Poultry Producers Warned Against Co-Grazing with Livestock as Avian Flu Risks Rise

Poultry farmers across the UK have been urged to separate their flocks from cattle and sheep as concerns grow over another challenging season of avian influenza. The warning comes ahead of autumn and winter, when the risk of infection traditionally rises.

Source:theecologist

Defra officials are advising against co-grazing and the sharing of enclosed spaces between species after fresh concerns emerged from the United States. There, dairy cattle have tested positive for avian influenza, raising fears that the virus could spill over into poultry and spread more rapidly between livestock.

Gordon Hickman, who leads exotic disease control at Defra, described the US cases as a wake-up call. He warned that close contact between animals could create opportunities for the virus to move in unexpected ways, urging UK producers to tighten biosecurity and limit interactions between birds and other farm animals.

To strengthen protection, Defra is stepping up surveillance on farms where poultry and other livestock are kept together. Officials say the additional testing will help spot infections earlier and reduce the risk of outbreaks that could threaten the wider food chain.

Farmers are already facing rising costs and supply chain pressures, but industry leaders say robust biosecurity remains essential. With colder months approaching, the message is clear: keeping species apart and maintaining strict hygiene could be the key to preventing another devastating season of bird flu.