Poultry industry takes a proactive step with avian flu vaccination permit

FARMING associations have welcomed the issuing of the first permit to integrated poultry producer Astral Foods for the vaccination of poultry against avian flu.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

This comes after global outbreaks of Avian flu in America and Brazil.

The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, on Tuesday announced that South Africa will embark on its first-ever vaccination campaign for poultry in the coming days as a proactive measure to minimise the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks.

Francois Rossouw, the CEO of the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), said that granting Astral a permit to vaccinate broiler breeding stock against HPAI was a crucial step forward for the poultry industry.

“From both a veterinary and agricultural perspective, this move strengthens our ability to prevent outbreaks, protect food security, and stabilise the industry economically. Breeding stock forms the foundation of poultry production,” he said.

Rossouw added that by vaccinating them, the industry was not only reducing the risk of disease but also avoiding the devastating financial and supply disruptions seen in past outbreaks.