Long Island’s Crescent Duck Farm, once a cornerstone of the poultry industry, is now facing extinction after losing its last commercial farm due to an avian flu outbreak. Doug Corwin, whose family has owned the 140-acre property since the 17th century, reported that his staff completed a cull of approximately 100,000 birds earlier this week. The farm, now quarantined in Aquebogue, will undergo extensive sanitization, potentially taking months to clean up after losing its workforce and most of its flock.
The Corwin family is grappling with the loss of their fourth-generation business, which once supplied nearly 4% of the country’s duck market. Known for producing ducks with a thick, meaty breast and optimal tenderness, Crescent Duck Farm has thrived due to its unique quality. However, without federal approval for vaccination, smaller farms like theirs remain at significant risk of collapse.
Corwin expressed shock at the sudden outbreak, noting that despite tightening security measures, the virus entered through identified weaknesses in their tightly controlled environment. The family hopes to rebuild by reintroducing duck eggs they stored and exploring alternative strategies to ensure the survival of their iconic flock for future generations.
Source: https://www.newser.com/story/363175/long-islands-last-duck-farm-culls-entire-flock.html