Avivets

23/03/2022

Avian Influenza - Cases to date in UK and status

The number of outbreaks of H5N1 HPAI across GB to date now stands at 100 (86 in England, 5 in Wales, 9 in Scotland), with 6 in Northern Ireland, totalling 106 across the UK.

An industry wide group has been looking at four areas: farms; infected premises; bird movement; and packing centres / egg collections, to see where biosecurity changes are needed and how best to achieve the desired outcome.

Key epidemiological findings to date from this ‘AI season’ (across all poultry species)
- Only requires a small infectious dose to infect a flock
- Bird faeces has large amount of virus
- Survivability of virus in the environment can be measured in weeks
- Biosecurity failings at individual poultry house level e.g. people, bedding, dead trolley, etc
- Building maintenance not as good as it should be
- Record keeping not as good as it should be
- Records of staff movement between buildings and between sites not in place
- General mindset / cultural approach of a business towards biosecurity

15/03/2022

Avian influenza housing measures to stay in place post 21 March

The avian influenza risk level in poultry remains high where biosecurity is less stringent and medium where stringent biosecurity is in place. This means that the mandatory housing measures which have been in place since 29 November 2021 are unlikely to be lifted by 21 March.

At 00:01 on Monday 21 March, the 16-week grace period that was in place for the marketing of free range eggs will end. This means that eggs from hens temporarily housed in barns for their welfare can no longer be marketed as free range.

The housing measures are kept under constant review and will only be lifted once the risk level has reduced. This is part of the government’s work to protect flocks.

22/02/2022

Two further cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) have been confirmed on premises near Newtown and near Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Powys

The Surveillance Zone around the Welshpool IP includes part of England within the black circle of radius 10 kilometres

13/01/2022

Highly Pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed today on two turkey farms in Cheshire, just on the door step of Avivets.

A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone are around each Infected Premises.

All birds on the infected premises will be humanely culled.

The threat of avian influenza is still very high. A reminder that all poultry are still under a Housing Order. Be vigilant for the signs of bird flu in our poultry and maintain excellent biosecurity

13/10/2021

The avian influenza (AI) epidemic in Europe throughout 2020/21 appears to be one of the largest ever recorded, according to a new report from the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).

Across Europe there were a total of 1,298 outbreaks in poultry with 22.9 million birds affected. In addition, there were 85 cases recorded in captive birds, and 2,394 outbreaks in wild birds across 31 European countries. These numbers make it one of the largest high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemics that has ever occurred in Europe. The report notes that the number of reported wild bird outbreaks will be an underestimate of the total number of wild birds that have died from HPAI in the past year.

In the five month period alone between May and September 2021, there were 162 detected cases of HPAI in poultry, captive and wild birds across Europe. Kosovo was the worst affected country with 20 outbreak in poultry, with Poland second with 17. Since October 2020, Poland has suffered more outbreaks than any other country, with 357 poultry outbreaks affecting more than 14 million birds.

HPAI is still circulating in domestic and wild bird populations in Europe with the last reports in poultry during August.

In the UK, on 3 September, the chief veterinary officer declared the UK officially free of AI.

14/06/2021

Apart from the colour, there are no differences between a white and brown egg so its great to see Tesco offering mixed packs of white and brown eggs!

While most retailers have sold almost 100% brown eggs since the 1980s, in more recent times, the unprecedented demand for egg as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has led some retailers to stock white eggs on shelf alongside the usual brown offering.

https://www.nfuonline.com/sectors/poultry/poultry-news/tesco-expands-white-egg-offering-to-shoppers/

Tesco has been exploring white egg marketing opportunities. Read how consumers minds are being changed.

27/05/2021

Supermarkets should use British eggs for foods and STOP IMPORTING EGGS – over 23,000 signatures

The British Egg Industry Council petition is calling on supermarkets to stop using imported eggs in their pre-prepared foods such as quiches, cakes, salads, or egg sandwiches, that don’t meet British Lion safety standards, has reached over 23,000 signatures.

If it reaches 25,000 signatures, it will become one of the most popular petitions on Change.Org. The petition has already been brought to the attention of MPs, Peers, and members of the devolved legislatures across the UK – as well as being mentioned in the Daily Express and across trade and industry press.

To keep the momentum going, and to ensure we reach 25,000 signatures and beyond, it is really important that we promote the petition through social media channels – such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

The petition can be signed and shared by visiting this link: www.change.org/p/aldi-supermarkets-should-use-british-eggs-for-foods-made-in-britain-and-stop-importing-eggs

17/04/2021

Over conditioned breeding birds is an issue Avivets see often as well, especially during periods of good weather.

We advise a liver support supplement with Carnitine and Betaine to help maintain metabolism and prevent fatty liver syndrome.

Lysine and Methionine are also included to help promote optimal nutrient utilisation and conversion.

Eggs a plenty! Many clients are reporting that birds are laying incredibly well despite the frosts. This seems to be down to very well conditioned birds and the sunshine.

The downside of this is that most breeding birds are very fat! We have seen a number of over fat birds with liver issues, prolapses and pecked vents.

Once birds are in lay it is not an option to reduce the energy of the diet, unfortunately the damage is already done. All we can do is increase the space given to birds and increase the cover and enrichment in the pen.
Ensure birds are routinely wormed and otherwise healthy. Providing a tonic in the water once a week can help boost birds at times of stress.

12/04/2021

A new partnership with celebrity nutritionist and influencer, Charlotte Stirling-Reed, to educate new parents about weaning with British Lion eggs, is off to a cracking start with a series of videos achieving around 300k views on YouTube to date.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=excuXIlQdL0

Babies have high energy and nutrient needs relative to their size, so make the most of baby's meals nutritionally. Eggs are a quick, easy and nutritious opti...

12/04/2021

Consumers are being misled over imported egg ingredients in retail

The BEIC has launched a petition on Change.org, calling on supermarkets to stop using imported eggs and egg products for foods made in Britain. The petition has already been mentioned in the Daily Express and is gaining popularity.

Please support by signing:
https://www.change.org/p/aldi-supermarkets-should-use-british-eggs-for-foods-made-in-britain-and-stop-importing-eggs

The BEIC will use the level of support the petition attracts to raise the issue with government, retailers, and food producers.

Supermarkets should use British eggs for foods made in Britain and STOP IMPORTING EGGS

12/04/2021

Are you rearing chicks from day old this year?

Does your farm struggle with gut health and intestinal disease?

Have you thought about a probiotic programme to improve gut health?

Take a look at the Avivets’ A-Game supplement programme below that supports healthy intestinal development from Day 1.

We have implemented this programme on many game farms with some of the best outcomes resulting in the use of no antibiotics at all through rear.

If you would like more information or have any questions please feel free to WhatsApp me through the Avivets page.

The supplements are available to buy online in quantities for 10,000, 30,000 or 50,000 chicks. To purchase online go to www.acerfarm.co.uk

01/04/2021

Avivets support the view point and clinical reasoning given by Sandhill Game Bird Services with relation to Mycoplasma gallisepticum blood testing.

Any laboratory testing to review the presence or status of disease within your game bird flock should be considered under veterinary advice and the results interpreted by a veterinary surgeon.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) serology (Blood testing) WARNING ⚠️
We strongly advise that NEGATIVE MG results are interpreted with EXTREME care. All of the serology tests available are subject to flaws and even if they were 100% effective, birds could be in early disease and test FALSELY negative, but be positive.

To be able to call any flock Mycoplasma free / negative would take a flock to be kept inside in biosecure poultry style buildings and multiple blood tests taken on a large number (60+) of birds on a weekly basis... i.e near impossible.

We do not carry out MG serology testing with our clients (apart from trial work) due to the false sense of security it may give. We believe this be be dangerous.
We advise clients to avoid wasting their money on MG serology and to seriously question any site or any vet that claims to be able to prove MG freedom from serology results!

We have seen multiple MG outbreaks from "MG free flocks".

This example highlights this perfectly. There is no doubt these 4 birds have chronic MG. The gold standard, accurate PCR testing confirms this, but serology only identified one positive from 8 tests. Would you breed from these birds?

26/03/2021

Avian influenza H5N3 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) was found this evening in turkey breeders at a commercial premises near Winsford, Cheshire West and Chester.

A 1km Temporary Movement Restriction Zone has been declared around the premises. All the affected poultry on site will be humanely culled.

04/03/2021

An important message from the NFU about the latest avian influenza housing order for poultry. You might also recognise a familiar face!

https://twitter.com/NFU_Poultry/status/1367515914011373575

“With the , & Avian Influenza Prevention Zone still in place incl. housing for all poultry - bird keepers of all scales & sizes have come together to share key messages to 🐔More info available here➡️https://t.co/mpLONxFexk https...

27/01/2021

H5N8 avian influenza has been detected near Amlwch, Anglesey in Wales. Pathogenicity is yet to be confirmed as are the type of poultry.

To reduce the risk of the transmission of avian influenza, the Welsh Ministers have declared Temporary Control Zones around the infected premises.

The Temporary Control Zone areas A and B are marked on the map below.

06/12/2020

On the 5 December 2020 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N8 has been confirmed in rearing turkeys at a premises near King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

All birds on the infected premises will be humanely culled to limit the spread of the disease. A 3km Protection and 10km Surveillance Zone (shown on the map below) have been put in place around the infected premises.

03/12/2020

The Chief Veterinary Officers for England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to bring in new measures to help protect poultry and captive birds, following a number of cases of avian influenza in both wild and captive birds in the UK.

The new housing measures, which will come into force on 14 December, mean that it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-national-prevention-zone-declared

New housing measures will come into force in England, Scotland and Wales on 14 December.

23/11/2020

Do you keep chickens, ducks, geese...?

Are you a game keeper, do you manage shoots or game farms?

Are you a back yard poultry owner or rare breed enthusiast?

Please read the below poster from APHA for everything you need to know about

02/11/2020

Avian influenza of the H5N8 strain has been confirmed at a premises near Frodsham in Cheshire on 2 November 2020.

All 13,000 birds at the farm, which produces hatching eggs, will be humanely culled to limit the spread of the disease. A 3km and 10km temporary control zones have been put in place around the infected site to limit the risk of the disease spreading.

Details of the measures that apply in the temporary control zones can be found in the declaration.

This is unrelated to the low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) H5N2 outbreak near Deal, Kent that was confirmed this morning.

This very concerning given the movement westwards from Russia of the H5N8 virus via migratory birds.

02/11/2020

Today, a case of H5N2 Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) has been confirmed on a mixed poultry premises of 480 birds near Deal, Kent.

This was originally detected as part of the AI survey. H5 was confirmed yesterday at 12.00 noon and a Temporary Movement Control Area was put in place (which has the same controls as a Restricted Zone).

Today H5N2 was confirmed and the CVO declared notifiable LPAI. A 1km Restricted Zone has been put in place around the infected premises (with the same measures as applied in Suffolk in December 2020). Culling will now take place.

Birds are showing no clinical signs.

Sequencing points to European wild bird virus.

Defra have now reduced the wild birds reporting threshold from 3 birds to 1.

02/11/2020

Low pathogenic avian influenza (H5N2) has been confirmed on a small commercial poultry premises in Kent. More information including important biosecurity advice is available on GOV.​UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-identified-at-kent-farm

The risk of public health from the virus is very low and this strain of avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

05/10/2020

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned European countries need to increase biosecurity and surveillance protections against the threat of new bird flu outbreaks this winter.

The warning follows outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among wild and domestic birds in western Russia and Kazakhstan over the past few months. This region is a known autumn migration route for wild water birds heading to Europe.

Northern and eastern Europe are likely to be the most vulnerable to new outbreaks given past experience. When HPAI was detected in the same area of Russia in the summers of 2005 and 2016, epidemics followed in northern and eastern Europe.

If the pattern is repeated this year, HPAI is expected to arrive in the same areas of Europe in autumn or winter. Subsequent spread to countries in southern and western Europe is also possible.

28/08/2020

GAPE WORM!

With this rearing season being another warm and wet one, the levels of gape worms are as high as ever and should not be under estimated.

We recommend regular worming for pheasant and partridge poults, beyond release, to keep this lethal parasite at bay.

The photographs shows groups of groups of gape worms along the wind pipe. The groups are made up of male and female worms joined in permanent coitus and continuously producing eggs.

The eggs are coughed up by the bird, then swallowed, before being passed in the faeces where they can be ingested by another bird.

The lifecycle is particularly short at only 17-21 days, meaning a wormer treatment at least every 3 weeks in required to keep the parasite under control.

Feel free to contact Avivets to discuss worming programmes for game birds or free range poultry. We can prescribe and supply a range of wormer treatments.

21/08/2020

Watch this one carefully... you can just see the flick of this worm on the screen from an intestinal smear.

This is a tiny little Capillaria worm found on an intestinal scrape from a 12 week old pheasant poult.

Capillaria are typically the hardest worms to see both as adults and larvae. The species is usually detected by the presence of their eggs in faecal worm egg counts.

Not only are they the hardest to find but they can be one of the most problematic for birds, causing irritation to the intestinal wall, diarrhoea and weight loss. Bad cases result in death.

Findings like these emphasise the need for regular worming treatments. Contact Avivets if you would like to discuss worming programmes for any of your poultry or game birds.

10/08/2020

HEAT STRESS ALERT

With the weather warming up again and humidity climbing do not under estimate the onset, and long term impact, of heat stress.

SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS:

Mild: birds reluctant to move, increased water consumption, wings held away from the sides of the body open mouth breathing or panting
Moderate: reduced feed intake, lack of activity, very heavy panting and twitching of the muscles, usually the breast muscles
Severe: lethargy, and possible death

HEAT STRESS ADVICE:

Heat stress is caused by periods of intense environmental temperatures associated with poor ventilation and high relative humidity. Monitoring temperatures, air flow rates and providing cool, fresh water at a sufficient rate to supply demand are all key in preventing heat stress. Where possible, reductions in stocking density, evaporative misting systems, and feeding during cooler hours of the day may also help limit the likelihood of heat stress. The impact of heat stress can be sudden, with severe lethargy and death.

HEAT STRESS TREATMENT:

Heat stress can also have longer lasting effects on intestinal health, electrolyte imbalances and impaired performance. Many farmers and producers will supplement drinking water with rehydration solutions such as solulytes or electrolytes to try and minimise the impact of heat stress.

10/08/2020

The Lion Training Passport – the official training programme of the UK egg sector

January 2021 sees the introduction of a new requirement, to hold and complete a Training Passport as part of membership of the Lion Code of Practice - a major milestone in the project that has been several years in development.
The Lion Training Passport scheme was established to create a formal training standard that could be delivered consistently across the sector.

How it works
Each individual who works in the sector will be enrolled by their employer onto the Lion Training Passport scheme. All who work in the laying farm, pullet rearing and hatchery sectors are within scope of the scheme; from egg collectors, through to managers and owner-managers. It is the registration of an individual that creates their Lion Training Passport.

An initial network of approved training providers has already been established and the list is available on the Lion Egg Training website
(https://liontrainingpassport.co.uk/providers/); Avivets are a registered and accredited provider of training courses. Please see the Lion Training website for more details.

Training Providers The training specified on the Lion Training Passport can be provided either by an organisations own in-house training team or by a training provider. In both cases the training being delivered and the tutors need to be approved by the scheme click here for more details on approval...

04/08/2020

The Avivets team are very proud to be working alongside some headline businesses in supporting the British Egg Academy.

We wish Bishop Burton College all the best in getting this initiative up and running and offer our support and expertise to the course.

Innovative ideas like this are what make the poultry industry self sufficient and sustainable for future generations.

http://bit.ly/3hUlQS4

http://www.poultrynews.co.uk/business-politics/training-education/british-egg-academy-launched-by-bishop-burton-college-and-morrisons.html

A diploma aimed at training students specifically interested in the commercial egg industry has been launched by Bishop Burton College. The British Egg

30/07/2020

An unusual case seen this week... adenovirus attacks glands and cause inflammatory and haemorrhage. In this case an adenovirus, known as gizzard erosion virus, has attacked the gastric glands of the proventriculus (in the bird’s stomach) and caused the haemorrhaging lesion you can see on the internal surface of the stomach wall.

Gizzard erosion can cause weight gain issues in broilers, and anaemia and poor performance in laying hens. We have seen the problem in both types of chickens this week.

Fortunately, although viruses can’t be treated, we have some anti-inflammatory products that reduce the severity of the lesions and stimulate the appetite so that the poorly birds keep eating.

29/07/2020

Quite a pretty pattern to this picture... but a good example of how the bacteria, Sarcina, can very quickly proliferate in an upset intestinal tract - particularly of pheasant but we have also seen it in partridges and free range laying hens this week.

Contributing to a condition called dysbacteriosis; this bacteria acts as an indicator of a challenged intestinal tract - usually with an underlying cause.

28/07/2020

28/07/2020

This one was a very busy slide! All sorts going on in there!

Birds presented with lethargy, inappetance, weight loss and a raising mortality. Symptoms that could be due to a number of different causes and diseases.

It’s always important to examine birds properly, using microscopy to review intestinal health, and leading to the correct diagnosis.

Treatment without a diagnosis is not only difficult to justify but also irresponsible. We offer a same day post mortem (autopsy) service and clients are welcomed into the laboratory to see these images and videos for themselves!

27/07/2020

Info for game farmers and game keepers this summer.

Watch out for this tricky little bacteria called Sarcina. It’s the one that looks like a hot cross bun on these microscope images.

You can see how they start out as only a few but very quickly multiple to take over the intestinal content.

A finding of Sarcina suggests a ‘dysbacteriosis’ or abnormal balance of bacteria in the intestinal tract of pheasants and partridge.

Contact Avivets to find out more about this bacteria, what it means for your birds and options for control and, if necessary, treatment.

27/07/2020

We are Avivets - a specialist poultry and game bird vet practice offering veterinary services, consultancy, laboratory testing and medicines and vaccines to poultry and game bird businesses across the UK.

Find out more at www.avivets.com