CAPE TOWN-Ostrich culling almost complete

 

Malungelo Booi | 08 May 2012 CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape Agriculture Department on Monday said it planned to complete the culling of ostriches affected by bird flu in the Karoo by the end of this week.

Agriculture MEC Gerrit van Reinsburg met with industry players in Oudtshoorn earlier.

More than 40,000 ostriches have been culled since the initial outbreak of avian influenza in March 2011.

The European Union also imposed a ban on South African ostrich exports at a cost of hundreds of millions of rand to affected farmers.

The EU imported 90 percent of South Africa’s ostrich meat.

The department's Wouter Kriel said, “The Department of Agriculture will conclude the culling operation that has been ongoing for the past year in the ostrich industry. The last 360 ostriches will be culled this week.”...

http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/2012/05/08/Ostrich%20industry%20to%20complete%20culling.aspx