Poultry producers

Shropshire farmer and NFU Shropshire deputy chair Stephen Povall on how Government needs to overhaul the current planning framework to offer incentives for investment in the poultry sector

Visitors to the British Pig and Poultry Fair at the NEC Birmingham heard how the poultry sector was growing by roughly 4-5% each year, but changes to stocking density meant more production capacity was needed

Avian influenza remains a hot topic within the poultry sector, as cases continue to emerge in commercial poultry, captive birds and wild bird populations

Assurance body issues 'compromise' extending terms of requirements

From midnight on April 7, keepers in Cumbria, County Durham, Northumberland and Tyneside must house their birds. This extension is in addition to those housing measures already in place

NFU poultry board chair, James Mottershead said AI vaccination programme for birds need to be safe to give consumers the confidence to continue eating poultry products, and must not disrupt exports

The NFU plea coincides with the first suspected bird flu outbreak of the season in Northern Ireland, which was recorded among a commercial flock in Co Tyrone

Following a number of confirmed cases of avian influenza, poultry keepers are being urged to stay vigilant for signs of the disease and adhere to the latest control measures

The UK Health and Security Agency said the individual had close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds

The supermarket has also introduced new stocking density requirements for its fresh chickens, aimed at improving their quality life