Birds will not be a part of the Butler Farm Show and the Big Butler Fair this year to block any chance of spreading avian flu.

Deadly outbreaks of the flu across the country have prompted the state Department of Agriculture to suspend avian competitions from state-approved farm shows and county fairs this summer.

“We got a notice from the state about a month ago,” said Jim Lokhaiser, an officer with the farm show.

Lokhaiser said the farm show had hundreds of chickens last year, adding the birds tend to be popular with children.

“They’re a big attraction,” he said. “The kids love to see the different colors and breeds.”

While disappointed birds will not be part of the event, he said safety is most important.

“If that (flu) ever hit here, it’d be terrible,” he said.

Mike Roenigk, president of the Butler Fair and Agricultural Association, said organizers of the Big Butler Fair will discuss the suspension at a meeting in early June.

The fair has suspended different events in the past due to health concerns.

“A similar situation happened with hogs recently and we suspended that part of our show,” Roenigk said. “And it’s happened with the chickens in the past.”

The fair runs July 3 to 11. The farm show runs Aug. 10 to 15.

Acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced the decision earlier this month, saying proactive precautionary measures are necessary to protect the industry and animal health.

“This is not a decision we made lightly, but it is one that we feel is necessary given the threat,” Redding said in a release issued May 11.

More than 39 million birds in the U.S. have been affected with the virus since December, with those in Minnesota and Iowa being hit the hardest.

“The effect has been devastating, and we do not want to see the same kind of impact here in Pennsylvania,” Redding said.

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is caused by a virus that occurs naturally in birds. Wild bird species, such as ducks, swans and geese, can carry the virus, but usually do not exhibit symptoms.

However, the highly contagious virus can be fatal to domesticated birds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the risk to people from these infections to be low.

In 2014, the poultry and egg industry was responsible for $13 billion in total economic activity throughout Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association.

The state department is requesting that fairs put in place alternative poultry-based competitions to highlight the accomplishments of youth poultry competitors.

Penn State Extension has recommended establishing educational poster competitions or birdless showmanship to keep youth engaged in the poultry industry and provide a solution for completing their poultry projects.

An avian influenza outbreak occurred in Pennsylvania in 1983 and 1984, killing more than 17 million birds worth $65 million.