Exotic Newcastle Disease in Game Fowl, United States Impact Worksheet, October 9, 2002

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Summary:

Exotic Newcastle disease has been confirmed in game fowl near Los Angeles, California.  The outbreak involves 6 backyard premises, 3 of which had birds with clinical signs.  The six premises are not adjacent to any commercial poultry facilities and the disease has not been detected in any commercial flocks.  Preliminary epidemiologic findings do not indicate spread of the disease to other areas. 

Statistics on the size and value of the game fowl industry in California are not available and information regarding the poultry industry in California is provided for reference.  The total value of poultry and poultry products produced in California in 2001 was $1.046 billion.  California ranked 5^th nationally in total value of egg production but was not a significant producer of poultry compared to the rest of the country.

The value of California’s exports of poultry and poultry products was estimated at $39.6 million in fiscal 2001.  This represented 1.6% of the total value of US exports of poultry and products.

How extensive is the situation in California?

Exotic Newcastle disease was confirmed on Oct 1, 2002 by the USDA, NVSL in backyard game fowl flocks in California.  The outbreak involves approximately 3,000 birds on 6 premises, 3 of which had birds with clinical signs.  None of the six premises are adjacent to any commercial poultry facilities and the disease has not been detected in any commercial flocks.

As of Oct 3, 2002, two of the premises had already been depopulated and a third was awaiting depopulation.  Preliminary epidemiologic findings do not indicate spread of the disease to any other areas.  The California Department of Food and Agriculture has suspended all poultry exhibitions at local fairgrounds. 

Source: APHIS, VS; Press Release #CDFACDFA02-0555, California Department of Food and Agriculture

What is the size of the fowl and poultry industries in the U.S. and in California?

Statistics on the size and value of the game fowl industry in California are not available and information regarding the poultry industry in California is provided to establish California’s share of the U.S. poultry industry.  The total value of poultry and poultry products produced in California in 2001 was $1.046 billion.  Of that value, $303 million was chicken production, $208 million chicken egg production and $197 million in turkey production.  The remainder was the value of poultry products and other types of poultry production.

California is ranked first in the U.S. in total agricultural production (due to fruit and vegetable production), and within the state the value of chicken production ranked 13^th.  Merced and Stanislaus counties accounted for 94 percent of chicken production by value in 2001.  In 2001, California ranked 5^th nationally in egg production with 5,996 million eggs produced.  Egg production in Riverside, San Diego, Merced, San Bernardino and Fresno counties accounted for 87 percent of total egg production by value in 2001.  Poultry and poultry products, in 1997, were produced on 1,922 farms and 1,367 farms produced “Ducks, geese, and other poultry.”

Source: 1997 Agricultural Census and Chickens & Eggs 2001 Summary, NASS; Summary of County Agricultural Commissioners’ Reports 2001, California Agricultural Statistics Service, California Department of Food and Agriculture

What are total US exports of poultry products and where do they go?

Total US exports of poultry meat in 2001 were valued at $2.1 billion.  The top 10 destination countries accounted for 82% of total US exports (Table 1).  Russia was by far the largest market, followed by Hong Kong and Mexico. 

US exports of eggs were valued at $151 million in 2001.  The top 10 country markets accounted for 82% of total US exports.  Canada, Japan, and Hong Kong were the top 3 country markets.

Table 1: US exports of poultry meat and eggs

Source:  World Trade Atlas, US edition

What are California’s poultry exports?

The USDA, ERS estimates that the value of all poultry and poultry product exports that were produced in California was $39.6 million in fiscal 2001.  This represented 1.6% of the total value of US exports of poultry and products.

Source: USDA, ERS

CEI’s plans for follow up:

CEI will monitor the situation and issue additional information if necessary.  If you need more information or if you want to comment on this worksheet, you may reply to this message, or contact Jennifer Grannis at (970) 494-7328 or Chris Kopral at (970) 494-7325.

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