Biosecurity Essentials

This outbreak is as a reminder to those of us in North America that biosecurity is a key management tool and an essential part of any successful poultry production system. 

Identifying the potential pathways for the introduction of a disease allows people involved to make a risk assessment and then implement a suitable biosecurity program.

Major routes for pathogens spread are:

• Airborne transmission
  
• Feed and water supply
• Transmission by contact: 

           - Direct contact: bird to bird
           - Indirect contact: through equipment, material and vehicles or by live vectors, like animals (wild birds, other livestock, pets, rodents, insects) and people (farm workers, maintenance personnel, visitors)

Farms must be designed to facilitate biosecurity: the objective is to limit access to poultry production areas by people and to prevent access by other animals. The following are elements of a safeguarded facility. 

• Perimeter fencing with a single access gate that is always kept locked along with warning and caution signs.
  
• A spraying station for vehicles entering the farm including a disinfecting basin. Only essential traffic should have access to the site. Other vehicles must be parked outside the biosecure area. Ideally, feed bins should be located near the perimeter fence to reduce risks linked to feed trucks. 
  

• A 2 m wide band of concrete, gravel or short-mowed grass along the poultry houses – always kept clear of debris, weeds, trash or unused equipment to discourage rodent populations around the barn.
  
• Poultry houses should be bird- and rodent proof and properly maintained: special attention should be paid to risky areas, like air inlets, exhausting fans, egg conveyors, litter pits, drains etc.
  
• Maintenance of an adequate drainage system to prevent accumulation of water that could attract water fowl.
  
• Bait stations should be installed along the side of the barns and in any area where high rodent activity is observed. Stations should be checked weekly and fresh bait should be laid out when required. Detailed records should be kept for observed vermin activity after every inspection, applied procedures and chemicals used.
  

• All building materials should be chosen in order to allow an effective cleaning and disinfection.
  
• All waste from the farm should be disposed of in a suitable manner: dead birds should be stored in freezers or water-, rodent- and wild animal proof containers and any further disposal method must conform to applicable environmental compliance requirements.
  
• Drinking water for poultry as well as cooling water used in the houses should be of good sanitary quality. It is recommended to have an efficient system of water treatment to ensure that the appropriate standards are met. Water tanks should always be kept closed. 
  

Pathogens can also be carried in the feed through contaminated raw materials but also through cross-contamination after being produced or during transport. Feed mills should follow good manufacturing practices. Different types of treatments (chemical or heat treatment) are available to minimize the risk of introducing a disease via the feed. To prevent further contamination of feed by rodents or wild birds, silos should always be kept closed and any feed spills should be immediately cleaned up.