Producer speaks out about devastating impact of avian influenza

The owner of a Lancashire egg business devastated by an outbreak of avian influenza has spoken about the effect on himself and his business.
Dave Staveley, whose farm near Preston was hit by AI in July, spoke of the “catastrophe” that bird flu had caused. Nearly 200,000 cage and free range layers were culled after AI was confirmed on his farm. He said the outbreak had cost him more than one million pounds.
Dave told other egg producers attending an avian influenza roadshow meeting that, whilst Government funds covered the cost of preliminary cleansing, the more costly secondary cleansing and disinfection was his responsibility. This, alone, had cost half a million pounds.
He said this huge cost had led him to consider shutting down the farm at one stage.