A prominent Monaghan poultry and organic farmer has said that farms across the county are doing “everything in their power” to avoid cases of bird flu, after the discovery of the virus at two County Tyrone farms in recent days.
The Department of Agriculture confirmed last week that samples taken from a poultry flock in Monaghan had tested negative for Avian Influenza (bird flu) – but a lockdown continues at farms in the area, with all birdkeepers legally required to confine all poultry and captive birds in a secure building or separate from all other birds.
Nigel Reneghan, the former Irish Farmers Association’s (IFA) poultry chairman, who also served as the organisation’s Ulster and North Leinster Regional Chairman, stressed that farms in Monaghan are on high alert in the border county. Fears of an outbreak remain high despite negative test results from one poultry farm, after confirmed results in Co Tyrone last week led to the culling of 64,000 birds at a commercial poultry premises.
A second outbreak was discovered at a farm in Pomeroy, Tyrone, while the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) confirmed on Monday that it is investigating a third suspected case of bird flu in Co. Tyrone.
Mr Renegan said that poultry farmers across the country are concerned about the threat of avian influenza, despite negative results taken from a poultry flock last Thursday providing a sense of relief to poultry farmers locally and the sector as whole. He said that “every possible step” is being taken to protect poultry in the county where the sector is so important.
Nationally, the poultry sector (including meat and eggs) produces an annual output of approximately €611 million at wholesale prices, with the poultry meat sector valued at €411 million at wholesale prices in 2019. Ireland remains a net importer of poultry meat, emphasising significant demand, along with the demand for egg consumption, with over 900 million eggs produced and consumed annually. This expenditure is a significant boost to rural economies and particularly in Co. Monaghan.
While the poultry sector represents a low proportion of national agricultural output, it is a vital industry with respect to employment, income and local economy particularly in Co. Monaghan, where the industry is concentrated.
The poultry sector supports over 5,000 jobs – with the vast majority, over 3,500 located in the border counties.
Mr Reneghan pointed out that many poultry farmers in the county operate a mixed farm system, with the poultry aspect operating as a more stable operation to combat other potentially loss-making or volatile enterprises on the farm.
“The likely reason that no avian influenza has been discovered in Monaghan yet is because farmers have taken so many precautions since they are really scared of an outbreak. We are doing everything within our power to avoid this because poultry is so important. As the county with the smallest farms nationally, it’s the poultry which farmers are relying on the most. We are doing so much, and we are aware of the threat we are facing,” the farmer said.
‘THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DO PHENOMENAL DAMAGE’
In Ireland, poultry production does not receive any income support or subsidies, unlike some other farming systems. However, it can still provide a stable and high return at farm level, and is viable where other farming systems may not be viable. Mr Reneghan pointed out that this is particularly the case in Co Monaghan, where the county is concentrated with smaller farms, because the landscape of the county is restrictive to the development of other large scale farming systems. A relatively low footprint is required when it comes to poultry farming.
“We are not just talking about the production of chicken, but poultry as a whole. 80 per cent of chicken and almost 90 per cent of eggs produced every week across the country come from counties Cavan and Monaghan. There are a huge number of commercial egg producers, organic egg producers, broiler breeders, broiler farmers, as well as Silver Hill Ducks, and turkey producers.
The farmer emphasised the importance of biosecurity as the most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry, or between poultry flocks. He said that all those who have poultry or kept birds must take strict precautions and exercise the highest standards of biosecurity to protect flocks.
“So many of these farms operate in Monaghan, from commercial egg farms to duck production. There’s a phenomenal amount of movement within the county. Our biosecurity is extremely high at the minute, because we are aware that this has the potential to do phenomenal damage.”
Mr Reneghan says that farmers expect such measures will stay in place for a significant length of time, at which point restrictions will be lifted and birds will be allowed to go outside.
“We haven’t got it in any farms at the moment, despite the suspected outbreak last week. There has been a total lockdown here. We’ve got disinfectant equipment, and nobody is allowed into the farms or into sheds. That’s all been reduced to an absolute minimum.
“With the number of farms and the cost of production, we work on huge volumes but at very small margins, so we have to do everything we can to protect what we have. If one farmer were to discover bird flu on one farm in the Republic, it’s the case that within a 3km radius, you could be looking at having to cull anything from 500 up to a million birds.”
“On a farm level, if a farmer had insurance for Avian influenza, you would be covered. However, it’s a different story if the farmer does not have insurance, so that is adding to fears,” Mr Reneghan added.
“There is a risk that farmers could have lost quite a substantial proportion of their birds. Financially, this could be crippling for the farmer.”
BACKYARD FLOCKS SERIOUS THREAT
The Monaghan poultry farmer said that backyard flocks – birds bought or hatched by a person to raise – are the “weakest link” in the battle against avian flu at present. These free range flocks could pose a serious threat for commercial property farms, according tot the former IFA spokesperson.
“Many people keep a few hens in the backyard, maybe six or ten chickens. These people would have very little in terms of facilities for housing them.
“You simply can’t keep chickens like that indoors all the time without the right resources – so there is a major risk that a chicken gets avian influenza. The concentration of poultry within County Tyrone, Monaghan and Cavan is huge. It’s unbelievable – someone with a backyard flock could unknowingly contract this. Avian flu is airborne, meaning it could land into a neighbour’s shed. We are especially exposed at this time of the year with no leaves on the trees and wind reduction,” Mr Reneghan added.
“It’s also a concern when we look at the farms in County Tyrone where bird flu has been detected. Where did the litter from those farms go? Did it go to the Republic of Ireland, because if it did, that’s horrendous. And where did the dead birds go? It’s an extremely stressful time.”
“People often fail to remember that because of the price that farmers are having to pay as primary producers, we are dealing with big volumes but tiny margins. That’s why a lot of farms have grown to be the size that they are. In Ireland, the smallest farms in Ireland are actually based in Monaghan. That’s a fact – and the reason is because it’s the poultry which is making them viable.
Since December, there have been six cases of avian influenza infection detected in wild birds in Ireland; one in Co. Galway in early December, one in Co. Dublin in later December, one in Co. Donegal in mid-January, one each in Co. Westmeath and Co. Wexford in late January, and a sixth detection in Co. Wicklow in mid-February.
Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any episodes of sick or dead wild birds to their Regional Veterinary Office or, if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026.