Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
- Biosecurity encompasses a set of preventive measures designed to minimise the risk of infectious disease transmission.
- Each farm should establish a comprehensive biosecurity plan that is subject to regular audits.
- Structural biosecurity refers to the controllable aspects of farm design.
- Operational biosecurity focusses on workers, suppliers and other people who enter chicken housing, as well as the farm’s procedures to prevent the introduction of diseases.
- Effective pest control is another essential aspect of disease prevention.
Biosecurity encompasses a set of preventive measures designed to minimise the risk of infectious disease transmission to flocks, farms, or surrounding areas, thereby safeguarding farms from diseases. Effective disease prevention relies on implementing sound biosecurity protocols and farm management practices.
For these measures to be effective, workers, breeders and/or farm owners must consistently adhere to them. In addition, each farm should establish a comprehensive biosecurity plan that is subject to regular audits to ensure compliance with all necessary protocols. To support poultry producers, the South African Poultry Association (Sapa) has developed a detailed checklist that should be utilised on every poultry farm.
Elements of a checklist
A sound biosecurity plan for a commercial chicken farm revolves around several key principles, such as access control, thorough cleaning and disinfection, effective isolation procedures, pest management, proper waste disposal, and maintaining hygienic chicken housing.
The document also outlines three categories that contribute to an effective biosecurity strategy.
- The concept of biosecurity relates to the location of the farm. This includes factors such as proximity to busy roads and/or whether there are other poultry farms nearby. These factors are fixed and cannot be altered, meaning the biosecurity plan must be adapted accordingly. However, if you are setting up a new farm, you have the advantage of selecting a location that minimises risk – such as situating your free-range farm in an area with fewer surrounding farms to reduce potential threats.
- Structural biosecurity refers to the controllable aspects of farm design. This includes factors such as layout, type of housing, fencing, and silo placement. These elements play a crucial role in maintaining biosecurity and should ideally be incorporated into the planning phase.
- Operational biosecurity focusses on workers, suppliers and other people who enter chicken housing, as well as the farm’s procedures to prevent the introduction of diseases. This involves various controllable measures, such as thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting poultry housing to eliminate potential disease sources. For instance, maintaining proper hygiene by washing hands, wearing protective clothing, and using dust masks is essential. Additionally, any litter removed during the cleaning process should be disposed of far from the chicken housing.
To ensure the health of the chickens, it is crucial to minimise exposure to potential disease carriers. This can be achieved by parking vehicles at a safe distance from the housing, maintaining secure fencing to prevent wild birds from accessing the feed, and avoiding open water sources, which may be contaminated with disease-transmitting viruses.
Effective pest control is another essential aspect of disease prevention. Rodents and birds are among the main carriers of pathogens and must be properly managed. A comprehensive pest control programme is necessary, with particular attention to keeping flies out of the chicken housing. Measures should also be taken to prevent rodents and wild birds from gaining access to the housing or feed. Any spilled feed should be cleaned up promptly to deter wild animals.
Disposing of dead chickens
No matter what type of chicken housing is involved, some bird fatalities are inevitable, and prompt removal of dead birds is vital. If there is no other option but to leave the dead birds outside the housing, they must be placed in a secure container to prevent disease transmission. Equally important, workers handling carcasses should thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water afterwards to maintain hygiene and prevent contamination. – Koos du Pisanie, Plaas Media
For more information, contact Christopher Mason of Sapa at 011 795 9920. Sapa’s biosecurity checklist can be downloaded from www.sapoultry.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/1-Biosecurity-checklist.pdf.
