Avian Flu - the risk.

Gordon from Halswell

I used to work for a very large local poultry company, we delivered day-old chicks to Canterbury contract farms for them to grow the birds until they were the correct size to be collected and taken to the processing plant. Biosecurity, on these farms where usually intense, and clothing footwear masks, wheel spray at the gate, etc were compulsory.
The sheds/barns were audited for cleanliness and ensure pest control measures were in place. Perfect.
One day, along came FREE RANGE chicken. If you are thinking how do we keep the same biosecurity control over chickens that run in and out of the sheds/barns and can bring in all the bugs that overalls, masks and boots were stopping? If you weren't thinking that, let's take Avian Flu as the obvious example of why perhaps you should.

On any one farm, some sheds might be free-range while the others only metres away, still had to follow the original biosecurity procedures, as they were shed/barn raised.
I aired my concern and was told, it was best not to push it too hard. TUT TUT
If people want to eat FREE RANGE chicken, there is a risk that the whole poultry industry might suffer.

More messages from your neighbours

5 days ago

A riddle to start the festive season 🌲🎁🌟

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I'm a fruit. If you take away my first letter, I'm a crime. If you take away my first two letters, I'm an animal. If you take away my first and last letter, I'm a form of music. What am I?

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Local Highlight

6 days ago

Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.

We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?

Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.