Biosecurity and disease management
Time : 2013-09-19

Basic information

Biosecurity is a system practiced by the poultry farmers to prevent the spread of diseases in the poultry farm or pen. It is accomplished by maintaining a system in such a way that there is minimal traffic of biological organisms (viruses, bacteria, rodents etc.) Across the borders of your farm

A disease or parasite outbreak can be economically damaging, distressing and badly affect animal welfare. Parasites and diseases can range from relatively mild and easily treated, like a case of internal parasites to the very serious such as an outbreak of an exotic disease like foot & mouth Disease, avian influenza or Newcastle disease

Biosecurity also known as safe life is the protection of people, animals and its environment from infectious disease, pests and other biological threats like invasive weeds. Additionally for poultry farmers, good biosecurity will help prevent chemical or GMO contamination and loss of certification

Managing a poultry farm requires farmers to plan and prepare actively for possible risks in the future. Certified poultry farmers are obliged to keep good records of farm activities, stock history and to demonstrate a commitment to animal welfare. A robust biosecurity system is vital to this activity

A good biosecurity plan helps the farmer to identify and stop these possible threats very early; consequently, containment is less costly and cleaned up in limited time period. Once containment fails, a farmer can be stuck with costly remediation and possibly on-going long term expenses in maintenance control

Biosecurity and disease management


Features

1. This system literally means safety of living things, is a program designed to prevent the exposure of birds to disease causing organisms by reducing introduction and spread of pathogens into and between the farms

2. It is a broader sense encompasses isolation, traffic control sanitation, vaccination, serological monitoring of diseases and air quality etc. Which will aid in prevent the entry and control the pathogens in and around the farm

3. It is the cheapest and at the same time most effective means of disease control available without, which no other disease prevention program will work well

4. It is a defensive health plan and hygienic procedure that can help to keep your farm disease free

5. It is therefore one of the integrated part of farm operations

6. As the poultry operation becomes more and more efficient, however, they also become a threat to themselves and their neighbours and the concentration of more birds in limited space. Poultry farmers should take time to eliminate as many disease causing organisms as possible

7. Therefore, it is better to wait a little longer before introducing new flock than to hurry and risk infection of new flock

8. The most effective form of protection against disease, especially for poultry under modern production techniques is biosecurity i.e. Excluding disease from the farm environment and this holds the key to successful and profitable farming

9. Biosecurity, medication, vaccination and good management of farm are three sides of disease control triangle

10. Poultry must be given an environment in which disease and infection is controlled to the point where vaccination and medication achieve beneficial effects


Series of products to serve the poultry farm fully, click the name to learn more

1. Steel structure poultry house, opening type for hot countries and close type for cool countries

2. Poultry hatching equipment’s capacity of eggs up to 120,000+ to be hatching house

3. Chicken rearing cage and equipment of layer, day old chicken, brooder, broiler and chicken parents

4. Chicken feed processing equipment from feed crushing and mixing to stock to feeding chicken

5. Paper egg tray manufacturing equipment, the output from 1000 trays per hour to 6000 trays per hour

6. Egg processing equipment from automatic egg collection to packing egg to trays

7. Chicken slaughtering equipment from slaughter to vacuum package

8. Chicken manure cleaning and drying equipment to control the water content in chicken manure between 10% and 40%

9. Other poultry farm equipment are coming soon...

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Types of biosecurity

1. Conceptual biosecurity

It is best to build farm in an isolated area, atleast 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, 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. Maintain enough distance between breeders and grow-out farms and facilities such as hatcheries and feed mills

2. Structural biosecurity

1. Fencing of farm perimeter to prevent unwanted visitors

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

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

4. Suitable location for storage of bagged feed

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

6. Facilities for safe scientific disposal of dead birds

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

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

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

3. Operational biosecurity

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 the case of breeders, no vehicles or equipment should be allowed within the farm area from the time of delivery of flock until disposal

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

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

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

9. 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

10. Recycling of egg packing materials etc. Should be decontaminated at the point of entry of farm

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

12. Regular culling of unhealthy, unproductive and diseased birds


Principles

1. Reduce where possible the movements of people, vehicles or equipment into areas where farm animals are kept. This will minimize potential contamination with manure, slurry and other products that could carry disease

2. Where direct contact with farm animals occurs then cleanse and disinfect protective clothing, footwear, equipment, vehicles before and after contact, or where practicable use disposable protective clothing

3. To avoid disease in a poultry flock, it is essential to provide clean drinking water and food, preferably indoors to prevent contamination by wild birds and other animals

4. Other measures include isolating new birds, preparing a plan should the flock need to be brought indoors, and thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting housing at the end of a cycle


Preventive measures of disease management

1. Isolation

It is not advisable to rear birds of different age groups in the same house. Wherever possible, it is advisable to practise the all-in-all-out system. Proper layout of houses, appropriate designing to prevent any entry of rodents, proper ventilation, and the designing of feeders and drinkers to avoid spillage, are basic essentials in disease prevention

2. Litter management

Wet litter is a potential source of disease transmission. Maintain proper litter conditions as suggested earlier

3. Quality chicks

Ensure that chicks are received from a hatchery where adequate preventive care is taken for breeder birds to guard against mycoplasmosis, salmonellosis and infectious bursal disease.  Check for a history of vaccination against Marek's disease. Look for signs of dehydration and ensure that the received chicks are healthy and are within the normal weight range

4. Proper nutrition

A good balanced feed prepared according to nutrient requirements at different ages will ensure proper health and good immune status in birds and addition of coccidiostats and vitamin and mineral supplements are essential

5. Water quality

1. Poultry farmers often fail to provide the birds with good quality water.

2. Both the microbial and chemical quality of the water need to be tested before establishing a poultry farm in a given area

3. Microbial contamination of water may happen at the source, for instance in ponds, rivers, open wells and the public water supply system, or during transportation and storage, as well as in the overhead tank or bins. Unhygienic practices on the farm result in the spread of disease

4. The microbial load shoots up during flood conditions

5. Faecal contamination of water will add to the presence of coliform organisms

6. Mineral levels in water depend on soil conditions, and show only minor fluctuations based on the season and the water table

7. They lead to hardness in water and affect the taste and palatability

8. The life of pipelines and storage tanks is also increased, and the overall growth of the birds and egg production efficiency will be improved

6. Dead bird disposal

The main principle involved in the prevention and control of current and emerging diseases is the scientific disposal of dead birds. The mortality is inevitable on every poultry farm, and it varies with the prevailing disease and sanitary conditions on the farm. When birds die, their carcasses remain as a source of infection for pen-mates and other birds on the farm (or other farms), All carcasses should be removed from the pen as soon as possible, diseased and ill birds also discharge infectious material into the environment and act as reservoirs for disease-producing organisms. It is essential to eliminate ailing birds from the flock rather than jeopardize the health of the remainder of the flock. The habit of throwing dead birds on to the nearest manure pile or into an open field is dangerous and unscientific for the following reasons because the smell of the carcasses attracts street dogs and cats, which consume the infected carcasses and harbour the enteric organisms infectious topoultry. Because of their free movement, these animals are capable of carrying contaminated material or a portion of a carcass to neighbouring farms, with disastrous results like vultures and other wild birds invade the carcasses and become potential carriers of the disease-causing agents from one farm to another or even from one country to another country if they migrate, the carcasses lure insects and flies, which act as transmitters of infectious agents, the disease agents carried by rain water contaminate other water sources, the surrounding area of the farm is contaminated with feathers and bones, causing soil pollution and  the carcasses may emit a foul smell and cause air pollution. The disposal of carcasses of birds dying from known or unknown causes, should be carefully attended to

7. Litter removal

1. After the pen is emptied, deep litter and caged layer droppings should be removed to a field far from the poultry shed, and spread to dry in the sun

2. It should be disposed off as soon as possible for manure or other purposes and not allowed to remain accumulating for a long period

3. Composting is better, since the heat produced will destroy the pathogens

8. Disinfection

1. Disinfection is the process or act of destroying pathogenic microorganisms

2. A disinfectant is an agent that destroys pathogenic organisms, and that can be applied on inanimate objects or used as a footbath

3. Phenol, cresol, chlorine compounds and iodophors can be used for disinfecting surfaces as well as the egg room, feeders, drinkers, buildings and footwear; liquid formalin at 5 percent level, or formaldehyde gas by fumigation, will also serve as an effective disinfectant

4. Sun-drying may be practiced for washed equipment; for cement surfaces-dry heat in the form of flame is recommended

5. Copper sulphate as a 0.5 percent solution is effective against fungi

6. Quaternary ammonium compounds are good disinfectants when used according to directions. However, they are not effective in hard water

7. They can be used for disinfecting surfaces, washing egg rooms, feeders and drinkers and other equipment

9. Rodent control

1. Keep rodents out from the initial stage of farming itself, since once the farm is infested, it is difficult to get rid of them

2. Remove piles of unused equipment and empty gunny bags as they serve as breeding places for rats, mice and squirrels

3. Remove spilled feed daily. Store feed in well-ventilated, rodent-proof rooms

4. Use traps in the initial stages and later rodenticides. Rodenticides should be used at night according to specifications

10. Insect control

1. Counter measures against insects are part of maintaining a sanitary environment, as insects play a significant role in transmitting disease-producing micro-organisms, tape worms, etc.

2. Flies sit on the birds, irritate them, prevent them from taking water and feeding normally, causing stress which results in reduced egg production especially where cage rearing is practiced. Insect or fly control measures includes

3. Avoiding stagnation of water in and around the farm premises

4. Provision of proper drainage facilities, attending immediately to leaky drinkers and water lines

5. Use of insecticide sprays or dusting at required intervals

6. Treating the birds and checking the feed and water quality to avoid watery droppings


Our services

1. We provide you with professional guidance and design in all of our poultry farm equipment 

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4. We give guideline to our first time customer’s on how to go about their poultry farm

5. After purchasing our poultry equipment, we do follow up on our customers about the equipment they purchased

6. We offer the detailed information about our product and services

7. We offer the best equipment which meets our customer’s every requirement

8. We have long time and rich experience on the products manufacturing. If any machine operation questions after sales, we will reply you within 24 hours with solution. And customers can be rest assured


Frequently ask questions

Q: What are the possible ways to reduce disease spread in a poultry farm?

A: One of the ways to reduce disease or parasite outbreak which can be economically damaging and distressing to the chicken welfare is to apply a disease management control system

Q: How can I prevent my chickens from contacting disease?

A: You can prevent the chickens from contacting disease by checking the feed and water quality to avoid watery droppings

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