DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — To protect a flock of rare chickens from the possibility of getting the bird flu, Iowa State University has canceled classes for about 500 students at its poultry teaching and research farm.
Instead professors will rely on videos to teach the students about poultry nutrition, reproduction, anatomy and physiology.
The Department of Animal Science is minimizing traffic to the poultry farm on 11 acres three miles south of the main campus in Ames out of concern the bird flu virus may return with wild bird migration this fall.
Six courses are typically taught in a year at the farm.
Susan Lamont, the animal science professor in charge of genetics research says the some unique chicken genetic lines go back 90 years and Iowa State is the world’s sole source.
