Fipronil-crisis in the Netherlands: An analysis of the financial effects of the chosen approach (detoxicate or prematurely cull hens) by farmers during the fipronil-crisis in the Netherlands

Abstract

The fipronil-crisis that occurred in the Netherlands in 2017, had a big impact on the poultry sector. Farmers had to make the decision to either detoxicate (a diet which attempts to eliminate the fipronil which is stored in the fat) or prematurely cull their hens. This research compares detoxification and prematurely culling in a financial way, to provide an answer for the question: Which approach would have restrained, with hindsight, the financial impact for the famers the most? In order to do this a decision tree has been built and a sensitivity, break-even and risk analysis have been conducted.