Manitoba’s free avian influenza testing program for small backyard flock owners has been extended to March 31, 2008.Â
The service provides a free examination and report on dead and live sick birds submitted by owners to the provincial veterinary laboratory.
The program is offered free to owners of small, backyard flocks to encourage participation in early disease detection for the potential arrival of Asian strains of avian flu in Manitoba.
The government said larger poultry producers already have significant biosecurity measures in place to monitor the health of their flocks.
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Producers who experience high mortality in flocks over two weeks of age or a large drop in egg production should submit birds for testing.
Producers can deliver dead or live birds to the provincial veterinary diagnostic laboratory for testing. They can also take them to their local veterinarian, who will submit them to the provincial lab, but producers will be required to pay the vet clinic a shipping and handling fee.
More information is available on Manitoba Agriculture’s website.
The Veterinary Diagnostic Services Laboratory is located in the Agricultural Services Complex at the University of Manitoba.
Samples must be live sick chickens, fresh dead birds or dead birds that have been chilled or frozen.
For more information, call 204-945-7636 or 204-945-8738.
