A Fabulous FED

Grant Brereton reports from the second big national poultry show of the year, The Federation Championship Show at Stafford

- Grant Brereton

The 2017 Federation Show was approached with a certain degree of trepidation – understandably because the discovery of bird flu in Norfolk on the eve of the 2016 show made for a very nervy event, overshadowed by the presence of DEFRA officials. Although the show went ahead, a new prevention zone measure was enforced immediately, which meant that all birds had to be kept sheltered or indoors until further notice, and this meant that all shows were cancelled until May of 2017. When shows were given the green light to go ahead, a new set of measures was required to be adhered to by all show committees. One of these measures was the inspection of all entries for signs of ill health on arrival at the show, and this was carried out with great efficiency at the 2017 event at Stafford.