Poultry producers across Scotland have stepped up flock biosecurity and management measures in response to the threat of bird flu spreading from Europe.
The Scottish Government has declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone requiring farmers to keep all poultry and captive birds indoors for the next 30 days while a strain of the disease continues to cause high mortality in wild birds in Europe. There have been no cases of the strain detected in the UK.
More than half of Scotland’s laying flock is free-range so pop-holes on poultry sheds will have to be kept closed for the next month. The restrictions pose a challenge to turkey producers too, but NFU Scotland’s poultry committee chairman Robert Hay said any inconvenience was better than running the risk of the disease taking hold in Scottish flocks.
“Avian flu is a big concern so the industry is very supportive of the Government’s measures and we hope small scale and hobby producers will take heed too and keep their birds inside,” he said.
Mr Hay said a rapid change in routine could lead to a drop in productivity and the birds did not respond well to change. He added that careful management of flocks was vital.
“Stockmanship has to be even better. The birds will be looking to go out so to stop them pecking one another we need to put out more straw bales, toys, discs and nets for them to play with. And biosecurity has to be stepped up with extra foot dips and no access to unnecessary visitors.
“Getting the birds to go back outside again at the end of the restriction period can also be hard after they’ve been locked in for 30 days.”
The British Veterinary Association president Gudrun Ravetz described the precautions as sensible and urged poultry keepers to be vigilant and get veterinary help and advice at an early stage.
The farmers’ union animal health and welfare manager Penny Johnston said members had attended roadshows on biosecurity measures and good practice, and were up to speed on contingency plans they should be employing to keep their flocks as safe as possible.
“NFU Scotland will continue to monitor the situation and update producers of any changes to the risk status and advice but in the meantime, we urge all poultry keepers to comply with the restriction notice, tighten biosecurity and be aware of the potentially increased risks from wild birds.”
