US Poultry Industry Launches Calculator to Estimate HPAI Flock Depopulation Losses

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) has announced a new research-based Poultry House Mass Depopulation Calculator designed to help producers and animal-health authorities estimate resources required during highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) emergencies.

Developed through USPOULTRY-funded research at North Carolina State University, the Excel-based tool estimates requirements for different depopulation approaches, including propane, propane-plus-steam, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Inputs include bird type, flock size and weight, housing characteristics and outside temperature.

The tool is intended to improve emergency preparedness by allowing producers, USDA personnel and state animal-health officials to estimate logistical and energy requirements before or during an outbreak.

Industry significance

The initiative reflects the increasing role of operational analytics and decision-support tools in poultry biosecurity. Beyond disease detection, rapid availability of labour, equipment, fuel and containment resources can materially affect outbreak-response timelines and costs.