est tubes labelled “Bird Flu” and eggs are seen on this image illustration, January 14, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
Nov 15 (Reuters) – South Africa’s worst hen flu outbreak is now underneath management and egg provides are enhancing, the division of agriculture stated on Wednesday.
The nation has been battling an outbreak of a high-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a hen flu which spreads quickly in an contaminated flock inflicting a excessive dying price, since April.
About six million egg layers and a pair of.5 million breeder chickens, almost a 3rd of the nationwide flock, have been culled because of the hen flu, in accordance with the South African Poultry Association. This has led to a scarcity of eggs and fears of poultry meat shortages heading into the festive season.
In an announcement, the division of agriculture stated the federal government had facilitated elevated imports of eggs, fertilised eggs, egg powder and liquid eggs to ease shortages.
“The division is joyful that the HPAI outbreak is underneath management and that 70% of farms that weren’t contaminated proceed to supply eggs and chickens,” the division stated, including that “egg inventory ranges are replenishing steadily”.
South Africa’s main poultry producers and processors Astral Foods (ARLJ.J), RCL Foods (RCLJ.J) and Quantum Foods (QFHJ.J) have stated the hen flu outbreak has ravaged a sector already burdened by the nation’s frequent electrical energy cuts and rising prices.
Reporting by Nelson Banya; Editing by Sharon Singleton
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