Costal birds pose avian influenza risk for commercial flocks

clock • 1 min read
Costal birds pose avian influenza risk for commercial flocks

Head of exotic disease control at Defra, Gordon Hickman said farmers should be wary of the unprecedented scale of Avian Influenza (AI) across the UK.

Speaking at the Poultry Network Live Conference at Harper Adams, Mr Hickman said the UK had seen 294 cases of AI since October 2021, but 203 of those cases had been within the last year. He said:...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

Login

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358
Register for free Join Now

 

More on Livestock

NSA calls for engagement needed to reflect reality of commercial sheep farming
Livestock

NSA calls for engagement needed to reflect reality of commercial sheep farming

The sheep industry must actively engage with Defra’s long-awaited consultation on castration and tail docking methods to ensure future policy reflects the realities of commercial sheep farming, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has said.

Ellie Layton
clock 20 January 2026 • 2 min read
Dog handler focus: Cathy Cassie - "I am a shepherd before I am a trial trainer"
Livestock

Dog handler focus: Cathy Cassie - "I am a shepherd before I am a trial trainer"

Cumbria based, Cathy Cassie, is a contact shepherd, and has not let being born without connections to agriculture limit her drive.

Ellie Layton
clock 20 January 2026 • 5 min read
ORFC: The magic of trees for livestock
Livestock

ORFC: The magic of trees for livestock

From carbon storage and biodiversity, to animal welfare through providing shade, fodder and natural parasite control, the benefit of trees for farmers was a key topic at the conference

Mia Willemsen
clock 20 January 2026 • 2 min read