Shooting Times & Country Magazine
French suppliers warn of delays over bird flu
The shooting season faces disruption as spread of disease prevents major firms providing gamebird eggs and chicks to the UK before June
The two largest suppliers of gamebirds will not send any eggs or chicks to the UK until June at the earliest. L’envol de Retz and Gibovendee have told customers to plan for the delay in response to the worsening bird flu situation in the Pays de la Loire region of France, where they are based. The decision will cause huge disruption to the shooting season, effectively delaying its start for many shoots by up to two months and possibly forcing shoots to cancel completely.
A serious outbreak of the highly pathogenic form of the disease began in the Pays de la Loire region earlier this month (News, 23 March). As it rapidly spread from premises to premises, the French authorities introduced draconian measures, including movement bans and mass culls.
Shooting and gamekeeping organisations had hoped an agreement could be reached between Defra and the French authorities to allow eggs and chicks to be shipped. However, no scheme has yet been agreed.
Hopes that the outbreak may begin to ease have also been frustrated. Significant numbers of new cases have been reported and the outbreak now appears to have grown to the extent that it is overwhelming the French authorities. In a regular update on 22 March, the French government confirmed there had been 975 cases of the disease — a rise of 160 cases in a single week. The UK has experienced more than 100 cases this winter, by far the highest number that Defra has ever recorded.
Dominic Boulton, of the Game Farmers’ Association, said: “Sadly, there is still no solution in sight to the problems that avian influenza in France is causing French game farms and the UK shooting sector. The French authorities are doing all they can to try to contain the situation. Meanwhile, talks and negotiations at the highest level continue to explore any options that may allow the export of their eggs to the UK to resume.”
Mr Boulton went on to sound a note of caution for shoot operators when he said: “The window of opportunity to find even a partial resolution to these issues will not remain indefinitely and time will soon
THEY SAID WHAT
“Shoots and game farms may soon need to re-evaluate expectations for the season”
become the limiting factor to what can be salvaged, should any solutions present themselves. Communication with suppliers will be essential to keep up to date with the situation as it evolves, but some shoots and game farms may soon need to re-evaluate their expectations for the coming season.”
Matt Cross