Latest news with #MainlandPoultry
Otago Daily Times
28-04-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
‘Huge relief' as controls lifted at poultry farm
Controls have been lifted at an Otago poultry farm now that bird flu has been successfully stamped out at the site. Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) chief veterinary officer Dr Mary van Andel said yesterday movement controls had been lifted from Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm, near Moeraki, after the H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detected there in December was successfully eradicated. Mainland Poultry chief executive John McKay said reaching the milestone was a "huge relief" and the company was excited to begin repopulating the farm after a long and comprehensive process to rid the site of bird flu. The farm was shut down and about 160,000 birds were culled before a lengthy cleaning and disinfecting phase. "Although we still have a bit of work to do before the farm is fully operational again, reaching this phase has given us a boost of optimism and confidence," Mr McKay said. Biosecurity New Zealand placed strict movement controls on the egg farm after testing confirmed HPAI in chickens at the property that likely developed from interactions with local waterfowl and wild birds. While the strain was not the H5N1 type circulating among wildlife around the world causing global concern, the government and industry took the find seriously. Mr McKay said Mainland Poultry was hugely grateful for the support received from colleagues, fellow farmers, government officials including MPI, the food industry, trade customers and industry groups such as the Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand and the Egg Producers Federation. "It's been nothing short of amazing," he said. "There was a high level of understanding and empathy for the situation we were in and a sense of 'we are all in this together' because what affects one of us has the potential to affect everyone. "We are only as strong as our weakest link, so every single producer must remain vigilant and have robust plans in place to protect the national flock." Dr van Andel said more than 5600 tests were carried out on samples from both poultry and wild birds, including from 36 flocks across five farms linked to Mainland's Hillgrove property. "HPAI was not found anywhere other than Hillgrove, giving confidence that the disease had been contained and stamped out," Dr van Andel said. Chickens that were culled were humanely euthanised and disposed of in a secure landfill, along with eggs, litter and manure from the farm. The processes followed, including the culling, cleanup and extensive surveillance made MPI confident that the virus had been eradicated. MPI had worked with overseas government counterparts and industry partners in New Zealand to meet market requirements and had also proposed alternative assurances to some markets. It was still working towards the reopening of trade to some markets. "Good progress is being made to restore trade, with around $300million of trade in poultry products recovered to date." Mr McKay said the impact of the incident on the company had been "profound" but was not expected to have a lasting effect. "The outbreak has had a significant effect on animals, people and resources. "There's also been a financial impact, but our primary objective has been to do the right thing, limit the impact and protect our business and industry in the process. "The egg supply was largely unaffected, but we will welcome a return to full production as soon as possible."
RNZ News
28-04-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Controls lifted at Otago poultry farm after high pathogenic bird flu eradicated
About 200,000 chickens were culled from Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm in Otago after the H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza was discovered in December. Photo: Supplied An Otago poultry farm where the country's first case of high pathogenic bird flu was discovered last year can now start repopulating. About 200,000 chickens were culled from Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm in Otago after the H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza was discovered in December . The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has now lifted biosecurity movement restrictions on the farm with the virus having been eradicated. Mainland Poultry chief executive John McKay said they were very pleased to get to this stage and were looking forward to being fully operational again. "We've been through the three key steps of depopulating the farm, disposing of all the material in a biosecure manner and then the cleaning and disinfecting stage. It's a long process and it's a detailed process but it's really important to get it right." The virus is believed to have spread from wild birds to free-range laying hens foraging outside. It was not found anywhere else. Eradication efforts saw all chickens on the farm humanely euthanised and disposed of in a secure landfill, along with eggs, litter and manure from the farm, followed by site decontamination and extensive surveillance, including more than 5600 tests being carried out. McKay said it had been a "tough" few months for the team and the business. "Obviously, there's a big cost on business in going through a response like this and there's costs on people." Mainland Poultry was still working through the compensation process with MPI which won't be completed until the farm has fully repopulated. This was expected to take at least a year to complete as the new birds would be introduced in a staged process across the farm's eight laying sheds. While they wanted to get back to business as quickly as possible, McKay said it was important to do this in a "measured and monitored way" Day-old chicks would be brought into the rearing sheds and kept there for 15 weeks before being transferred to laying sheds. "We're feeling really confident about getting birds back on farm." The restrictions being lifted, felt like "light at the end of the tunnel", McKay said. He credited their success in eradicating the virus to support from MPI, which he described as "first rate", and a collaborative and proactive industry response prior to the outbreak. "If you go through a response like this is just reinforces the need for all of us in the poultry sector to take our biosecurity very, very seriously." Gas bottles are being moved from the entrance to further onto Hillgrove Egg Farm on 3 December 2024. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton MPI chief veterinary officer Dr Mary Van Andel said the removal of the movement controls was a "significant milestone". "The processes we have followed - depopulation and disposal, decontamination of the site and extensive surveillance - give us confidence that the virus has been eradicated," she said. "We're grateful to Mainland Poultry, which did the right thing in notifying us as soon as an exotic disease was suspected and for working with us in partnership to successfully stamp out this disease." Dr Van Andel said MPI staff would continue to support Mainland as the farm is repopulated. "Good progress is being made to restore trade, with around $300 million of trade in poultry products recovered to date." MPI has worked with overseas government counterparts and industry partners in New Zealand to meet market requirements and has also proposed alternative assurances to some markets. MPI continues to work towards the reopening of trade for others. Many lessons had been learned through the response to the outbreak, the first time such an event in New Zealand has been documented. These lesson would help prepare for the H5N1 strain if it spread to New Zealand, with Dr Van Andel adding it was still important for the industry to remain vigilant. "Absolutely industry and the ministry are focussed on ongoing preparedness and making sure we are upping our game on biosecurity and resilience, and this operational planning in what we've learned to be ready for any future challenges." Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said the collaborative approach was key to the eradication. "It has been important work, because New Zealand's robust biosecurity system and the relative freedom from pests and disease that it protects play a massive part in our farmers' competitive advantage." He said all the work that has been going in to prepare for the possible arrival of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza that has led to millions of bird deaths overseas, put New Zealand in a good position to deal with the less virulent H7N6 strain found on the farm. "This was the first detection of HPAI in New Zealand and it tested some of the plans that are being developed for the arrival of HPAI H5N1. It certainly provides a timely reminder that all New Zealanders have a role to play in being prepared and that is through strong biosecurity as an essential first line of defence. "Our geographic isolation has protected us from H5N1 to date, but we can't afford to be complacent." Anyone concerned about unwell poultry should contact their vet, and for unwell wild birds contact MPI on 0800 809966. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
28-04-2025
- Health
- 1News
Controls lifted at Otago poultry farm after bird flu virus eradicated
Strict movement controls have been lifted from an Otago poultry farm following the eradication of a pathogenic strain of avian influenza in chickens at the premises. The highly pathogenic bird flu strain H7N6 was detected in poultry at Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm in early December, prompting restrictions to be put in place and the culling of tens of thousands of chickens in the weeks following. Minsitry for Primary Industries (MPI) moved swiftly to implement strict movement controls on the property to prevent goods or anything else that might be carrying the virus leaving the property. Chickens on the farm were humanely euthanised and disposed of in a secure landfill, along with eggs, litter and manure from the farm. This was followed by an extensive cleaning and disinfection process. It comes as the Ministry for Primary Industries announced another unrelated farm is now under precautionary testing. (Source: 1News) In an update today, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) chief veterinary officer Mary Van Andel said more than 5600 tests have been carried out on samples from poultry and wild birds, including from 36 flocks across 5 farms linked to Mainland's Hillgrove property. "HPAI was not found anywhere other than Hillgrove, giving confidence that the disease had been contained and stamped out," she said. "The processes we have followed – depopulation and disposal, decontamination of the site and extensive surveillance – give us confidence that the virus has been eradicated." "While there is still work to be done, the lifting of movement controls is a significant milestone in the response and means that Mainland Poultry can begin the process of returning to business." Van Andel thanked Mainland Poultry for notifying MPI promptly when the disease was suspected and working to stamp it out successfully. "Good progress is being made to restore trade, with around $300 million of trade in poultry products recovered to date.' Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard praised the collaboration among industries and "rapid action" taken to contain and stamp out the disease. "Rapid action on behalf of the farmer and MPI to stand up a response and restrict movements paid off. Tracing did not detect any HPAI-infected chickens beyond the farm where the disease originated. He said this has been "important work" as New Zealand's robust biosecurity system and the relative freedom from pests and disease plays a role in farmers' competitive advantage. "This was the first detection of HPAI in New Zealand and it tested some of the plans that are being developed for the arrival of HPAI H5N1. "It certainly provides a timely reminder that all New Zealanders have a role to play in being prepared and that is through strong biosecurity as an essential first line of defence."
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Controls Lifted At Poultry Farm After Virus Eradicated
Press Release – Biosecurity New Zealand While there is still work to be done, the lifting of movement controls is a significant milestone in the response and means that Mainland Poultry can begin the process of returning to business, says Dr van Andel. Movement controls have been lifted from Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm in Otago, after the successful eradication of H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) says Ministry for Primary Industries chief veterinary officer Dr Mary Van Andel. When HPAI H7N6 was detected in poultry at the property in early December, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) moved swiftly to stamp out the virus. 'While there is still work to be done, the lifting of movement controls is a significant milestone in the response and means that Mainland Poultry can begin the process of returning to business,' says Dr van Andel. 'We're grateful to Mainland Poultry, which did the right thing in notifying us as soon as an exotic disease was suspected and for working with us in partnership to successfully stamp out this disease.' MPI immediately put strict movement controls on the property to prevent goods or anything else that might be carrying the virus leaving the property. Dr van Andel says more than 5,600 tests were carried out on samples from poultry and wild birds, including from 36 flocks across 5 farms linked to Mainland's Hillgrove property. HPAI was not found anywhere other than Hillgrove, giving confidence that the disease had been contained and stamped out. Chickens on the farm were humanely euthanised and disposed of in a secure landfill, along with eggs, litter and manure from the farm. This was followed by an extensive cleaning and disinfection process. 'The processes we have followed – depopulation and disposal, decontamination of the site and extensive surveillance – give us confidence that the virus has been eradicated. MPI staff will continue to support Mainland as the farm is repopulated. 'Good progress is being made to restore trade, with around $300 million of trade in poultry products recovered to date.' MPI has worked with overseas government counterparts and industry partners in New Zealand to meet market requirements and has also proposed alternative assurances to some markets. MPI continues to work towards the reopening of trade for others. Dr van Andel says testing indicates that the infection at Hillgrove is likely to have occurred after free-range laying hens foraging outside were exposed to wild birds with a low pathogenicity (LPAI) virus strain, which then mutated in the hens to become HPAI. 'This is the first time such an event in New Zealand has been documented and our first case of HPAI. We've learned a lot from this response that will help us to prepare for HPAI H5N1 if it spreads here.'
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Controls Lifted At Poultry Farm After Virus Eradicated
Movement controls have been lifted from Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm in Otago, after the successful eradication of H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) says Ministry for Primary Industries chief veterinary officer Dr Mary Van Andel. When HPAI H7N6 was detected in poultry at the property in early December, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) moved swiftly to stamp out the virus. 'While there is still work to be done, the lifting of movement controls is a significant milestone in the response and means that Mainland Poultry can begin the process of returning to business,' says Dr van Andel. 'We're grateful to Mainland Poultry, which did the right thing in notifying us as soon as an exotic disease was suspected and for working with us in partnership to successfully stamp out this disease.' MPI immediately put strict movement controls on the property to prevent goods or anything else that might be carrying the virus leaving the property. Dr van Andel says more than 5,600 tests were carried out on samples from poultry and wild birds, including from 36 flocks across 5 farms linked to Mainland's Hillgrove property. HPAI was not found anywhere other than Hillgrove, giving confidence that the disease had been contained and stamped out. Chickens on the farm were humanely euthanised and disposed of in a secure landfill, along with eggs, litter and manure from the farm. This was followed by an extensive cleaning and disinfection process. 'The processes we have followed – depopulation and disposal, decontamination of the site and extensive surveillance – give us confidence that the virus has been eradicated. MPI staff will continue to support Mainland as the farm is repopulated. 'Good progress is being made to restore trade, with around $300 million of trade in poultry products recovered to date.' MPI has worked with overseas government counterparts and industry partners in New Zealand to meet market requirements and has also proposed alternative assurances to some markets. MPI continues to work towards the reopening of trade for others. Dr van Andel says testing indicates that the infection at Hillgrove is likely to have occurred after free-range laying hens foraging outside were exposed to wild birds with a low pathogenicity (LPAI) virus strain, which then mutated in the hens to become HPAI. 'This is the first time such an event in New Zealand has been documented and our first case of HPAI. We've learned a lot from this response that will help us to prepare for HPAI H5N1 if it spreads here.'
