BIOSECURITY AND IT’S EFFECTS IN POULTRY
Biosecurity creates hygienic conditions within the poultry house to minimize the adverse effects of a disease, optimize bird performance, and welfare and provide assurance on food safety issues
Poor bird health has a negative impact on all aspects of flock management and production, including growth rate, FCR, mortality, condemnations, processing traits, and bird welfare
Best practices for Biosecurity:
A biosecurity program should be
-Robust
-Mandatory
-Practical
-Cost-effective
-Part of the staff training
-Financially resourced
-Reviewed regularly
Potential routes of disease exposure are:
-Feed
-Litter
-Chicks
-Rodents
-Equipment and vehicles
-Other poultry livestock & pets
-Water
-Hatchery
-Insects
-People
-Wild birds
-Housing
THINGS TO NOTE:
- Prevent unauthorized access to the farm, all people entering the farm should shower on and change clothing
- Maintain a visitor record
- Hands and boots should be sanitized when entering and leaving the individual houses
- Clean and disinfect all equipment before bringing it into a house
- Visit the youngest flock first
- Wherever possible use an “all-in/all-out” cycle
- Clean up feed spills immediately
- Store litter materials and feed inside an enclosed storage bin or building
- Do not leave equipment, building materials, or litter lying around
- Keep wild birds out of all houses and maintain an effective rodent/vermin program
