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Ban preventing gathering live birds at Iowa fairs to be lifted at the end of 2015

The ban preventing live bird exhibits at events in Iowa was set to be lifted at the end of 2015. As avian influenza ran rampant in Iowa throughout the year, the...
Chickens photo credit GNU Image via MGN

The ban preventing live bird exhibits at events in Iowa was set to be lifted at the end of 2015.

As avian influenza ran rampant in Iowa throughout the year, the ban was set in place to prevent the spread to other birds, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.  That ban was set to expire January 1, 2016.

“This is very good news and another sign that we continue to recover from this devastating animal health emergency.  We know the ban on exhibitions caused some real challenges for those anticipating showing or selling birds, but we appreciate everyone cooperating as we worked to stop the disease and then allow the industry to recover,” said Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

While the ban was in place, live bird exhibitions at county fairs, the Iowa State Fair, livestock auction markets, swap meets, exotic sales, and other gatherings were not allowed. A few weeks after Iowa announced its ban, the Illinois Department of Agriculture announced that out-of-state birds would not be permitted at state, county, 4H and FAA fairs.

The ban was issued on May 21, a time when more than 25 million birds and more than 60 farms were impacted by the avian flu.  When all was said and done, 77 facilities and 31.5 million birds were affected in Iowa, according to a statement from the department. This includes 35 commercial turkey flocks, 22 commercial egg production flocks, 13 pullet flocks, 1 chicken breeding flock, 1 mail order hatchery, and 5 backyard flocks.

 

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