NFU Cymru calls for bird housing order in Wales

Poultry farmers in Wales have called on chief vet Dr Richard Irvine to implement a housing order for all poultry across Wales as cases of avian influenza are encroaching on the Welsh border.  

NFU Cymru’s poultry board chairman Richard Williams told the NFU Cymru poultry conference in Builth Wells on Tuesday (4 March) that producers across Wales were increasingly concerned about their flocks becoming infected.

See also: Bird flu housing measures expand after rise in cases

The solution to protecting poultry from wild birds and game birds, in addition to biosecurity measures, was for Wales’ chief veterinary officer (CVO) Dr Irvine to implement a bird housing order.

“Free range producers are very concerned. Certain parts of the UK have brought in a housing order, even Shropshire which we border, and farmers want to see a housing order for Wales to protect their flocks.”

Robust hygiene measures

Responding to the call, Dr Irvine told farmers in the room that housing birds does not prevent the indirect spread of the virus from wild birds to kept poultry.

Robust hygiene and biosecurity, as well as the structural integrity of buildings were key in protecting flocks from avian influenza.

With Wales not having recorded a case of avian influenza, the CVO thanked producers and poultry keepers for their tireless work in keeping the disease out.

“Ensuring the best possible standards of health and welfare is fundamental in keeping bird flu out of flocks and protecting flocks from any infectious disease.”

Dr Irvine reinforced the need for robust hygiene and biosecurity measures at all times.

“We know that the most common reason avian influenza will come to a poultry flock is either direct or indirect contact with wild birds or wild bird faeces.

“That’s why hygiene remains crucial.”

Additional measures

NFU chief poultry adviser Aimee Mahony added that what producers across the UK need is collective support from the supply chain and government.

“Here in the UK we need three things from the government – a compensation scheme that’s fit for purpose, we need to look at vaccines as an option and we need to look at insurance as there are many who currently can’t take out insurance to protect themselves from avian influenza,” she told Farmers Weekly.