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Christmas turkey and ham supplies are facing pressure this festive season as UK farmers grapple with a challenging winter, industry leaders have warned.

A wave of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has hit wild birds and poultry farms across the country , piling pressure on turkey producers in the crucial run-up to Christmas , with some farms forced to cull flocks to contain the spread.

At the same time, a major African swine fever outbreak in Spain has triggered import restrictions on pork products, sparking concerns over the availability of festive favourites such as ham, chorizo and serrano.

Bad season of bird flu

Sixty-two cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 have been confirmed on UK farms since October, 50 of which were reported in

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