Vet Chat

Louise Blenkhorn

Louise Blenkhorn, BSc(Hons), BVM&S, MRCVS, is an independent pig veterinary consultant and a pig farmers daughter. Louise's private life is just as busy. A mother of two to Emma and Ava. Louise and her husband Neil, run a successful herd of Limousin beef cattle.

How does Avian Influenza (AI) affect me if I have pigs?

It will not have escaped anyone’s attention that the UK has had an incursion of Avian Influenza. At the moment, there have been 110 commercial cases and 282 wild bird confirmed cases across 29 species in 105 locations over 46 counties.

● IMMEDIATELY PRIOR to each move inspect the birds on the premises for signs of Avian Flu. If there are any signs of Avian Flu the pig movement should NOT take place and you should call your vet or APHA. ● Keep copies of the general licence AND the eAML2 licence to show as a record of the movement. ● Follow guidelines on the cleansing of the vehicle being used for transportation. ● Follow guidelines on the cleansing of clothing and footwear.

When creating a movement licence on eAML2 which is within either a protection or surveillance zone, the system will show an alert which will give links to further information. The system WILL NOT stop you from doing your usual pig licence.

All poultry keepers should follow Biosecurity Guidance for the Prevention Zone and should be deterring wild birds from pig units – inc. netting ponds and standing water.

So how might that affect you if you have pigs?

It doesn’t…unless you find yourself in an AI Surveillance or Protection Zone OR If you are in an AI 10km Surveillance zone or 3km Protection zone… NO POULTRY = NO RESTRICTIONS ANY POULTRY AT ALL = RESTRICTIONS

If you are in an AI Restriction Zone and have ANY poultry (including even one pet chicken) then you need an extra license to move pigs. Create a standard pig movement, as usual, using eAML2. Print a copy of the EXD247 (AI) (E+W) ‘General licence for movement of mammals from or to premises in the Protection Zone or Surveillance Zone where poultry or other captive birds are kept’. THESE LICENCES MUST BE PRINTED AND KEPT WITH YOU DURING YOUR JOURNEY. This general licence requires that you adhere to certain conditions. In brief, you MUST: