Dramatic bird flu threatens poultry supplies in Germany!

Dramatic bird flu threatens poultry supplies in Germany!

Bird flu is currently spreading rapidly in Germany and is already having dramatic consequences for the poultry industry. Loud Mercury Hundreds of thousands of farm animals had to be killed, including a tragic 15,000 animals on a farm in Baden-Württemberg. This situation is causing the German poultry industry to warn of possible shortages of eggs and poultry meat.

This dangerous development is also causing the tempers of poultry farmers to run high. The chairman of the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry, Hans-Peter Goldnick, is calling for measures such as a nationwide requirement for stables in order to effectively contain the spread of the virus, reports daily news. Other experts in the sector also see the need to take immediate steps to ensure the health of animals and stop the spread of the virus. The required vaccination strategies could be a key approach here.

Current situation and outlook

The situation is serious. The Friedrich Loeffler Institute has currently classified the risk from bird flu as “high”. This fall, more than 200,000 animals, including chickens, ducks and turkeys, have been killed due to the infections. A worrying trend that is explained by the high number of infections in recent weeks. In October alone, 26 cases of infection were registered in poultry farms alone.

The darkness of this situation is heightened by the touching reports of wild birds, particularly cranes, dying. Around 1,200 cranes have died in northwest Brandenburg, which has led to trade bans on eggs and poultry meat products. The herd of helpers who take care of picking up the carcasses are under great mental and physical strain.

Impact on the Christmas market

Despite the worrying situation, the ZDG is currently giving a cautious all-clear for the Christmas season. The supply of Christmas geese is assured, but the situation is under constant monitoring. However, District Administrator Ralf Reinhardt and other responsible persons warn of possible price increases if the number of cases does not decrease and effective measures are missing to further contain the spread.

If politicians and authorities do not act quickly, serious shortages could arise that affect not only the quality but also the availability of eggs and poultry meat. This would not only hit poultry farmers hard, but also the entire population, as the reports show InsideBW becomes clear. Leading politicians and experts see bird flu not only as a health crisis, but also as a structural problem affecting factory farming.

A rethink is necessary in order to grab the horses where they really need to be grabbed. The discussion about the future of poultry farming in Germany is taking on a new dimension as a result of this crisis, and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop.