The ongoing load shedding and power disruptions have put tremendous pressure and additional costs on the poultry industry, which makes producing poultry products extremely expensive. One company has spent an additional R919 million as a result of load shedding alone. This has obviously had a significant impact on the profitability and sustainability of the company.
This is a devastating disease of poultry and can wipe out a flock in just a few days. AI is the most widely studied disease, as it has been causing major problems in poultry industries around the world for many years.In the past , AI was pretty much the only serious poultry disease, which South Africa did not have. There have been cases of what is called low pathogenic AI in ostriches for some time.
The basis of this monitoring programme is routinely looking for antibodies against AI in commercial poultry. This surveillance system is only possible if the birds are not vaccinated. The broiler birds are the meat birds. To maintain the supply of both meat and eggs, there is a complex system of breeder birds. These breeder birds are genetic line birds and play a critical role in keeping the market supplied with poultry products.
If there are 10 antibodies, but 11 viruses – the viruses win and the birds die. Obviously, these numbers are not the real numbers and are just used as an explanation. Until the vaccination programme can take effect, the only control option is a full continual disinfection programme, which would include using the disinfectant in the drinking water, provided that the product is registered for this application and also regularly spraying the birds – again only if the product is registered for this application.