Role of biosecurity in small-scale broiler chicken production

There are many infectious diseases that can cause mayhem in the poultry industry. And as time passes, we are acknowledging many more causative agents with probably less aggressive pace, but never the less with high overall costs, and not just financial.

The best method to decrease the impact of a different avian infectious agents is to minimize opportunities for pathogens to be transmitted to poultry houses via breeding stock, eggs, personnel or fomites etc. This minimization we call biosecurity – biosecurity is a strategic and integrated approach that encompasses the policy and regulatory frameworks for analysing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life and health, and associated risks to the environment (Hawkes and Ruel. 2006).

In order to implement biosecurity in your poultry farm first follow these easy steps:

1. You must have a responsible person regarding biosecurity (ideally this person should have previous knowledge regarding biosecurity implementation).
2. Invest in employee education on biosecurity.
3. Strictly separate clean area from dirty area, for example hatchery is a clean area but waste collection room is obviously a dirty area. You can mark a border of clean and dirty area.
4. Change all clothes when entering farm – even if it is just to quickly grab something.
5. Don’t forget about pests e.g. rats, flies, etc. – keep the farm clean.
6. Regularly check feed and water.

It is better to start small than quit half way through.