Large and small poultry producers encouraged to protect flocks against avian flu

quarantine protocol for avian flu in commercial flocks, so it is highly unlikely that a poultry product with the virus from a commercial farm would enter our food supply,” said Gordon County Farm Bureau President Henry West.

Consumers should always follow best cooking practices when handling raw poultry or eggs, such as cleaning all kitchen surfaces and cooking meat to 165 degrees to kill any germs or viruses.

To prevent the possible spread of the avian flu virus, the USDA has issued biosecurity recommendations for both commercial poultry producers who grow for companies and for people who just have a few chickens in their backyard. Most of the recommendations are simple and have the purpose of preventing commercial poultry or backyard chickens from being exposed to migratory wild waterfowl that may carry the virus.

Biosecurity measures the USDA recommends commercial poultry producers to follow are: only wear shoes and clothes in poultry houses that aren’t worn anywhere outside the house or use a boot wash before entering the poultry house; bird proof poultry houses; don’t let wild birds build nests close by and don’t let waterfowl reside on nearby ponds; don’t enter your poultry house directly after hunting or after being in contact with any other birds.

The USDA recommends the following biosecurity measures for owners of backyard poultry flocks: If your birds are outdoors keep them in a screened area and provide housing. Don’t allow your flock to have contact with wild birds. Have a pair of shoes and set of clothes to wear only around your birds. Clean cages and change food daily. Keep any new birds or birds that have been off-site separate from your flock for at least 30 days.

According to the UGA Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, poultry and egg production and processing had a $25.9 billion impact on our state economy in 2015 and accounted for 104,000 jobs statewide.

“Realizing the important economic contribution poultry makes to our state economy, Farm Bureau encourages anyone raising any type of poultry to follow the biosecurity recommendations the USDA is advising,” said West.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture ( GDA) has been working with other government agencies for years to prepare for a possible avian disease outbreak by meeting regularly to coordinate their response. According to the GDA, in the event of a positive diagnosis of avian flu in Georgia, the goal of the state response led by the GDA and Georgia Emergency Management Agency will be to quickly relieve the pain and suffering of sick birds, minimize the economic impact for poultry producers and get the farm and community back to normal operation as soon as possible.

For the latest avian flu updates and biosecurity information, please visit the GDA website at www.ga-ai. org. Commercial poultry producers are encouraged to visit www. ALLinALLgone. com for information from the Georgia Poultry Federation. Information is also available at http:// www.gfb.org/avianflu .

To report a suspected case of avian flu, please call (855) 491-1432.

Founded in 1937, Georgia Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general farm organization. Its volunteer members actively participate in activities that promote agriculture awareness to their non-farming neighbors.