News
9th July 2008
AVIAN INFLUENZA DISEASE MEASURES LIFTED
The area of Oxfordshire affected by an outbreak of Avian Influenza in
June has been officially cleared of the disease and the Declaration of a
Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone made on 6 June 2008 is being lifted.
The Secretary of State is satisfied that at least 30 days have elapsed
since the completion of preliminary cleansing and disinfection at the
infected premises in the Surveillance Zone and declares that from 00.01 on
8 July 2008 the Declaration is revoked.
4th June 2008
Avian Influenza in Oxfordshire
An outbreak of Avian Influenza in laying chickens on premises near
Banbury in Oxfordshire was confirmed on Tuesday 3 June. Preliminary tests
showed that the virus was the H7 strain and further laboratory results
confirm it is highly pathogenic.
Further tests are in progress to identify the N type and possible
relationships with previously identified viruses. A detailed
epidemiological investigation to better understand the origin and
development of the disease is also underway.
A Temporary Control Zone with a 3km inner zone and a 10km outer zone
has been established around the Infected Premises. The 3km zone includes
the villages of Middle Tysoe, Alkerton, Balscote, Epwell and Shenington.
The 10km zone includes Kineton to the north, Banbury to the east,
Wigginton to the south and Shipston-on-Stour to the west.
A number of measures apply. All birds must be housed or otherwise
isolated from contact with wild birds in the inner zone. Bird gatherings
are banned and all other movements of birds and some products are banned
in the whole of the Temporary control Zone. Defra is considering whether
any wider measures may be needed.
Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said: "I would stress the need
for poultry keepers to be extremely vigilant, practice the highest levels
of biosecurity and report any suspicions of disease to their local Animal
Health Office immediately."
For further updates visit:
www.defra.gov.uk/avianinfluenza
KELLY TURKEYS SUPPORT TURKEY CLUB UK. 
Kelly Turkeys, producers of the award-winning KellyBronze are to
sponsor the Turkey Club UK website for the next three years.
The well-known turkey brand that receives accolades for its free-range
meat birds on an annual basis recognises the importance of the
conservation of the standard bred turkeys.
Chairman of Kelly Turkeys, Derek Kelly MBE said: "I am very proud to be
the President of Turkey Club UK and the Managing Director, Paul Kelly and
I thought that one of the best ways of helping the club would be to
support the website. We know that the Internet is one of the most
successful ways of communicating and the Club website is proving to be a
necessary source of information for people who want to keep turkeys."
Janice Houghton-Wallace, Hon Secretary of Turkey Club UK said: "We are
so grateful for the generous sponsorship that Kelly Turkeys have provided.
Although the KellyBronze is a commercial turkey the specific strains were
derived from standard bloodlines over thirty years ago and it is wonderful
to have such well respected turkey breeders support our work with the
older varieties. It is essential that they have a future as well as a
past."
KellyBronze is based in Essex, Scotland and mainland Europe, with a
franchise via Kelly Farmers, throughout the UK. Website at:
www.kellyturkeys.com
TURKEY
CLUB
UK ON ‘READY
STEADY COOK’
Meat and eggs from standard
turkeys are being featured on the BBC 2 television programme ‘Ready
Steady Cook’ on Tuesday 8 April at 4.15pm.
Abby and Michael
Moorhouse from Cefn Goleu Organic Turkeys, along with others went to the
recording of the programme in London to take part in the
10 minute quickie challenge. In this section of the show two of Ready
Steady Cook’s top chefs compete to cook from a handful of ingredients
chosen by the audience guest – Turkey Club
UK.
After the twenty
minutes of cooking in the main part of the show, Ainsley Harriott
announces who is in the audience and invites Abby onto the set to tip
out the ingredients in the bag and talk through what she took along.
Ainsley had not seen turkey eggs before and he and the other chefs were
delighted to not only see them but to be able to cook with them. I will
not spoil the programme by saying what was made with the turkey meat and
the eggs!!!
Avian flu found in swans
Avian influenza was recently confirmed in three dead mute swans at
Abbotsbury Swannery in the Chesil Beach area in Dorset, following
positive test results from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency for the
highly pathogenic strain of H5N1. The birds were found following the
Defra routine surveillance programme.
A Wild Bird Control Area and Monitoring Area have been established
around the premises, encompassing Chesil Beach and Portland Bill and the
shape of these has been based on ornithological advice.
Inside these areas bird keepers are required to house their birds or
otherwise isolate them from contact with wild birds, bird movements will
be restricted and bird gatherings are banned. Outside of these areas
bird movements and gatherings may continue under the general licence
scheme.
No disease has been found in domestic birds and a programme of
surveillance is being carried out in the local wild bird population.
There will be no culling of wild birds at the swannery because such
action may disperse the birds and risk the spread of infection.
Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said: "While this is
obviously unwelcome news, we have always said that Britain is at a
constant low level of risk of introduction of Avian influenza. Our
message to all bird keepers, particularly those in the area, is that
they must be vigilant, report any signs of disease immediately and
practice the highest levels of biosecurity."
13 NOV 2007
AVIAN INFLUENZA CONFIRMED IN SUFFOLK
An outbreak of Avian Influenza has been confirmed in turkeys at Redgrave
near Diss, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Preliminary tests proved
positive for the H5 strain and ministry veterinary surgeons and
scientists have been working overnight in order to establish if it is
the H5N1 form of the disease. The results are expected later today.
Whether the strain is high or low pathogenic will have bearing on how
great an impact this outbreak will have on the industry.
About 5,000 turkeys, 1,200 ducks and 400 geese were on the farm and are
being culled in containerised gassing units.
Animal Health (formerly the State Veterinary Service) was informed of a
rise in death rates among the turkeys on Sunday and the preliminary
results were announced yesterday afternoon (Monday 12 Novermber).
A Restricted Zone covering much of Norfolk and the whole of Suffolk has
been established and in this zone all poultry is required to be isolated
from wild birds. Movements within this zone can take place but movements
are not permitted out of the zone at present. A map of the area affected
can be found at
www.defra.gov.uk. It is expected that general licences for low risk
movements out of the zone will be made shortly.
No movements of poultry are permitted at present in the 3km and 10km
zones around the Infected Premises. Also, the national general licence
permitting bird gatherings in England has been revoked and bird shows
and pigeon racing will not be permitted for the time being. These
measures are a precaution while the results of further laboratory tests
and investigations into the outbreak are awaited.
The outbreak could not have come at a worst time for turkey producers
with the Christmas market only weeks away. However, National Farmer’s
Union poultry board chairman Charles Bourns said the cull was only a
small proportion of the 10 million turkeys bought for Christmas each
year.
Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said :
“The cause of the infection is not yet known and all
poultry farmers should remain vigilant and report any suspicion of
disease. This is Avian influenza but it is a bird disease, there is
no risk to public health.”
All poultry keepers on the GB Poultry Register are being
notified and the EU Commission has been informed.
The Poultry Club of Great Britain and Turkey Club UK advise free-range
poultry keepers to :
-
Keep feed under cover to minimise wild bird
attraction
-
Keep water fresh and free of droppings
-
Keep waterfowl and chickens separate where possible
-
Control vermin
-
Isolate new stock for 2-3 weeks
-
Change clothes and wash boots before and after
visiting other breeders
-
Keep fresh disinfectant at the entrance to poultry
areas for dipping footwear
-
Disinfect vehicles which have been on poultry
premises but avoid taking vehicles onto other premises
-
Wash hands before and after handling poultry
-
Comply with any regulations/guidelines
For the latest situation on the Avian influenza outbreak
visit :
www.defra.gov.uk.
NEWS ARCHIVE
03 JUN 07 :
BIRD GATHERING BAN LIFTED
26 MAY 07 :
CHELFORD MARKET CONTACTS SOUGHT
24 MAY 07 :
LOW PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN WALES
02 MAY 07 :
NEW TURKEY BOOK : 'NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS'
09 MAR 07 :
NEW PRESIDENT
FOR TURKEY CLUB UK
05 FEB 07 :
AVIAN INFLUENZA IN
SUFFOLK
20 DEC 06 :
METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE HUMANE SLAUGHTER OF POULTRY ON-FARM
21 NOV 06 :
NEW
ANIMAL TRANSPORT REGULATIONS IN 2007
21 JUL 06 :
PROTECT TURKEYS IN A HEATWAVE
10 APR 06 :
AVIAN INFLUENZA CONCERN AND THE CARE OF TURKEYS
06 APR 06 :
AVIAN INFLUENZA IN
SCOTLAND
10 FEB 06 :
GREAT BRITAIN
POULTRY REGISTER
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