THUNDER BAY, ONT. – Local egg and chicken producers are on high alert for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in farmed birds. Commonly known as “bird flu”, a contagious viral infection can affect several species of food-producing birds, including poultry and wild birds.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is working with manufacturers in the industry to prevent the spread of influenza while limiting outbreaks across the country. There are cases in southern Ontario, Minnesota and Manitoba. Anyone who has farm animals should practice good biosecurity habits.
At Thunder Bay, farms need high standards of biosecurity all year round to prevent all risks, including bird flu. Stricter guidelines include more disinfection measures and restricted supply areas.
Tyler Breikelman, co-owner of Vanderwees Farms and Thunder Bay Feeds, says Vanderwees Farm serves as a distributor and no longer raises poultry to produce eggs. They are also a local sorter for eggs for local producers.
“We buy all our eggs from Steinbach, Manchester, and we have our own transportation system to get them here,” he said. “We have another company called Thunder Bay Feeds, where we produce animal seeds and sell day-old chicks, as well as live fully grown chickens.”
Broykelman operates two hatcheries, one in Steinbach, Manchester, and one in southern Ontario, none of which are in infected areas, making it safe to bring animals into Thunder Bay. If the hatchery was in a quarantine area, the entire distribution would be stopped without anything entering or leaving the facilities.
“Last year we managed to get off (to Manitoba) with our trailer and I could go into their barn, talk to the farmer who helped me load the truck and take care of the chickens myself,” he said.
“This year, before I went down there, I had to disinfect the inside and outside of my truck and the trailer at our facility here. This is where the chicken coops must be disinfected. Once I arrived in Manitoba, I had to go through the whole process of disinfecting the cells again. Once I enter the farmers’ yard, they have to disinfect the outside of my truck, and when they bring me back to the facility, I’m not actually allowed to step into the barn or deal with the birds until they’re loaded into my trailer. ”
Broykelman says there is an additional heightened sense that something is happening, but for the most part all normal biosecurity procedures are in place and not something they are not used to.
Avian influenza is spread by faecal-oral route. Birds become infected through direct contact with the feces or secretions of infected birds, contaminated food, contaminated surfaces and water supplies. Wild birds can transmit the virus through feathers, legs or dandruff.
“There’s always a level of anxiety,” Broykelman said. “We can get a flock of geese to fly over Thunder Bay and a handful of them get infected, and now they’re in the ground where they’ve done their business. Another bird picks him up, flies to a small farm and does the same in their fields, where their chickens go. So there is always that level of risk and concern. ”
Broykelman attributes to Ontario Chicken Farmers (CFOs), who monitor all poultry operations, providing valuable information to farmers about prevention and biosecurity measures.
John Holloway and his wife, Ali, run Corbett Creek and partnered with Morning Moon Farm to bring people their unique meat and vegetable program. Their customers receive a box of vegetables every two weeks and a box of meat every month from what is offered by their farm seasonally during the summer. Holloway is armed with a solid education on avian influenza and has participated in many webinars to learn more.
“This is our first year when we make artisanal chickens and yes, we definitely observe things and do everything that is recommended,” he said, adding that they also produce beef and pork on their farm. “There are new measures to limit exposure to other companies and biosecurity things that we do anyway, and we will definitely make sure we do our best to limit any exposure.”
At the Tarimor family farm, producer Jenny Groenheide says bird flu is “not a problem (for them) at the moment.”
“It comes mainly with migratory birds and we don’t have many in our area – and our chickens are limited. “They are not out,” Groenheide said. “Unless they mix with wild birds or can’t collect bird droppings or something, there’s not a good chance they’ll be infected.”
She added that the great thing, as with any flock of chickens, is that you have to practice good biosecurity protocols.
“And that’s something we did while we had birds,” she said.
The protocols on her farm are similar to other farms in the area and include a lack of access to barns if you are not a worker on that farm. Different boots or shoes can potentially pose a biological hazard if they enter the barn.
“You have to follow good biosafety protocols, make sure your boots are clean, make sure the equipment you use, such as shovels and anything in the barn, has not been out with the potential to become infected in any way. “way,” she said. “We do not let people into our barn and in the same way we do not enter another’s barn.”
Groenheide is confident in the local representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Ontario, who keeps them up to date with all kinds of risks. She says: “You need to pay attention to those people who are helping you in your industry. We can count on these people to be our source of early warning. “
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