Every poultry operation needs a biosecurity coordinator

With two recent cases of avian influenza reported in the United States and two cases in Mexico, it is particularly important that all poultry operations have a good biosecurity plan in place, as well as a specific person designated as the biosecurity coordinator.

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Matthew Maaskant | freeimages.com
Matthew Maaskant | freeimages.com

With two recent cases of avian influenza reported in the United States and two cases in Mexico, it is particularly important that all poultry operations have a good biosecurity plan in place, as well as a specific person designated as the biosecurity coordinator.

That message was shared on March 14 at the 2018 Midwest Poultry Federation Convention in Minneapolis by Dale Lauer, DVM, poultry program coordinator for the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.

“Everybody needs to have a biosecurity plan that is site specific,” Lauer said, as well as a specific leader to oversee the biosecurity plan.

Lauer adds that failure to have a good plan in place and a person to take leadership of the plan could have devastating effects. Referring to the U.S. avian influenza outbreak of 2014 and 2015, Lauer said, “We’re not going to let that happen again.”

Responsibilities of biosecurity coordinator

“You’ve got to identify the chief; you’ve got to identify the coordinator … who’s going to be in charge. That person is going to develop, they’re going to implement, they’re going to maintain the biosecurity program,” he said.

While a biosecurity coordinator need not be a veterinarian, that person should be knowledgeable in the principles of biosecurity and be able to convey those principles to the personnel and caretakers on farms and poultry production sites. All workers must be trained and retrained on the biosecurity plan.

The biosecurity coordinator must also review the biosecurity plan at least one during each calendar year, Lauer said, and be able to make revisions to the plan as needed.

Lauer stressed the importance of vigilance, compliance and simplicity when it comes to biosecurity plans. Biosecurity steps must be performed daily and be part of routine. A verification system that helps ensure that biosecurity procedures are being followed can strengthen the biosecurity plan, he added.

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