After nearly eight months of fighting to save its flock, Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C., has lost its final appeal to prevent a government-ordered cull.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency mandated the destruction of about 400 ostriches following an outbreak of avian influenza on the farm last winter.

“We got a call from our lawyer Thursday,” co-owner Katie Pasitney said. “A 41-page document came in. It was a unanimous no.”

The farm had argued that the birds had been healthy for more than 200 days, showing no signs of the virus and developing herd immunity. Owners hoped the flock could be studied for potential scientific insights into disease resilience. But the Federal Court of Appeal ruled the CFIA acted within reason to protect public health and the country’s poultry indu

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