Melbourne Royal Show could cancel poultry exhibition amid bird flu fears

The Melbourne Royal Show committee is set to meet on Monday to determine if poultry exhibitions will occur during this year's event. In certain regions of Victoria, producers with over 50 birds are required to house their flocks for 14 days due to orders from the state's chief veterinary officer. The poultry exhibition has been canceled at the show only a few times before, the most recent occurrence being in 2024 due to an avian influenza outbreak.

The Melbourne Royal Show, a traditional agricultural event in Melbourne, could potentially be without bird exhibitions and poultry competitions for the second time in three years due to the ongoing spread of avian flu. Scheduled for September 24 to October 4, the show usually gathers hundreds of birds at the poultry pavilion for exhibitions and judging.

Victoria's chief veterinary officer recently implemented a temporary poultry housing requirement in high-risk areas, mandating poultry owners with 50 or more birds in metropolitan Melbourne, coastal regions, and some neighboring areas to house their birds to minimize contact with wild birds. The Victorian Poultry Fanciers Association (VPFA) anticipates the cancellation of bird exhibitions at Monday's meeting, with VPFA secretary Andrea Beaty emphasizing that exhibitors are unwilling to risk their flocks.

Despite increased biosecurity measures in the southern part of the state, Beaty stated that breeders are considering housing their birds indoors as a precautionary measure. The cases of bird flu are rising daily, and the VPFA secretary expressed concerns about the show's attendance due to the increasing number of cases. Melbourne Royal Show general manager Hannah von Bibra emphasized the health and welfare of animals, exhibitors, and visitors as the top priority, with the show committee collaborating with Agriculture Victoria to evaluate the evolving risk.