Millions in damage caused by bird flu – Lower Saxony under pressure!

Millions in damage caused by bird flu – Lower Saxony under pressure!

Bird flu is raging in Lower Saxony and the effects are dramatic for many poultry farmers. In the current season, around a million animals have already been killed due to the dangerous disease, and the darkness of the economic consequences is spreading across the regions. Loud NDR The costs for the humane killing of the affected animals have so far totaled around five million euros. The forecasts for compensation for the affected animal owners do not sound encouraging and amount to a further ten million euros.

Nervousness among farmers is steadily increasing as bird flu is spreading rapidly and reaching unprecedented dimensions. Loud Time The costs to the industry are difficult to estimate and many farmers are under enormous pressure. Since October, over 400,000 animals have fallen victim to the virus, and the state of Lower Saxony, a leading center in poultry production, has been particularly affected.

Challenges for animal owners

The Lower Saxony Animal Disease Fund estimates that the total cost, including cleaning, disinfection of the stables and removal of carcasses, could be up to 17 million euros. Compensation varies depending on the size of the farm, the age of the animals and their market value, although biosecurity regulations must be strictly adhered to in order to receive financial support. In the future, affected poultry farmers can expect to pay up to 110 euros per animal, which represents a significant increase compared to the previous 50 euros.

The managing director of the Lower Saxony Animal Disease Fund, Ursula Gerdes, makes it clear that the costs of vaccinations against the virus can be considerable. Even if there are vaccines, they are currently banned in the EU, further complicating the situation. The chairman of the Lower Saxony Poultry Industry Association, Friedrich-Otto Ripke, expresses concerns about the practical implementation of vaccination campaigns, especially because vaccinated animals still become infected and have to be killed in the event of an outbreak.

Future outlook and collaboration

The spread of bird flu not only has an impact on the economy, but also on society as a whole. The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry (ZDG) is optimistic about the announced increase in compensation payments. President Hans-Peter Goldnick points out the importance of this measure for breeding and parent animal husbandry. The new protective measures that are being examined - including stable requirements and optimized vaccination strategies - attempt to ensure security of supply even in times of crisis.

According to those responsible, national and regional cooperation in the fight against bird flu will be further intensified in order to support livestock farmers and minimize economic damage to the poultry industry. We can only hope that these measures will be successful, because the road to normality is still long and rocky.