Avian flu cull order for B.C. ostrich farm to be reviewed in court today
A Federal Court judge is set to hear arguments in a case involving a B.C. ostrich farm facing a cull of its entire flock due to avian flu concerns. Universal Ostrich, located near Edgewood in B.C.’s West Kootenay region, has been ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to cull its approximately 400 birds after H5N1 avian flu was detected in December.
The farm was granted a stay of execution for its birds until the court could rule on the merits of the cull order. The two-day hearing, conducted virtually, is the latest development in a case that has sparked a debate between public opinion in favor of the birds and officials advocating for a cull in the interest of public health.
Universal Ostrich’s owners argue that their birds have developed herd immunity after a few dozen deaths in December and do not pose a public health risk. However, the CFIA insists that depopulation is necessary regardless of the birds’ immunity status due to the new variant of the virus identified by the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease.
The CFIA and the federal Health Ministry have supported the cull, citing the risks of further spread and potential severe strains of avian flu for humans. Despite some of the birds dying from avian flu, the farm asserts that the rest of the flock has been asymptomatic for months.
The farm’s partnership with Japan’s Kyoto Prefectural University, known for its work with ostrich eggs and detecting COVID-19, has been highlighted as evidence that the birds’ risks of flu spread are minimal. Universal Ostrich does not sell its birds for meat, and they are flightless, further reducing the risk of transmission to the broader population.
The cull order has been met with opposition from supporters who view it as an example of government overreach and a threat to food security and the agricultural industry. Tensions escalated when an ostrich from the farm was shot and killed, prompting an investigation by the RCMP.
Federal Court Justice Michael Battista previously halted the cull order, citing concerns of irreparable harm to the farm and raising questions about the necessity of the cull. Researchers contacted by CBC News have noted limited information on ostriches developing immunity to avian flu, adding complexity to the debate surrounding the fate of Universal Ostrich’s flock.
