Avian influenza: how to prevent it?

Ducks on a farm in Montsoué, Landes, February 21, 2017. (illustrative image) AP - Bob Edme

Text by: Pauline Gleize Follow

3 min

The foie gras sector is still in crisis this year, for the third time in five years.

Avian influenza has spread widely in the Landes and also partially affects the Gers.

A total of 1.7 million animals, mainly ducks, have already been slaughtered in an attempt to control the epizootic.

It is still too early to accurately determine the financial loss.

The date of reintroduction of ducklings is still unknown.

But already, the sector is considering solutions to prevent this from happening again. 

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On his deserted farm, a few days after the slaughter of his ducks, Hervé Dupouy, representative of the Departmental Federation of Farmers' Unions (FDSEA) of the Landes, takes advantage of his period of crawl to think about solutions: " 

By sheltering our animals as much as possible during the winter, we would avoid primary infection.

What we also ask is a reactivity on the part of the public authorities for, as soon as there is a suspicion after analysis, that we cut down on a radius of at least 3 kilometers around everything that looks like a duck.

 "

► To read also: Avian influenza: surge in the number of outbreaks in the south-west of France

He also wonders about the advisability of vaccinating, at least partially.

A vaccination for which Lionel Candelon, president of "Angry Ducks", militates: " 

If we had had the means to preventively vaccinate our animals as soon as the alert was announced, we would have avoided

slaughtering a million and a half or two million animals

for nothing and throw them in the trash.

 "

For now, the authorities refuse.

This would prevent the export.

But putting the animals in a building is not a solution for this breeder: “ 

There are two solutions.

Either we make densities so low that it is not profitable, because there is an additional cost of mulching and an additional cost of work in the buildings.

Either we increase the density to five or six ducks per m².

But here on the other hand, in terms of animal welfare, we do not respect any rule.

 "

Hervé Dupouy assures us that it is not a question of stopping the outdoors, but only of locking up animals when the risk is high.

The inter-branch organization is also considering making production less intensive in winter.

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  • France

  • Agriculture and Fishing

  • Avian Flu

  • Animal health

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