Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Small flock survey results


The Chicken Farmers of Ontario marketing board estimates there are about 12,000 small flocks in the province, all of them with fewer than 300 birds and therefore not requiring quota or membership in the marketing board.

And it says its survey of small flock owners indicates they pose only a low risk of starting a devastating disease outbreak in the industry.

Growing flu vaccine
The board has yet to decide how it will deal with the data it collected. There was speculation from some that the board might use the survey as an excuse to crack down on the small flock owners.

The board says in its current newsletter that:

             The majority of small flock owners practice acceptable production management including flock inspection, disposal of dead birds and cleaning between flocks;

         Approximately 40 per cent monitor barn temperature and test water for bacteria;

         Approximately one-third of survey respondents reported having implemented new biosecurity practices as a result of educational materials provided in the last two years, and

         Few (3.2 per cent) have contact with commercial poultry. Those who do primarily encounter them at provincially-inspected processing facilities.

Getting a handle on small flocks in the midst of an outbreak of a highly-contagious disease, such as a deadly strain of avian influenza, can be difficult, as California officials learned in 2010.

Not only did they have trouble finding the flocks, but also faced angry owners when they moved to slaughter the birds. Among the owners were breeders of fancy strains kept for many generations and illegal fighting cocks.