Virus Leads To Destruction Of 1-Million Chickens In Area County
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Virus Leads To Destruction Of 1-Million Chickens In Area County
The discovery of a poultry virus has led to the destruction of more than a million chickens at farms that raise poultry for Sanderson Farms, which has plants in Waco and Bryan.
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ROBERTSON COUNTY (March 21, 2009)—More than a million chickens have been destroyed in Robertson County after some of the Sanderson Farms birds tested positive for the poultry virus laryngotracheitis, a rare respiratory infection.

Sanderson Farms has processing plants in Waco and Bryan.

The virus is not dangerous to humans, even if meat from the infected chickens is eaten, according to the Texas Animal Health Commission.

Most of the slaughtered chickens will be processed.

"I would like to assure all of our customers in Texas that these birds will be processed under USDA inspection, bird by bird. They are absolutely wholesome, and, as the animal health commission has said, this virus does not affect the wholesomeness of the chicken for our consumers at all," Lampkin Butts, chief operating officer of Mississippi-based Sanderson Farms, told the Bryan-College Station Eagle.

The affected chicken farms are quarantined and are being disinfected in the wake of the discovery.

Once the process is completed, it will be another three weeks before the Texas Animal Health Commission clears the farms to start raising chickens again.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Dr. David Deffner Location: Mexia, TX on Apr 7, 2009 at 01:55 PM

Sanderson Farms has produced a HUGE problem for all of us. Especially if you enjoy eating and breathing. Their stench, bacteria, virus, and who knows what else coming from their CAFOs is TOO much for anyone, or livestock to remain healthy. No wonder that they have sick chickens. Want to eat sick Sanderson Farms chickens? Good luck. Happy to explain in more detail to anyone.
Posted by: keith Location: hammond on Mar 28, 2009 at 10:01 PM

those that you ate were processed in feb the other are just hitting the market now,good luck it is just the gag factor of knowing that these chickens had puss balls in there throat or cists that closed their windpipe. I now ask each place i eat what chicken they buy and will do this from now on and for area you dont live across form these things so you dont know i have benn here 30 years they have been here 10 and sanderson never compensated me for my loss whcih adds up to over 3000 for chcikens feed which is not cheap the water the time the maintence what you think we just let them take care of this thereselves you need to get a life,and learn a few thingscome down to the farm i will so you how the cow ate the cabbage!
Posted by: Eat More Chickn Location: Texas on Mar 24, 2009 at 09:23 AM

My family and I ate Sanderson Farm's chicken last night. It was delicious. I have two more packages of boneless skinless breasts in my freezer that we will eat soon.
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