A “devastating” avian flu outbreak that has lead to the culling of millions of birds in the Midwest has not spread west of Iowa, but Colorado egg and poultry farmers are on high alert.
In a span of two weeks, a highly contagious strain of H5 avian virus has rippled across poultry farms in Iowa and Minnesota, affecting nearly 17 million birds and potentially crippling meat — and egg — producing operations.
“The way that it is moving, the way that it is spreading, is unprecedented,” said United Egg Producers president and chief executive Chad Gregory.
Industry officials, researchers and regulators are scrambling to pin down the outbreak’s cause, investigating wild birds’ migratory patterns, developing potential vaccines and taking extra measures to stop the spread.
Officials don’t yet have a grasp on the potential economic toll or effects on egg supply, he said.
“Everyone … is putting a million-piece puzzle here together,” Gregory said.
Grocers, such as King Soopers, source eggs and chicken from multiple providers, said Kelli McGannon, a spokeswoman for the Colorado-based Kroger Co. chain.
“They aren’t anticipating any problems at this time, and we continue to monitor the situation,” she said.
No human cases have been detected. Officials for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the risk of the disease transferring to humans is low.
Since April 21, officials for the United Egg Producers have held daily conference calls with their members, which represent more than 90 percent of the egg industry, Gregory said.
Colorado Egg Producers president Jerry Wilkins has been eagerly tuning in. The trade group represents the producers in the state’s 4.25 million-hen egg industry.
“(Colorado has) a fairly low risk as long as we take precautions,” said Wilkins, who also is the sales executive for Platteville-based egg producer Morning Fresh Farms. “We’re hopeful there is some segregation there between the flyways.”
Some of the precautions include restricting access to the farms, preventing exposure to wild and migratory birds, increasing veterinary monitoring of flocks and using protective gear.
Red Bird Farms, an Englewood-based processor of chicken, sources its products from a co-op of farms in Arkansas. The chickens at these farms are tested before they’re slaughtered, chief financial officer Bill Snakenberg said.
“We’re (using) strict regulations on a daily basis,” he said, noting biosecurity procedures such as protective clothing. “We definitely have a heightened sense of alertness to what’s going on.”
In Snakenberg’s 16 years in the business, it’s the worst outbreak he’s seen.
Red Bird’s farms also may be better shielded than the egg-laying operations that were affected in the Midwest, he said.
“They have a lot more human traffic in and out,” he said. Red Bird’s chickens “are cage-free, but they live in a barn. They’re not exposed to wind and dust and contaminants.”
The concern extends to some of the state’s smaller producers.
“We all kind of have our feelers out of course,” said Paula Robinson, who manages a flock of 200 hens for Laid Back Farms in Norwood. “I couldn’t think of anything more devastating than losing these girls.”
Laid Back Farms practices rotational grazing to prevent disease, she said. Robinson’s flock also has grown large enough that she can raise her own chicks. She previously bought chicks from Iowa hatcheries.
“I’m feeling very fortunate that we have the setup that we can hatch our own babies,” she said.
Alicia Wallace: 303-954-1939, awallace@denverpost.com,
