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Chick-News.com Poultry Industry News, Comments and more by Simon M. Shane

Foie Gras Production in France Threatened Again by HPAI

12/17/2020

Veterinary authorities in France announced that two duck farms in Southwest France were infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, presumably strain H5N8.  According to USDA-FAS GAIN report F42020-0026 released on December 11th the farms are located in the Landis Region and were promptly depopulated.  Strain H5N8 has been isolated from wild swans in Eastern France and a wild goose in Western France confirming that the infection is being shed by migratory waterfowl in common with other nations in Eastern and Western Europe. Outbreaks involving H5N8 avian influenza virus in Japan and South Korea are due to a different strain to the virus encountered in Europe, according to the FAO.

 

The Foie Gras industry in France is especially vulnerable to HPAI as ducks and geese are raised free-range for at least two weeks during the growing period. It is estimated that there are 4,000 farms with questionable biosecurity producing Foie Gras in France, heavily concentrated in a number of regions susceptible to avian influenza introduced by migratory waterfowl.

 

 The 2016-2017 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza reduced production by 32 percent and control required culling of four million ducks and geese.  It is estimated that losses through reduced sales and collapse of the export market cost producers $300 million.

 

The current HPI outbreak and the threat of further cases has added to the woes of Foie Gras production given the closure of restaurants following COVID restrictions.

 

France produces 75 percent of global Foie Gras with an annual output of approximately 17,000 metric tons, a quarter of which is exported earning France $125 million annually. 


 
Copyright © 2024 Simon M. Shane