News

Poultry barn design questioned amid avian flu

The Avian Influenza outbreak poses financial consequences for growers and the poultry industry – and one of the solutions being discussed is for growers to make changes to their barns.

Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson, ranking member of the House Ag Committee, tells farm broadcasters the flaps on the sides of turkey barns combined with high winds and wild birds overhead are a problem. He says, “We don’t have any proof of this but I would expect what happened is, the ducks or geese did their thing on the roof. The rain went down the roof, the wind blows it (in). You know, I think that’s what’s going on.”

But, what happens if those side flaps are permanently closed?

“Then you’ve gotta put in ventilation. You know, that’s expensive. Frankly, unless you put in HEPA filters, you can’t keep this stuff out anyway,” Peterson says high winds penetrating ventilation systems in chicken barns are also problematic. He says breeders have decided to put HEPA filters in but that’s a huge expense for poultry meat growers, “Somebody says, well, you’re going to have invest 50 or 100-thousand a barn in this climate. This (avian flu) might be around for five years and they’re 60-years-old. What do you think’s gonna happen?”

Peterson says Hormel and Jenni-O, major poultry meat companies based in Minnesota, are very worried.