Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Poultry quarantines to be lifted

The poultry-industry quarantines around three farms in Oxford County will be lifted before the end of the month, says a news report from the Feather Board Command Centre.

But “enhanced surveillance” will remain in effect across all of Southwestern Ontario until Oct. 8. That’s to comply with international disease-control standards.

Avian influenza first broke out on a turkey farm owned by the Schlegel family near the end of April, then on a broiler breeder farm owned by Terrence Renkema in May. The third outbreak was on a turkey farm across the road from the Renkema farm.

The cleaning and disinfecting of the three infected premises has been completed and 21-day fallow periods are now in place, says the Command Centre which is run by the four marketing boards for eggs, chickens, turkeys and hatching eggs.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced that the quarantine around the Schlegel farm will be lifted July 20 and around the Renkema farm on July 29.

Once the quarantines have been lifted, movement permits and licenses will no longer be required.


In addition, all Small Flock Grower placements will be allowed in these zones when the quarantines are lifted.