Ostriches on an embattled Edgewood, B.C. farm have been culled after a prolonged legal battle, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed.
“After consulting with experts experienced in managing ostrich disease outbreaks, the CFIA concluded that the most appropriate and humane option was to use professional marksmen in a controlled on-farm setting,” the agency said in a statement.
The cull was completed under CFIA supervision and was consistent with Canadian Veterinary Medical Association recommendations, the CFIA said.
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced Thursday it would move forward with depopulating over 300 birds at Universal Ostrich Farms, near Edgewood, about 120 km northwest of Castlegar.
Flock depopulation is considered standard procedure when a flock of farmed birds tests positive for avian influenza.
The farm has been in an ongoing standoff with the CFIA since last winter, when a cull order was given after two dead birds tested positive for highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
The farmers argued that the flock could provide research opportunities for disease management. The CFIA said it has not provided evidence of on-farm research.
Universal Ostrich Farms has drawn crowds of supporters ever since the initial order. The farm’s legal battle drew attention from public figures in the U.S., including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
