The Nebraska Department of Agriculture let its controlled movement order for poultry expire on Monday.
The order followed large bird flu outbreaks in the state and barred organized events with birds near areas where flu outbreaks were found.
“While we continue our focus to protect the poultry industry, epidemiological information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates the spread of HPAI in Nebraska has been from wild birds and not from domestic flocks,” NDA Director Steve Wellman said in a written statement. “It is important for Nebraska to allow our poultry producers and youth exhibitors to get back to a normal routine.”
A record number of birds have been killed this year because of highly pathogenic avian influenza infections, which also swept across the country in 2015. State veterinarian Roger Dudley recommends poultry producers use extreme caution moving forward. In response to outbreaks, state officials killed 4.7 million birds in Nebraska this year to prevent more outbreaks.