Poultry production in the Netherlands has to change for a prosperous future, so says a study recently carried out by researchers of Wageningen University and Research Centre .

"This is a mutual task of poultry producers, consumers, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and knowledge institutions. The outbreak of avian influenza in the beginning of 2003 in the centre of the Netherlands made the urgency of change quite clear," a spokesperson for the study said.

Currently Dutch poultry production is internationally orientated and about 70 per cent of the production is as yet exported. The study confirms that the size of Dutch poultry production in the future will be directly related to the changes that should be implemented.

Geographically, the Netherlands is very well located in an area with about 150 million prosperous consumers. Paris, London, Berlin are all within 500 km. Currently production for the world market is not cost-effective because of relative high costs of labour and other production factors in the Netherlands. On the other hand, consumers in the North Western part of Europe have more and more specific demands with regards to food quality and production methods (e.g. an animal and environmental friendly husbandry), but, according to the study, they are not ready to pay the costs of these demands.

The study also highlights the belief that Dutch poultry production, both of eggs and meat, has a future in this part of Europe. This is the case provided that food safety is guaranteed, product innovation and development continue, producers adapt to trends and new production methods comply with regulations.

Greater structure required

New structures in poultry have to be developed to replace the dutch 'poldermodel' which is currently based on consensus and collective structures, the research suggests. Chain reversal, individual entrepreneurship, chain concepts and co-operation in the production chain are key issues.

Currently direct and indirect contacts between poultry farms are the main risk for outbreak of infectious diseases. The high concentration of farms and animals in the Netherlands as such is not a factor in the chance of outbreak on an individual farm. However, the high density does increase the effects of an outbreak enormously, as well in terms of further spreading of the disease as in terms of costs.

The study suggests that in order to prevent further outbreaks strict rules and directions for contact structures be implemented. ICT-based systems that give immediate and accurate information on all professional contacts of farms, transport vehicles and persons involved, are technically possible and necessary in whatever poultry production the Netherlands will have in future.

Theoretically, concentration of agro-production chains to different specific regions is a good concept to reduce the effects of disease outbreaks and might have advantages in relation to logistics and use of space (which is limited in the Netherlands). However, the free market, family farm structure, the investments required and the attitude of the general public make this development unlikely in the near future.

Avian influenza does not distinguish between poultry in battery housing or free range systems, nor between modern highly productive chickens or chickens of old breeds or kept for their plumage and colour. Free range systems have a higher risk of contact between poultry and wild birds. In this respect the free range systems have a higher risk for introduction of diseases (those related to food safety included). Measures aimed at improving animal welfare through more natural housing systems have to be balanced against the increased hygienic risks. (International) consumer and animal welfare organisations should play an important role in decisions on this balance.

Vaccination

Reconsidering the non-vaccination policy in the EU is urgent and has also a rationale in the technological developments in marker vaccines, the study emphasises. The least that should be considered is a vaccination policy for zoo and hobby/companion animals and rare species and breeds. Effective monitoring and early warning systems can reduce the effects of an outbreak of an infectious disease to a great extent. Such systems are as yet not in place, the report concludes.

Currently there are approximately 4000 poultry farms for eggs and meat production in the Netherlands, with about one hundred million animals. The annual egg production is more then ten billion, while the meat production is about 900.000 tons. These figures represent how significant the industry is and how important the implementation of preventive measures is going to be in order to protect the industry's future.