Biosecurity and risk factors for production diseases in broilers Tommy Van Limbergen Unit Porcine Health Management Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University Belgium Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 1
OUTLINE of presentation Introduction Material & methods Results Conclusions Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 2
INTRODUCTION WP1 deliverables 1.3 and 1.4: To quantify biosecurity and risk factors in poultry in a standardized way in diverse EU systems in 7 EU countries regarding: - Health, - Welfare and - Performance in broilers and laying hens. Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 3
MATERIAL & METHODS Study design: 1) Specific questionnaires (50 farms/country) 2) Collection of farm data (50 farms/country) 3) Statistical analysis Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 4
How to score biosecurity and management on poultry farms? Webbased tool: Based on: Scientific literature Poultry Experts opinion In-house experience FREE ACCESS => www.fp7-prohealth.eu 2 versions: broilers and laying hens
How to score biosecurity and management on poultry farms? Webbased tool: Takes only +/- 20 minutes Full multiple choice (easy) Instant 2 page report! => clear advices: How to improve!!!
How to score biosecurity and management on poultry farms? Webbased tool: Own results (red) Database average (green) Create a log in! => Do it again and check your improvements!!!
1) Purchase of DOC 5) Entrance 2) Depopulation External biosecurity and management 6) Material supply 3) Feed and water 7) Infrastructure / vectors 4)Dead animals / used litter 8) Farm location
1) Disease management 2) Cleaning and disinfection Internal biosecurity and management 3) Measurements between houses
MATERIAL & METHODS Specific questionnaire: - Developed in 2014 together with PROHEALTH-consortium - A total of 67 questions - Six categories: General information Housing Feed and water supply Treatment / diseases Broiler details Production management Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 10
MATERIAL & METHODS Collection of farm data: Collected on a flock basis (at least 6 successive flocks) Standardized parameters: Average age (days) Dead on arrival to slaughterhouse (%) Average weight (kg) Condemnation rate (%) Overall mortality (%) Feed conversion rate First week mortality (%) Daily gain (gram/day) Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 11
MATERIAL & METHODS Statistical analysis: Eight linear mixed models (SAS): 1) Overall mortality 5) Condemnation rate 2) First week mortality 6) Feed conversion rate (FCR) 3) Mortality after 7 days 7) Daily growth 4) Dead on arrival 8) European production index (EPI) Multivariable linear regression model => stepwise forward model building procedure Random country effect Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 12
RESULTS Descriptive results: - 7 EU member states - 358 conventional broiler farms - 77%: only activity = broiler production - 78,5%: Part of a quality assurance scheme - 51,8%: Part of an integrated system Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 13
RESULTS Descriptive results: Some highlights - Housing: 3 houses / 24 years old / 24 000 broilers per house / density of 17,5 DOC per m² Subcategory Answer % of farms Floor quality Cracked in some degree 45,9% Ventilation Roof x Tunnel 32,2% Cooling Presence of a system Fog system inside house 71,5% 56,9% Heating Direct heating system 54,3% Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 14
RESULTS Descriptive results: Some highlights - Feed and water supply: Subcategory Answer % of farms / mean Feeding system Pan feeders 74,8% Feeding space per bird Pan feeders Feeding troughs 1,97cm 2,74cm Type of feed Concentrated feed + wheat 41,9% Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 15
RESULTS Descriptive results: Some highlights - Production management: Subcategory Answer % of farms / mean Litter material Loading Data registration Wood shavings Cut straw Feed withdrawal time Water withdrawal time Daily water intake Daily feed intake Daily bodyweight 28,5% 25,1% 7,3 hours 0,5 hours 87,7% 40,8% 27,1% Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 16
Biosecurity and management in broiler farms
Biosecurity in broiler farms Summary Internal >>>> external Larger farms => lower internal biosecurity and management Best category: Disease management 87.9% Worst category: Entrance of visitors and personnel 55.1% = easy to improve!!!!
RESULTS Risk-factor analysis: Overall mortality Mortality rate after 7days Floor quality: cracked floors => higher overall mortality Neonatal E.coli infections Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 19
RESULTS Risk-factor analysis: First week mortality Floor quality: cracked floors => higher first week mortality Ventilation type: higher in tunnel or roof ventilated houses Professional activities: higher when farmer has multiple activities Neonatal E.coli infection Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 20
RESULTS Risk-factor analysis: Mortality after 7 days Floor quality: cracked floors => higher first week mortality Feed conversion rate (FCR) Daily growth Coccidiosis infections: no problems with coccidiosis => higher daily growth Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 21
RESULTS Risk-factor analysis: Dead on arrival Type of light adaptation: red lights => higher DOA Drinking system: nipple drinking system => lower DOA Daily growth: higher DG => higher DOA Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 22
RESULTS Risk-factor analysis: Drinking system: Daily growth: Condemnation rate cup system => lower condem. rate higher DG => higher condem. rate Feed withdrawal time: shorter feed withdrawal times => higher condem. rate Ventilation: No recirculator vents => higher condem. rate (lower in crossventilated houses)? House size: Higher capacity => higher condem. rate E.coli after 7 days Type of feed: concentrate + wheat => lower condem. rate Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 23
RESULTS Risk-factor analysis: Feed conversion rate (FCR) Daily growth Light intensity adaptation: if possible => lower FCR Ventilation: Roof < Cross < Cross x Tunnel Necrotic enteritis problems: if present => higher FCR Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 24
RESULTS Risk-factor analysis: European production index (EPI) Sex of DOC: only males => higher EPI; only females => lower EPI Dysbacteriosis problems: if present => lower EPI Comparison of daily results with previous batches: if performed => higher EPI Daily check of drinking and feeding system: if performed => higher EPI Type of drinking system: round drinkers => lower EPI Type of feed (if no dysbacteriosis): complete compound => higher EPI Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 25
Overall conclusions: Web-based tool = good instrument to evaluate biosecurity! - Helps to identify weak points! - Helps to design improvement-strategies! - Can be part of veterinary guidance program! Main outcome investigation biosecurity and management in poultry: Improve the entrance of visitors and personnel (cfr. Avian influenza)
CONCLUSIONS Clear risk factors were found: Housing: floor quality; ventilation; type of light at loading and intensity of light Infectious: E.coli; coccidiosis and dysbacteriosis Management: level of professionalism; feed withdrawal time and light adaptations Adaptations of management, housing and health programs are beneficial Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 27
This was impossible without the help and guidance of: - PROHEALTH consortium (WP1- poultry): - Vitatrace - LUKE - SGGW - COREN - PHS - Aviagen - Veterinarians and broiler-integrators from Belgium, Greece, Poland and UK Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 28
Thank you for your attention! Tommy Van Limbergen - Ghent University 27/11/2018 29