Tiger Feeds: Biosecurity is an essential farm routine

by Given Hamanungu, Technical Advisor, Tiger Feeds

The rearing of broilers involves the concentration and maintenance of large numbers of birds in a confined space. This calls for strict farm biosecurity measures.

What is biosecurity?

• It is the system a farmer uses to keep infectious diseases off his farm, • or the process of keeping the farm free from disease pathogens and avoid disease spreading to other farms.

For this reason, it is important to have knowledge of how diseases are transmitted or spread.

Disinfecting is crucial to prevent the proliferation of disease pathogens.

Disease transmission mainly occurs when infectious material travels from infected or recovering birds to susceptible ones. A disease agent is the biological pathogen which is responsione bird to another, or from one place to another. Some can be carried by the wind on loose feathers or in dust. Some are transmitted through contaminated water supplies. Most are transmitted by faecal material carried on everything from equipment to shoes and hands. Sometimes unwanted animals around the poultry farm, such as rodents, wild birds, cats, and even dogs, can carry the infectious agents and never show any signs of sickness. But … without question, the number one way in which diseases move from farm to farm is through people! For biosecurity to be effective, several principles should be considered, and these are of economic importance. The survival of your operation is at stake.

Flock health management and monitoring:

• This is essential for early detection and prevention of disease. Sick or dead birds must be examined by veterinary experts to determine whether infectious agents may be responsible for the problem. Birds should be routinely examined to determine and identify the type of infectious agents that may be present on the farm. When using vaccines, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions or consult the veterinary expert. Do not pretend to know things that you do not know by doing what you think you know! Only use antibiotics when birds are sick and under the instruction of a veterinary expert. Careless use of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance and prevent the efficacy of the antibiotic when the need arises. As a serious farmer, stay informed regarding disease problems that may prevail in the vicinity.

Isolation

It helps to maintain a safe distance between the birds and potential disease threats. • Avoid traffic on and off the farm. • Do not lend or borrow equipment from other farms. • Do not permit visitors other than authorised personnel on the premble for the passing of infections from

ises. That means people who really need to be there. • All visitors to the farm must sign a logbook so that any possible problems can be traced back.

Good hygiene

It prevents dissemination of infectious agents by reducing their numbers or eliminating them from the environment. • House cleaning and disinfection – total cleanout of the poultry facility is a must. • Litter should not be spread on fields adjacent to poultry houses or on the neighbours’ fields. • Clean and disinfect removable equipment like feed trays and drinkers shortly before setting the house up for new birds. • The entire facility, including curtains (inside and out), and equipment must be washed from top to bottom with a detergent spray. • The entire facility must be disinfected using an approved product at the concentration recommended by the manufacturer. • All visitors who wish to enter the poultry premise must wear clean,

Wild birds are a prime spreader of harmful poultry diseases.

All vehicles can easily be disinfected with an overhead disinfection station.

sanitised caps, overalls, gloves, and boots. Properly maintained footbaths at the entry to the farm and then to each house are mandatory. These need to include a station for cleaning and removing organic materials and a station for disinfection.

Good management practices

It should always be enforced to ensure a healthy environment: • A good objective of broiler management is to achieve the required bird performance in terms of live weight, feed conversion, uniformity, and meat yield within economic constraints. • Construction of poultry house. • Ventilation and temperature management. • Brooding and light management. • Litter management. • Feeding and watering. • Disease management. • Keeping records.

Contact Given at +260 97-5403834 or +260 96-793-3658 or givenhams@gmail.com for more information.