UK Poultry Disease Quarterly Surveillance Report (to March 2008)

By Veterinary Laboratories Agency - This report monitors trends in the major endemic poultry diseases and utilises the farmfile and VIDA (Veterinary Investigation Disease Analysis) databases. The report is compiled using disease data gathered by the network of 15 VLA regional laboratories which carry out disease investigation in the field.

15 July 2008

3 minute read

Quarterly Surveillance Report Poultry: Vol 12 No 1
January – March 2008
Published May 2008

Contents

OVERVIEW (here)

POULTRY STATISTICS

NOTIFIABLE DISEASES:
- SUBMISSIONS TO THE EU REFERENCE
- LABORATORY

FOOD SAFETY AND ZOONOSES
- FOOD SAFETY
- SALMONELLA REPORT
- SALMONELLA ZO4 VISITS
- VACCINAL STRAINS OF
S.ENTERITIDIS

ENDEMIC/NEW AND EMERGING DISEASE SURVEILLANCE
- VIROLOGY REPORT

OTHER AVIAN TOPICS
- FOWL CHOLERA
- BLACKHEAD UPDATE
- MAREK’S DISEASE
APPENDIX I: VLA LASSWADE COMMERCIAL POULTRY DIAGNOSTIC PMS JAN – MAR 2008

Highlights

IMPACT OF RISING FEED COSTS
AVIAN INFLUENZA: EVENTS SUMMARY JAN-MAR
SALMONELLA REPORT

Overview

Recent quarterly reports have highlighted the continued rising feed costs faced by the poultry industry, in common with other livestock industries. 'Poultry World' reports the price of a basic layer ration in March 2008 is £232/tonne, and the trend to the end of 2007 is shown below.

Average Compound Feed Prices

(http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/statnot/mcompspn.pdf)

Rising feed prices are having a major impact on the economics of the industry. The quarterly figures on page 2 for broiler chick placings and broiler slaughterings are down on the first quarter of last year.

The new National Control Programme (NCP) for Salmonella in layers began on 1 February in compliance with the European Community target of reducing the prevalence of S Enteritidis and S Typhimurium in adult laying hens. The effect of the NCP and additional voluntary monitoring is shown in the data on pages 8 and 9 of the report.