‘Bird Flu’ Outbreak in Mexico Spurs National Animal Health Emergency

Jul 03, 2012

Authorities in the state of Jalisco, Mexico’s largest chicken farming region are moving quickly to contain an outbreak of the avian flu. The flu has been confirmed in two municipalities in the state of Jalisco. Health inspectors have examined 150 poultry farms and have found the virus detected in 10 flocks. It’s been estimated that two million birds have been contaminated that have since died a natural death or have been culled to prevent the virus from spreading any further. On Monday health inspectors declared a national health emergency to keep everyone on high alert. In the meantime, the ministry has ordered vaccinations from Asia to help combat the flu.

"We have activated a national animal health emergency... with the goal of diagnosing, preventing, controlling and eradicating the Type A, sub-type H7N3 bird flu virus," the ministry said on Monday.

The region affected produces 11 percent of the country’s poultry meat and 50 per cent of its eggs. Mexico exports some of its chicken to the United States with over 630,000 metric tonnes projected for 2012 according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Although, the outbreak won’t have much impact on export markets, it could have a devastating impact on the local economy since poultry farming contributes up to 40 per cent of the country’s livestock production.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.