The Intensive Poultry Farming Industry in the Sahelian Zone (CDI, 1996, 56 p.): 2. SUB-SETS OF INTENSIVE POULTRY FARMING: 2.1. Preliminary remarks: 2.1.4. Biosecurity

The Intensive Poultry Farming Industry in the Sahelian Zone (CDI, 1996, 56 p.)

2. SUB-SETS OF INTENSIVE POULTRY FARMING

2.1. Preliminary remarks

		(introduction...)
		2.1.1. Housing
		2.1.2. Environmental requirements
		2.1.3. Poultry farming equipment
		2.1.4. Biosecurity
		2.1.5. Staff training

2.1.4. Biosecurity

Biosecurity refers to all the measures which must be taken to avoid any contamination of an intensive poultry farm from local farms and animals external to the farm (wild birds, rodents, etc). It makes a great contribution towards the productivity of poultry farms and those who apply the strict rules of hygiene and care for their birds know to what extent their efforts in this regard reap their just reward.

Biosecurity demands:

- Isolation of the production site.
- Wire netting over open buildings with mesh large enough to prevent the penetration of birds and large insects into the house but without obstructing the passage of the wind (ventilation).
- Not mixing birds of different ages in the same house.
- Assigning one poultryman per building, the only one authorised to enter.
- Educating staff regarding hygiene rules to be observed in the unit.
- Cleaning and disinfecting, using the cleaning and disinfection agents recommended in poultry guides and manuals, all buildings, feeders, drinkers, lamps, wire-netting and heating apparatus (brooder) and regular cleaning of vehicles.
- Using foot baths of disinfectant solution placed at the entrance of each building, dip tank for vehicle wheels at the site entrance.
- Disease-prevention interval of two weeks (minimum ten days) between batches, this being counted from the moment when the building has been completely cleaned and disinfected.
- Rapid elimination of corpses which will be incinerated.
- Houses with two doors, one at each end. One will be in the clean area (entrance for living birds and feed) and the other in the dirty area (removal of corpses and litter).
- Never going from a dirty area to a clean area without prior cleaning and disinfection.
- Carefully following a vaccination programme appropriate to the risks identified by the local veterinary services.
- Never vaccinating in the event of an outbreak of disease or even in the event of stress.
- Giving vitamin boosters after vaccination or any other stress.

Biosecurity is a form of insurance which minimizes most of the threats which permanently hang over any poultry farm at the expense of its productivity. Stress factors, briefly described in the next diagram, are obstacles to productivity due to their negative impact on the well-being of the stock.