Biosecurity in Poultry Farms

- Biosecurity approaches

A. Conceptual biosecurity

1.   It is best to build farm in an isolated area, at least three km away from nearest poultry in the case of breeder farm and 1.6 km in the case of commercial layer and broiler farm.

2.   In the case of breeders, the farm should be away from the major road ways that may be used to transport commercial and backyard poultry.

3.   Maintain enough distance between breeders and grow-out farms and facilities such as hatcheries and feed mills.

B. Structural biosecurity

1.  Fencing of farm perimeter to prevent unwanted visitors. The production area must have a perimeter fence or otherwise well-defined boundary.

2.    Sign boards indicating ‘Biosecurity area’, ‘visitors are not allowed’ are to be displayed at breeding stocks and hatcheries of each species.

3.   The farm should be designed in such a way that it has sufficient ventilation and should have access to sunlight.

4.   Foot dips of uniform size must be provided at the entry of all the poultry sheds.

5.   Ideally, lay out of the farm should be such that at farm entry point brooder shed should be followed by shed for growers and lastly for adult birds.

6.   Hatchery should be located at least 500 ft. away from other sheds.

7.    Distance between two different sheds of same type should be 30 ft. and of different type should be 100ft

8.   Test water source for minerals, bacteria, chemical contamination and pathogen load.

9.   Concrete stage with suitable water and power supply for sanitation of vehicles.

10.   Suitable location for storage of bagged feed.

11.   All-weather roads within the farm to ease cleaning and to prevent spreading of microbes by vehicles and foot wear.

12.  Direction of long axis: This depends on geographical location of the farm.

13.  Facility for post-mortem examination near to the incinerators and separate laboratory with suitable facilities and manpower are also required for regular monitoring and surveillance of diseases at the farm level.

14.   Safe housing, with suitable wild birds and rodent proofing.

15.  Feed, litter and equipment should be stored in a section separated from live bird area to prevent contamination.

16.  A three meter boundary of land around the building must be kept free of all vegetation to prevent rodent and wild life activity.

17. There should be single window system for sale of all poultry & poultry products with sale counter at gate. Client and their vehicle should not be allowed in any case to visit farm or hatchery.

C. Operational biosecurity

Encompasses the standard operating procedures (SOPs) that minimize the chance of virus entering the poultry house and compliance with those SOPs.

1.  Operation manuals should be developed for day-to-day activities carried out in feed mills, hatcheries, breeding and grow-out facilities incorporating emergency plans.

2.  Proper decontamination and disinfection of equipment, houses etc., following depletion of flock.

3.  In breeder farms, all visitors and workers require to shower and use clean farm clothes to prevent cross contamination between them.

4.  Maintain record for visitors and their purpose.

5.  In commercial broiler unit, a minimum inter flock interval of two weeks is recommended.

6.  Use an effective integrated pest management program to control pest and rodent through biological, chemical and mechanical means.

7.   Appropriate program of disease diagnosis and proper vaccination schedule should be implemented.

8.  In small scale egg production unit, follow all-in-all-out system. If it is not possible, pullets should be obtained from a source free of vertically transmitted diseases.

9.   Recycling of egg packing materials etc. should be decontaminated at the point of entry of farm.

10.   Routine disease monitoring procedures like postmortem examination and periodic serum antibody assay to determine immune status of the flock.

11.   Regular culling of unhealthy, unproductive and diseased birds.