US EditionSupporters converge on B.C. ostrich farm as food agency confirms cull of flock
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is proceeding with a cull of about 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farm in British Columbia following a Federal Court ruling on May 13, 2025.
- The decision follows the detection of avian flu in the flock, with the court affirming the CFIA's authority and procedures to control the disease to protect public and animal health.
- The family disputes the cull, claiming surviving ostriches have recovered and developed herd immunity, arguing the birds hold research value alive and calling for legal and peaceful resistance.
- The CFIA emphasizes that allowing infected flocks to live risks virus persistence, which threatens Canada’s $6.8 billion poultry industry and public health, and the affected farm will receive up to $3,000 per bird in compensation.
- Supporters from Canada and the U.S. Have rallied near the farm to oppose the cull, while local authorities prepared facilities for safe disposal and the CFIA defended its scientifically guided mandate to prevent wider outbreaks.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Protesters Gather to Save BC Ostrich Farm Birds After Court Dismisses Case Against Culling Due to Avian Flu
Owners of a B.C. ostrich farm say lots of people have been stopping by the farm to prevent the culling of the ostriches after the family lost its court case to save the birds against the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The government agency ordered the culling over concerns of avian flu, while the farm had argued that the older birds have herd immunity and are being used for research. The birds were first identified by the CFIA in Decemb…
B.C. district wants avian flu testing on ostriches facing cull
The Regional District of Central Kootenay says it will ask the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to conduct further testing for avian flu on a flock of ostriches facing a cull, before the region’s landfill accepts the carcasses.
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