Turkey farmers in the UK are taking precautions to protect their flocks from a disease that they believe could wipe out turkey stocks ahead of the lucrative Christmas period.
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The blackhead disease, which is fatal to turkeys but does not pose a risk to humans, has broken out in other parts of Europe, and farmers fear it could be spread to UK flocks by migrating birds, reported BBC News Online.
The disease can also live in the soil, so high-end, free-range turkeys are particularly at risk.
Many farmers are so worried by the threat of the disease that they have introduced foot-and-mouth style hygiene precautions, such as foot disinfection baths at farm gates. They are also making sure turkey feed is securely stored, to prevent other birds from accessing it.
Emtryl, a drug that used to be added to turkey feed to protect against the disease, was withdrawn by the European Union earlier this year, due to fears it may cause cancer in humans.
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By GlobalDataThe National Farmers’ Union, however, said it was confident that current hygiene measures would be sufficient and that the Christmas turkey supply would not suffer, the BBC reported.
Ten million turkeys are being reared in the UK for Christmas.
