AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

P.s I assume they know the exact exotic strain present in these fowls.

There seems to be a bit of misunderstanding of the facts here.

First, the DAFF has not released any information on the actual strain, and concerns raised about the testing methodology show that they might not actually have tested down to specific strain level. In other words it seems that DAFF don't really know what strain it actually is.

This is on top of the many concerns about the fact that this is a single result in a consignment of more than 5000 hatchings, and that the parent chooks and their parents too all tested negative. The unhatched eggs have not been reported to have included any positives for pullorum. The hatched shells have no reported positives for pullorum. No other test of chicks lost to attrition or that were culled reported positives for pullorum. None of the sentinels have reported positives for pullorum. Can you see the problem emerging? If this is actually a strain of pullorum it doing bugger all to infect (let alone kill) the thousands and thousands of birds that it has supposed to have contacted across three generations.

And given that there are posts here in the incubation and rearing forum that talk about poor hatch rates, and that some breeds are known to have poor fertility - some of which at least is probably a result of native pullorum infection, it would seem that the strains that we have in Australia are in fact WORSE that what MIGHT be in the Adelaide center.

That aside, DAFF don't actually KNOW how many and what strains are in the Australian back yard stock. As people pointed out above they don't go around testing the birds. So how can DAFF say that the strain is not here if they don't know what IS here? Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. All they can say is that pullorum is in the auzzie back yard birds, and that there are actually number of strains, and if they were honest that one of the unidentified Australian strains might be the same as the Torrens one if the Torrens one is not just a false positive...

Regarding carrier status Fowlman is right. Birds that are carriers have had an immune response, but the disease organism responds in its turn by hiding within the bird's own cells or other locations where the immune system can't detect it. After the initial contracting of the disease though, and following the primary immune response that occurs, 30-35 days more will identify almost every bird that becomes a carrier after that initial infection.

In just about any bird (or mammal) that doesn't have an immune response the disease goes hell for leather and kills the host, just as happens when someone with end stage AIDS catches an infection.

On the matter of the syndicate being secretive, the first time I called them as an anonymous outsider I couldn't shut them up. I spoke for over two hours with each of three organizers that I contacted, and they didn't know me from a bar of soap, and I was given transparent answers to anything that I asked. Their members are supplied with regular updates. Over the last few years that I've spoken with syndicate members I have never had an issue with anything being kept from me - they've played it by the book and with a huge amount of professionalism.

The only thing that is a bit odd that I can see is that some people think that there's "secrecy" involved.

Yes that's right but it's not a misunderstanding of the facts here on this site and it's what we have repeatedly posted on this forum in both Topics. It's also the biggest concern as its referred to as EXOTIC by DAFF. Some sites have in my view been very irresponsible in disseminating misinformation and repeatedly ridiculing DAFF and the poultry industry because its "only salmonella" and its "already here" both of which are NOT correct as per DAFF and ACMF statements.



They are yet to test ALL 4000 fowls, in fact its my clear understanding only a small number have been tested so how can you say that?


That's not accurate, please... if you can show a study of backyard fowls with positive testing returned then I may agree. As you have confirmed the exotic strain is unknown how can you then suggest the strain in quarantine is better or worse? 100% speculation there.


The onus is not on DAFF to prove anything if you read the import protocols on the DAFF web site you will read and I quote "The import protocols, which have been in place since 1998, require an absence of disease for the chickens to pass quarantine. Importers are made aware of the requirements when issued an import permit" this mean ANY disease full stop.

With regards to testing or lack of so far please read http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-19/s ... te/4831436

I have heard a wisper that Daff have not long admitted that they are housed in 4 separate rooms not 1 so that it may actually be mislead that all have been exposed .
has anyone else heard this?

OK thanks I should have read the link.

I have spoken to Admin and LooLoo in regards to the following.

APF will not permit any mention or links to any alleged donations to this import syndicate.

We cannot at this time verify any requests for donations are legitimate and therefore may be an internet scam/s

The syndicate coordinator or official spokes person for the import syndicate may contact Admin or LooLoo and supply information to verify the legitimacy of requests for donations.

The forum must do all it can to help protect its huge membership and guests from potential scams/scammers

Any mention or links at this stage will be deleted

Please be very careful donating money to anyone.

Thank you Fowlman yes without verification it could be some unscrupulous scammer and we don't want anyone falling victim



LooLoo

Good what they are doing. I would say cull the birds infected or cull the birds in the house which the chick died. Smart idea
Fowlman for supplying all these links and keeping us updated