Bird flu is spreading: Stables are mandatory in several districts!

Bird flu is spreading: Stables are mandatory in several districts!

Bird flu continues to spread and is causing excitement in many regions of Germany. The Märkisch-Oderland district has currently imposed a stable requirement for commercial poultry farmers. This regulation does not affect private owners, but the situation is still tense. Likewise in the Oberhavel district, which has also declared a requirement for all poultry farmers to have stables after infected wild birds were discovered. The poultry flocks in Kremmen have already canceled their stocks and had to kill many animals to prevent further spread. In the city of Cottbus and the Spree-Neiße district, the stable requirement will also come into force from Wednesday, while the Uckermark will also take measures from Sunday to stop the dangerous spread of the virus.

Particularly alarming is the discovery of the first case of avian influenza in Potsdam, when a dead crane was found. This clearly shows how serious the situation is, because both the Teltow-Fläming district and the Elbe-Elster district are introducing stable requirements from Wednesday, which also prohibit all poultry exhibitions and markets. From November 2nd, poultry farmers must keep their animals in closed stables or under special protective devices to avoid further risk of infection, as Top Agrar reports.

Consequences for the poultry industry

The effects of bird flu should not be underestimated. Over 200,000 chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys have already had to be killed due to the disease, which is leading poultry farmers to call for nationwide compulsory housing. Georg Heitlinger from the Baden-Württemberg State Association of the Poultry Industry emphasizes the urgency of these measures to protect the animals and prevent the spread of the virus. The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry (ZDG) also warns of possible supply bottlenecks for eggs and poultry meat. ZDG President Hans-Peter Goldnick calls for the debate about vaccination strategies and adjustments in animal disease law to be pushed forward, especially since other countries have so far refused to import products from vaccinated poultry, as Tagesschau reports.

The risk assessment by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) has been raised to high, which means that the poultry industry's concerns are not unfounded. This is also reflected in the number of cases of infection registered so far: 50 in poultry farms, 26 of which were in October alone. Wild birds, especially cranes, are considered carriers of avian influenza. For example, around 1,200 cranes died in northwest Brandenburg, leading to trade bans on eggs and meat products.

Price development at a glance

With all the chaos in the industry, the question of prices remains. The German poultry industry in particular does not expect dramatic price fluctuations for poultry products, despite the mass killing of farm animals. Goldnick told the media that he does not believe in short-term price explosions. However, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop. The majority of geese sold in Germany are imported, which is why it is important to keep a close eye on trends surrounding the “plague migration” through Germany and Europe. The slaughter season for geese traditionally begins before St. Martin's Day on November 11th, which brings additional uncertainty, notes MDR.

Overall, the situation remains tense and it is clear that both poultry farmers and consumers must prepare for further developments.