Beware poultry litter botulism
The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) is warning farmers of the risks to livestock from poultry litter used as bedding material.
The use of poultry (most often broiler) litter can lead to outbreaks of botulism in bedded livestock - predominantly cattle - and some farms have suffered repeated outbreaks of disease as a result of continual usage of the litter during the winter housing period.
Having always advised against the use of poultry litter as bedding, the AHVLA is now reminding farmers that using poultry litter as bedding material is an illegal practice under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2011 (and similar legislation in Scotland and Wales).
Robert Hogg, a veterinary investigation officer, at the AHVLA said: "We continue to see cases of botulism in cattle and sheep exposed to broiler litter, mainly whilst at pasture. That is why we advise against the use of litter on any grassland, as there is concern that the litter many contain botulinum toxin which is known to remain potent for long periods.
"Animals have become affected through direct access to litter when it has been heaped or spread in the field where they are grading, and indirectly from litter in neighbouring field, possibly as the result of movement of material in the litter by scavenging birds and animals. Animals fed silage made from field fertilised with broiler litter are also known to have succumbed to disease.
He concluded: "We therefore recommend livestock are kept away from litter waiting to be spread, that litters applied only to arable land, and that it is ploughed in immediately."
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With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
