Millions of chickens killed, hundreds of employees laid off as bird flu sweeps Herbruck's

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IONIA COUNTY — An estimated 400 employees have been laid off from Herbruck's Poultry Ranch in Ionia County in the wake of a bird flu outbreak. 

Herbruck's filed a WARN notice with the state on Wednesday, May 15. The notice indicated Herbruck's will lay off employees at five locations in Saranac and Lake Odessa. 

HPAI, a highly contagious Avian flu, was detected at Herbruck's Green Meadow Organics in April. HPAI is a can be spread in various ways, including flock to flock, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.

"In the face of ongoing efforts to address the detection of (HPAI) alongside state and federal regulators, Herbruck's has reached the difficult decision to conduct layoffs at the affected facilities where work is not available," Herbruck's CEO Greg Herbruck wrote in a statement. "We expect this to largely be temporary, as we plan to rehire many positions as we work to repopulate our facilities and continue egg production as safely and quickly as possible.  

"We understand this is a stressful situation for our team members, and we are working with our state partners to provide them with resources, answer questions and assist in their individual family situations." 

The company is Michigan's largest egg producer and the tenth largest in the U.S.

Facilities affected by the outbreak are under quarantine and birds have been killed en masse to prevent disease spread, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Nearly 6.5 million birds at commercial facilities in Ionia County have been affected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The public health risk associated with avian influenza remains low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but neighbors of the company's facility on Grand River Avenue in Saranac have told the media, including WOOD TV-8, there's been a foul smell and workers in hazmat suits down the street as birds are disposed of and composted.

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PETA is placing a billboard near grocery stores in Ionia to honor the memory of the birds and to encourage people to go vegan.

"Whether they're killed over avian flu fears or by a slaughterhouse knife, birds in the egg industry suffer and die on a massive scale, all for a fleeting moment of taste," said PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "PETA urges everyone to opt for tofu scrambles, vegan eggs, and other animal-free meals that go easy on birds and bank accounts."

Learn more at michigan.gov/mdard/animals/diseases/avian/avian-influenza#news.

— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@sentinel-standard.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.