POLISH POULTRY INDUSTRY IN THE FACE OF AVIAN INFLUENZA

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of the HPAI/H5N8 avian influenza virus on the functioning and development of the poultry industry in Poland. The virus appeared in Poland at the turn of 2016/2017 (after a 10-year break) and was present in our country (12 voivodships) for 3.5 months, ie from 4 December 2016 to 16 March 2017. On a large scale this virus has occurred across Europe. The first cases of domestic and wild poultry were found at the end of October 2016. By mid-March 2017, over 2.3 thousand. Outbreaks of this disease in 23 EU countries, including over 1,000 outbreaks, have been reported in poultry. The virus was found both in poultry kept in the poultry system and in farmyard. The appearance of the avian influenza virus in Poland was a negative factor affecting the poultry industry, resulting in production losses and export restrictions introduced by non-EU countries. There was a slowdown in the growth rate of the poultry sector in Poland and a decrease in exports of live poultry. However, this was a transitional phenomenon. Despite the threat, the consumption of poultry meat in Poland is growing steadily. This is a positive trend, from the point of view of the commercial interests of our country, which has become the largest producer of poultry meat in the EU.