Bird Flu Outbreak Devastates Midwest Egg Farms

A Meeker County egg operation in Minnesota has culled 1.3 million chickens due to bird flu, marking the largest single-site loss in the state. This contributes to nearly 6 million egg-laying hens lost in recent outbreaks in Iowa and Minnesota. Michael Foods, part of Post Holdings, reported a loss of 5.7 million birds, affecting 14% of its egg supply. Egg prices have been rising, averaging $2.86 per dozen last month. While avian influenza has also been detected in cows, no cattle in Minnesota have tested positive. Federal authorities state the virus does not threaten the food supply, and human infection risk is low.