‘Free range’ turkeys that don’t go outside
Bird flu fears see farms forced to keep flocks indoors
EXPENSIVE ‘free range’ turkeys for the Christmas table may not be free range at all this year.
Poultry farmers are being warned to keep birds indoors as a precaution against a deadly bird flu strain in mainland Europe.
The Scottish Government has declared an avian influenza prevention zone requiring that all poultry and captive birds are kept separate from wild birds.
It comes amid reports of the highly pathogenic strain of H5N8 avian influenza causing high mortality in wild birds in mainland Europe, mostly affecting waterfowl.
No cases have yet been identified in the UK and the prevention zone applies to all of Scotland and will remain in place for 30 days. Similar measures have also been declared in England.
In January, about 40,000 birds were culled at a farm near Dunfermline, Fife, after a case of H5N1 avian influenza was identified among chickens. Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: ‘We have declared a 30-day prevention zone as a precautionary measure to protect Scotland’s valuable poultry industry, particularly in the weeks before Christmas.
‘It is important to stress that there has been no cases of this strain detected in the UK.
‘The Scottish Government and its partners continue to monitor the situation in Europe closely and stand ready to respond to any suspicion of disease in Scotland.
‘Any bird keepers who have concerns should immediately seek veterinary advice.’
Outbreaks of the H5N8 strain of bird flu have been confirmed on farms in France, Germany and Sweden.
There are fears that it will be brought to Britain by wild birds, infecting turkey, chicken and duck farms. Food and health experts stressed, though, that the current threat to the public is ‘very low’ and there is no danger in consuming eggs or poultry.
British food laws mean birds can only be described as free-range if they have spent at least 50 per cent of their lives outside.
Many of the birds subject to the bird flu order to be kept inside have already spent much of their young life undercover.
As a result, technically, they will not satisfy the free range criteria. However, the Government allows a special exception for those forced to keep birds in as a result of its emergency lock-in.
Despite this, Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, said he thought producers and retailers should tell customers if their ‘free range’ turkeys are not technically free range.
He stressed that the birds that will now be reared inside will not suffer in terms of welfare.
Scotland’s chief veterinary officer Sheila Voas said: ‘The risk of a highly pathogenic avian influenza incursion into poultry in the UK remains at “low, but heightened”,
‘Particularly virulent strain’
although for wild birds the risk has been raised to “medium”.
‘It is normal to see these viruses circulating among wild bird populations at this time of year, however the strain seen in Europe appears to be particularly virulent, which is a cause for some concern.
‘Keeping birds indoors helps to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus, provided that poultry keepers maintain good biosecurity on their premises and remain vigilant for any signs of disease.
‘Consumers should not be concerned about eating eggs or poultry given the expert advice about food safety and human health.‘