Scots and Welsh make plea for poultry housing order

Farm leaders in Scotland and Wales have urged government vets to impose a poultry housing order to combat the rising threat of avian influenza.

The virus has continued to spread rapidly across the UK, with cases in all four devolved regions since 1 October 2022.

Over that time period there have been 106 cases in England, six in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland, with another close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. 

See also: Avian influenza – one farm’s robust plans to combat the threat

But while England imposed an order to move all flocks indoors from 7 November, officials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are yet to do so.

In Scotland, poultry farmers and sector leaders warned that the lack of a housing order was putting business survival at risk.

NFU Scotland’s poultry working group chairman, Robert Thompson, said: “For most producers, there are no insurance options against avian influenza, while some have only limited and very costly insurance available.

“The risks of getting the disease in a flock remain too high. Many units, especially free-range, will be left lying empty rather than taking a chance on restocking, only to risk losing them all and incurring the costs associated with that.” 

Mr Thompson also called on big retailers to support home-produced eggs through the avian flu crisis and soaring fuel costs, which have added to poultry business costs.

“Most retailers have ignored requests for a sustainable price to be offered in response to exceptionally high input costs. That has resulted in 5.5 million fewer chicks being placed on UK farms in the past 12 months.

“With no cushion within the industry, the additional impact from avian influenza has been catastrophic,” he said.

Welsh voices 

In Wales, politicians have joined farmer voices calling for a housing order to be imposed.

NFU Cymru said it would remain in close dialogue with the Welsh government after interim chief vet Gavin Watkins ruled out a housing order during a meeting with farmers last week.

The union said there was a general feeling among poultrykeepers that the Welsh government should introduce housing measures as a protective shield for birds.

NFU Cymru said that this would work alongside stringent biosecurity measures already introduced as part of the All-Wales Avian Influenza Protection Zone.

Meanwhile, Welsh Conservative Samuel Kurtz said a housing order in Wales would give Welsh businesses some level of certainty in an uncertain situation. 

“Avian flu doesn’t respect borders, and with so many units close to the English border, and with the potential for further wild bird migration, the Welsh government’s decision has left Welsh poultry vulnerable to infection.”

NFU Cymru is urging members to attend its annual poultry conference at 6.30pm on 21 November at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, to learn more about avian influenza control.