MONTREAL — The Quebec breeder Canards du Lac-Brome, which has detected cases of avian flu in three of its facilities, will have to slaughter 150,000 birds and lay off nearly 300 employees.
It will likely take 6 to 12 months, and possibly several million dollars, for the company to fully restore operations, according to its chief executive, Angela Anderson.
The company announced its first case of bird flu on April 13. The virus was detected after employees at one of its sites noticed some of the birds were getting sick and contacted a veterinarian, who recommended testing.
Only 3 of the company’s 13 sites are affected by the H5N1 virus, but one of them contained all of its breeding stock, 400,000 Pekin duck eggs which were destroyed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. food (CFIA).
Once the birds in the unaffected facilities are processed, the company will have to lay off staff, as there will be no new ducks.
“Yesterday, I toured all the production sites, the head office and the processing plant to advise the employees that we would be laying off temporary staff in the next four to five weeks. It was an extremely difficult, hectic and emotional day for employees and management,” Ms. Anderson said, adding that the number did not include the many shopkeepers and delivery people.
A first in Quebec
Veterinarian Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, of the University of Montreal, indicated that the H5N1 avian flu was highly pathogenic and represented the strain most at risk with which Quebec farmers have ever been confronted.
“We have been monitoring avian flu since 1959, and we have never had it in Quebec, so this is a first at the moment,” explained Mr. Vaillancourt during an interview.
Bird flu, he added, has been present in wild birds for years, but has not posed a significant risk, as the level of environmental contamination has always been low.
This strain, however, is stronger and more contagious, which means the virus circulates more, according to the vet. The strain also has a longer incubation period than previous strains, making birds potentially contagious for days before anyone realizes they are sick.
The virus can enter a facility through contact with wild birds, Vaillancourt said, adding that it can also be introduced through straw and litter, or even the shoes of people who have walked near a pond where birds gather. Although he says farmers shouldn’t panic, they should be careful and implement biosecurity protocols.
According to him, although it does not pose much of a risk to humans, it is so contagious that all animals on an infected farm must be slaughtered on the spot to prevent the spread of the virus. Left unchecked, the virus can kill half or more of the animals in a herd.
The first cases of bird flu in Quebec were detected in wild geese earlier this month, and several other provinces have already reported outbreaks in wild and domestic populations. Wednesday morning, the CFIA had confirmed the presence of the flu in four sites in Quebec, all in the Estrie region.
Government support needed
For Ms. Anderson, it will not be easy to restart the activities of Canards du Lac-Brome, which is one of the largest duck producers in Canada. Her insurance does not cover animal mortality, she explained, adding that while there is some compensation from the CFIA, it does not cover losses.
The new animals will also have to come from Europe, which is affected by its own bird flu problems.
“We’re talking about $15 million to $20 million to restart activities… We have heart, we have energy, we have willpower, but we’re not going to get there on our own, it’s going to take our time. commitment from all levels of government in agriculture, agri-food and, of course, the economy,” said Ms. Anderson.
Although the company has faced other challenges, including a major fire in 2016, it said this was the biggest yet.
Mr Vaillancourt pointed out that climate change was likely playing a role in the evolution of more deadly viruses, as changes in temperature affect bird migrations, leading some wildlife to visit areas where they did not go before. Farmers, he said, need to be prepared for more viruses in the years to come.