News
On-farm vining pea trials aim to tackle costly UK virus losses
20+ hour, 43+ min ago (349+ words) A new research project investigating the threat of viruses in UK vining pea crops hopes to provide pea growers with clearer information on when and how to implement control measures. Shifting weather and drilling patterns means virus infection is becoming…...
Poultry housing order to be lifted in England and Wales
1+ week, 3+ day ago (266+ words) Free-range poultry producers are being urged to start preparing now for their birds" impending return to the big outdoors, with Defra signalling an end to the mandatory housing order in England and Wales next Thursday (9 April). The change of policy…...
How drying poultry manure can deliver for the bottom line
2+ week, 4+ day ago (851+ words) Chicken manure does not always receive the best press " blamed to varying degrees for water pollution, obnoxious smells and general unpleasantness. But for north-east egg producer and regenerative arable farmer Hugh Carter it is pure gold " all the more so…...
Newcastle disease risk to UK poultry raised as disease spreads
1+ mon, 6+ day ago (423+ words) Veterinary experts at Defra have raised the risk status for Newcastle disease in poultry from "low" to "medium" as the disease continues to spread in continental Europe. Newcastle disease is highly virulent, with symptoms similar to avian influenza, including respiratory…...
Bird flu vaccination trial under way in turkeys
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (388+ words) Defra has announced the start of a new 24-week vaccine trial in turkeys as it steps up the fight against avian influenza. The research, which gets under way on Thursday (5 March), will explore how well the new vaccines work in…...
Calls mount for GB-wide poultry housing order as bird flu accelerates
5+ mon, 2+ week ago (512+ words) Pressure is mounting for an immediate GB poultry housing order, following a spate of avian influenza cases over the past week. These involved 68, 000 free-range layers near Bedale in Yorkshire, 32, 000 free-range layers near Penrith in Cumbria (the second outbreak in the…...
Major river pollution lawsuit targets poultry firms
6+ mon, 4+ day ago (465+ words) Nearly 4, 000 residents, businesses and river users have launched what is believed to be the UK's largest environmental pollution lawsuit, targeting Avara Foods, Freemans of Newent and Welsh Water over alleged contamination of the Wye, Lugg and Usk catchments. The case,…...
Poultry housing underinvestment threatens food security
7+ mon, 1+ week ago (297+ words) Poultry housing in the UK needs urgent upgrades and investment if producers are going to meet animal welfare and environmental commitments, according to a recent NFU poultry shed survey. The survey, which captured data from more than 5, 000 poultry houses, highlights…...
Surge in bird flu cases raises alarm across poultry sector
8+ mon, 1+ week ago (497+ words) Further outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have raised alarm across the poultry sector. Once seen as a winter-only disease, HPAI has recently been reported in a Norfolk turkey unit, a Devon duck…...
Bird flu: Poultry farms offered flexible checks
8+ mon, 1+ week ago (295+ words) Poultry farmers impacted by avian influenza (HPAI) are being given a helping hand by RSPCA Assured through flexible farm assessments during outbreaks. In certain circumstances " for example, where there's a compulsory housing order or a farm is within a 10km or…...