nineteenth March 2024
New registration necessities for chook keepers in Great Britain have simply been introduced. The measures intention to higher defend the poultry sector from future avian influenza outbreaks.
Today, nineteenth March, Defra launched new necessities for all chook keepers, no matter flock dimension, to formally register their birds.
Currently, solely those that preserve 50 or extra poultry should accomplish that, limiting the effectiveness of our nationwide illness management measures.
By registering their birds, keepers will guarantee they obtain vital updates related to them, similar to on any native avian illness outbreaks and knowledge on biosecurity guidelines to assist defend their flocks.
This will assist to handle potential illness outbreaks, similar to avian influenza and Newcastle illness, and restrict any unfold.
Avian flu
As all UK poultry farmers are conscious by now, chook flu is an infectious sort of influenza that spreads amongst birds. In uncommon instances, it could possibly have an effect on people.
The illness is attributable to an infection with avian (chook) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. It principally spreads from chook to chook via direct or oblique contact with contaminated saliva, nasal secretions or droppings, in addition to via predation/scavenging.
There are a number of methods by which the illness is unfold, together with by contaminated poultry, their excretions and secretions and/or contaminated objects.
Farmers can’t vaccinate poultry or most captive birds in opposition to chook flu in England.
The adjustments come following the UK’s worst ever outbreak of avian influenza, with greater than 360 instances throughout Great Britain since late October 2021, together with in a major variety of yard flocks.
Easier to trace
Christine Middlemiss, UK chief veterinary officer mentioned: “These new guidelines will allow us to have a full image of the quantity and site of birds stored throughout Great Britain, making it simpler to trace and handle the unfold of avian illness.
“This information will be vital in helping to inform future risk assessments and maintain our commitment to continually building our extensive avian influenza research portfolio.”
Register earlier than the deadline
Bird keepers might want to present info, together with their contact particulars, the situation the place birds are stored, and particulars of the birds (species, quantity and what they’re stored for).
In England and Wales keepers are inspired to register their birds forward of the authorized deadline on 1st October 2024. In Scotland, keepers ought to register from 1st September 2024 when there can be a brand new Scottish Kept Bird Register in place.
The new guidelines cowl homeowners of yard flocks, birds of prey and pigeon fanciers, however don’t have an effect on caged pet birds, excluding any poultry species, stored completely inside a home dwelling, similar to a parrot, canary or budgie, which by no means leaves the property apart from to go to a vet or one other short-term interval.
The necessities can be set out in laws shortly, and keepers can even be legally required to update their info on an annual foundation.
Further info on the registration of birds will be discovered on gov.uk, gov.scot and gov.wales.
Read extra animal well being information.
