Culling during a disease outbreak: animals that may be spared
Find out which birds and animals may be spared from culling during an outbreak of an exotic animal disease.
During an outbreak of an exotic notifiable animal disease government may need to cull (kill) animals to control disease spread. Certain categories of animal and bird may be spared from culling if this doesn’t interfere with efforts to control the disease.
Decisions to spare are made on a case by case basis. A vet will carry out a risk assessment of the premises where the animal is kept. Other factors, including the potential implications of failing to cull, will also be considered. There are no guarantees an animal or bird will be spared.
Animals that may be spared
Government will consider sparing animals kept:
- in a zoo or a wildlife park
- for scientific research or breeding for such research
- in a premises approved for trade in semen, ova or embryos within the EU
- for display or educational purposes
- for purposes related to conservation of a species or genetic resource (see breeds at risk section of this guide)
Poultry and other kept birds that may be spared
Government will consider sparing poultry and other birds that are kept:
- in a circus
- in a pet shop
- in a registered zoo or a wildlife park
- for scientific research or breeding for such research
- for purposes related to conservation of a species or genetic resource (see breeds at risk section of this guide)
Breeds at risk that may be spared
The Farm Animal Genetic Resources Committee (FAnGR) publishes the UK breeds at risk list. Breeds on this list are rare in the UK and government will consider sparing them during a cull to preserve their genetic resource.
The UK breeds at risk list is not the same as the separate Native Breeds at Risk list, which covers animals eligible for grants for grazing under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
Registering UK breeds at risk
If you own animals from the UK breeds at risk list and want government to consider sparing them, it is up to you to alert government.
You can tell APHA officials about any at risk breeds if they visit your farm or premises during a disease outbreak, but it is better if you send a completed animal breeds at risk registration form to APHA. This information may help us respond to disease outbreaks.
Proposing new UK breeds at risk
The breeds at risk list is not closed.
If you think there is a breed that should be added to the list, you can tell FAnGR, which is responsible for the list.
You will need to explain how the breed meets the criteria for inclusion on the breeds at risk list. Our proforma which covers evidence that proves a breed meets the definitions may help you to make a case for your breed.
Updates to this page
Published 26 August 2014Last updated 25 January 2018 + show all updates
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Updated the poultry and other kept birds that may be spared section: there are no poultry breeds on the current list of breeds at risk.
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Breeds at risk form rebranded to APHA
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AHVLA documents have been re-assigned to the new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
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First published.