(The Center Square) – There won’t be any bird shows in some parts of
Wisconsin for the rest of the year.
The state’s Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection issued a suspension order for all poultry shows in Jefferson, Waukesha, Walworth and Rock counties.
“All persons are prohibited from moving live domestic birds to, or participate in, any shows, exhibitions, swap meets, and other events in Jefferson, Waukesha, Walworth and Rock counties where domestic birds are brought together and then disperse,” DATCP said in its order.
The order comes after more than 3.5 million birds had to be culled in
Jefferson County because of a bird flu outbreak there.
Wisconsin says just over 3 million birds were culled in late September, and another 520,000-plus had to be put down earlier this month.
“Poultry owners and those working with poultry are strongly encouraged to continue practicing strict biosecurity to protect their flocks. When possible, poultry owners are asked to keep their flocks indoors to prevent contact with wild birds,” DATCP said in a news release.
Wisconsin has been dealing with the bird flu in its commercial and
backyard bird flocks for years. But the outbreak in Jefferson County this fall is larger, and has ended with more culled birds than all of Wisconsin’s previous bird flu cases combined.
