11 new Minnesota, Iowa avian influenza cases confirmed

Highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza has been confirmed in 11 flocks in Iowa and Minnesota. The latest round of outbreaks, reported by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on April 29, includes both turkey and egg layer flocks.
Four suspected cases of avian influenza reported earlier this week by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship have now been confirmed. The newest list of reported outbreaks also brings the total number of avian influenza infected turkey flocks in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, to 23.
USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed H5N2 avian influenza in the following counties and states:


1. Sioux County, Iowa: Commercial layer flock of 3.66 million chickens, second detection in the county
2. O’Brien County, Iowa: Commercial layer flock of 240,000 chickens, first detection in the county
3. O’Brien County, Iowa: Commercial layer flock of 98,000 chickens, second detection in the county
4. Osceola County, Iowa: Commercial layer flock of 258,000 chickens, second detection in the county
5. Stearns County, Minnesota: Commercial flock of 19,100 turkeys; 11^th detection in the county
6. Steele County, Minnesota: Commercial flock of 82,900 turkeys; first detection in the county
7. Swift County, Minnesota: Commercial turkey flock, size of flock pending; third detection in the county
8. Kandiyohi County, Minnesota: Commercial turkey flock, size of flock pending, 20^th detection in the county
9. Kandiyohi County, Minnesota: Commercial flock of 8,400 turkeys; 21^st detection in the county
10. Kandiyohi County, Minnesota: Commercial turkey flock, size of flock pending, 22^nd detection in the county
11. Kandiyohi County, Minnesota: Commercial turkey flock, size of flock pending, 23rd detection in the county
The affected premises have been quarantined and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. 

Third Ontario avian influenza case confirmed

A third case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in Ontario. Like the previous two outbreaks in the Canadian province, this case has occurred in Oxford County.
In the latest outbreak, a commercial turkey operation of about 8,000 birds has been infected, with tests conducted at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease laboratory proving positive for H5N2 avian influenza.
CFIA stated that the premises have been under quarantine and the farm has been depopulated.
Ontario’s first case of avian influenza, confirmed on April 7, was in a commercial flock of 44,800 turkeys. The second case in the Canadian province was in a broiler breeder farm and was confirmed on April 18. An estimated 27,000 birds were affected in the second outbreak.
CFIA has established two quarantine zones in response to the Oxford County avian influenza cases.
To date, Ontario and British Columbia are the only two provinces with confirmed cases since the virus first appeared in the country in late 2014. Avian influenza has also been discovered in 18 U.S. states, with Minnesota having the largest number of outbreaks.
To keep informed of the areas affected by avian influenza, see WATTAgNet’s avian influenza map to track cases confirmed across the U.S. and Canada.

Avian influenza confirmed in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin

Three new H5N2 avian influenza cases have been confirmed in commercial poultry flocks, including an Iowa layer operation containing 1.7 million birds. The three avian influenza cases were confirmed by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on April 28.
A suspected case of avian influenza in Sioux County, Iowa, initially reported by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on April 27 was confirmed by APHIS to be an H5N2 avian influenza infection. The flock contained 1.7 birds, and Center Fresh Group revealed that it was one of its flocks. Four other suspected cases in Iowa reported by the state agriculture agency have not yet been confirmed.
The other two avian influenza cases reported by APHIS include a commercial turkey flock of 26,900 birds in Stearns County, Minnesota, and a commercial turkey flock of 83,300 birds in Barron County, Wisconsin. This is the tenth avian influenza confirmation in Stearns County and the second confirmed case in Barron County.
The affected premises have been quarantined and birds on the property will be depopulated to help prevent the spread of the virus.
To keep informed of the areas affected by avian influenza, see WATTAgNet’s avian influenza map to track cases confirmed across North America.

USDA researchers working on avian influenza vaccine

USDA researchers are working on a potential vaccine for avian influenza, agency officials say. 
The USDA is working on developing a vaccine for avian influenza, but even if such a vaccine becomes a reality, it could be a while before it becomes available to poultry producers in the United States.
USDA Southeast Poultry Research Director David Swayne said during a USDA-hosted media call on April 22 that a laboratory under his supervision is working on a potential vaccine for the virus.
“We’re making progress on that. It’s a multi-step process that involves completion of one step, evaluating the information and going back to additional steps,” said Swayne. “At this point, we have a potential seed strain but once we complete our work, which will include testing in chickens and turkeys, the decision to use that vaccine will only be made if it’s necessary in the regulatory process of the eradication. Our work is only on the front end.”
Once the laboratory does its “front end” work, the potential vaccine would then be evaluated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), with consultation from staff members of state labs, to decide whether the vaccine created could actually be used in the industry.
The idea of finding a vaccine for avian influenza has been of particular interest to the U.S. poultry industry, as avian influenza outbreaks have been reported in commercial poultry flocks, backyard flocks, wild birds and captive wild birds in 17 states.
USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford, who joined Swayne in the call, added that the agency has also had conversations with some private companies that have expressed an interest in developing a vaccine for avian influenza.
See a related story about how Clifford and Swayne discussed their views on future avian influenza outbreaks in the United States.

Proposed Hillandale egg farm, feed mill faces opposition

A proposed Hillandale Farms egg layer farm and feed mill in York County, Pennsylvania, is seeing opposition from neighbors.
The proposal for the facilities is listed under both U.S. egg company Hillandale Farms and James Bailey, reported 21 News. Bailey already operates one poultry farm on adjacent property, but neighbors have expressed concerns that the newly proposed operations may be more than the area can handle.
Area resident Brian Kaltreider said he was worried about increased truck traffic and increased water use, should the proposed operations be realized. Kaltreider is a former township manager, who resigned from his position so he could oppose the plans. He is also concerned that the proposed project could hurt property values in the area.
A group called the York County Friends of Family Farmers, of which Kaltreider is a member, is meeting weekly with larger public meetings held monthly, where the proposed egg farm and feed mill are the key topics of discussion.
Hillandale Farms, according to the WATT Global Media Top Companies Database, is the seventh largest egg producer in the United States, housing an estimated 9 million laying hens. The company has production facilities in the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast and supplies retailers and distributors throughout the eastern half of the United States.

AFIA releases downloadable presentation on careers in Ag

Careers in agriculture are gaining interest, and the American Feed Industry Association's Networking, Education and Mentoring in Agriculture Committee (NEMA) wants to provide AFIA members with an easy-to-use PowerPoint template outlining occupations in the animal food industry. Many leaders in agriculture--including AFIA membership--are often offered to speak to the future of agriculture (FFA, 4-H, high school or collegiate students, etc.) about the potential of a future career in agriculture, or more specifically in the animal food industry.
This one-stop-shop resource highlights numerous roles specifically pertaining to animal feed such as human resources, finance and accounting, lab technicians and managers, feed mill engineers, operators and managers, animal nutritionists, and regulatory managers. Details are also provided about job tasks as well as varying salaries per degree and discipline.
To learn more about the Ag presentation, click here. 

Frisia Food incorporates new Meyn technology

Frisia Food has a tradition dating back more than 60 years in the poultry industry. The original company (J. de Vries & Zn BV) started out as a traditional chicken processing plant and developed into one of the larger processing plants of The Netherlands. In 2010, the slaughtering activities of J. de Vries & Zn BV were acquired and continued under the name Frisia Food b.v. The company is situated in Haulerwijk, in the Northern part of The Netherlands.
Over the years, the plant has been extensively refurbished. In 2011, the complete slaughtering department was replaced with new equipment, such as Quest stunner, electrical stimulation, footpad inspection system and jet stream scalder. Also incorporated in this department is a complete feet processing line as the company exports their feet products to Asia. One year later, in 2012, the refurbishment of the evisceration department took place and a new 12,000 bph Maestro evisceration line was installed.
This year, Frisia decided to incorporate several newly developed Meyn machines into their existing process. In the slaughtering department, the new tail feather puller was added, making the plucking process more efficient. For the automatic rehanging from the slaughtering line to evisceration line, the newly developed Syncom rehanger was installed. In the evisceration department, the new fat retention machine and cropping machine result in a reduced wear and tear.
Frisia is also the first company to be operating the new Meyn Mags automatic giblet harvesting solution. Anton Storteboom, CEO of Frisia Foods: “We are very content with the results of the Mags. The liver quality is very high and the reliable and constant performance and optimum end product presentation is exactly what we need in this highly delicate part of the process.”