B.C. Ostriches' Fate Lies with Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Canada is expected to decide soon whether to hear the final appeal from Universal Ostrich Farms in British Columbia. The farm is fighting to save its ostrich flock after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered a cull last December due to an avian flu outbreak.
This decision follows a delay of over 10 months since the CFIA mandated the cull to control the disease's spread in the southern Interior region of B.C.
Background Information
- Location: Universal Ostrich Farms, southern Interior, B.C.
- Issue: Avian flu outbreak detected late 2024
- Action: CFIA ordered bird cull to prevent disease propagation
- Appeal: Farm’s legal effort to prevent cull is now before the Supreme Court
“The Supreme Court will soon determine if the appeal can proceed, which has significant implications for animal health and agricultural regulation,” said a spokesperson from Universal Ostrich Farms.
Contact Details for Further Information
By Canadian Press on November 6, 2025.
Medicine Hat News Office:
922 Allowance Ave SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 3G7
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Phone: 403.527.1101
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Author's summary: The Supreme Court's impending decision on Universal Ostrich Farms' appeal could set a precedent in managing avian influenza outbreaks and agricultural legal processes in Canada.