June 3, 2004

Canada B.C. Chicken Farmers To Be Compensated For Cull

Canadian chicken farmers have struck a deal with Ottawa over compensation for the broiler chickens culled to quell an outbreak of avian flu.

More than 1.3 million birds were destroyed after bird flu was discovered on a British Columbia farm in February. Fifteen million birds from quarantined areas were also slaughtered and allowed to be processed for human consumption.

The details of the compensation package have not been released, but Bill Vanderspek of the B.C. Chicken Market Board said farmers are "satisfied with the level of compensation."

Vanderspek said the figure was determined by an independent consulting firm. "We submitted that to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and they accepted that," Vanderspek told the Vancouver Province.

Compensation will also have to be paid for slaughtered and composted broiler breeders and layers, likely at a higher rate.

Meanwhile, some commercial and backyard poultry farmers are considering launching a class action suit and setting up better measures to ensure that such culls do not occur again unless they are justified.

Dr. Cornelius Kiley, chief veterinarian for CFIA, said his agency had no option other than to destroy the flocks in order to quell the spread of bird flu.

The cull was suspended last week after no new cases of infection were found.