Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Backyard Flock in Pierce County, Georgia

Apr 21, 2026

The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial, backyard (non-poultry) flock in Pierce County, Georgia. The affected flock—comprised of approximately 60 chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys—has been depopulated as part of standard response protocols to prevent further spread of the disease.

“We are working around the clock to protect our state’s poultry industry. Our team acted swiftly to respond to the detection of HPAI, implement containment protocols, and limit the potential spread of the disease,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper. “In Georgia, we have maintained strong biosecurity measures since the nationwide HPAI outbreak began in 2022. To date, the outbreak has impacted more than 206 million birds nationwide, with less than 0.25 percent of those cases occurring in Georgia—the nation’s top poultry producer. This underscores the effectiveness of strong biosecurity practices and the dedication of our animal health professionals and poultry producers.”

Source : georgia.gov

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.