Exploring the responses of smallscale poultry keepers to avian influenza regulations and guidance in the United Kingdom, with recommendations for improved biosecurity messaging

Financial impacts of a housing order on commercial free range egg layers in response to highly pathogenic avian influenza

Recent annual outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have led to mandatory housing orders on commercial free-range flocks. Indefinite periods of housing, after poultry have had access to range, could have production and financial consequences for free range egg producers. The impact of these housing orders on the performance of commercial flocks is seldom explored at a business level, predominantly due to the paucity of commercially sensitive data. The aim of this paper is to assess the financial and production impacts of a housing order on commercial free-range egg layers. We use a unique data set showing week by week performance of layers gathered from 9 UK based farms over the period 2020-2022. These data cover an average of 100,000 laying hens and include two imposed housing orders, in 2020/2021 and in 2021/22. We applied a random intercept linear regression to assess impacts on physical outputs and inputs, bird mortality and the impacts on revenue, feed costs and margin over feed cost. Feed use and feed costs per bird increased during the housing order which is a consequence of increased control over diet intake in housed compared to ranged birds. An increase in revenue was also found, ostensibly due to a higher proportion of large eggs produced, leading to a higher margin over feed cost. Overall, these large commercial poultry sheds were able to mitigate some of the potential adverse economic effects of housing orders. Potential negative impacts may occur dependant on the duration of the housing order and those farms with less control over their input costs.

UK flockdown: A survey of smallscale poultry keepers and their understanding of governmental guidance on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

The scale of the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) due to the A/H5N1 virus in the United Kingdom is unprecedented. In addition to its economic impact on the commercial poultry sector, the disease has devastated wild bird colonies and represents a potential public health concern on account of its zoonotic potential. Although the implementation of biosecurity measures is paramount to reducing the spread of HPAI in domestic and commercial settings, little is known about the attitudes and perspectives of backyard poultry keepers, who often keep their flocks in close proximity to the public. A large nationwide survey of backyard poultry keepers was undertaken in December 2021-March 2022, contemporaneous with the enforcement of an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) and additional housing measures in England, Scotland and Wales. The survey explored keepers' understanding of the clinical manifestations of HPAI, compliance with housing and biosecurity measures, attitudes towards obligatory culling on confirmation of HPAI in their flocks, and the potential use of vaccination to control HPAI. Summary statistical analysis of the closed question responses was supplemented with qualitative data analysis and corpus linguistic approaches to draw out key themes and salient patterns in responses to open text questions. Survey responses were received from 1559 small-scale poultry keepers across the United Kingdom. Awareness of the HPAI outbreak was very high (99.0%). The majority of respondents learned of it via social media (53%), with Defra (49.7%), British Hen Welfare Trust (33.8%) and the APHA (22.0%) identified as the principal sources of information. Analysis revealed that backyard keepers lacked knowledge of the clinical signs of avian influenza and legal requirements relating to compliance with biosecurity measures. Some respondents dismissed the seriousness of HPAI and were unwilling to comply with the measures in force. The issue of obligatory culling proved highly emotive, and some expressed a lack of trust in authorities. Most respondents (93.1%) indicated a willingness to pay for vaccination if the option was available. Communications on biosecurity measures that are relevant to large-scale industrial setups are inappropriate for backyard contexts. Understanding the barriers that backyard keepers face is essential if official agencies are to communicate biosecurity information effectively to such groups. Lack of trust in authorities is likely to make elimination of the virus in the UK difficult. We make recommendations for tailoring HPAI-related information for backyard contexts, to aid future HPAI control measures in the UK.

Veterinarians' knowledge and experience of avian influenza and perspectives on control measures in the UK

BACKGROUND

The scale of the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in 2021-23 due to the influenza A/H5N1 virus is unprecedented.

METHODS

An online survey was designed to explore veterinarians' experiences of and confidence in treating avian species, experiences of dealing with suspected HPAI and perspectives on control measures in the UK. The survey ran between December 2021 and March 2022.

RESULTS

Survey responses were received from 26 veterinarians. Although veterinarians are well placed to communicate HPAI-related information and guidance, a lack of confidence around treating birds and dealing with suspected cases of HPAI represent key barriers for non-specialist practices, and this limits opportunities to educate clients.

LIMITATIONS

This study presents the views of a small group of self-selected respondents and may over-represent veterinarians with existing interests in avian species and/or avian influenza and who engage with online fora.

CONCLUSIONS

Improved training and resources designed to increase confidence with avian species, along with guidance on diagnosing and reporting notifiable diseases, are needed for first opinion practices. Governing bodies should clarify regulations on treating birds in veterinary practices when HPAI outbreak numbers are high.