Cull of BC Ostriches Can Go Ahead, Federal Court of Appeal Rules

A sign calling for the protection of ostriches at the Universal Ostrich Farms is displayed at the farm in Edgewood, B.C., on May 17, 2025. The Canadian Press/Aaron Hemens

The Federal Court of Appeal has declined an application from a B.C. ostrich farm for another stay order against a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) cull order for its 400 birds.

Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., was ordered by the CFIA in December 2024 to cull its flock of ostriches after the agency said that 69 birds died of a “flu-like illness” and testing showed two of the birds had H5N1, or avian flu.