Melbourne Royal Show faces possible cancellation of poultry displays amid H5N1 outbreak

A meeting of the Melbourne Royal Show committee is scheduled for Monday to determine whether the traditional poultry exhibitions will be held this September-October, as H5N1 avian influenza continues to affect wild birds throughout Victoria. The state’s chief veterinary officer has imposed a temporary two-week indoor-housing rule for any flock of 50 or more birds in metropolitan Melbourne, coastal districts and nearby areas to limit contact with wild carriers.

Although the virus has not yet been detected in domestic poultry, 215 cases have been confirmed in wild birds nationwide and 47 in Victoria, prompting breeders like VPFA secretary Andrea Beaty to pre-emptively shelter their birds and call for the show’s bird competitions to be scrapped. Melbourne Royal Show general manager Hannah von Bibra emphasized animal welfare and said decisions will follow advice from Agriculture Victoria.

The show has only cancelled poultry events once before, in 2024, due to a similar outbreak. Similar concerns have already led the Royal Adelaide Show to drop its bird contests.