EPS-Newsletter January 2010
EPS friends, the platform wishes all of you a very good and successful poultry year.
European Poultry Society
The entry of an increasing number of foreign poultry amateurs is the reason we recently changed our name in European Poultry Society and adapted the styling of our website accordingly.
News and our NPS activities will from now onwards be standard published in three languages so that all our friends can be reached optimally.
Animal killings
Despite the government, after the heartrending bird flu crisis of 2003, had promised the citizens not to kill healthy animals anymore, we are confronted at the moment with the killing of healthy animals. This time it is the goats, victim of the fight against Q- fever. Again thousands of healthy animals are victim of mismanagement in The Hague, where Ministers and civil servants involved did not learn anything from recent history. Q-fever took place in our country already in 2007 and reveals it self as the most concentrated in the world.
Cause:
Without prejudice our government keeps supporting the extensive
livestock industry by allowing them the starting of mega livestock farms,
whether this concerns pig, goat or poultry farms. Our country actually houses more than 300 million livestock animals! In ever swelling cases these animals are preventively treated with all kinds of antibiotics. No, the policy to keep allowing the extensive livestock industry to build mega livestock farms in the Netherlands is the cause that very infectious and fast moving viruses and bacteria transported via livestock animals keep hanging as the sward of Damocles over our public health.
And on top of it all the disreputable MRSA- bacterium already now seems resistant against all kinds of existing antibiotics. And especially this is swept under the carpet by our government.
Winter weather
At the moment it is winter weather with severe frost and a lot of snow. Therefore think about our birds, they find it a hard period! Domestic ducks, in particular the heavy races, watch out for their feathers! Especially, our “Donalds”, the German Peking duck is troubled by the continual freezing cold, the vanes of their feathers come loose, notably those on the back. Therefore make them stay after sunset in a night-house; this is the best for their feathers.
Merelbeke
All Swedish ducks and geese that were shown in Merelbeke have found a new home so that their future is ensured.
Also all Ayam Cerami, the chicken of which everything is black, even its blood and bones, have found new owners. If amongst you somebody is interested in the Ayam Cerami, we still have a pair left.
EPS agenda 2010
Pease find below the activities the EPS-platform plans for their friends in 2010.
30 April
Traditionally we will pay a visit to our sister association in Groß Felda in Germany. This time with a very special tinge. On April 30th EPS will conclude a pact of friendship with the poultry association Leidecken. At night, in their cosy clubhouse, next to their beautiful “Zuchtanlage”, we all will enjoy a huge schnitzel with French fries for € 10 only.
01 May
We will pay a visit the “Zuchtanlage” in Groß Felda where numerous beautiful poultry races can be admired. We will conclude our visit to Germany with their famous BBQ.
The overnight stays will as always be organised against fair costs.
30 May
The yearly NPS-BBQ will be organised on the estate “De Varsel”. The details of the entire program will follow later. We can give away something already now though. From 38 breeders, that breed domestic waterfowl, we collected data.
Dirk de Jong discusses “The Feather”. For our German friends an interpreter will be present.
JanWillem Hondelink will show how easily one can make a beautiful means of transport out of a cardboard box.
Also this year you will be able to win beautiful prizes, like nesting boxes for special birds, during the famous game “Boules De Varsel”. Herewith the EPS supports the local bird shelter!
If you want to discuss poultry race or a specific poultry item this will be possible on the NPS-day. There is plenty of competence present. You are kindly requested to mail your questions in advance so enabling the experts concerned to prepare themselves.
With the NPS-BBQ, under the direction of “gill master” Ad van Noort the NPS-day will be closed.
The contribution for this NPS-day is €10 per person, which gives you food and beverage.
In due course you will receive an invitation and the final program of the NPS-day in Someren.
Mid-June
On a date still to be fixed, it will be somewhere mid-June, we will pay a visit to our poultry friends in Denmark and Sweden.
All overnight stays will be organised and Ad van Noort will sponsor the fuel for one 4 person-car.
All those that presented themselves in advance for this journey will receive an invitation and program separately.
Still more in 2010
The platform plans to organise for 2010 additional activities. As soon as