Avian flu alarm sounded for small flocks

Small flock owners around Portage la Prairie are being asked to ramp up biosecurity.

The province has warned producers about a rash of wild birds in the area that have died due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Why it matters: As of Dec. 12, HPAI had claimed over 10.9 million domestic birds in Canada since late 2021.

In a Dec. 4 Growing Manitoba Ag newsletter, the province said that a “large number of mortalities” from HPAI had been reported in late November within Portage la Prairie’s Canada goose population.

Not every mortality was tested, the province later said via email. Of the 30 noted dead birds, eight were sampled. All came back positive for HPAI.

The Dec. 4 notice was targeted to small flock producers, since they are not registered under the same traceability programs as commercial operations, the province said. Commercial producers in the area were identified through Manitoba’s traceability program and warned through their individual producer groups.

Biosecurity
Producers should take measures such as moving their birds indoors, the Dec. 4 notice urged. Other promoted biosecurity measures include separate footwear and clothes for anyone entering poultry housing. Feed should be protected from contact with wild birds and traffic between poultry barns and onto yards should be limited where possible.

Producers have further been discouraged from getting new birds from other farms, shows, auctions or online sales. The province is recommending that new birds come only from commercial hatcheries.