how to maintaining biosecurity in poultry farms?

What is Biosecurity

• Biosecurity  is  an  integrated  approach  encompassing  policy  and  regulatory frameworks  to  analyze  and  manage  risks  in  the  areas  of  animal  health  and  food  safety, including associated environmental risk.

• An integrated biosecurity programme is an application on logical and sound principles specific  to  an enterprise,  monitoring  of  disease  status, evaluation  of  ongoing  poultry  farm operations  on continuous  basis with an objective  to  contain the  diseases  at  bare minimum level.

• The  farms  should  strive  to  maximize  the  benefits  achievable  through  effective biosecurity  and  to  be  consistent  with  HACCP  (Hazard  Analysis,  Critical  Control  Points) principles  which  can  be  developed  easily.

Checklist for Implementing an Effective Poultry Biosecurity Plan

1. Secure perimeter; Keep “restricted” signs posted at drive entrances.

1. No trees or dense foliage around sheds, no roosting site for wild birds.

1. Restrict entry to essential personnel and record entry.

1. Keep poultry houses locked; fasten from inside while inside.

1. Provide boots and coveralls for staff and visitors for each shed.

1. Staff should change into dedicated/disposable boots and coveralls upon entering each different shed. Clean footbaths may be appropriate within a shed if changed regularly.

1. When caring for flocks, the resident flock manager should keep clothing (including shoes, boots, hat and gloves) separate from those worn off the farm.

1. After caring for the flock, change clothes completely and wash hands and arms before leaving premises.

1. Flock manager and other caretakers should not visit any other poultry flocks.

1. If possible, provide show facilities for visitors.

1. Remove poultry mortality daily. Store or dispose them off by an approved method.

1. Ensure staff and visitors are aware of the dangers of raising or visiting other avian species and their contact with your flock.

1. Essential visitors  such  as  owners,  meter  readers,  service  personnel,  fuel  and  feed delivery drivers, and poultry catchers and haulers must wear protective outer clothing, including boots and headgear, before being allowed near the flocks.

1. Monitor vehicles entering premises for poultry pickup or delivery, feed delivery, fuel delivery, etc., to determine if they have been scrubbed down and the undercarriage and tyres spray-disinfected before entering.

1. Minimize entry of equipment, supplies, etc. and take appropriate precautions such as disinfection, removal from shipping boxes, etc.

1. Clean and disinfect all coops, crates and other poultry containers or equipment before and after use.

1. Maintain a strong vector control program for insect, mammalian and avian vectors. Maintain bait  stations  (bait  stations  must  be  numbered  and  a  map  kept  of  their location; bait stations must be placed at regular intervals around the sheds), clean up feed spills, prevent entry by wild animals (rats, birds, insects) or pets (dogs, cats). Use screens in windows, air inlets, doors feed bin exhausts etc.

1. Maintain minimal vegetation and no debris around poultry facilities to lessen food and shelter opportunities for vectors.

1. Ensure that feed, water and bedding sources are free from infectious agents.

1. Review your biosecurity plan and flock health program, including vaccination protocols, with veterinarian on a regular basis.

1. Sick or  dying  birds  should  be  sent  to  a  state  laboratory  for    Commercial growers should contact their flock supervisor.

Major Routes for Disease and Pathogen Transmission

• Poultry: transfer of birds from production area to other production area and dead bird disposal

• Other animals: wild birds, feral and domestic animals, including other livestock and pets, insects, rodents—rats/mice etc., domestic birds

• People: farm personnel and family members living on site; contractors, maintenance personnel, neighbours,  service-person,  visitors;  disease  can  be  transmitted  by,  for example, hands, boots, clothing, dirty hair etc.

• Equipment: Feeders, waterers, nests, debeakers, vaccinators, sprayers, burners etc.

• Vehicles: Feed Trucks, Product & waste collection vehicles

• Air: transmission as an aerosol or dust

• Water supply:  water  supplies  may  become  contaminated  with  faeces  from  contact with avian or other animal species

• Feed: feed  may  be  contaminated  by  the  raw  materials  used,  post-production  and during transport,  or  by exposure to  rodents  and  birds on  the property. Bacteria and mould in poor quality or damaged feed may also be a concern. An integrated Biosecurity programme must be regarded as  an application  on logical and  sound  principles  specific  to  enterprise,  monitoring  of  disease  status,  evaluation  of ongoing poultry farm operations on continuous basis with an objective to contain the diseases at bare minimum level.

1. Isolation i.e. isolation of sick birds

1. Traffic control i.e. controlling human and vehicular traffic in the farm

1. Sanitation i.e. keeping the farm clean

x

Implementing any of these suggestions will reduce the risk of disease entry. Each additional step implemented will further reduce biosecurity risks.

The following are major routes through which the diseases get transmitted to birds. Always take care of these routes for the implementation of effective biosecurity plan.

The  location  and  structural  biosecurity  principles  are  to  be  followed  at  the  very beginning,  while  setting  up  the  farm.  Operational biosecurity measures in general revolve around three basic principles viz:

It is of utmost importance that the birds must be free from stress for which overcrowding should be avoided, appropriate ventilation and temperature must be regulated to make the environment ambient.  Cleanliness, good quality feed/premix and potable drinking water must be ensured.  These basic management measures will reduce immunosuppression thus making the birds hardy to pathogens.