The avian flu outbreak that has spread in 12 states is taking its toll on more than just the millions of birds that will be destroyed.
Poultry producers and manufacturers have already seen their exports drop in the first quarter of 2015 and fears of a greater downturn in poultry consumption were increased Monday after the virus was detected in a flock of 200,000 chickens in Jefferson Country, Wisconsin. An outbreak at a farm in northwest Iowa has doomed 5.3 million chickens.
Broiler shipments overall were down 17 percent in February, from a year earlier. Noting the decrease in poultry activity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week cut its forecast for turkey exports in 2015 to 720 million pounds, more than 10 percent less than 2014. Broiler and turkey exports in 2015 together will be more than 700 million pounds below last year's levels, a drop of 9 percent.
Hormel Foods, the Austin, Minn.-based manufacturer of meat products, expressed concern Monday about its Jennie-O Turkey Store segment. The company hopes to make up the difference in other divisions.
IN-DEPTH:
- Millions of Chickens to Be Killed in Growing Bird Flu Outbreak
- CNBC Explains: Avian Influenza or Bird Flu
-- Nicholas Wells