Poultry (Layers) and Game Bird Initiative

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:23:00 +0000

Getting on top of worms

From: http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/18/04/2012/132498/Getting-on-top-of-worms.htm

This 'ask the expert' question and answer session by Farmers Weekly and Poultry World's Philip Clarke looks at worms; how they affect layers and what signs to look out for. Questions are answered by poultry specialist vets, Alastair Johnston and Alan Benyon. Alan has also been a trainer for the South West and Game Birds Initiative.

Below are the first two questions and answers, for the full article please follow the link above.

1. Which poultry species suffer from worms: layers, breeders, broilers, turkeys, ducks, geese, game?

AJ: All of these can suffer from worm infestations. The worms tend to be specific for each species, although certain types of worms can cross-infect different types of bird. For example, gapeworm (Syngamus trachea) can infect chickens and game birds.

2. Where do the worms come from, and where and when is the threat greatest?

AB: Worms can be found in poultry litter, regardless if housed or free range. The actual worm infestation is the result of worm eggs and larvae being brought into the house on footwear, by vermin, insects, wild birds or vehicles, or it may be already present in the surrounding ground. The bird ingests the egg and it develops into an adult egg-laying worm. As soon as the litter is contaminated it is practically impossible to break the cycle as the worms, now inside the bird, lay copious amounts of eggs, which are passed into the litter from droppings. Free-range poultry also have access to earth worms and snails which can be the intermediate hosts to some species of worm.

AJ: Wet conditions in the autumn and winter can encourage increases in worm numbers. However, either the re-use of poultry litter or a poor clean out of poultry houses can allow a build up of worm eggs to occur. The introduction of poultry on to laying farms from rearing sites with worm infestations already present is another potential risk.

Participant Feedback

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:16:00 +0000

What do participants say about our training events...
The project has one year left to run and at this stage we thought you all might be as interested as we are in what participants are saying about the quality and relevance of our training events and courses.
We collect feedback forms from each event, which include questions and space to add comments. Here is a summary of responses.
Q 1. Did the course meet your expectations?
Across our training courses all of our respondents answered either ‘definitely' or ‘yes' to this question.
Our course with the highest number of events and attendees, Foundation Poultry Health and Welfare, averaged 70.5% of delegates saying that it definitely did and the rest saying simply, YES!
The most successful course for meeting your expectations was the Advanced Rodent Control, receiving an 80% ‘definitely' response. Followed, in second place by the HSE approved Emergency First Aid at Work for Poultry Farmers with 74.3% of participants responding ‘definitely'.
Q2. Was the course set at appropriate level?
Again responses across the courses were positive with 48.1% of respondents saying ‘definitely' and the majority of the rest saying ‘yes'. Eight respondents indicated that some of the earlier evening conferences the project has supported were ‘not really' at the right level; the good thing is that these were followed with comments like "Make it more relevant to the producer", which we have done, with more recent conferences all receiving very positive feedback.
Q4. Was the course well prepared?
With a clear lead, the response to this question was ‘definitely', again with no negative responses.
Q5. Did you feel able to participate?
Also, no negative responses, which is really important to us as we want our training to be demand led and respond to participant's needs. Positive comments tying into this question included, ‘Felt able to ask questions' and ‘Good that the trainer adapted to participants questions'.
Wayne Simmons, Project Manager says "The first bit of good news is that across the board the project is receiving very positive feedback from participants. The second bit of good news is that participants are willing to tell us what more they want, which is excellent because this means we can make training as relevant and enjoyable for them as it can be".
We are always looking for feedback and suggestions from participants and if you would like to get in touch with us about the project you can contact layers.project@duchy.ac.uk
We are also looking for participant case studies to show the wider reaching benefits of the project for layer and game bird businesses. You can see existing project case studies here and if you would like to be a case study we would love to hear from you

Layers Conference Tomorrow Evening

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:44:00 +0000

The 7th WCLA conference will be taking place on Wednesday 8th Feb 6pm - 9pm at Strawberry Fields, Lifton Downs.
see www.poultryandgame.co.uk for more details or call Rachel Watkins on 07966558386

South West Layers and Game Bird Initiative new Health Discussion Group covered in Western Morning News

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:49:00 +0000

A South West Layers training event held at Duchy's Rosewarne Campus recently hosted Peter Hall, farming editor of the Western Morning News. For what he had to say see below or visit http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Health-Group-Cornish-egg-producers/story-13148001-detail/story.htm

Health Group for Cornish egg producers

If you have a farming problem, it's not a bad idea to ask another farmer for advice – or better still several who are involved in the same sector.
That's the thinking behind the drive to establish a Health Planning Group of Cornish egg producers by the West Country Layers' Association, which already has a successful 12-strong group up and running in mid Devon.

"It's working well there and it would be a great help to Cornish egg producers," the association's chairman, specialist vet Stuart Young, told me. "They can examine each others' problems, whatever they are, and often come up with a solution."

He was speaking during a break in a training seminar at Duchy College Rosewarne. Attended by a cadre of 10 local producers, with businesses of all shapes and sizes, the poultry health and welfare foundation course dealt with a vast spectrum of problems and advice, from red-mite infestation to calcium supply for older birds, low sodium leading to cannibalism, mycotoxins in feed, pecking, and killing off flies. And there was a special post-mortem dissecting session in the laboratory.

The association was established last year as part of the South West Healthy Livestock Initiative, funded by the RDPE, with the aim of promoting poultry and game-bird health through conferences, training sessions, diagnostic testing and knowledge forums.
The four-hour foundation course I attended was really a beginners' session, but it was just one of many initiatives, and an advanced course is planned for September 14 at Colliton Barton, Broadhembury.

Rachel Watkins, the association secretary, said: "The egg-laying sector of the poultry industry is under a lot of pressure at the moment, with producers being driven out of business through lack of return. Anything that can help must be worthwhile."
She may be contacted on 07966 558386.

Credit: Peter Hall, Western Morning News, Wednesday, August 17, 2011
For source visit: http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Health-Group-Cornish-egg-producers/story-13148001-detail/story.html

South West Layers and Game Bird Events come to Cornwall

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:59:00 +0000

Egg producers in Cornwall can now benefit from training and skills events taking place for them closer to home.

The South West Layers and Game Bird Project has gained a great reputation for providing timely and relevant training and information events to the egg industry across the South West since it began in July 2010. The RDPE funded programme is delivered by Duchy College Rural Business School in partnership with The WCLA and provides part funding to active poultry farmers to attend the training courses, which focus on health and welfare, operational efficiency and bio security. This summer three training sessions will be held in Cornwall, so if you are a farmer with chickens or egg producer in Cornwall now is the time to book and get involved with this important scheme.

On the 22nd June there will be a Pullet Rearing Course held at the Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge. This course is ideal for anyone considering switching to rearing their own pullets or those who already do produce pullets. The course covers the fundamentals of facilities set up and resources needed as well as what to do when and how to ensure health and welfare best practice on your site. The course is £18.84 part funded for eligible participants and a lunch is included at the event.

On the 13th July there will be a Pest and Rodent Control course held at Duchy College Stoke Climsland site near Callington. This training focuses on common pests to laying hens, including red mite and flies, which can cause health concerns, as well as rodents. It looks at best practice for safe and effective use of a range of control methods and products. The course is £15.00 part funded for eligible participants and a lunch is included at the event.

On the 10th August there will be a Poultry Health and Welfare Foundation course held at Duchy College Rosewarne Campus near . This training deals with common illnesses in laying hens, exploring basic bird anatomy and diagnostics. It is an ideal course for anyone wanting to gain an improved understanding of flock health, either starting from a basic level or wanting a recap. The course is £20.00 part funded for eligible participants and a lunch is included at the event.

Apart from offering great quality training on subjects which are really key to practical egg production an additional benefit of these courses is that they offer and optional qualification awarded by Edexcel. Having an accredited certificate on these type of vocational courses is becoming more important as records of due diligence for employers and those looking to progress in the egg industry. Already over 55 Egg Producers from across the region have received additional qualifications through the programme to add to their portfolio of due diligence.

To find out more about any of these courses and other activities on the South West Layers and Game Bird project please visit: www.poultryandgame.com or contact the Rural Business School on 0845 4587 485

£2,000 poultry training grant up for grabs

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Tue, 31 May 2011 13:04:00 +0000

From Farmers Weekly

Roger Ransom
Friday 27 May 2011 10:00

Now is the time to prepare your entry to become 2011 Pfizer Trainee of the Year - an award, organized in association with Poultry World, that is helping past winners to progress their careers.
Last year's winner, Ben Pollard, is using the £2000 training grant to pursue an HNC in poultry production at the Scottish Agricultural College in Ayr.

"Ben was thrilled to win the Pfizer award," said Jan Morris, human resources director of Aviagen. "He believes this qualification will provide him with the opportunity to link his extensive practical experience of poultry in Scotland and India with a deeper understanding of production techniques and technologies, as well as the underlying scientific principles."

Ben, who is 27, is working on a project to review chicken physiology with colleagues across the farming base and the in-house veterinary team, conducting post-mortem evaluations and gathering data at various stages of bird development.
James Porritt, Pfizer poultry manager, said this is just the kind of training they are keen to encourage. "Managing a poultry farm is no longer a simple job, with constantly rising health and welfare standards as well as the need to achieve strict performance and financial targets.
"But it is a career with excellent opportunities to advance for those with the talent and ambition."

HOW TO ENTER
Entry forms can be downloaded at www.fwi.co.uk/poultrytraining, or obtained by emailing poultryworld@rbi.co.uk or telephoning 020 8652 4921.
Entries must be submitted by 29 July.

The South West Poultry (Layers) and Game Bird Initiative now has videos

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:27:00 +0000

We have posted some exciting videos up on our new You Tube profile. Not only is there a post mortem of a pheasant from the Game Bird Health and Welfare course; there is also a snippet from MP Neil Parish talking at the 5th WCLA conference 2012 and Beyond! Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/user/layersandgame

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Wed, 25 May 2011 10:43:00 +0000

At the wcla conference in taunton; can't wait to hear from mo Neil Parish

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Mon, 16 May 2011 18:14:00 +0000

FSA to allow food from cloned animal offspring

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:18:00 +0000

The FSA has published a paper on cloning that will be discussed at its next board meeting on May 25 confirming that it is to change its advice to Ministers, following a public consultation on the subject.
The paper states: “FSA is minded to adopt the position taken by the European Commission and others, that food obtained from the descendants of clones of cattle and pigs does not require authorisation under the novel foods regulation.”
Until now, the agency has advised that authorisation was required from the FSA before meat or milk from a clone or its descendants could be sold to consumers. This came to prominence when the agency declared the actions of Stephen Inness ‘illegal’, after the Scottish farmer was found to have sold meat from the offspring of cloned animals into the food chain.
But after its meeting in December 2010 the Board concluded that, based on the current evidence and advice from the European Food Safety Authority and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, there are no food safety grounds for regulating foods from the descendants of cloned cattle and pigs.
Since then, the agency has sought the views of stakeholders and will confirm to the Board on May 25 that the interpretation of the Novel Foods Regulation does not apply to the immediate offspring and further descendants of cloned cattle and pigs.
This conclusion applies specifically to the use of cloning for cattle and pigs because the use of cloning technology in other food-producing animals is currently ‘limited’.
The FSA is stressing that cloned cattle and pigs are still within the scope of the legislation. Any foods from cloned cattle or pigs would therefore require pre-market authorisation by the agency before being sold into the food chain.
The change in the Agency’s advice brings it into line with the position of the European Commission.
Farming Minister Jim Paice has already indicated the Government is unlikely to require labelling of meat and milk from cloned animals. In December, he told the EFRA committee of MPs that while the Government recognised consumer power, consumer information and the right to choose, it is not possible to detect whether meat and milk is from a cloned animal. It is therefore impossible for mandatory labelling to be implemented effectively, he said.

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/livestock/livestock-news/fsa-to-allow-food-from-cloned-animal-offspring/38969.article

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:17:00 +0000

Brussels' stance on EID stuns farm leaders

FW reporters Monday 16 May 2011 10:38

The EU Commission has stunned farming leaders by announcing it will tolerate only 100% accuracy from farmers using electronic identification for sheep. The EU stance could mean any failure to record sheep movements accurately will result in single farm payment penalties.The NFU voiced its dismay at the announcement, adding that it had consistently stated 100% accuracy, 100% of the time, was an impossible goal when reading and recording individual sheep movements.

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2011/05/16/126804/Brussels39-stance-on-EID-stuns-farm-leaders.htm

noreply@blogger.com (Charlotte Evans) — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:06:00 +0000

This is the Blog site for the on-line home of the South West Poultry (Layers) and Game Birds Initiative

We provide funding and support for training and advice events for the Egg Industry and Game Keepers in the South West.
On this site you can:
Find out what activities, events and training we run and how you can get involved
Explore case studies from existing participants to find out how they benefited from the project
Keep informed with latest industry news and opinion updates
Interact with other egg producers and game keepers to discuss issues and questions around the industry
Link up with support and advice from our project and use the site to find details of local industry suppliers and professionals
The South West Poultry and Game Birds Initiative is co-ordinated by the Rural Business School at Duchy College and has been developed and implemented in partnership with the West Country Layers Association (WCLA).
The project is funded through the South West Healthy Livestock Initiative (SWHLI), part of the Rural Development Programme for England. For more information on the overall SWHLI project click here.
This project is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for European Development 2007-2013: Europe investing in rural areas. SW Layers and Game Bird Initiative is a Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) funded initiative, through the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA), administered by Duchy College with Defra as the managing authority.