivalent of two-thirds of the cost of birds culled.

The preventive measures included burning of infected poultry. The chicken feed and other leftovers were also burnt and the farms were sanitised.

Remedial actions are being taken through a national committee in cooperation with the World Health Organisation and World Organisation For Animal Health to further resolve the problem.

There are more than 340 licensed poultry farms in Saudi which produce nearly 480 million birds annually.

The outbreak has sent shockwaves among businessmen and many poultry shops have reported declines in sales.

Poultry breeders said their sales had slumped by 80 percent.