Hens Culled, Egg Shortage as Bird Flu Outbreak Spreads

Tens of thousands of hens will be culled, threatening the supply of eggs in shops as a deadly bird flu strain spreads to a third Victorian poultry farm. Avian influenza strain H7N3 has been detected at a Lethbridge farm owned by Farm Pride in the state’s southwest, sparking a safety alert for all bird owners including farmers and households with backyard chickens. The positive test was confirmed on June 3 and about 80,000 hens, representing eight per cent of the company’s total production capacity, will be euthanised to prevent the spread of the virus. Farm Pride managing director Darren Lurie said the company continued to operate strict biosecurity measures and has been following the agreed national response against emergency animal diseases....