November 23, 2007

Denmark poultry industry in adjustment phase

Denmark is yet to recover from recent bird flu outbreaks and Newcastle disease that have plagued its poultry farms.

The outbreak caused the sharp decline of Denmark's poultry exports, which also led to closure of some farms. However, the surviving poultry farms are fewer but larger.

The Danish animal welfare legislation also forced poultry farmers to make costly animal welfare improvements in their farms.

Thorkil Ambrosen of the Danish poultry board (De Danske Fjerkræraad), said that these improvements will lift the standards of Denmark's poultry and be advantageous as EU is very keen on animal welfare issues.