Producers, pullet rearers and hatcheries could lose millions of pounds in a major poultry disease outbreak—which will not be compensated by the government. That’s the bleak picture that emerges from the Defra Contingency Plan for a major outbreak of Avian Influenza or Newcastle Disease.
The 121 page plan has been prepared following the disastrous Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001. It says compensation at 100 per cent of market value will be paid only for healthy birds slaughtered for disease control purposes—”those not affected with disease at the time of slaughter”.
There will be no payments for birds that have died and officials are still to decide whether money will be available to cover the cost of birds which die between the time of a report that disease may be present and an outbreak is confirmed. Birds will be valued according to fixed tables, as for salmonella.
But Defra makes clear that no payments will be made under welfare disposal schemes. These will be brought in, for example, to cover pullets that are nearing 16 weeks of age on rearing farms. If the birds cannot be moved to a laying farm within the same movement restricted zone then a vet can sanction their destruction on welfare grounds. But no compensation will be paid to the grower.
The same principle will apply to hatcheries where chicks cannot be moved to rearers. But, according to the plan, there will be no need for compensation in these cases because operators “can destroy the eggs”. Again no cash will be paid. This is in line with a government policy formulated after the Foot and Mouth outbreak which states “experience has shown that payments to farmers under such schemes can provide a disincentive for them to take responsibility for looking after their animals and may also create a false market.”
The plan says that when a case of AI or ND is identified an Infected Area will be established around the infected unit with a minimum radius of 10 km and will remain in place for thirty days. Movement restrictions will include eggs. A Protection Zone will be imposed with a radius of 3 km around an infected farm. All farms inside this area will get regular visits from vets and “all poultry will be required to be kept within their living quarters”. A case of AI will trigger national movement restrictions but eggs, not affected by specific outbreaks, will be allowed to move.
The government will not pay for the full cleaning and disinfecting of a unit which has an outbreak. Only the “preliminary” cleaning will be covered by Defra. “Secondary C and D will not be funded by the Government.” says the Plan. “It is normal practice within the poultry industry on depopulation of a poultry house for the site to be cleansed and disinfected before it is restocked.”
The plan says that vaccination against AI is not viable with present technology but that as it is available for Newcastle Disease it would be considered for flocks which have not already received it.
Addressing one of the major criticisms of the government’s handling of the Foot and Mouth outbreak the plan includes provision for the immediate alerting of the armed forces so that, if necessary, “aid can be sought with the minimum of delay”.
The plan states that mass pyres, which caused public alarm in the Foot and Mouth outbreak, will not be used in future. The preferred disposal options are incineration, rendering (a capacity of 15,000 tons per week is available) and commercial landfill. If these cannot cope then the use of on farm burial and on farm pyres are not ruled out. But pyre burning would only be undertaken “in exceptional circumstances”. The poultry industry now has until next month to respond to the proposals in the document. The British Egg Industry Council has begun the process of consultation within the industry and will be responding to the Defra proposals.
BFREPA chairman Tom Vesey commented: “Clearly there are major issues raised by the Plan as it stands. We will be taking a full part in the consultation process and will be making efforts to protect the interests of members.”
