Avian Influenza Testing

[Rich]

On a different thead, I had a comment come up regarding the impact of Avian Influenza Testing on poultry shows. Living in a state that requires testing (within 30 days of the show), and around states that also require testing (within 10 days, 14 days or every 90 day monitoring depending on the state), A.I. Testing has become a part of exibition poultry in our region of the country. I thought it might be good to encourage some discussion on this topic.

First of all, I have no problem with monitoring my flock for A.I. as part of a state run program. I'm not afraid of the testing and as long as we have a reasonable approach to the disease and it's many forms, I will continue to test my birds every 90 days. Let me add that my better half is a large animal veterinarian (doesn't know much if anything about birds though), but she definitely gives me some additional insight regarding state regulations.

The biggest problem I see with A.I. testing is the inconsistencies between states. Living in a poultry dependent state (Ag is our major industry and Broilers make up 3/5ths of our Ag), we have something to lose if A.I. ever make a strong foothold here. The problem I have with the entire program of testing is that I totally understand the need should there be an outbreak, I also totally understand the need to monitor. What I don' t understand is the requirement to test when in spite of regular monitoring done by the state, shows that there isn't any disease in the country. It costs everyone a lot of money and time to test when it isn't necessary.

When an outbreak occurs, I for one would have no intention of going anywhere with my birds, until the outbreak is contained and we are back to monitoring status. Why subject my birds to potential infection when I don't have too. Several years ago, the Delmarva Poultry Fanciers Club cancelled their spring show when there was an outbreak. We did this before we were told we had to because we didn't want to spread a very nasty strain of A.I. across the region. We would have been told to cancel if we didn't do it but that request never happened because we were on top of the situation.

My wife informed me that at her recent State Veterinary Association meeting they had a speaker on Avian Influenza who was frightening. The worry is that everyone knows that we are overdue for the "Pandemic" and they are waiting to see where it comes from. Many people have pre-ordained in their thinking that the outbreak is going to come from avian influenza. Truth be known, no one can predict where a human pandemic strain of flue will come from. It could be a strain of swine flu or even something else. It is serious though and worthy of monitoring and it shouldn't be taken lightly.

That is what I believe we are doing. One of the problems that I see is a disconnect between hobby keepers of birds and the commercial industry. Many of the big integrators want growers who do what they are told, and not people who will question their production decisions. Hobby bird keepers and exhibition people do a few things really good in comparison to the commercial producers. First the give their birds space, oftentimes as much as 10 or more times the space of a commercial producers. We also allow our birds to grow up and develop immune systems. The average broiler lives 6.5 weeks and the average roaster closer to 10 to 12 weeks of age. I don't think there is enough difference in rations, vaccination programs and daily care between the two groups to mention. The commercial industry is designed to produce large quantities of poultry meat and eggs for the American public for as inexpensive a cost as is possible. It is an amazing system when you realize what it does for the cost it takes.

Most but not all of our exhibition poultry keepers do an excellent job with the care and management of their birds. We need to do a better job of promoting ourselves and speaking up where we can be heard. Clell Agler from Ohio encourages people to get involved in the NPIP Section E meetings that are there to oversee poultry keepers in our group. Recently Pat Lacey made a similar plea for people to get involved in this group. I honestly believe that before long, everyone will be doing some sort of A.I. Testing. What we need to do is to work to make sure that if any national regulations come in play, that they are designed in a way to be reasonable and effective.

[MattL]

Rich,
I am told of a program soon to start here in Ohio where each flock that is NPIP tested will be tested for AI and Pullorum. The frequency of this testing has yet to be told to me but once the testing is done and all is well, you will recieve a NPIP Pullorm/AI free status and a certificate of said status. This is great if all States accept the certificate. I fell that anything more than bi annual testing will not work. So if Ohio has certified my flock as NPIP Pullorm/AI free status and Delaware will not let me come in because they have a different rule, attendance at your show will suffer. I personally feel this is a rule or regulation that needs to come from a National level and not 50 different interpertations from State Ag. Departments. Clell Agler has let the way fighting for all this with NPIP and he is a voting member. I hear alot of talk and nice articles from others but they really have no voice on the board that decides this regulation.
MattL

[egglady]

I agree that it would make things a lot easier for the exhibition poultry people if the testing regulations were national, rather than each state having their own regs. I am in NY, where AI testing is not yet required and thus is not offerred by the state. My first show that I enterred birds in was in PA and I spent 3 days preparing birds for the show and when I got there, I was turned away for not having AI testing. I was very disappointed and discouraged. When I applied, I had specifically asked what the requirements were and was told that NPIP was what was needed and I had that done. There was no mention of AI testing in the premium book, but on arrival they asked where is the AI report? After checking the booklet there was a line that said must meet PA health requirements. When I went to the website, the only way I was able to find the AI requirement was to specifically search for AI at the website. They require the testing within 10 for birds from out of state and I was told that it takes 15 days to get the results back when you have to send them out for processing, so it would not be possible to go this route.

I totally agree that it is necessary to keep our birds safe and have no problem with testing being required, but if the requirements are impossible to meet, it is not doing anyone any good. You also see a lot of birds being exhibited in NY and Ohio that come from Pa, which are being exposed to birds that have not been AI tested, and then they return to Pa and are shown there, so unless they are being tested between each show, they could very easily be bringing the disease home with them if it were present in a bird at the show. Birds are transported across state lines everysay and I think it would just make more sense if the testing requirements were the same.
Kathy

[robin416]

Has anyone read this month's PP? Am I getting it wrong with my interpretation? It appears that by 2012 it will be nation wide that all birds will have to have AI testing for meets or shipping that is no older than 10 days old. That NPIP testing will have to have been conducted in the last 90 days. No mention was made on how this will be paid for. I also see it as being a major problem for exhibitors that travel from state to state to different shows that occur in fairly rapid succession.

AI testing is available here and when they ask, I tell them sure. Not a problem for me. To date they have yet to find a case of any form of AI in the birds they test.

[MattL]

I think the article is a bit decieving. None of that is wriiten in stone yet and only the assumption of the writer. That is why it is very important that the APA-ABA attend and have input in these meetings.
MattL

[Rich]

I agree with the comments posted here and feel as though we need to be involved with the decision making. I really don't think it is unreasonable to expect testing two times per year as is currently the rule with NPIP. Seveal states are suggesting the 90 day cycle and still others are going with as few as 10 days to enter the state. The truth be known, it is in all of our interest to have regular monitoring. I know our state has birds caged at various sites to monitor for several different diseases. I don't mind using my flock as a monitoring flock and have offered that as well. The thing that really ticks me off if is the fact that many state veterinarians don't use their heads in determining how to deal with these diseases. They don't treat cattle or horses the way they are treating chickens. We hear of certain equine diseases occurring and all of a sudden they quarrantine a barn, and let everything else go on as normal. I realize that some diseases are worse then others and some are far more contagious than others. I strongly believe that a national rule is in the best interest of everyone. That rule doesn't have to be absolute. If they wanted to have requirements for crossing state lines that were testing every 180 days unless we have an outbreak of A.I. and under that situation, birds within a predetermined designated area would be prevented from moving, that would be fine by me. We need greater participation from the ABA, the APA and all the poultry fancier clubs to make our voices heard. I have been most disappointed with the APA who seems to have burried their heads in the sand in hopes that all this will go away.

Kathy, the PA dept of Agriculture is one of the biggest bureacracies that I know of. My wife has told me numerous times that it is harder to ship a dairy cow from Delaware into Pennsylvania than it is to ship it to Canada. They are so big, it is impossible to get someone on the phone that knows what they are talking about and even then, if you get the correct information, you are likely to run into a field agent who has no idea of the rules. I took some birds to an auction, after having my state vet contact PA and performing all required tests, only to be turned away and threated with being arrested by a State Dept. of Ag employee. Being a small state, at least I can get up with our Dept of Ag people and find out the actual rulings and know they are correct.

[Pathfinders]

I took some birds to an auction, after having my state vet contact PA and performing all required tests, only to be turned away and threated with being arrested by a State Dept. of Ag employee.

Gotta love them, Civil Servants who are neither civil, nor do they serve. We've got our share here in KY too, more's the pity.

Laura

[Neil E. Grassbaugh]

We have here at least two persons posting that are also candidatesfor office in the American Bantam Association.

Honored poulty judge Matt Lhamon who is also a keen obsserver of the human/exhibition poultry situation is Mattl a candidate for Vice President.

And Miss Laura Haggarty, the belle of Kentucky exhibition poultry (she is gonna kill me for that) aka Pathfinders is a candidate for Director.

Can we hear a comittment from either or both of you to work diligently toward a set of workable regulations on a national scale that cover at least some of the interstate problems commonly encountered by exhibition poultry people?

Hummmmmmmmmmmm?

[MattL]

That is the goal Neil, and hopefully we can utilize resources already voting on the NPIP board.
MattL

[Pathfinders]

And Miss Laura Haggarty, the belle of Kentucky exhibition poultry (she is gonna kill me for that) aka Pathfinders is a candidate for Director.

Can we hear a comittment from either or both of you to work diligently toward a set of workable regulations on a national scale that cover at least some of the interstate problems commonly encountered by exhibition poultry people?

Hummmmmmmmmmmm?

Ahem. That would be MS. Haggarty to you Bubba (I am not a true Southerner, having been born and raised in Cleveland, so calling me "Miss Laura" doesn't work so very well.) :wink:

But seriously, I'd be more than happy to sit on a committee or do whatever I can to "work diligently toward a set of workable regulations on a national scale that cover at least some of the interstate problems commonly encountered by exhibition poultry people?"

Laura

[Bob308]

I tried to get tested for AI in Texas before coming to Delmarva last year but found it was impossible. There are ways for the commercial groups to get tested of course but they will not test private flocks like mine. Luckily I was able to use the Delaware package and have it done. I did not do this on my own I had the TDVM agent who tests my birds for PT to swab the birds.
I will not bore y'all with the state of affairs here in Texas, but one of the things required to sell your birds off premise is to have a license by the TAHC. I do not need this because I can sell anything I want on my property or ship birds without it, and I do. But I went ahead and got one ($100) so I could donate some birds to an auction at a Texas show. Keep in mind that they (TAHC)only come to your property and count your birds so they know how much your fee is- it ranges from $25-$500. They do not test your birds or even look at them for any kinds of illness. One of the things they ask, and it is only voluntary, is if they can swab 10-20 birds for AI. I agreed. I have nothing to hide and considered it a good will gesture. I never got anything from them saying I was clean.
I think it would be great if we could get a nation wide set of regulations and I would have no problem with being tested 2 times a year and even paying a fee, but I think it is going to be tough. One of the reasons we in Texas have wanted some kind of federal regulation to our problem is because Federal laws seem to be quite a bit more relaxed than state rules. But State rights are a very funny thing and they are fought for vigorusly.
Never the less I sincerly hope that this ( a nation wide compliance of regulations ) is accomplished, even if it is only in 49 states.

Bob

[Rich]

There are some strong hold outs for the national program and I am unhappy to say that they have been in my region of the country. It amazes me that states like Arkansas, North Carolina and Georgia have less stringent regulations than many in the Mid Atlantic area when those states have larger poultry industries. I think a lot of this has to do with State Veterinarians who are not familiar with poultry diseases and logical effective approaches to handling them. I think they are being politically influenced by the company representatives who oftentimes are their own worst enemy when it comes to fighting off diseases.

I'm glad we have some good people running for office in the National Blanket organizations. We have to break the paradiam and get involved in these issues instead of sitting back and waiting to see what happens. Every state needs representation at the NPIP Section E meeting.

[Bob308]

I'm glad we have some good people running for office in the National Blanket organizations. We have to break the paradiam and get involved in these issues instead of sitting back and waiting to see what happens. Every state needs representation at the NPIP Section E meeting.

I totally agree Rich. If the fancy as a whole is not proactive in this then there will be more states go down as Texas has.We had no idea what was going on till after it was done. The Texas Poultry Federation had lobbyist get congressmen to pass these laws that closed our borders. To have it changed now we would have to have the Texas Constitution changed.

I will also say this- there are going to be some very difficult decisions to be made because I feel there will be some freedom lost. People are not going to want the government poking around. Heck most posters on this board are against premise registration and that will be a part of it.

[robin416]

I will also say this- there are going to be some very difficult decisions to be made because I feel there will be some freedom lost. People are not going to want the government poking around. Heck most posters on this board are against premise registration and that will be a part of it.

You're darn right there is a bunch of against premis registration. The program that they dumped in everybody's lap was incomplete and not well put together. If we are already participating in the NPIP program there is no reason in the world our exhibition poultry should be part of the program they have outlined.

[Bob308]

For my part I was only talking about the Premise Registration, not the whole NAIS package. I also feel that the NAIS program as presented was totally unworkable.