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Unwanted first: Bird flu hits a chicken operation in Minnesota
Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune Updated: April 23, 2015 - 11:01 AM
A third-generation egg producer in northwestern Minnesota has been hit by the bird flu, marking the first time since this outbreak began that the disease has been detected in the state in commercially-raised chickens.
Amon Baer said his J & A Farms, about 20 miles west of Detroit Lakes, must destroy roughly 300,000 chickens after his testing on Monday confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu.
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The Minnesota Board of Animal Health said Thursday that the agency is aware of the “presumptive positive” at J & A Farms and is in the process of formal confirmation.
Because of its presence in other states’ chicken flocks, said Board of Animal Health spokeswoman Bethany Hahn, “it’s not too surprising” that the bird flu would hit a chicken operation in Minnesota.
The state’s farmers raise roughly 47 million chickens a year for meat and another 10.4 million for eggs. Annual egg production in Minnesota averages nearly 3 billion. Those totals do not put Minnesota near the top nationally, while the state does lead the United States in turkey production.
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http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle...301071801.html
Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune Updated: April 23, 2015 - 11:01 AM
A third-generation egg producer in northwestern Minnesota has been hit by the bird flu, marking the first time since this outbreak began that the disease has been detected in the state in commercially-raised chickens.
Amon Baer said his J & A Farms, about 20 miles west of Detroit Lakes, must destroy roughly 300,000 chickens after his testing on Monday confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu.
...
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health said Thursday that the agency is aware of the “presumptive positive” at J & A Farms and is in the process of formal confirmation.
Because of its presence in other states’ chicken flocks, said Board of Animal Health spokeswoman Bethany Hahn, “it’s not too surprising” that the bird flu would hit a chicken operation in Minnesota.
The state’s farmers raise roughly 47 million chickens a year for meat and another 10.4 million for eggs. Annual egg production in Minnesota averages nearly 3 billion. Those totals do not put Minnesota near the top nationally, while the state does lead the United States in turkey production.
...
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle...301071801.html