The Ministry of Agriculture immediately imposes a national cage and shielding obligation for poultry. This is happening after bird flu was diagnosed at a chicken farm in Drenthe last week. “The animals are better protected against possible contamination indoors,” says poultry farmer Jacco Wisserhof of the farmers’ organization LTO.
Experts found this week that the risk of bird flu has increased, which is why the ministry has now decided that poultry farmers must keep their animals indoors. Agriculture and horticulture organization LTO supports the decision. “It is wise to take good measures now to prevent worse. Outside, the chickens are more vulnerable and there is a greater chance of being infected,” explains poultry farmer Jacco Wisserhof.
He is a member of the poultry department at LTO and hoped that the cage requirement would not be necessary this year. “It’s always a shock when you hear that bird flu has broken out. As a keeper, you hope that the disease will not break out, but unfortunately that has happened.”
The hobby chickens also have to be kept in a cage
The coop obligation applies to both farms and hobbyists who keep chickens. The exception for exhibitions of high-risk birds will also be withdrawn by the ministry. The measure is intended to reduce the risk of infection with bird flu as much as possible. Wisserhof supports the decision and hopes that all hobbyists will also comply with the rules. “That helps the big companies enormously.”
Heavy measure
According to the ministry, the obligation is “a severe measure” for commercial companies and hobbyists. Yet there is now a national obligation. This is partly because the disease is very unpredictable. The ministry indicates that it is closely monitoring the situation.
In Gasselternijveenschemond, Drenthe, 71,000 chickens were culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) after the outbreak. Animals are also not allowed to be transported within a 10 kilometer zone. In our province, animals are still allowed to be transported.
Cancelled
Bird flu was last detected in the Netherlands almost a year ago. The housing obligation was in force from November last year until the summer. On July 4, the shelter-in-place requirement was lifted in the last region (the Gelderse Vallei).