Sandhill Game Bird Services

18/11/2025

LOUPING ILL WEBINAR.

See above map with Louping Ill positive Grouse or Sheep results by county.

Sign up via the NSA or Moredun website page or via https://moredun.org.uk/events/webinar-moredun-nsa-tackling-louping-ill?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOJucVjbGNrA4m5tGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHgDlfoAXxyn9XBmLVpTfnW366t3mXmI2X6s-AojDSZe7kfr0R-bQrawOih4z_aem_2rdD0nLl52z7wHi5xVMZSA

28/10/2025

Poultry housing measures to take effect from 00:01 on 30 October 2025.

In response to the significant increase of findings of avian influenza in kept and wild birds, housing measures to protect poultry & captive birds from are coming into force in Cheshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Tyne & Wear and West Yorkshire from 00:01 on Thursday 30 Oct 2025.

This means that from this time it will be a legal requirement for all keepers of over 50 birds and all keepers who sell or give away eggs, meat or poultry (even if they keep fewer than 50 birds), in these areas to house their birds. Keeping your birds undercover away from wild birds is vital to minimise the risk of them becoming infected with avian influenza by wild birds.

If you are currently in a Protection Zone outside of these areas, you must continue to house your birds.

Please check GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-measures-introduced-to-protect-poultry-and-other-captive-birds for more info.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity measures is also in force across Great Britain: https://www.gov.uk/animal-disease-cases-england/bird-flu-regional-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-east-of-england

23/10/2025

We were down South today at for a game research meeting with The AMAST (AntiMicrobial Resistance in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary) Network along with other key game sector partners.

It was a fantastic meeting initiating the start of research that will hopefully reduce disease, improve health and welfare and reduce antibotic use in order to sustain our sector - along with measures such as being a part of

It was also great to have a tour round the Allerton project and the great work they are doing. Thanks

13/10/2025

We are seeing a number of cases of Mycoplasma in Pheasants and Partridge since September, but particularly over the last 2 weeks.
This follows a summer of very few cases.
We believe most of these birds were negative on release and have since acquired infection from wild birds or neighbours infected birds.
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29/09/2025

Please help us collect tick data by completing this tick control questionnaire.
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16/09/2025

We were out blood sampling grouse last week for Louping Ill antibody testing.
This deadly virus is spread by ticks and is on the increase along with ticks.
Louping Ill has long been an issue in Scotland and the North York Moors but only recently detected in the Peak District. To the best of our knowledge Louping Ill has not been found in the North Pennines or Yorkshire Dales.
Monitoring Louping Ill and tick burdens is key to allow for control.
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05/09/2025

12/08/2025

The first GROUSE WORM COUNTS come rolling in with the start of the season. Happy to all of those lucky enough to be out and best of luck for the season ahead.
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06/08/2025

Yorkshire Dales TICK and tick-borne disease control in SHEEP meeting later this month.
Please get in touch if you would like to attend.

06/08/2025

It was great to speak at online Grouse Seminar last night. With over 200 people joining us, it was a fantastic opportunity to discuss Grouse disease and our findings over the last 25 years of working with Grouse.

04/08/2025

Join us speaking at grouse event Tuesday 5th August.
Register with GWCT

10/07/2025

We have seen a large number of Rotavirus cases this year (confirmed by lab testing).
Some of these cases have presented in an unusual way with only moderate mortality but with little scour.
Although cases have generally been well controlled, the ongoing losses have been high due to gut damage, stunting and general poor health.
Currently many sites are struggling with recurrent enteritis issues off the back of this early damage.
The variable weather is also not helping.
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