Poultry

Avian Influenza and Mass Culling: A Welfare Emergency

Highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks trigger mass culling of poultry flocks through methods that cause enormous animal suffering.

Key Facts

The 2022-2023 HPAI outbreak resulted in the culling of over 58 million birds in the US
Ventilation shutdown (VSD) — blocking airflow to heat birds to death — is the most common US method
VSD causes prolonged death over 30-90 minutes at temperatures over 100 degrees F
Alternative methods include VSD+ (with CO2 addition) and foam depopulation
The American Veterinary Medical Association rates VSD as a method of last resort due to welfare concerns

Welfare Considerations

Ventilation shutdown kills birds through heat stress and hypoxia over periods of up to 90 minutes. Birds experience convulsions, cardiac arrest, and prolonged distress before death. The AVMA classifies VSD as acceptable only in extraordinary circumstances yet it is used routinely. More humane alternatives exist but require equipment investment. The scale of avian influenza culling means millions of birds die annually through this method.

What You Can Do

Advocate for USDA investment in more humane culling methods and equipment
Support research into H5N1 vaccines for farmed poultry
Reduce poultry consumption to decrease the scale of intensive production that enables outbreak spread
Donate to organizations advocating for humane depopulation standards
Engage with your USDA representative about requiring VSD+ minimum standards