In 2015 the International Egg Commission (IEC) formed the Avian Influenza Global Expert Group. It was established with the intention of bringing top scientists and experts from around the world together to propose solutions to fight avian influenza (AI) in the short-, medium- and long-term.
The group has given priority to highlighting the importance of egg farm biosecurity in preventing the initial outbreak and reducing subsequent transmission. The AI Global Expert Group has created a plan — or checklist — that can be used as a practical tool on a producer’s operation to improve biosecurity.
Four pillars of biosecurity
There are four pillars of biosecurity: conceptual, structural, operational and cultural, explained Travis Schaal, DVM, director of grandparent production and internal veterinary services with Hy-Line International at the IEC Business Conference recently held in London.
Conceptual refers to the farm layout within its geographical region or isolation from other poultry farms. Structural components include the brick and mortar, the truck washes, the rock borders and other things in a producer’s operation that help exclude disease.
“Where the four pillars really excel are in the operational and cultural biosecurity measures,” Schaal said. This is the plan's standard operating procedures, the work instructions, and employee interaction plan to ensure the most efficient production on the farms in an economical and protective way.
Cultural biosecurity refers to making sure employees in facilities are all following the same rules and understand the ultimate goal of protecting flocks.
Need for a plan
The 2015 outbreak of AI in the U.S. forced producers to reevaluate what biosecurity meant to commercial and breeding operations in the layer industry. For a plan to be effective, Schaal explained that they first had to figure out where the virus introduced itself on the farms.
“Investment and education preparation are the golden standards by which biosecurity can succeed,” Schaal said. Since 2005, or about that time, U.S. producers and industry members knew that the AI virus from Asia could come to the U.S. via migratory birds. A decade later, that concept became reality.
Producers should be prepared for the next challenge, the next AI or the next emerging disease through a robust biosecurity plan to protect their investment,” he explained.
The plan — critical considerations
“The plan itself is more a discussion document,” Schaal said. It is full of questions to ask yourself and your operation, your upper management and your farm staff in a conversational way to understand what’s truly happening on your farm. “It’s meant to be the global standard,” he said.
The plan offers general topics and considerations that can match any size operation. While the plan is intended for AI, it could be transferred to any other communicable poultry pathogen.
All-in, all-out farm design and planning is ideal, however, not always feasible, he explained. Apply all-in, all-out principles to each barn, he suggested. “What can we do to limit the exposure of moving birds on and off a complex to reduce risk? Where there are birds, there is potentially disease, and when they move, they can take things with them,” he said.
Perimeter fencing and shower-in and shower-out capability can help reduce the risk of farm workers and visitors serving as disease vectors. | Terrence O’Keefe
Site management must establish and control a well-defined clean/dirty line. This may be at the farm gate and chicken house door. One should consider all farm inputs dirty until cleaning or disinfecting. All farm personnel, visitors, vendors or contract crews must follow all farm biosecurity standard operation procedures at all times. Operators should track all inputs and outputs on the farm including people, vehicles, equipment and even pullets/layers.
Trucking is an area of high risk for potentially introducing disease. Bird movement between farms, to slaughter or disposal are all risk factors for disease introduction or transmission. The movement of manure is also a risk. "Land application of manure is a perfect avenue to bring in disease to your neighbors some distance away,” Schaal said.
AI virus from affected manure hauled or spread could be on the farm 10 days before clinical signs appear. It is important to have a passive surveillance testing program in place to ensure AI-negative status. There must be separation for companies handling manure and companies handling the birds. Co-operative or multiple complexes must treat each site as separate. Even delivery trucks should be kept to a minimum, if possible, including non-agriculture trucks.
It's also important to consider how certain procedures will be completed in the winter versus the summer.
Personnel and equipment are the No. 1 risk factor in disease control.
Personnel and equipment are the No. 1 risk factor in disease control, including AI. Personnel should be in place who are trained in auditing biosecurity standard operation procedures. Each farm should have its own site risk analysis and staff responsible for biosecurity protocols. Regularly scheduled staff meetings should help maintain biosecurity goals.
Staff should have separate clothing for work outside of the barn. Color coding is a simple and effective way to identify clothing used for outside versus inside the houses. Showers should be well maintained for employees. Management cannot bypass rules or staff will lose focus of the importance of each step. Staff should only wear impermeable footwear. Management should provide clothing for all personnel including external crews. Staff who do not follow procedures should face ramifications, as not following procedures opens the door for potential infection or other issues that may result in reduction of egg production.
Management should make sure there are separate external cleaning and disinfection stations for all supplies entering a farm. People and equipment should be considered dirty upon arrival to the farm gate. Employees should not be allowed to own any birds. Farm personnel should also be trained to avoid bird hunting, bird shows or zoos.
Wild birds and small mammals can spread many diseases, including AI; they must be excluded from poultry houses. Layer barns must have secure wired sides or be fully enclosed. There are contract services available for pest prevention programs, or this can be setup by farm staff. In any instance involving rodents or pests, there should be documentation so that management can track the efficacy of pest management systems. Of course, feed is a major attraction to pests and can be contaminated with pathogens. Organic acid or chemical treatment may be necessary to reduce pathogens.
Surface water poses a major risk. If it is going to be used for washing then it should be treated with chemicals or UV light. It is not recommended that surface water be used as the birds' drinking source.
Birds with outdoor access during high-risk AI periods should be restricted from the outdoors.
AI testing
It is recommended to have veterinarian oversight for a biosecurity program and flock monitoring.
For AI polymerase chain reaction surveillance testing, focus on testing daily mortality first instead of live birds. Testing should be implemented if there is unexplained mortality, a greater than 20 percent decline in feed and water intake, or a higher than 5 percent drop in egg production. “If you don’t have a problem or you don’t know if you have a problem, your neighbors are then at a greater risk,” Schaal said. Investment in the laboratory and proper testing protocols are critically important.
“By following the group's set plan, one should understand what their biosecurity program limitations are and where they can improve, and always remember your plan will have to change over time,” he said.
Learn more: 5 steps to improve biosecurity on farms: www.WATTAgNet.com/articles/33361
