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Poultry Farming

Bird flu strain behind global animal pandemic closes in on Australian shores

Disease authorities say there is potential for the arrival of a bird flu strain that has already been detected in Asia and Antarctica.
two people in personal protection suits examine a a dead animal on a beach

More shows on hold as backyard breeders try to protect rare birds from deadly flu

Concern over avian influenza rising as a strain is detected in another bird in Canberra and the list of cancelled poultry exhibitions grows.
A silky chicken stands in a cage at a poultry show.

Outback town brings in chickens as egg shortage hits NT

The impacts of a widespread egg shortage are being felt in the most remote parts of Australia where residents are improving their food security.
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Four Aboriginal women stand two on either side of a sign on their chicken coop which reads 'chooks safe house'.

feel good:Search for Queensland's best rooster crow leaves entrants 'empowered, exhilarated'

Poultry fanciers have channelled their prized animals by giving their best cock-a-doodle-dos to be crowned crowing champions.
Humans competing in a crowing competition

Bird flu spread 'a real concern' for poultry fanciers as SA shows cancelled

Avian influenza is causing chaos for poultry fanciers interstate, and now South Australian agricultural shows are barring interstate entrants or cancelling events to keep the disease out.
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A man holding a black show chicken

Grim reality for businesses left to pick up the pieces after bird flu outbreak

Despite poultry farmers being required to kill tens of thousands of their chickens to stop the spread of bird flu, the industry says it gets minimal financial support from government
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Chickens in cages in a barn.

McDonald's cuts back breakfast hours over egg supply concerns, supermarket prices expected to rise

Consumers can expect to pay more for eggs at the check-out in coming weeks as one of Australia's biggest fast-food retail chains limits its breakfast times.
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A notice in a supermarket that consumers can only purchase two cartons of eggs

Melbourne Royal Show cancels poultry competition amid Victoria's bird flu outbreak

Melbourne Royal Show cancels its poultry competition, as Victoria works to contain the country's largest outbreak of avian influenza.
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A chicken standing in front of a ribbon.

Bird flu found at second poultry farm in Hawkesbury area — just kilometres away from site of initial outbreak

An outbreak of bird flu has been detected on a second farm in Sydney's north-west, with more than 86,000 chickens to be culled.
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bio hazzard workers at a bird flu contaminated farm in glossodia in nsw

What you need to know about the NSW bird flu outbreak

A strain of high pathogenicity avian influenza was detected on a poultry farm in the Hawkesbury this week, as other subtypes of bird flu have made its way across the country.
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A chicken stares into the camera with more chickens and their movable shed in the background.

Bird flu detected on Sydney poultry farm different to Victorian strain

Avian influenza has been detected at a commercial poultry farm in the Greater Sydney Basin. The affected egg farm has implemented quarantine to prevent the movement of equipment and animals.
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Dozens of hens with glossy brown feathers and red plump combs under a clear blue sky.

More than 1 million birds to be killed in Victoria to stop the spread of deadly disease

Poultry farmers continue to fight Australia's largest outbreak of avian influenza as the disease is detected at a seventh Victorian farm.
Caged hen at Werribee in Victoria

Do you own backyard chickens? Here's what you can do to help stop the spread of bird flu

Backyard chicken owners are asked to do their bit as the poultry industry fights Australia's largest ever bird flu outbreak.
Cartons of eggs in a field surrounded by chickens

The best way to store eggs and how to know if they've gone bad

Following the news some supermarkets are limiting how many eggs you can buy, you might be wondering how you can make the ones you have last.
Close-up of seven eggs sitting in a cardboard carton.

Egg farmers near avian influenza outbreak scramble into action after week-long lockdown lifted

While supermarket shelves were stripped bare of egg cartons, the storage room at Wes Humpage's farm was reaching capacity. Until today.   
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Chickens bathed in red light at night in a shed

Coles introduces egg limit across most states as bird flu continues to spread in Victoria

Coles is limiting purchases to two cartons of eggs per customer after Agriculture Victoria confirmed a fifth property was infected.
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Eggs stamped with ID numbers in a carton

Egg producers warn shoppers of a potential shortage as bird flu is found on fourth farm

Shoppers may see fewer eggs on shelves as four farms at the centre of bird flu outbreaks in Victoria are placed in quarantine.
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Eggs in a carton.

Third Victorian poultry farm declares bird flu outbreak

Farm Pride Foods announces the viral strain detected at its Lethbridge aviary site is "the same strain found on an egg farm at Meredith" around 10 days ago.
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Free range chickens at Green Eggs farm in western Victoria.

Third US dairy worker contracts bird flu from sick cattle amid virus mutation warning

Avian influenza is producing mild symptoms in the US dairy cattle and farm workers it is infecting, but experts say it is vital to get the virus "mopped up" before it has a chance to mutate.
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A person in a white protective suit stands next to a lake holding a dead crane.

As avian flu spreads around the world, experts say 'we're nowhere near prepared' for a future pandemic

With Australian officials closely monitoring local outbreaks of avian influenza, and another highly pathogenic strain wreaking havoc overseas, experts in infectious disease and public health say this is how we should prepare for the possibility of a future pandemic.
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Dozens of hens with glossy brown feathers and red plump combs under a clear blue sky.

Japan, US among countries to ban Victorian poultry imports due to bird flu

Japan has joined the United States in banning poultry imports from Victoria, as the state works to control two outbreaks of avian influenza.
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An egg contained with different coloured eggs

Tasmania prepares for deadly strain of avian influenza

A deadly strain of avian influenza wreaking havoc in Victoria is yet to make its way to Tasmania, keeping the state bird flu free. But Biosecurity Tasmania warns it won't stay this way forever, and is urging the state's agricultural industry to be extra vigilant.
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Dozens of hens with glossy brown feathers and red plump combs under a clear blue sky.

Farmer 'devastated' at having to cull 500,000 chickens after bird flu detected

A farmer in south-west Victoria is in the process of killing more than 500,000 chickens this week to help stop the spread of bird flu through Australia's poultry industry.
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A quarantine sign on a farm gate

US bans imports of Victorian poultry products

An avian influenza outbreak in Victoria prompts the US Department of Agriculture to ban all poultry products until further notice.
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A closeup photo of a laying hen on Adam Walmsley's farm.

Two different strains of bird flu have been detected in Victoria. What do we know?

Two different strains of avian influenza — also known as "bird flu" — have been detected in Victoria. Here's what to know about bird flu, its risk of transmission to humans and what precautions to take against its spread.
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A person in a white protective suit stands next to a lake holding a dead crane.