The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to extend the housing measures for poultry and captive birds in east England to the rest of the nation.
The measures are set to be introduced on Wednesday (October 12) in an effort to reduce the spread of avian influenza (bird flu) in the area.
The measures will see bird keepers in hotspots legally required to keep their birds indoors and follow stringent biosecurity measures, from midnight on Wednesday, but they will only apply to Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex.
The chair of the NFU’s poultry board, James Mottershead, said that these measures are not adequate to stop the spread of bird flu in England.
Speaking on the impact of bird flu on poultry farmers, Mottershead said: “The sheer persistence of avian influenza over the past year, coupled with soaring energy and feed costs, has put the whole British poultry sector under huge emotional and financial pressure.
“Given the recent rise in avian influenza cases and the distress they cause for farming families, the implementation of housing measures in the east of England is a necessary step.
“The number one priority for poultry farmers has always been the health and welfare of their flock and it’s devastating for any farmer to see that compromised,” he said.
“That is why the NFU is now urging Defra to consider expanding the regional housing measures on a national basis to reflect any increase in the levels of risk across the country.”
Mottershead said that following Defra’s biosecurity measures it is vital for all bird keepers, whether they are a poultry farmer or someone who keeps a small number of hens in the garden.
“We will continue to work with the government and the chief veterinary officer to try to minimise the risk of future outbreaks across the country, and to get on top of this terrible disease,” he said.
