Poultry farmer's fears heighten after Fota outbreak of bird flu

IFA poultry chair and poultry farmer Nigel Sweetnam, at his farm in Knockduff, Kinsale, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan
Following the recent outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu in Fota Wildlife Park, talks of localised lockdowns to safeguard Irish flocks have been proposed.
Irish Farmers’ Association poultry chair Nigel Sweetnam said talks with the Department of Agriculture regarding options to protect flocks from the H5N1 bird influenza, with suggestions of localised lockdowns being proposed, and what that might look like for poultry farmers and individuals with backyard flocks.