Biosecurity Project

Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 8

Biosecurity for poultry producers

- The introduction of highly pathogenic, contagious diseases such as avian


influenza or Salmonella enteritidis into poultry flocks could result in serious health
and welfare issues for the birds, and economic consequences for the producer.
- The high concentration of large commercial poultry flocks of broilers, layers, and
other poultry species in certain regions, significantly increase the risk of
introduction and transmission of diseases.
- Poultry companies and individual poultry producers, regardless of farm size,
must practice biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction and spread of
disease-causing organisms.
- Biosecurity is a shared responsibility between government and industry.
The following resources are available to help poultry producers develop
biosecurity plans:
National Farm Biosecurity Manual – Poultry Production
National Farm Biosecurity Technical Manual for Egg Production
National Farm Biosecurity Manual for Chicken Growers
National Biosecurity Manual for the Duck Industry
National Biosecurity Manual – Exhibition Poultry
National Water Biosecurity Manual – Poultry Production
Contract poultry growers should be familiar with the specifics of their company’s
biosecurity protocols and work closely with the company veterinarian and service
person to implement biosecurity programs.
Conduct a risk assessment for your farm
A risk assessment must be conducted for each farm to establish what level of risk
exists in each phase of its operations.
A farm-specific biosecurity plan is the best management tool on poultry farms to
reduce the risk of introducing infectious diseases such as avian influenza,
Newcastle disease or Salmonella enteritidis, as well as many other poultry
diseases.
How disease agents might spread between poultry flocks
Viruses, bacteria, and parasites can spread between poultry flocks through
exposure to:

o contaminated equipment and vehicles that move between farms


o contaminated clothing and footwear of farm workers or visitors
o infected animals, such as wild birds, insects, rodents, and pets
o contaminated air, on particles of dust from nearby farms or market.
gardens that apply untreated poultry manure as fertiliser
o contaminated water, of dam or creek, used for drinking or cooling.

How biosecurity procedures can protect your flock


The following biosecurity measures should be implemented by poultry producers
to ensure the good health of their birds.
1. Keep visitors to your farm to a minimum
Disease-causing microorganisms can be found on human’s clothes, shoes, skin,
and hair. Restricting unnecessary human traffic is an important part of an
effective biosecurity plan. Producers should:
fence the birds keeping area, and post signs at the entrance to the farm,
indicating that entry to the farm and facilities is restricted
restrict visitors to their farm, allowing only to essential visitors
provide visitors with protective equipment such as boots, coveralls, and headgear
ensure that traffic through poultry houses is always flowing in one direction, from
younger to older and from healthy to sick birds
educate employees and their local community about the risks to their flocks, the
need to implement biosecurity procedures and restrict traffic on their farms.
Visitors should never enter poultry houses unless approved by the producer or
company personnel.
One useful measure is keeping records in a logbook of visitors that have been on
the farm. If a problem arises, knowing who was there will help in limiting
additional flock infections.
2. Limit visitations to other poultry farms
To minimise the risk of disease transmission between farms:
poultry producers should avoid visiting other poultry operations unless necessary:
before entering the other farm, shower and wear clean protective clothing
including, boots, coveralls, and headgear:
Wash and sanitise vehicle and equipment before entering the farm:
before returning to their farm, producers should clean and disinfect all clothing,
shower, and change into clean clothes
washing and sanitising any vehicle and equipment before re-entering the farm is
also required.
3. Keep all pets out of poultry houses
Pets such as dogs, cats and other animals can be carriers of poultry disease
causing organisms. Poultry producers should not allow pets inside the poultry
houses.
4. Practice an effective rodent and insect control programs
Rats, mice, and insects such as flies and darkling beetles can carry and spread
disease-causing organisms.
Producers should consult with the local pest controller or their company and use
effective rodent and insect control programs.
Traps and approved chemicals can be used to eliminate or reduce pests, which
will reduce the risk of contracting or spreading poultry diseases.
5. Avoid contact with non-commercial poultry or wild birds
- Poultry growers should avoid all contact with non-commercial sources of poultry
that might have different level of vaccination or health status.
- Farm employees should not be allowed to keep poultry or cage birds at home,
which may be a source of diseases.
- Neighbours who keep backyard flocks should be informed of the importance of
getting sick or unhealthy birds to the local vet or a diagnostic lab as soon as
possible.
- Poultry houses and ranges should be kept as secured as possible to prevent wild
birds from access to the feeders and drinkers on site as they might defecate and
be a source of diseases.
- Producers with a dam on-site should be concerned with the presence of
waterfowls and the potential of carrying droppings from around the dam into
their poultry houses. Waterfowls are well known to be carriers of the avian
influenza virus as well as other poultry diseases.
6. Keep areas around poultry sheds and feed-bins clean
- Keep grass and weeds cut around poultry houses and remove old equipment or
rubbish that provide refuge and habitat for rats, mice and insect pests that can
spread disease.
- Spilled feed around the feed bins should be cleaned up regularly to avoid
attracting wild birds, rats, mice, and insects.
7. Collect and dispose dead birds daily
- Dead birds should be picked up daily and disposed of in a timely and approved
method. Stock-piling mortality inside the poultry house and allowing carcasses to
decompose before disposal increases the risk of spreading disease directly or via
rodents and insects.
- Producers should report increases in mortality, drop in egg production or signs
of health problems to their veterinarian or the service person immediately. This
will ensure rapid detection and response if a disease is present.
- In cases of unusual high mortalities or a sharp drop in egg production report
immediately to your veterinarian or by calling the all-hours Emergency Animal
Disease Hotline.
- Producers should check with their veterinarian before administrating vaccines or
medications for treatments of flocks with a health problem.
Timely reporting of health issues on a farm will help prevent the spread of the
disease to other farms and will minimise losses.
References:
 A cooperative initiative between the Commonwealth Department of
agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, animal Health Australia and the
Poultry Industry First Edition, May 2009 ISBN 978-1-921575-01-3
©Commonwealth of Australia 2009
 Arzey, G 2004, ‘The role of wild aquatic birds in the epidemiology of
avian influenza in Australia’, Australian Veterinary Journal, vol. 6, pp.
36–37.
 De Benedictis, P, Beato, MS & Capua, I 2007, ‘Inactivation of avian
influenza viruses by chemical agents and physical conditions: a
review’, Zoonoses and Public Health, vol. 54, pp. 51–68.
 Doyle, ME, Schultz-Cherry, S & Robach, M 2007, ‘Destruction of H5N1
avian influenza virus in meat and poultry products’, FRI Briefings pp.
1–12.
 East, IJ, Hamilton, S & Garner, G 2008, ‘Identifying areas of Australia
at risk of H5N1 avian influenza infection from exposure to migratory
birds: a spatial analysis’, Geospatial Health, vol. 2, no. 203–213.
 Haas, B, Ahl, R, Bohm, R & Strauch, D 1995, ‘Inactivation of viruses in
liquid manure’, Revue Scientifique et Technique Office International
des Epizooties, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 435–445.
 Jeffrey, DJ 1995, ‘Chemicals used as disinfectants: active ingredients
and enhancing additives’, Revue Scientifique et Technique Office
International des Epizooties, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 57–74.
 Khalenkov, A, Laver, WG & Webster RG 2008, ‘Detection and
isolation of H5N1 influenza virus from large volumes of natural
water’, Journal of Virological Methods, vol. 149, pp. 180–183.
 Leung, YHC, Shang, LJ, Chow, CK, Tsang, CL, Ng, CF, Wong, CK, Guan,
Y & Pieris, JSM 2007, ‘Poultry drinking water used for avian influenza
surveillance’, Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 13, pp. 1380–1382.

Biosecurity measures in broiler and layer poultry farms are critical for preventing
the introduction and spread of diseases among the flocks. While both types of
farms share similar biosecurity principles, there are some differences in their
implementation due to differences in management practices and disease risks.
Here's a scientific and medical overview of biosecurity measures for broiler and
layer poultry farms, along with references:
1. Restricted Access:
 Broiler Farms: Access to broiler farms is typically restricted to
essential personnel only, with controlled entry points and strict
visitor protocols to minimize the risk of introducing pathogens.
 Layer Farms: Layer farms may have more restricted access compared
to broiler farms due to the longer production cycles and the need to
maintain high biosecurity standards to prevent diseases such as avian
influenza.
References:
 Al-Saffar, A., Gee, E., & Newman, K. (2012). The effectiveness of
personal protective equipment (PPE) in controlling dermal exposures
to potential pesticides: a systematic literature review and meta-
analysis. International journal of hygiene and environmental health,
215(5), 523-531.
 Davies, R. H., & Wray, C. (1997). Strategies for the control of
Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium in poultry flocks:
a review. Food Control, 8(4), 181-188.
2. Sanitation and Hygiene Practices:
 Broiler Farms: Regular cleaning and disinfection of facilities,
equipment, and feeders are essential to prevent the buildup and
spread of pathogens in broiler houses.
 Layer Farms: Similar sanitation practices apply in layer farms, with a
focus on maintaining clean egg-laying environments to reduce the
risk of egg contamination.
References:
 Byrd, J. A., Corrier, D. E., Deloach, J. R., Nisbet, D. J., & Stanker, L. H.
(1999). Evaluation of the Salmonella–Killing Capacity of 20%
Trisodium Phosphate and Distilled White Vinegar Used Singly and in
Combination under Different Environmental Conditions. Journal of
Applied Poultry Research, 8(4), 400–405.
 Gast, R. K., & Holt, P. S. (1998). Persistence of Salmonella Enteritidis
from one day of age until maturity in experimentally infected layer
chickens. Poultry Science, 77(12), 1759-1762.
3. Quarantine Procedures:
 Broiler Farms: While quarantine measures are essential, the duration
may be shorter compared to layer farms due to the shorter
production cycle of broilers.
 Layer Farms: Layer farms typically implement longer quarantine
periods for new birds to monitor for signs of diseases such as avian
influenza and infectious bronchitis.
References:
 Gaucher, M. L., & Quessy, S. (2011). Survival of Campylobacter jejuni
strains of different origin in drinking water. Applied and
Environmental Microbiology, 77(14), 4883-4886.
 Landman, W. J., & Feberwee, A. (2004). Field study on the occurrence
of Clostridium perfringens infections in broiler chickens: comparison
of isolates from litter, intestinal contents, and carcasses. Avian
Diseases, 48(4), 909-914.
4. Rodent and Pest Control:
 Broiler Farms: Control measures for rodents and pests are similar
between broiler and layer farms and include strategies such as pest-
proofing buildings and using traps and baits.
 Layer Farms: Layer farms may face additional challenges with pest
control due to the longer duration of housing birds and the presence
of egg-laying facilities.
References:
 Singleton, G. R., & Chambers, L. (2000). Rodent pests and their
control. Wallingford: CABI Publishing.
 Taylor, L. H., Latham, S. M., & Woolhouse, M. E. (2001). Risk factors
for human disease emergence. Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 356(1411),
983-989.
5. Vaccination Programs:
 Broiler Farms: Vaccination programs for broiler chickens may focus
on protecting against common respiratory and intestinal diseases,
depending on regional disease prevalence.
 Layer Farms: Layer farms often have more extensive vaccination
programs to protect against diseases such as Newcastle disease,
infectious bronchitis, and avian influenza, which can affect egg
production and quality.
References:
 Saif, Y. M. (2008). Infectious bursal disease and hemorrhagic
enteritis. In Diseases of poultry (pp. 161-179). Wiley-Blackwell.
 van Emous, R. A., & Krimpen, M. M. (2015). Vaccination of broilers. In
Improving the safety and quality of eggs and egg products (pp. 491-
507). Woodhead Publishing.
6. Education and Training:
 Broiler Farms: Training programs for farm workers on biosecurity
protocols and disease recognition are essential to ensure compliance
with biosecurity measures.
 Layer Farms: Layer farms may require additional training on egg
handling and storage practices to maintain egg quality and food
safety standards.
References:
 Newell, D. G., Koopmans, M., Verhoef, L., Duizer, E., Aidara-Kane, A.,
Sprong, H., ... & Havelaar, A. H. (2010). Food-borne diseases—the
challenges of 20 years ago still persist while new ones continue to
emerge. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 139, S3-S15.
 van Emous, R. A., & Krimpen, M. M. (2015). Vaccination of broilers. In
Improving the safety and quality of eggs and egg products (pp. 491-
507). Woodhead Publishing.

In summary, while broiler and layer poultry farms share many biosecurity
principles, there are differences in their implementation due to variations in
production practices and disease risks. Understanding these differences and
tailoring biosecurity measures accordingly is essential for maintaining the health
and welfare of both broiler and layer flocks.

Please note that the references provided are examples of scientific literature
relevant to each aspect of biosecurity in poultry farming, and additional research
may be needed to further explore specific topics or regional considerations.

You might also like