By Jennifer Robinson and Alison Chave

Work is underway at one of Knowlton’s biggest businesses – Brome Lake Ducks, Canada’s leading producer of high-quality duck products – to fully restart breeding and hatching operations in January. The company is busy disinfecting its breeding facilities under a strict protocol after the H5N1 avian flu virus was detected in one of its barns in mid-September.

Culling and strict safety

Brome Lake Ducks immediately moved to cull its entire breeding flock — 60,000 birds — to contain the virus, Angela Anderson, General Manager at Brome Lake Ducks, told Tempo. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued an order for the cull. Brome Lake Ducks is preparing to restart operations with the oversight of the CFIA and Quebec authorities.

The company operates under strict food safety and biosecurity rules to minimize the chance of outbreaks of the virus, which is circulating in wild bird populations. Anderson said the company, which was established in 1912, and its owner are deeply committed to the continued success of the business and to offering the highest-quality duck products to consumers.

Brome Lake Ducks products are safe to eat, the CFIA says. Avian flu does not pose any food safety issues. Cases in humans are extremely rare and there is no evidence the virus can be transmitted through food. The CFIA reports that most avian flu cases in Canada are in British Columbia, where an ostrich farm has been in the news recently because of an outbreak, and in Alberta. The CFIA says there have been some isolated cases of humans catching the virus through contact with live birds, which explains the practice of preventive culls and strict biosecurity practices. At the duck farm, there are strict safety equipment standards, sanitizing practices and ‘Fort-Knox-like’ control over who and what goes in or out of each barn. Anderson said the flu exists in nature and the September outbreak most likely spread from wild birds.

Previous Outbreaks and Employee Impact

This is the second time Brome Lake Ducks has dealt with a bird flu outbreak since the current strain of the virus was first reported in Canada in 2021. In 2022, the company culled some 200,000 birds and laid off 300 employees for several months while it prepared to restart its operations. In response to the current situation, Anderson said there may be some temporary layoffs, but that most employees are focused on continuing business operations and on preparations to restart breeding activities in the new year.

Innovative Solutions and Industry Leadership

Brome Lake Ducks is recognized as an industry leader in biosafety standards and food production. Anderson said that the federal government is considering launching a pilot project involving a vaccine for brood birds. A similar project in France is producing promising results. She said the company is eager to find innovative and meaningful solutions to controlling avian viruses. Culls and shutdowns are hugely expensive, and while there is some government relief for lost birds, costs are borne by the company.

The virus outbreak also affects some poultry producers in the area, who are required to conduct tests to detect bird flu, sanitize their facilities and work with the CFIA to control movement on and off sites that raise poultry. The restrictions, imposed in September by CFIA, also temporarily prohibit the transportation of new hens or chicks onto the property.

If you suspect illness in your poultry flock, you can call 450-768-6763 to contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s hotline, or 1-844-ANIMAUX to reach MAPAQ’s reporting hotline.