Biosecurity in Poultry Farming

Apart from proper vaccination of the flock, another  effective measure for protecting your flock against disease is by ensuring strict biosecurity procedures on the farm. Biosecurity procedure focuses on reducing the risk of introducing and spreading disease among the flock.

Read more on poultry  vaccination –  https://poultrygist.com.ng/2024/10/poultry-vaccination/

Poultry biosecurity

Poultry biosecurity procedures involves a set of protocol or practices designed to protect the farm against entry, transmission and spread of infectious disease, pest and harmful pathogens. Biosecurity measures can be categorized into three (3) types, namely –

Conceptual – The importance of biosecurity necessitates it should be given critical consideration from the very beginning of the poultry farm. An example of conceptual biosecurity is the consideration to locate the farm at a distance from other facilities that may directly or indirectly impact negatively on the operations of the farm.

Structural– This involves structure put in place to support the procedure of biosecurity on the poultry farm – example of such structures include: footbaths, handwashing points, fence, etc..

Operational – This involves routine in the farm’s daily operations aimed at safeguarding the flock, promote hygiene and prevent disease spread – example of such daily routine is the proper disposal of waste water.

Purpose of biosecurity procedures

Basically, the procedure is aimed at  the following (the reason ) –

•  Controlling  access to the farm
• Monitoring and improving the health status of the birds
• Enhance the productivity of the flock ( especially in egg production)
• Implementing preventives measures to safeguard the flock against predator attacca
• Increase the productive output of the poultry farm.
• Reduce overall operational cost through significant reduction in health management cost
• Enhance food security and safety for human consumption.
• Enhance the profitability of the farm’s operations
• Improve on the poultry’ farm’s sustainability

Biosecurity best practices

Guidelines for effectiveness

To achieve the purpose of implementing biosecurity measures on the farm, the following are essential practices to be included in the farm’s regular routine

• Limit access to the farm by setting up fence, thereby, stoping unwanted invasion (both from human and animal)
• Set up designated entry points to control and prevent authorized persons accessing the farm area
• Ensure  strict hygiene  protocols  for visitors going into the farm. This is to prevent the risk of cross-contamination from visitors coming to the farm.
• Enforce strict sanitation and hygiene practices among the farm workers. The workers must always wear clean clothing and protective gear, also, footwear must be changed when entering different areas of the farm
• Set up active hand washing stations in strategic points within the farm – Proper hand washing hygiene help to  eliminate harmful pathogens that people may carry into the farm
• Quarantine new birds for about 2weeks before mixing them up with existing flock, thereby, preventing possibility of disease entry into the flock from the new birds.
• Promptly isolate birds identified to be sick. This significantly prevents the risk of spreading disease among the flock.
• Control pest and rodent that could contaminate the feed and water of the birds consequently leading to sickness for the birds,. Therefore, keeping the farm clean and removing possible hiding places are necessary and important.

 

Threats to effective biosecurity on the farm

The benefit of biosecurity can be fully enjoyed in a farm where procedure is effective,. However there are some factors that can make the biosecurity procedure of a farm ineffective (threats of biosecurity). Threat of biosecurity is any factor or condition around the farm that increases the risk of disease introduction and spread on the poultry farm -examples of such threats are –

1. Serving contaminated feed or/and water to the flock
2. Poor hygiene practice on the farm, particularly around the poultry house
3. Poor access control to the flock, especially visitors’ access
4. Poor waste disposal process that could lead to pollution of the farm resources.

Impact of an Effective Biosecurity Routine

Implementing a strong biosecurity routine provides significant benefits to the farm, the birds, and the community at large in the following ways – :

• Prevents Disease Entry and Spread – A well-executed biosecurity plan minimizes the risk of infectious diseases infiltrating and spreading among the flock.
• Reduces Treatment Costs – By preventing disease outbreaks, the farm significantly lowers expenses associated with treating sick birds, leading to better financial management.
• Minimizes Farm Losses – Effective biosecurity measures significantly reduce poultry mortality, consequently, preserving the flock size and enhance farm stability.
• Ensures a Steady Supply of High-Quality Products – Healthy birds consistently produce quality eggs and meat, enhancing customer trust and boosting the farm’s reputation.
• Increases Farm Productivity and Revenue – A disease-free flock performs optimally, leading to higher production, increased sales, and improved profitability.
• Promotes Food Safety and Public Health – By preventing zoonotic disease transmission, biosecurity measures contribute to safer poultry products and a healthier community.
• Supports Farm Sustainability – A well-managed biosecurity system ensures long-term farm viability, protecting investments and securing future growth.

Effective biosecurity is not just beneficial to the farmer—it safeguards the entire poultry supply chain, which promotes safe and wholesome produce from the farm for human consumption. The production of safe and high-quality poultry products positively impacts on the public health of the community.

Cheers.

Read more on waste disposal –

https://poultrygist.com.ng/2024/08/waste-water-management-on-the-poultry-farm/