Farms.com Home   News

Farmers Must Kill 4.2 Million Chickens After Bird Flu Hits Iowa Egg Farm

More than 4 million chickens in Iowa will have to be killed after a case of the highly pathogenic bird flu was detected at a large egg farm, the state announced Tuesday.

Crews are in the process of killing 4.2 million chickens after the disease was found at a farm in Sioux County, Iowa, making it the latest in a yearslong outbreak that now is affecting dairy cattle as well. Last week, the virus was confirmed at an egg farm west of Minneapolis, leading to the slaughter of nearly 1.4 million chickens.

Overall, 92.34 million birds have been killed since the outbreak began in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Although bird flu has become somewhat common among poultry, its spread to cattle has added to worries about the disease. In May, a second dairy farmworker was diagnosed with bird flu, and the virus was detected in both beef and milk. It has been confirmed on dairy cattle farms in nine states.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

How to read EPDs (expected progeny differences)

Video: How to read EPDs (expected progeny differences)

Expected progeny differences (EPDs) may look complicated at first, but they are a practical tool for making informed beef cattle breeding decisions. The bulls or replacement heifers you select today will influence herd performance, productivity and profitability for years to come.

This animated video, produced by the Beef Cattle Research Council, explains how to read and use EPDs in a clear, straightforward way. You’ll learn what the numbers mean, how to interpret them and see a step-by-step example of comparing EPDs between animals to help select genetics that fit your herd goals.