On Farm Hygiene & Bio-security Dr. Stephen Graham
Introduction What is Bio-security? A pro-active approach to reduce the risk of disease entering a farm, site or being spread further afield
Disease challenges Newcastle disease Gumboro Avian Influenza E.coli Salmonella Mycoplasma Campylobacter Aspergillosis Mould Mycotoxins Coccidiosis Intestinal worms Lice & Mites
Disease spread How disease is spread: People Vehicles Equipment Carrier animals (wild birds, mice/rats or foxes) Faecal materials Body discharges Contaminated feed and water
Bio-security principles The three principle elements of bio-security are: Segregation Physical or virtual barriers to help limit the spread of infection. Cleaning Cleaning will remove most of the organic matter and reduce the overall environmental bio-burden to enable chemical disinfectants to work effectively. Disinfection Properly applied, instant acting disinfection will inactivate any microorganisms that are still present after the cleaning process.
Consumer Retailer Bio-security measures should be practiced continually at every step of the supply chain to limit the spread of disease within our industry. Grandparent Flock Parent Flock Processor/packer Hatchery Farm
Benefits of bio-security Good Bio-security will help to: Prevent the entry of disease onto your farm Prevent disease entry into your birds Prevent disease spread within your farm Limit the spread of disease between farms in the area
Benefits of Bio-security Improve profitability of a flock Can t eliminate all diseases but can significantly minimise and reduce risk Its in your interest. Sick birds don t lay and will not perform to their maximum potential
What can I do? What can I do? Keep doors locked Prevent entry to site and house unless essential Check where visitor has been and how long ago, as this could to put your birds at risk If in doubt ask your vet, processor or packer
What can I do? Be familiar with DARD local risk assessment Provide visitors with protective clothing Avoid contact with back yard flocks Keep a visitors book and complete before allowing access to site, not after visit is over!!
Preparing for a new flock After bird removal: Blow down house from top to bottom and remove litter/manure Wash house and all equipment using recommended detergent at recommended dosage (Use Manufactures PPE for all procedures) Disinfect house, drinking lines, feed system and perches using approved disinfectant at recommended dosage
Preparing for a new flock Wash and disinfect all slats, perches and any other removable equipment Fumigate house, using approved fumigant at recommended dosage following manufactures H&S instructions Swab internal surfaces and prepare house for new flock
Arrival on site Outside site: Contact farmer/owner Do not proceed without approval/permission Always be aware of possible risk you may bring to a farm If in any doubt do not proceed
Entering site: When entering site Only allow essential vehicles Fields person, chick lorries, feed lorries and catching/egg collection lorries onto the bio-secure area Spray wheels and wheel arches, close gate/barrier behind you and only drive on to site if it is necessary When getting out of vehicle put on PPE immediately
Personal Protective Equipment PPE required: Disposable overshoes Disposable boiler suit with hood Face mask Second set of overshoes or house specific wellingtons for inside house
PPE
Entering house Entering poultry house: (Minimum specs) Dip feet outside house door Wash hands then sanitise with alcohol gel Put second set of overshoes on when entering clean area over the barrier systems (which is now part of ACP standard) Dip feet again before entering poultry flock
Foot dip management Foot dip management: Needs managed properly Use approved instant acting disinfectant at proper concentration as specified on label and not diluted by rainwater
Foot dip management Foot dip management: Need to change weekly or more frequently as foot dip gets a lot of use and becomes increasingly dirty Don't dip grossly contaminated boots (can t disinfect dirt)
Foot dip with cover
Keep foot-dip full Looks nice and clean but will not help keep disease out!!
30cm barrier
Wash and sanitise hands
Exiting poultry house: Exiting house Knock off litter/manure on feet and dip feet coming out of flock Remove second set of overshoes and step over barrier Wash hands then sanitise with alcohol gel Remove remaining PPE and leave on site Leave site
Double barrier design Double barrier design: All PPE on outside and dip feet outside house door Red area: Entrance of house- Visitors including tech staff put a 2nd pair of over shoes on in this area as the sit on first barrier In "AMBER" zone farmer/visitors must wash their hands. Sit on second barrier and farmer puts on house specific wellingtons/shoes which are located in "GREEN" area. This footwear never leaves the green area. Visitors put a 3rd pair of overshoes on entering green area.
Farmer puts on dust coat and cap in green area and sanitises his hands with alcohol sanitizer before entering bird area. Visitors also sanitize hands. Dead bird are collected in bucket which always stays in green area - birds are tipped over high barrier into receptacle which always stays in the red area and is emptied into fallen stock bin. When exiting house visitors remove each layer of overshoes as they leave each area disposing in the bin which is located in amber area.
Double barrier system
Rodent protection: Rodent site plan Rodents Can carry:- Salmonella, pasteurella and E. coli Keep vegetation cut, enclosed bait boxes, keep bait boxes in place and check regularly Independent facilitator or trained person to maintain Clean up feed spills/leaks immediately and maintain feed bins as this can cause contamination
Wild birds/hobby flocks Prevent and control by: Clearing up feed spillages Maintaining range free from standing water Don t encourage wild birds onto range Discourage keeping back yard poultry when working with commercial poultry IB, Mg, APV, ILT
Mortality Mortality: Remove dead birds and culls daily Remove from poultry house in bucket Remove from house to fallen stock bin Bin must be covered and locked
Water Bio-security Water: Many Bacteria such as E. Coli, Campylobacter, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, as well as Enterococci and Clostridium perfringens can survive in water so care should be taken to provide a clean fresh source. Bacteria will hide in bio-film and if allowed will multiply
Bio-film How is it formed: Organic particles (in water, through nipples) Closed systems (low flow, low turbulence) High temperature Added products (sugar carriers)
Bio-film What can you do? Remove the bio-film: Can use a Hydrogen Peroxide product Make sure product states that it removes bio-film Fill the whole drinking system Don t forget the tanks! Leave for 24h Flush the system out
Thank you