January 3, 2008

Insurer offers coverage for salmonella

Louisiana-based, Powell Insurance, announced coverage for poultry producers who voluntarily slaughter chickens positive for salmonella.

The cover has been developed to aid producers burdened with salmonella outbreaks. It aims to curb or prevent the entry of eggs from salmonella positive flocks into the retail zone.

The insurance company will compensate the producer for the value of the birds at the time of the loss and covers free range, barn and caged birds.

Coverage is available for flocks of 5000 birds and above only and is subject to a site survey, underwriting and an agreed salmonella action plan.

Andy Dutton, business development manager at Powell Insurance said they are the first broker to provide cover for voluntary slaughter in the event of salmonella infection.

Dutton explained that the costs incurred from voluntary slaughter can be very high, so this cover will help producers replace their stock of fast and with minimal losses.