Bird flu impact lingers over poultry, eggs

DES MOINES — A report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows a stark drop in poultry-related inventories this year, largely thanks to the summer outbreak of avian influenza.

“The bird flu in Iowa this year has resulted in the depopulation of many flocks, so our estimates have dropped accordingly,” a representative from the department said in an email. “We account for all bird flu cases confirmed by APHIS.”

According to a USDA news release on Nov. 21, Iowa’s egg production for October was 1.07 billion eggs, up 5% from September but down 17% from the same time last year. The average number of all layers on hand was 41 million, up 2% from last month but again down 17% from 2021.

Of the 46 states reporting cases of bird flu this year, Iowa was the hardest hit, with Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) data pinning the number at 15,497,074 birds affected in the Hawkeye State, with some cases logged as recently as Nov. 6 in Wright County.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com