Globally, the poultry industry is still recovering from the reduced demand from traditional markets following the COVID-19 lockdowns including the subsequent pressure from increased feed costs. The enforced lockdowns across the world affected global trade disrupting feeding ingredients severely and inflating prices of both maize and soya beans.
Avian influenza is now stalling the recovery of the industry and continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing poultry producers in 2021 to 2022. (Figure 1). Avian flu is a highly contagious viral disease that affects several species of food-producing birds, pet birds and wild birds. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains may cause severe clinical signs and potentially high mortality rates among poultry.
Compounding these effects is the recurring