YOUR RURAL BUSINESS

Avian flu – advice for estate owners and shoots

Following an increase in the number of detections of avian influenza (bird flu) in wild birds and on commercial premises, the Chief Veterinary Officers from England, Scotland and Wales have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Great Britain to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and captive birds.
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Categories: Property Sector Agriculture Rural Matters Your Rural Business World Regions UK

From Monday 17th October it became a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Great Britain to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the threat of avian flu.

However, it is not just poultry owners and businesses that should be concerned, points out Katharine Beswick of our Rural Consultancy team. “Much of the attention around avian flu has understandably been focused on poultry businesses, but rural estates, particularly those with shoots and public access, also need to be extremely vigilant and take advice on the optimal biosecurity measures they should be putting in place in order to protect themselves and others around them.”

The UK’s shooting sector has already been hit hard this year by a lack of pheasants and partridges due to import restrictions placed on young birds and eggs reared in Europe. A number of shoots are also believed to have cancelled days due to the latest outbreak.

Knight Frank is already helping a number of its clients to put in place detailed biosecurity strategies. These include:

  • All vehicles are to be cleaned and disinfected prior to entry onto the estate.
  • All clothing needs to be clean and all footwear needs to be disinfected prior to entry onto the estate.
  • Washing or sanitising hands and clothing after handling dead birds and before any contact with live birds.
  • All shot birds must be kept well away from any live birds.
  • Dogs are not allowed to eat any dead birds and any uncooked shot birds to are not to be fed to animals.

Our rural consultants are here to help when you need them. Contact Claire Whitfield or Katharine Beswick if you would like further advice.

Since this article was published it became mandatory on 7th November for all keepers of poultry and captive birds in England to keep their flocks, regardless of size, indoors.

Find the latest government guidance on its website

Photo by Zonda