Bird flu drives a 50 per cent cost increase for badminton players

Australian badminton clubs are facing a 50% increase in costs due to the bird flu driving up the price of goose feathers, according to sports officials. Goose or duck feathers are used to make shuttlecocks, a crucial component of the game. With clubs and players seeking to reduce expenses, synthetic alternatives have become more popular, though many players believe they are inferior to the real thing.

Despite bird flu only recently appearing in Australia, some clubs have been dealing with the consequences for years. A deadly strain of H5 avian influenza has affected both wild and domesticated birds worldwide, resulting in the death of hundreds of millions of birds. Mass culling of geese and poultry in East and Central Asia has significantly reduced the global supply of feathers, driving up equipment costs.

China, home to most of the world's poultry farms, faces price fluctuations based on the health of the birds, making the situation even more challenging. Badminton Australia's CEO, Tjitte Weistra, notes that even mid-range shuttlecocks, like the Yonex AS-30, have become unaffordable for most players and clubs. The cost of hosting a tournament or club play has become prohibitively expensive.

Michelle Watson, chair of the Great Southern Badminton Association, reveals that her organization spends $3,000 on shuttles every four to six months, and has had to raise nightly fees to maintain quality equipment. Despite synthetic alternatives not being satisfactory, clubs are exploring options to mitigate the rising costs, such as players using cheaper feather shuttlecocks that may not perform as well.