The mink farm of Huub Kuijpers in Deurne where the coronavirus has been diagnosed will be culled. A voluntary stopper scheme will be introduced for mink farms that have been culled. This means that the company of Huub can come to an end after forty years. “This is just awful.”
From Friday, infected companies will be culled under the leadership of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Kuijpers has nearly ten thousand minks. In News and Co on NPO Radio 1 he says on Wednesday afternoon that he did not want to wait but rather wanted to clear up.
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According to Kuijpers, clearing is the only solution now. “I think so now that the virus has arrived. Ten percent of our breeding animals have died. Many young animals, which we call puppies, have also died.”
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‘Don’t go on anymore’
Mink farms must stop in 2024. Kuijpers would like to start over again after the clearance and has already made preparations for this. Cleared companies, however, will have to remain empty for a while. It is not yet clear if and when they can start up again.
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After culling, a company can possibly continue with farmers until the ban on mink breeding comes into effect in 2024. The cabinet is currently looking at a voluntary stop scheme for mink farmers.
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The companies that are culled can claim compensation. This comes from the Animal Health Fund, which is financed from public funds.
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“I have to go forward for a while”
The news about possible quitting hits Kuijpers hard. “That will come in. This is the company you’ve been working on for forty years. You don’t want it to end this way.”
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The mink breeder had not considered stopping. “When this happens, you are taking care of your animals. You are also taking care of your family and your loved ones. But this is my sandwich and I am sixty. I have to go on for a while.”
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“We’ve been living in fear for a few weeks”
Kuijpers and his wife also became infected with the corona virus. “Probably our children have also become infected. A number of our children work in care and come there with vulnerable people. You do not want an infection on your conscience.”
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The mink breeder is relieved that the uncertainty will end. “You have that threat all the time. For a few weeks now, we’ve been living in fear. Fear of infecting others. You don’t want your company to become a threat to your environment.”
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Kuijpers and his family have now recovered. “My wife and my oldest daughter had a fever for a few days. Actually, everyone was functional again after four or five days. They were rather mild symptoms.”
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