Bird flu in Brandenburg: Fresh geese are becoming rare!

Bird flu in Brandenburg: Fresh geese are becoming rare!

Bird flu is currently spreading across Germany at an alarming rate, particularly affecting poultry production in Brandenburg. According to a report by the Borken newspaper Over 155,000 animals have already been killed in this state. Agriculture Minister Hanka Mittelstädt (SPD) warned against panic during a visit to Linum and emphasized that despite the situation, no supply bottlenecks for eggs were to be expected. While frozen ducks and geese remain available, the availability of fresh produce remains scarce - a situation reminiscent of the 2016/2017 outbreaks.

However, the effects of bird flu are by no means just local. More than 30 commercial poultry farmers across Germany have had to kill animals, with a total of around 400,000 chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys having already been culled, according to the report daily news. Plans to evacuate businesses are in full swing as the number of businesses affected is continually increasing and the situation is considered dynamic. Experts note that the shortage could only be severe in certain areas, while egg availability remains stable.

Available goods and price developments

With regard to shopping for the coming Christmas, there is currently no evidence of empty shelves, emphasizes Hans-Peter Goldnick, President of the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry. He estimates that around 20 percent of the geese come from German producers, ensuring supplies during the holidays. Although egg prices could see a 10 to 15 percent increase at the turn of 2026 - largely due to overdue price adjustments - there is no direct connection to bird flu.

The situation is also influenced by the hygiene measures that must be strictly adhered to in both industrial and private poultry farming. The Daily Mirror reports that up to two million animals were killed last season because of bird flu and calls for a nationwide requirement for all poultry farms to have stables in order to contain the H5N1 virus, which is primarily transmitted by infected wild birds.

Public Health and Safety

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has so far found no evidence that the virus is transmitted to humans through food. However, it is recommended to cook poultry meat thoroughly and, as a precaution, to avoid raw eggs or products from infected animals. In particular, the report of over 2,200 cranes being buried in Brandenburg because of avian influenza shows the dramatic extent of this animal disease.

The current situation has also drawn attention to industry demands, including for higher compensation for affected farmers. In this matter, Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer has called for compensation payments to be increased from 50 to up to 110 euros per animal.

In view of the increasing number of animal disease cases and the associated economic consequences, many see the need to demand structural changes in factory farming. The next few months will be crucial in determining how the industry deals with this challenge and what additional measures are taken to contain the epidemic.