By Gary Ford, policy advisor, BFREPA
February has been a challenging month for the poultry sector with the ongoing threat and indeed cases of Avian flu in commercial poultry units. We started February with 28 cases and we end the month with 41. Whilst the number of Infected Premises (IPs) is relatively ‘low’ when compared to the very difficult 2022/23 year the number of birds that have had to be humanely culled in order to contain – and eventually eradicate – this disease stands comparison to that bad year. Since 1 October 2024 (this current outbreak) we have lost approximately 1.8 million layers and pullets combined -this will have an impact on the supply of eggs and pullet availability throughout the rest of 2025. These are certainly difficult and uncertain times for the egg sector and pullet rearers in particular given the long tail and ‘ripple’ effect that losing a flock of pullets has on layer farmer customers, not forgetting, of course, the impact on the pullet rearer themselves. I think, at this point, it is important to remember that behind every IP there is a family farming business that has been devastated by this disease as are their staff and suppliers.
Continuing the reflection on the month of February, we started February with 94 wild birds testing positive for HPAI in GB and end the month with nearly 300 cases. Wild birds are significant as they act as a barometer and indicator of disease in the environment. Remember, one of the key routes of transmission is direct contact with wild birds, particularly waterfowl, hence why we are calling for a GB wide Housing Order.
It is at times like this that the industry naturally turns its attention to vaccination. I have been asked many times why can’t we vaccinate our birds against this disease as we do against other diseases that impact bird health such as IB or Gumboro. I am a big fan of vaccination as a tool to protect our birds however, the more you understand AI vaccination the more you realise that it is complicated and not the panacea that we think, at face value, that it is. BFREPA are members of the joint industry, cross government AI vaccination taskforce.
This group is looking at the feasibility of vaccine, the challenges, the benefits and indeed a cost/benefit analysis and are due to publish a position statement in early March followed by a fuller report sometime in the Spring. There has to be a role for vaccination going forward but the challenges around the cost of surveillance, establishing a DIVA test (differentiating infected from vaccinated animals) and assessing the potential impact on trade are a number of aspects that all have to be fully understood before we ‘press the button’ on vaccination.