Feb 26, 2025 08:33 PM
Ironically, the transition to free range practices -- while less cruel, is exposing chickens to infected wild fowl.
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We need a more precise approach to bird flu than killing or vaccinating chickens en masse
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/which-came-f..._permalink
EXCERPTS: Egg prices rose 15% in January and were up 53% year over year, according to the latest consumer-price index.
Politicians are predictably blaming each other. [...] The true culprit behind the egg shortage is Mother Nature. A severe strain of avian influenza that broke out in the U.S. in 2022—and is still spreading—has affected more than 160 million birds.
[...] the USDA has a longstanding policy of killing all chickens on a farm with a bird-flu outbreak. A 2002 federal law gives the department the authority to “depopulate” flocks to stop the spread of disease. The Obama, first-term Trump and Biden administrations mandated mass killing to stop bird flu from spreading during the 2014-15, 2017 and 2022-25 outbreaks, respectively. The department compensates farmers for part of their losses, but farms still take significant hits.
In a Feb. 16 interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett indicated that the Trump administration might move away from the depopulation policy. [...] The USDA didn’t respond to questions about its new bird-flu strategy, but it plans to make an announcement soon.
The department has long focused on responding to outbreaks rather than preventing them. But the virus is complicated and although scientists have researched it for decades, an immediate fix isn’t likely.
If President Trump is considering an end to the depopulation approach, he should weigh the benefits and drawbacks. The practice of killing all birds on an infected farm is grim. [...] But the policy also can be effective. ... Chickens that contract the virus have little chance of survival; 90% to 100% of infected birds die...
[...] Vaccination also has pros and cons. ... If the USDA is exploring public-private partnerships, it should consider investing in research to develop a vaccine that can be mass-administered through feed or drinking water...
[...] Vaccination also could affect trade. ... many countries oppose importing meat from vaccinated chickens...
New methods to monitor and test flocks are emerging. [...] These technologies, however, are in early stages of development and are often costly...
[...] Free-range chickens and flocks near wetland habitats or common bird flight paths are vulnerable to exposure. ... it could be useful to track wild bird populations more closely and build waterfowl-friendly habitats in areas that draw wild birds away from farms. “I think we need to be a little more holistic in our approach,” he said... (MORE - missing details)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We need a more precise approach to bird flu than killing or vaccinating chickens en masse
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/which-came-f..._permalink
EXCERPTS: Egg prices rose 15% in January and were up 53% year over year, according to the latest consumer-price index.
Politicians are predictably blaming each other. [...] The true culprit behind the egg shortage is Mother Nature. A severe strain of avian influenza that broke out in the U.S. in 2022—and is still spreading—has affected more than 160 million birds.
[...] the USDA has a longstanding policy of killing all chickens on a farm with a bird-flu outbreak. A 2002 federal law gives the department the authority to “depopulate” flocks to stop the spread of disease. The Obama, first-term Trump and Biden administrations mandated mass killing to stop bird flu from spreading during the 2014-15, 2017 and 2022-25 outbreaks, respectively. The department compensates farmers for part of their losses, but farms still take significant hits.
In a Feb. 16 interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett indicated that the Trump administration might move away from the depopulation policy. [...] The USDA didn’t respond to questions about its new bird-flu strategy, but it plans to make an announcement soon.
The department has long focused on responding to outbreaks rather than preventing them. But the virus is complicated and although scientists have researched it for decades, an immediate fix isn’t likely.
If President Trump is considering an end to the depopulation approach, he should weigh the benefits and drawbacks. The practice of killing all birds on an infected farm is grim. [...] But the policy also can be effective. ... Chickens that contract the virus have little chance of survival; 90% to 100% of infected birds die...
[...] Vaccination also has pros and cons. ... If the USDA is exploring public-private partnerships, it should consider investing in research to develop a vaccine that can be mass-administered through feed or drinking water...
[...] Vaccination also could affect trade. ... many countries oppose importing meat from vaccinated chickens...
New methods to monitor and test flocks are emerging. [...] These technologies, however, are in early stages of development and are often costly...
[...] Free-range chickens and flocks near wetland habitats or common bird flight paths are vulnerable to exposure. ... it could be useful to track wild bird populations more closely and build waterfowl-friendly habitats in areas that draw wild birds away from farms. “I think we need to be a little more holistic in our approach,” he said... (MORE - missing details)