Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza 2023 - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza 2023Portfolio Committee: Agriculture, Land and Rural DevelopmentPresentation by the Broiler Organisation: South African Poultry AssociationGeneral Manager: Izaak BreitenbachFriday October 20, 2023

2. History of HPAI in South Africa Year Birds Culled Strain2017 2,5 million H5N82021 3,0 million H5N12023 7,5 million H5N1 & H7N613 million birds culled as a disease control measure with no compensation under the provisions of the Animal Diseases Act.Broiler industry in financial distress due to load shedding, water supply interruptions, infrastructure failures, inflation in energy costs and high feed input costs………….now bird flu.

3. History of HPAI in South Africa DALLRD Report 29th September 2023

4. Current Outbreak of Concern: H7N6

5. HPAI 2023 focusing on the Broiler ImpactNumber of Broiler Breeder birds culled:>2,5 million broiler breeders (Parent Stock) ≈ 30% of national flock Greater Gauteng - 95% of all broiler breeders culled

6. Parent Breeding and Broiler Rearing22 weeksRearing40 weeksLaying3 weeksHatchingParent Farms Broiler Farms33 daysGrowingGrand Parent Breeding22 weeksRearing40 weeksLaying3 weeksHatchingGrand Parent FarmsHPAI 2023 Impact on Broiler Breeding StockProcessing and ConsumerProcessing RetailBird flu impact in the integrated broiler production chain - culling of infected broiler breeding parent stock

7. Epidemic Curve by Farm Type

8. Provinces affected by the H7 Strain

9. Municipal Districts affected by the H7 Strain

10. Impact: reduced day-old broiler chicks hatched (chicks per week)

11. Impact: reduced broiler production (birds per week)Short-term impact & recovery: industry contingency plans…………….

12. Contingency plans for broiler hatching egg shortfall (broiler industry - mitigating factors)Extending the depletion age of national broiler breeder flock placements – provides more hatching eggs for day-old chick productionSetting eggs from younger flocks in the national broiler breeder program – provides more hatching eggs for day-old chick productionReduced the export of broiler hatching eggs – provides more hatching eggs for local supplyRelax the criteria around the grading of broiler hatching eggs at the hatcheries – provides more hatching eggs for day-old chick production Import broiler hatching eggs (current estimates >53 million hatching eggs over next 6 months) - first eggs arrived by air freight early October 2023Frozen poultry stocks carry over from the recent winter (lower demand for chicken) afford us an opportunity to alleviate any chicken shortages over the Festive seasonNeighboring (Botswana / Namibia / Lesotho) countries recent move to ban South African chicken into their countries will also bolster local stocks This will completely cover any potential shortage after November 2023

13. Aggravating factorsLack of compensation for culled birdsSome commercial layer producers (table eggs) are now not culling infected farms extending the risks of the spread of the diseaseApplications for exemption from culling are pending, but it is widely known that some commercial layer producers are not culling whilst awaiting an outcome on their applications (prescribed legislation – action by authorities?)Movement of poultry livestock from affected Provinces to non-infected regions risks spreading the disease

14. Control measures and interventions by Government and IndustryStamping out policy (culling as disease control measure BUT with compensation)Improved BiosecurityRestricted movement of birds from infected areasIncreased biosecurity with exemption from cullingVaccination strategiesCritical as the industry starts replacing breeding stock (protect the birds)Next winter season a risk to HPAI outbreaks and could once again decimate poultry stocks

15. Vaccination (urgent to prevent further loss of South African poultry breeding stock)Ceva H5&H7: Dossiers with Act 36 for evaluationBoerhinger H7: Dossiers with Act 36 for evaluationDeltamune H7: The vaccine is in clinical production and and dossier will be prepared

16. Rebate on anti-dumping duties and /or MFN dutyThe SAPA broiler organisation is against the implementation of a tariff rebate for the following reasons:>53m Broiler hatching eggs will be imported to replace lost hatching egg production. This comes at considerable additional cost to the industry, which already is in distress because of the load shedding crisis, water supply challenges and high input costsFrozen poultry stocks from the recent Winter afford us an opportunity to alleviate any chicken shortages over the Festive seasonConsumption decline after December 2023 peak demand, and supply and demand is expected to be balanced from there onwardsPoultry imports normally increase in the run-up to the Festive seasonIf a decision is made to implement a rebate the product will only arrive after the shortage in November and December 2023

17. How best to control and combat outbreaks and stop further losses to the industry and countryCompensation critical to support culling as a disease control measureFast track vaccination registration process so that the breeding stock replaced can be protected against future H5 & H7, events mitigating shortages of table eggs and chicken and preventing massive financial losses for the industry In Mexico the H7 vaccine is mandated for use to eradicate the H7 virusNot to implement a tariff rebate on the MFN duties and or the anti-dumping duties since hatching egg imports and other mitigation measures alleviated the production shortageSupport local poultry production, job security and national food security

18. SAPA Broiler Organisation activitiesVaccination strategies (SAPA veterinary task team working with DALRRD)Compensation for culling as a disease control measureRequest for a disaster fund on financial lossesBroiler hatching egg import permit applications supporting local productionRepresentation to ITAC on tariff rebates against poultry importsMaintaining HPAI statistics and broiler production forecastsStakeholder engagement (media, consumers)

19. Thank You