Sunday, July 3, 2011

Bird flu hits Southern Cape farm

2011-07-03 08:02

George - Specially trained ostriches have had to be culled after testing positive for avian flu, the Sunday Times reported.

The "prize" ostriches had been trained to give rides to visitors and had been a feature of Highgate Farm, outside of Oudtshoorn, for over 80 years.

Arenhold Hooper owns the farm, which is one of 18 where the outbreak occurred. He had not received financial compensation for the loss of his ostriches and had to retrench 39 staff.

Chief executive officer of the SA Ostrich Business Chamber, Anton Kruger, said the disease was particularly serious as it came at a time when the industry was recovering from the recession.

- SAPA

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