Bio Security measure

From Poultry farms, hatcheries and egg and meat processing plants the deep litter manure, cage manure, hatchery waste and waste from and the dressing plants pose major problems to the birds and also to the birds of other farms. Hence these waste materials need careful attention for safe disposal or else it may cause more health hazards to the flock. The poultry farming and its operation has expanded and they also become a threat to themselves and their neighbours.
Bio Security is a defensive health plan and hygienic procedure to keep poultry farm disease free. Bio Security literally means safety of living things. It is a programme designed to prevent the exposure of birds to disease causing organisms by reducing introduction and spread of pathogens into and between the farms. Poultry must be given an environment in which disease and infection is controlled to the point where vaccination and medication achieve beneficial effects.
Farm location Bio Security
1. It is best to build farm in an isolated area where no poultry farm is present. If the farms are to be located nearby the new farms can be established at least 2 to 3 kilometer away from the existing farms.
2. In case of breeders the farm should be away from the high ways and city connecting road ways that may be used to transport all type of poultry for marketing purpose.
3. Maintain sufficient and safe distance (300 to 600 ft) between breeders, brooders, growers and layer houses and facilities such as hatcheries and feed mills.
Farm Structural Bio Security
1. Fencing of entire farm perimeter will be safer.
2. Test water source for minerals, bacteria, chemical contamination and pathogen load before start of the farm.
3. Construct a concrete stage with suitable water and power supply for sanitation of incoming vehicles.
4. A suitable location is to be selected for constructing a storage room for feed ingredients and bagged feed.
5. Dust free roads within the farm are to be laid for easy cleaning and to prevent spreading of microbes by vehicles and foot wear.
6. Facilities for safe and scientific disposal of dead birds.
7. Safe housing, with suitable guard against entry of wild birds and rodent.
8. Feed, litter and equipment should be stored in a section separated from live bird area to prevent contamination.
9. Fire prevention and protection methods to be established
Farm Operational Bio Security
1. Action plan should be developed for day-to-day activities for the farm/Feed mill/Hatchery/ and also during emergencies.
2. Proper cleaning and disinfection of equipment, houses after removal of the entire stock of flock.
3. In breeder farms, no visitor is to be allowed. If unavoidable the visitors may be permitted after a shower and use clean sterilized farm clothes to prevent any possible cross contamination and keep the record of the visitor’s details. Only those visitors who have not visited any other farms before their arrival may be permitted with precautions mentioned above. As far as possible avoid visitors politely.
4. In case of breeders, no vehicles or equipment should be allowed within the farm area from the time of delivery of flock until its disposal.
5. In commercial broiler unit, a minimum interval of two weeks is recommended between the batches of fresh chick arrivals (This is called the down time). All in and all out system of farming is recommended for efficient control of disease outbreaks.
6. Use an effective integrated pest management program to control pest and rodent through biological, chemical and mechanical means after taking due precautions. Weeds and grass around the poultry sheds to avoid rodents and pests.
7. Appropriate program of disease diagnosis and proper vaccination schedule should be implemented.
8. Always chicks are to be obtained from a reliable known source.
9. Recycling of egg trays should be decontaminated at the point of entry into the farm.
10. Routine disease monitoring procedures like postmortem examination and periodic serum antibody assay to determine immune status of the flock are to be taken up periodically.
11. Regular culling of unhealthy, unproductive and diseased birds to help reducing the disease organism carriers.

Managemental factors in disease prevention
The following managerial tips may help to reduce the spread of disease and stress to the birds.
Isolation
Do not rear birds of different age groups in the same house. Proper layout of houses, proper and adequate ventilation, balanced feeding, good quality potable water with clean feeders and drinkers avoid spillage of water and feed are basic essentials in disease prevention.
Litter management
Wet litter is a potential source of transmission especially diseases like Coccidiosis, Coryza, Chronic Respiratory Disease, Newcastle Disease, Infectious Bronchitis and many more. Maintain litter moisture below 20 percent always to prevent disease out breaks in the farm. Cage rearing avoids many litter based problems in poultry farms.
The main principle involved in the prevention and control of current and emerging diseases is the scientific disposal of dead birds. When birds die, their carcasses remain as a source of infection for pen-mates and other birds on the farm. All carcasses should be removed from the pen as soon as possible. Mortality varies with the prevailing disease and sanitary conditions on the farm. 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 treating them which may continue to infect 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:
• The smell of the carcasses attracts street dogs and cats, which consume the infected carcasses and harbour the pathogenic organisms infectious to poultry. These animals are capable of carrying contaminated carcass portions to neighbouring farms thus causing spread of disease.
• Vultures and other wild birds invade the carcasses and become potential carriers of the disease-causing agents from one farm to another;
• The carcasses lure insects and flies, which act as transmitters of infectious agents;
• The disease causing agents along with portions of viscera carried by rain water contaminate all water sources and soil;
• On decomposition, the carcasses may emit foul smell and cause air pollution.
The disposal of carcasses of birds dying from known or unknown causes should be carefully attended to. There are many methods for the efficient disposal of carcasses such as burying, pit disposal, incineration, septic tank disposal, or composting. In general, the following points should be observed while disposing the carcasses:
• Remove the dead birds from the flock as soon as possible;
• Do not deposit carcasses in or near a flowing water stream;
• Take necessary precautions to prevent spillage of infectious material from the carcasses during transportation from the farm or post-mortem room to the disposal site;
• Take sound bio-security measures at the disposal sites to prevent disease transmission.
Moreover, with the present concern for the environment, the poultry industry needs to pursue efforts to protect the environment. Therefore, all methods that allow for environmentally safe and scientific ways of disposing of carcasses should be considered. Current methods for routine disposal of carcasses include burial, incineration, composting, and rendering in India.