HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – Throughout the U.S. the poultry trade continues to take care of an outbreak of avian influenza that started early this yr. In keeping with the Virginia Poultry Federation, there have been 250 instances in industrial flocks and 330 in yard flocks nationwide.
“Fortuitously in Virginia, we’ve solely had a handful of yard instances not in areas near industrial poultry trade areas and we’ve not had any industrial flocks in Virginia affected by Avian Influenza,” mentioned Hobey Bauhan, President of the Virginia Poultry Federation.
Heading into the vacation season the flu has put a dent within the provide of turkeys with round 8 million being misplaced which is about three % of the nationwide market. Nonetheless, regardless of the scarcity, Bauhan mentioned there ought to nonetheless be lots accessible for Thanksgiving.
“The way in which the manufacturing cycle works, numerous the turkeys destined for Thanksgiving are already within the warehouses and in path to the grocery retailer or within the grocery shops in frozen type,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, with the scarcity, Bauhan mentioned it’s not a nasty thought to get your Thanksgiving grocery procuring completed early.
“Determine what measurement turkey you’re going to need and do some procuring up entrance. Sometimes you’re going to have the ability to discover what you’re on the lookout for however attempt to be versatile for those who don’t discover the precise measurement you’re on the lookout for,” he mentioned.
Bauhan mentioned that the provision of hen has not been close to as affected by the chicken flu because the turkey provide. He additionally emphasised that avian influenza isn’t a priority from a meals security standpoint as any birds that contract the virus don’t enter the meals chain.
Poultry farmers across the valley have been practising strict biosecurity measures all year long to guard their flocks from the virus. Bauhan mentioned whereas they’ve completed a great job it’s essential to maintain these practices going.
“We proceed to view it as a big concern and we’re persevering with to advertise biosecurity each throughout the industrial trade in addition to amongst yard flock homeowners. If we do what we have to do to guard our birds we will keep away from it,” he mentioned.
Bauhan mentioned wild migratory birds stay the biggest spreader of the virus.
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