faced with the risk of a pandemic, breeders confine their animals

Following the first cases of avian flu detected in France, the government has raised the risk of contamination to a high level throughout the national territory. As the Christmas holidays approach, Lorraine breeders confine their animals.

Following the first cases of avian flu detected in the departments of Landes and Allier, the government noted, on Friday November 8, 2024, the risk of contamination at a high level throughout the national territory. In the Grand Est, there are 416 and 129 broiler and duck farms respectively. Compare to 1793 and 2063 farms in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region (source: Ministry of Agriculture).

If the poultry sector in Meurthe-et-Moselle is not one of the most important in France compared to those of Landes or Gers, the risk of a pandemic, especially as the Christmas holidays approach, gives rise to real concern.

Damien Luc, head of the livestock department at the Meurthe-et-Moselle Chamber of Agriculture, explains: “for breeders, it is always a problem to see diseases pass. We saw this again quite recently with bluetongue. Today, it is a concern which has become somewhat regular on the part of breeders. poultry breeders who may find themselves confronted with contamination of their flocks. So, it is certain that it still remains a somewhat worrying subject in the livestock sector.

Breeders are informed by state services in real time, as soon as there is a risk of contamination. According to Damien Luc, breeders are today all trained by the chamber of agriculture or the health defense group in biosecurity measures: “this is something that was put in place a few years ago and which is essential for professional breeders. This consists in particular of a measure of isolation of the animals. The poultry are confined in the buildings. It is more easy to apply now in autumn than in summer.

Because the risk of contamination with avian flu comes from the sky: “we know that in our sector, there are risk areas: it is around Lake Madine (Meuse), with the migrations of wild birds”.

After seven years of activity, Audrey Umecker has just transferred its laying hen farm to Laître-sous-Amance (Meurthe-et-Moselle). While she admits the need for confinement to limit risks, she considers that this also has an impact on poultry performance: “I know that when they were confined, the chickens were more upset, the laying was lower. If you sell directly, this is also felt by the customers who wonder why the chickens are not outside” .

Damien Luc recognizes that confinement can generate stress and harm the growth of poultry. Faced with recurring pandemic risks, breeders have invested in suitable breeding buildings in order to guarantee maximum well-being for their animals.