USDA nears vaccine strategy as bird flu hits egg farms hardest
After culling nearly 175 million birds since 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is preparing a detailed strategy for potential vaccine use, including how it might affect poultry exports.
The move follows formal proposals from egg and turkey industry groups, which have borne the brunt of recent outbreaks. Officials say the written plan—expected to be ready by July—could help ease concerns from trade partners wary of importing vaccinated poultry.
"You need a more complete strategy and plan for them to consider," said Dr. John Clifford, a former USDA chief veterinary officer advising the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council.
Bird flu outbreaks have driven egg prices to record highs, caused grocery rationing, and forced food companies to import eggs from Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea. The USDA has already pledged up to US$100 million to fund research into vaccines and other treatments.
Still, the idea of vaccination has divided the poultry industry. Egg and turkey producers support the move, saying it's necessary to protect flocks and curb ongoing losses. "We can't continue to operate the way we are today," said Dr. Craig Rowles, a VP at egg producer Versova.
However, chicken meat companies, less affected by outbreaks and more reliant on exports, fear that vaccinated birds could prompt broad bans from importing countries. "It would be devastating to chicken meat producers if importers halted trading," Clifford warned.
The USDA has already spent over $1 billion compensating farmers for destroyed birds, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
In January, United Egg Producers began drafting a vaccination proposal. The plan, developed by four veteran veterinarians, including Clifford and Rowles, calls for vaccinating baby chicks, administering booster shots, and testing flocks regularly. Rowles said flocks that test positive would still be culled to meet likely demands from importing nations.
Despite initial concerns, the National Chicken Council said in June it would not object to vaccination if the USDA could protect existing trade relationships. Earlier, the group warned that vaccinating poultry—such as laying hens—could jeopardize exports of all U.S. poultry products.
Glenn Hickman, president of Hickman's Family Farms, said the reluctance from the chicken meat industry has come at a steep cost to egg producers. The virus has wiped out 6 million of his birds—about 95 percent of his Arizona-based operation—since May.
"Let me protect my chickens," Hickman said.
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