Avian flu hits two Quantum Foods farms
Quantum Foods became the latest major South African poultry producer to report a bird flu outbreak when it said on Wednesday that a highly contagious strain had affected at least two of its commercial layer farms in the Western Cape. "The outbreak has only been confirmed at two layer houses but as a preventative measure, management has decided to depopulate the two sites in totality," Quantum Foods said in a statement.
©tawatchai prakobkit via 123RF
"This affects 9% of the group's current national table egg supply. This outbreak occurred despite stringent biosecurity measures in place at all Quantum Foods farms."
Sovereign Foods last week culled at least 5,000 birds at its Uitenhage production pipeline.
Late in August, Astral Foods said the outbreak of avian flu at certain of its farms had cost the group R50m.
The outbreaks have been mainly reported in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
Shares of Quantum Foods, which was unbundled from Pioneer Foods several years ago, were flat at R3.15 in early trade on the JSE on Wednesday.
Source: BDpro