Birds culled on four more farms

POULTRY from four more farms in the Diss area were being culled on Wednesday as a precaution against the spread bird flu.

All four farms are in the restricted zone - and the culls were being undertaken although there was no evidence that any birds on them had been infected with the virus.

The action was being undertaken because there had been a “Dangerous Contact,” with known movements between them and Redgrave Hall immediately before bird flu was discovered on the farm on the border of Norfolk and Suffolk.

Three of the farms are just over the border in south Norfolk, and one is in the Suffolk village of Botesdale - next to Redgrave.

All are owned by Redgrave Farms Ltd.

Operations manager Geoffrey Buchanan said: “There is a direct link between Redgrave Park farm and these four other farms as they share the same farming staff.

“Each farm is too small for a dedicated staff, so a small team of people runs this cluster of farms.

“Despite bio-security measures when entering and leaving the farms and the fact that there are no results to indicate the presence of Avian Influenza at these farms, Defra has decided that there is the possibility of a direct link.

“While naturally saddened to see so many birds culled, we fully agree that the primary concern has to be the containment of the outbreak.

“In total, 22,000 free range turkeys will be culled, in addition to the birds at Redgrave Park farm.”

Mr Buchanan added: “We would also like to respond to some of the speculation about the cause of the outbreak.

“Redgrave Park is a free range farm where birds are kept in paddocks during the day and have housing available for night time.

“All of their feed and water is provided indoors in order to discourage wildfowl. The turkeys are prevented from accessing the lake on the property by permanent electrified fencing, empty ground and a farm road.”