Poultry show will take on a different look at Allamakee County Fair this year as part of local response to avian influenza
by Lissa Blake
Poultry showing at the 162nd Allamakee County Fair coming up next week, July 15-19, will look a little different this year.
In response to an Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship mandate issued in May of this year, all bird exhibitions at county fairs and the Iowa State Fair have been canceled. That action came following an avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak in western Iowa earlier this year.
DIFFERENT APPROACH
Lana Dahlstrom of Iowa State University Extension in Waukon said instead of exhibitors bringing live poultry to the Allamakee County Fair this year, youth were given the opportunity to instead develop some type of poultry-related display for the judges.
Youth can choose to either do a collage/project on something related to their own poultry at home or pick a topic such as the avian influenza outbreak in Iowa. Exhibitors will be allowed to choose between exhibiting their project in the 4-H building or the poultry barn. Following the judging, which will require them to make a presentation, they will be allowed to “sell” their animals, which will be represented with a photo, at the livestock auction. Youth were also given an extended date to enter an additional species of animal for the show.
FURTHER LOCAL IMPACT
Welsh Family Organic Farm of rural Lansing raises both broilers and laying hens. Owner Gary Welsh said that while there have been no federal or state restrictions placed on his farm, Organic Valley, the company that purchases the farm’s meat and eggs, has stepped up biosecurity at each of its member farms.
“It hasn’t really affected us, but it does affect the chickens,” said Welsh.
Welsh explained that while free-range poultry is usually allowed to be outside for much of the day, he has been asked not to let the birds into the outside turn-out area until the avian influenza threat has passed. While the chickens enjoy an outdoor turn-out area of five square feet, the indoor space is a bit less. Layers are required to have 1-3/4 square feet of space and broilers are required to have two square feet of space.
STATEWIDE
According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there have been no new probable cases of avian influenza (HPAI) since June 16. All infected turkey flocks have been depopulated and are currently being composted. Cleaning and disinfection is taking place.
All commercial laying and pullet facilities also have been depopulated and cleaning and disinfection of facilities is ongoing. To-date, over 1,000 bio-secure boxes of poultry carcasses have been disposed of via incineration or at one of two currently approved landfills. According to the USDA, there are more than 2,300 staff and contracts helping to respond to the situation.
TAKE PRECAUTIONS
Although the USDA considers the risk of avian influenza spreading to humans extremely low, the organization continues to urge bird owners to proceed with caution. The virus strains can travel in wild birds without those birds even appearing to be sick.
“People should avoid contact with sick/dead poultry or wildlife. If contact occurs, wash your hands with soap and water and change clothing before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds,” said a joint press release from IDALS and USDA.
They suggest all bird owners should continue to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths by calling 866-536-7593.
For more information, visit iowaagriculture.gov.
