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www.poultrynews.com.au National Poultry Newspaper, March 2025 %u2013 Page 5STRENGTHENYOUR FLOCK.Defend against the risk of infectious diseases with Poulvac%u00ae E. coli. As part of a complete respiratory immunisation program, it helps stop E.coli and colibacillosis before they can diminishbird performance and cause costly processinglosses. Get the strength to help protect yourbirds and your bottom line.For more information call Zoetis ProductSupport on 1800 814 883 or contact your localZoetis Professional Sales Representative.Zoetis Australia Pty Ltd. ABN 94 156 476 425. Level 6, 5 Rider Boulevard, Rhodes NSW 2138. %u00a9 2024 Zoetis Inc. All rights reserved. ZL1956Wes Humpage limits chickens to 450 per hectare on his egg farm. Photo: Wes HumpageVICTORIAN egg farmer Wes Humpage said he was disappointed with how the avian influenza outbreak was managed in 2024 and called for change. %u201cThe department failed to work with industry to identify the risk on each farm,%u201d Mr Humpage said.%u201cThey just had this blanket rule and they stopped all egg movement %u2013 continue buying all your goods and pay your staff, but you%u2019re not allowed to sell your product and store it all.%u201cWhat they were asking was completely unachievable.%u201dMr Humpage said further consultation would have led to more sustainable solutions at a fraction of the cost.Adding that one of the first things the department should have done was to provide funding for high-risk farms to put in a vehicle wash for all trucks entering.Mr Humpage limits chickens to 450 per hectare on his egg farm, and was concerned disease outbreaks in the poultry industry would become more frequent as Victoria achieved its goal to move away from caged eggs by 2036.%u201cTen thousand birds per hectare is the sort of free range we%u2019re talking about %u2013 inevitably you%u2019re exposing these birds to the outside world in an uncontrolled environment and, with such high stocking density, it%u2019s really easy for disease to come through,%u201d Mr Humpage said.%u201cThat will have material impact on the industry and a lot of this is being brought about by shutting down these cage systems.%u201dYet Victorian Farmers Federation egg group president Meg Parkinson did not believe stocking density made any difference.%u201cWhat happens is people walk around paddocks, get duck droppings on their boots, don%u2019t clean their boots before they go in the shed, and that spreads the disease,%u201d Ms Parkinson said. %u201cIt can also spread on the air, but it takes a lot longer to spread throughout the shed %u2013 that can happen in cage or free-range sheds.%u201dMs Parkinson said the government%u2019s response to the outbreak wasn%u2019t bad but improvements could always be made.%u201cI would like to see the clean-up move faster,%u201d she said.%u201cThe longer it takes to clean up, the longer before birds can be back in their sheds %u2013 so that%u2019s the key to getting the system working as quickly as possible.%u201dMs Parkinson said if farmers could do the clean-up themselves, it could speed the process up and get eggs back on shelves faster. %u201cThey do it every year, they%u2019ve got the equipment or they know the contractors who have the equipment,%u201d she said.Ms Parkinson added that the difficulty government had was being bound by a lot of regulations, which farmers don%u2019t have, therefore taking the department longer than it would the farmer to do the same job. Australia%u2019s bird flu response learningsFINANCIAL assistance is now available to primary producers affected by high rainfall and flooding in north and far north Queensland.Financial assistance available includes:%u2022 Exceptional Disaster Recovery Assistance Grants, up to $25,000%u2022 Concessional loans up to $250,000%u2022 Essential working capital loans up to $100,000%u2022 Freight subsidies of up to $5000%u2022 Coordinated emergency fodder support package.Support is available.Information on grants and loans eligibility requirements can be found on QRIDA%u2019s website %u2013 qrida.qld.gov.au/primary-producersCheck regularly for updates on shire extensions or funding. For the most current information related to your circumstances contact QRIDA on 1800 623 946.For information on freight subsidies and fodder support, visit the Business Queensland website by scanning the QR code below.The Rural Financial Counselling Service can help you apply for government financial assistance and other rural financial counselling advice on 07 4652 5669.A primary production industry support package has also been announced to support the sector%u2019s medium to long term recovery and help build resilience. Support includes funding for specialised industry recovery and resilience officers, financial counsellors, wellness coaches, psychologists and a specialised agronomist.A coordinated emergency fodder support package is also available to assist with the cost of purchasing and transporting emergency fodder to primary producers in areas worst impacted by the event.Visit the Business Queensland for information on how to look after your crops, pasture, machinery and animals after a disaster. Scan for the Business Queensland website.Financial assistance available for north Queensland floods