Officials of the directoraat Veeteelt of the ministerie van Landbouw, Veeteelt en Visserij (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, LVV) observed higher-than-normal mortality among broiler chickens at a poultry farm over the past week.
During this period of the year, when temperatures remain high throughout the day, mortality among mainly broiler chickens is known to be higher among all poultry farmers, as well as at the Ministry of LVV. “However, we wish to point out from the ministry that it must be properly investigated whether the increase in mortality concerned is not becoming abnormally high,” the ministry said in a statement.
There can, of course, be many factors behind an increase in broiler chicken mortality, including heat stress, but also poultry diseases that emerge during stressful situations or that are brought onto the farm unnoticed. The ministry is therefore calling on all livestock farmers, but especially poultry farmers, to report cases of mortality, so that the possible causes can be investigated in order to prevent worse outcomes.
Employees of the directoraat Veeteelt will assist poultry farmers in the area surrounding the farm in detecting sick animals and strengthening biosecurity measures in order to keep their farms disease-free. (Poultry) livestock farmers can report higher-than-normal mortality in their respective ressorten.
