While South Africa’s poultry farmers lose millions every year because of compulsory bird flu culls, French poultry producers are to get even higher compensation payments from their government.
The South African department of agriculture will consider claims for chickens that have died of avian influenza, or sick ones that have had to be killed. But it will not pay compensation for the huge numbers of healthy birds on affected and neighbouring farms that it orders to be culled to prevent bird flu spreading, and these are by far the majority of those culled.
Since 2021, nearly four million birds have been culled during South African bird flu outbreaks, which is around 2.5% of the broiler industry’s chicken population.
In France, suffering from multiple bird flu outbreaks, the government has just increased its compensation payments to 85% of a chicken’s market value, up from the previous 75%.
This aims to support farmers with the costs of cleaning and disinfecting buildings, as well as the safe destruction of poultry carcasses and products that cannot be sold, WattPoultry.com reports.
For French poultry businesses within regulated areas, there will be an additional scheme covering economic compensation. Up to 50% of the estimated losses will be paid in the coming months, with the aim of supporting business cash flow.
South Africa’s struggling chicken farmers will look on with envy.
