Statement by Redgrave Poultry on Avian Influenza outbreak

We have and continue to fully co-operate with DEFRA and all the relevant authorities during this period.

Defra's cull of all the birds on Redgrave Park farm is continuing today, following the identification of highly pathogenic avian influenza of the H5N1 strain in some of the turkeys. The farm continues to be operated by Redgrave Poultry under the direct guidance of Defra.

Defra has recently announced that all the birds on four further farms in the restricted zone are to be culled as a precautionary measure – there being no confirmed disease on any of these four premises. We can confirm that that these farms are also operated by Redgrave Poultry and we fully support Defra taking every step it believes necessary to contain this outbreak.

There is a direct link between Redgrave Park farm and these four other farms as they share the same farming staff. Each farm is too small for a dedicated staff, so a small team of people runs this cluster of farms. Despite bio-security measures when entering and leaving the farms and the fact that there are no results to indicate the presence of Avian Influenza at these farms, Defra has decided that there is the possibility of a direct link.

While naturally saddened to see so many birds culled, we fully agree that the primary concern has to be the containment of the outbreak.

In total, 22,000 free range turkeys will be culled, in addition to the birds at Redgrave Park farm.

The four additional farms are Stone House Farm in West Harling, Bridge Farm in Pulham, Grove Farm in Botesdale, and Hill Meadow in Knetishall.

We would also like to respond to some of the speculation about the cause of the outbreak. Redgrave Park is a free range farm where birds are kept in paddocks during the day and have housing available for night time. All of their feed and water is provided indoors in order to discourage wildfowl. The turkeys are prevented from accessing the lake on the property by permanent electrified fencing, empty ground and a farm road.

Similarly, we do not import turkey poults and the feed is produced in the UK. All of our poults are from hatcheries in the UK.

We are fully supporting Defra and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in the continued investigation to identify the cause of the outbreak, but have no further information at this time.

Our focus is on the containment of the outbreak.