COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County 4-H club members who have been planning to exhibit their chickens or ducks at this summer’s county fair got some disappointing news Monday. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, M-DARD, announced that all poultry and waterfowl exhibitions in the state have been canceled for 2015.
The action was taken in an effort to prevent birds from different locations coming together creating the possibility of spreading avian flu viruses. State Veterinarian Dr. James Averill said they realize the tremendous amount of time, money and passion the kids and other exhibitors invest into their birds and the importance of having livestock animals at the events to interact with the public. But Averill also cited the rapid spread of the bird flu viruses being at historic levels, impacting more than a dozen states across the country.
Right now, there aren’t any known cases of HPAI highly pathogenic avian influenza in Michigan. Averill said his department’s commitment to protecting the health of all of Michigan’s poultry flocks, backyard and commercial farmers, led them to make what he term a difficult decision. A news release from M-DARD said the move was taken following deliberations with the Michigan Association for Fairs and Exhibitions, Michigan 4-H leadership and the Michigan Allied Poultry Industry.
The avian flu outbreak has led to the deaths of a reported 6 million chickens and turkeys in the U.S.
