Australian badminton clubs and players are facing sharply higher equipment costs as a global shortage of goose and duck feathers, driven by avian influenza outbreaks, pushes up the price of traditional shuttlecocks.

The professional shuttlecock, the conical projectile at the heart of the sport, is made from 16 carefully selected feathers taken from the left wing of a goose or duck. Only two or three feathers from each bird typically meet the precise specifications needed for consistent flight, spin and durability. China remains the primary source for these feathers and for finished shuttlecocks, leaving the supply chain vulnerable to disruptions in poultry farming.

Badminton Australia chief executive Tjitte Weistra said even mid-range products have become significantly more expensive. "A decade ago a tube of a dozen AS-30s would sit from $30 to $35. That's now well over $70," he said, referring to a popular Yonex model. "This means the cost of hosting a tournament or even club play can get very, very expensive."

Great Southern Badminton Association chair Michelle Watson said her group spends about $3,000 on shuttlecocks every four to six months. Nightly fees have risen to maintain access to feathered equipment. "Feathers are what the game should be played with and are far superior," Watson said. "Players that understand the game and play more than at a social level expect quality shuttles. I believe synthetics will be the way of the future due to feathers being unsustainable [but] they are currently not close to where they need to be to be an appropriate option."

Western Australia has been particularly exposed because of its heavy reliance on imported........

© International Business Times