BDN interviews Lichtenwalner about turkey shortage ahead of Thanksgiving
Anne Lichtenwalner, a University of Maine professor, veterinarian and director of UMaine’s Animal Health Laboratory, spoke with the Bangor Daily News for the article, “Turkey shortage across the country could ruffle Thanksgiving plans.” Farmers and grocers around the country have been affected by the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, that last spring decimated turkey flocks by 7.5 million, according to the article. There were no confirmed cases in Maine, but the scare is affecting growers here, the article states. Lichtenwalner said around the United States, 211 commercial poultry flocks were affected with HPAI this year compared to 21 noncommercial, small-scale operations. As a result, the price of commercial turkeys will go up between 20 to 40 cents a pound, she predicts. Lichtenwalner said although Maine hasn’t been affected yet, “we shouldn’t relax,” according to the article. She tracks the bird flu on her blog and offers advice for farmers to keep chickens and turkeys secure. “It’s still cycling through the wild bird population. So far, so good,” she says, adding livestock owners should figure keep wild birds away from their birds through vigilance and isolation.