Best biosecurity measures in poultry farming to prevent disease and increased productivity

BIOSECURITY-- Is safety or a precautionary measure taken for the prevention, spread or introduction of harmful organisms in order to stop or reduce the risk of an outbreak of contagious diseases to animals, In poultry farming biosecurity simply means the precautionary measures taken around or in the poultry farm to stop the outbreak, spread and transmission of deadly or harmful disease that will affect the health or growth of the chicken negatively in the farm.

BIOSECURITY MEASURES FOR THE PREVENTION OF DISEASES IN POULTRY FARMS.

1. VISITORS ENTRY RESTRICTIONS

   --- As a poultry farmer, to stop or prevent the spread of disease on the farm there must be a law or rules guiding the movement of visitors in and out of the farm surroundings because humans can carry and transmit disease from one farm to another.
   
   

2. ISOLATION OF FARM

   --- Building poultry farms away from other farms can lower the risk of disease outbreaks because if there is an outbreak of the disease in an area densely populated with poultry farms it can be easily transmitted to farms around.
   
   

3. DISINFECTION

   --- This is the use of disinfectant to disinfect the farm surroundings,human and farming equipment that goes in and out of the farm to reduce the risk of disease introduction.
   

4. CONTROL OF WILD BIRDS AND RODENTS ON THE FARM

   --- Rats, wild birds etc are good agents of disease carriers and disease spreading, so the control and prevention of such animals on the farm will help in controlling disease introduction.
   
   

5. SECURITY AGENT AND PROTECTIVE FENCING

   --- High walls or wires around the farm can stop intruders and unwanted visitors from entering the farm without the permission of the security agent or the farm management.
   
   

6. PROPER CULLING OF SICK BIRDS

   --- Sick birds should be removed from the healthy flocks to stop or help manage the risk of transmission of disease sick to healthy animals.
   
   

7. PROPER DISPOSAL OF DEAD BIRDS AND MANURE

   --- If the dead infected birds and manure are not properly disposed of it will lead to the outbreak of the disease on the farm because strains of some diseases are still present in infected dead birds and manure even after disposal for a particular period of time.
   
   

8. CLEANING AND CLEARING OF FARM ENVIRONMENT

   --- Always maintain good hygiene and surroundings neat to avoid the introduction of predators on the farm.
   
   

9. FARM RULES AND REGULATIONS

   --- Poultry farms should have good rules and regulations guiding all the activities on the farm,e.g avoiding eating on the farm, improper disposal of waste etc, and may lead to the invitation of predators and disease-carrying agents into the farm.
   
   

10. SUPPLY OF FRESH AND NEWLY PRODUCED ANIMAL FEED

    --- To avoid the harmful effects or toxic organisms present in bad, expired feed and feed ingredients that may lead to losses in poultry farms.
    
    

11. WATER

    --- Supply of clean and cool water at all times, water is a good carrier of harmful bacteria that can affect the health of poultry birds.
    
    

12. POULTRY PEN STOCKING INTERVAL OR PEN RESTING AFTER STOCKING OF BIRDS

    --- Proper pen resting between the intervals after the disposal or sales of old flocks and the introduction of new flocks can reduce the risk of disease transmission from one batch to another.
    
    

13. Proper poultry pen construction and management.

14. Proper enlightenment or sensitization of people within and inside the farm on the importance of biosecurity in poultry farming and how to practice it to reduce the risk of spreading harmful organisms in the farm.
    
    

15. QUARANTINE

    --- All the animals that have been transported or purchased should be quarantined before I introduce them to the farm to reduce the risk of disease introduction and spreading on the farm.

ALSO READ: TERMINOLOGIES USED IN POULTRY FARMING AND THEIR MEANINGS

IMPORTANCE OF BIOSECURITY IN POULTRY FARMING

1. It reduces the risk of spreading harmful organisms on poultry farms.
2. Helps in the rearing of disease free chicken
3. Minimizing loss and maximizing profits.
4. To secure the investment
5. Improves the overall health and growth of the chicken.
6. To reduce the cost of production and increased production.
7. Reduces disease outbreaks and mortality.

 ALSO READ: Poultry Vaccination, Causes Of Vaccination Failure, Prevention And Solutions

EFFECTS OF BAD OR POOR BIOSECURITY MEASURES.

• It increases the cost of production and decreased production.
• Regular disease outbreaks on the farm.
• High mortality rate.
• Production of poor growing and unhealthy chicken.
• High risk on return of investment (ROI)
• It may lead to the total shutdown of farms.

ALSO READ: Poultry Farming Guide For Beginners And Intended Poultry Farmers

CONCLUSION.

Observing good biosecurity measures is a very essential and important aspect of poultry production because it deals with the part of poultry farming that handles the management of disease prevention, handling and controlling also reducing the spread and outbreaks of harmful diseases in the poultry farm that will lead to a great loss in production and profit affecting the poultry industry negatively.

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I believe that this article has provided much-needed knowledge to all intending and already poultry farmers on the importance of observing biosecurity measures in the poultry farm to reduce the spread and introduction of harmful organisms or diseases in the farm, but if there is any part in this article that you don't understand you can drop your questions in the comment section below and your question will be replied soon.