Egg sector presses USDA on H5N1 shots as losses rise nationwide

An Arizona egg producer is recovering from a catastrophic H5N1 outbreak that eliminated 6 million layers and forced significant layoffs. With dairy-to-poultry spillover driving most layer losses and billions in downstream costs, the industry is pressing for clear vaccination policy to protect supply while managing trade risks.

An episode from feeds.buzzsprout.com reports that Hickman’s, a major Arizona egg operation, lost roughly 6 million laying hens to avian influenza, prompting hundreds of job cuts and a multi‑year rebuild. The program features company leader Glenn Hickman and veterinarian Dr. Kay Russo, who describe how the current H5N1 strain has moved in atypical ways—spreading from birds into dairy cattle and, in turn, back into poultry sites. According to the episode, 28 million of last year’s 39 million layer losses were tied to spillover linked to dairy infections, amplifying both supply shocks and biosecurity challenges. The economic stakes outlined are significant. The outlet notes U.S. consumers absorbed about $11 billion in higher egg costs, while public funds covered roughly $1 billion in response and cleanup. For operators, the operational fallout includes depopulation, extended downtime for disinfection and restocking, and the loss of trained labor. Hickman’s recovery timeline is cited at around 20 months, underscoring how a single incident can sideline capacity and pressure regional availability, including supplies to food banks. Against that backdrop, egg producers highlighted in the episode advocate for a vaccination strategy to reduce outbreak frequency and severity. They point to France’s program, which is credited with cutting incidents by about 90%, as evidence that targeted immunization can work at scale. The discussion emphasizes that licensed vaccines are available and, advocates say, would not affect egg quality or food safety. Producers are awaiting clarity from USDA on when, where, and how a national vaccination framework could be deployed, particularly ahead of fall migration when risk historically rises. The main obstacle flagged is trade. The broiler sector—which ships $4 billion to $6 billion in chicken exports annually—worries that vaccinating poultry could trigger market restrictions from importing countries. That tension has stalled consensus even as layer operations face continued disease pressure. Potential compromise options discussed in industry circles include species‑ or segment‑specific vaccination (prioritizing layers and turkeys), robust surveillance and certification to satisfy trading partners, and regionalization or compartmentalization to limit export disruptions. For suppliers and integrators, preparing for a vaccination pathway would mean lining up cold‑chain capacity, scheduling boosters, adapting record‑keeping, and coordinating cross‑species biosecurity between dairy and poultry. For operators, the near‑term takeaways are to double down on perimeter controls around shared equipment and personnel with dairies, refine response plans for rapid testing and containment, and watch for USDA guidance that could open a vaccination lane. The policy decision will shape not only disease risk but also cost structures, staffing, and market balance heading into the peak migration season.

Key Takeaways

• Hickman’s lost about 6 million layers, with hundreds of layoffs.
• Dairy-to-poultry spillover accounted for most layer losses last year.
• Consumers paid roughly $11B more for eggs; public costs topped $1B.
• Egg producers push vaccination; broiler exporters fear trade impacts.
• USDA guidance on vaccination is awaited before fall migration.

Source: feeds.buzzsprout.com. Read the original report: .