Despite poultry farmers doing all they can to protect their birds, with annual occurrences of AI (avian influenza) it is possible that it鈥檚 a subject at risk of being seen more as 鈥榖usiness as usual鈥�. But not for me. 聽
Like other producers that have received the devastating news that your birds have tested positive for AI, it changes your world overnight. 聽
The toll it takes on the people is hard to describe. Those who look after the birds day in, day out who have to witness them dying and then see the rest of the flock culled and taken away, it feels shattering.
It鈥檚 late June now and we are still seeing the confirmation of cases of AI in poultry. This isn鈥檛 something we would necessarily be expecting to see, and it is concerning that AI is continuing to present a risk over the summer months. 聽
'Scrupulous biosecurity is key'
We know that the wild bird risk is real. The risk level for wild birds in Great Britain remains at 'high' and, unlike with our own flocks, we have very few tools to help manage wild birds. Our biggest defence is biosecurity. 聽
Scrupulous biosecurity is key. Practically it can be incredibly difficult to ensure you have stringent measures in place 100% of the time but we must absolutely aim to do that to protect our birds and our businesses. 聽
Of great concern is the number of wild bird positive findings in the current AI season which is nearing 700 in Great Britain since 1 October 2024. With the unpredictability of wild bird movements, they present a real risk to my business. I have therefore reviewed my biosecurity measures and ensure all staff are fully trained which is important as just one small lapse can break the protection we are trying to provide.
鈥淲hilst AI has become part of our everyday vocabulary it is something we must continue to strive to avoid. We need to take every step to prevent disease incursion and persist to do all we can to protect our flocks.鈥�
NFU Midlands Poultry Board member Phill Crawley
We have also seen over 60 cases of AI in poultry in the UK in this current season, with the first case being confirmed in mid-November 2024. It really is devastating to see cases still being announced seven months on. 聽
The risk of HPAI H5 in Great Britain to poultry where there is suboptimal or poor biosecurity is currently assessed as 'medium' which means the event occurs regularly. The difference between this and where stringent biosecurity is consistently applied at all times is that the risk is reduced to 'low' which means the event is rare but does occur.
Whilst stringent biosecurity does reduce the risk of incursion it doesn鈥檛 completely eliminate the threat of AI, emphasising the need to continue looking at other potential solutions such as vaccination.聽
Impact of AI 'crushing'
The impact of AI is crushing. I speak from personal experience. When APHA take over your farm to start the depopulation you feel absolutely helpless. I wouldn鈥檛 wish these feelings upon anyone and empathise with those who have found themselves in this dreadful situation.聽
While AI has become part of our everyday vocabulary it is something we must continue to strive to avoid. We need to take every step to prevent disease incursion and persist to do all we can to protect our flocks. 聽
