USDA Grants Conditional Approval for New Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Worsening Outbreak

Feb 21, 2025

By India Edwards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted conditional approval for a new bird flu vaccine for poultry. This new avian flu vaccine, developed by New Jersey-based Zoetis, was approved last week after meeting safety and efficacy standards.

"We've been working with the administration and with Congress, and we're very excited today to get the licensure for (the vaccine) in poultry, which we think will be a tool that we will help support the government as they deem necessary," Zoetis' CEO Kristin Peck told CNBC.

Bird flu has devastated poultry farms across the country, causing egg prices to soar.

Since 2022, the virus has affected more than 150 million birds, including 20.5 million in the last 30 days alone.

The U.S. has traditionally handled bird flu outbreaks by slaughtering (culling) infected flocks, rather than vaccination.

But as the virus spreads to other animals, including cattle and even humans, officials are considering new containment strategies.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Sunday that the Trump administration is finalizing a plan to combat bird flu without mass culling, CNN reported.

"What we need to do is have better ways with biosecurity and medication and so on" to avoid killing chickens, Hassett said. "And so having a smart perimeter is what we're working on, and we're finalizing the ideas about how to do that with the best scientists in government."

So far, 68 bird flu infections have been confirmed in people in the U.S. since March 2024, with one fatal case in Louisiana earlier this year.

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Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.