How ISE America adheres to NPIP biosecurity principles

Poultry and egg producers participating in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) must follow 14 basic biosecurity principles.

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If poultry and egg producers follow the first 13 biosecurity principles of the National Poultry Improvement Plan, they should have no problems passing an NPIP audit, says ISE America's Dr. Kristi Scott. (Deven King)
If poultry and egg producers follow the first 13 biosecurity principles of the National Poultry Improvement Plan, they should have no problems passing an NPIP audit, says ISE America's Dr. Kristi Scott. (Deven King)

Poultry and egg producers participating in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) must follow 14 basic biosecurity principles.

To maintain NPIP compliance, poultry and egg companies are subject to NPIP audits, which are conducted at least every two years.

Dr. Kristi Scott, ISE America staff veterinarian and HACCP manager, is also the biosecurity coordinator for ISE America. She is based in South Carolina, but in addition to overseeing the biosecurity plan in that state, she also oversees the individual biosecurity coordinators for other states where ISE America operates.

During the November 6 webinar “Steps for Success: Your NPIP Biosecurity Audit,” Scott went over the 14 biosecurity principles, and what ISE America does to comply with those principles.

Principle 1: Biosecurity responsibility

The biosecurity coordinator is responsible for the development, implementation, maintenance and ongoing effectiveness of the biosecurity program on the farm, production sites, production complex or at the company level, depending on the type of operation and how it is written into the plan.

Scott explained that she has a master biosecurity plan that is the same for all of the ISE America facilities in all states where it operates, but the supporting documents are unique to the location. Every location has its own risk level that needs to be taken into account. For example, there is a higher risk with migratory shore birds for the northeastern farms compared to the company’s South Carolina farms. Records should be maintained for at least 3 years.

Principle 2: Training

Training logs are kept for all poultry caretakers, including contract growers and company employees, Scott said. Those caretakers must take a training session on biosecurity, and sign off that they completed the training. The logs should include what topics were covered in the training. That training is part of the procedures for all new hires.

Prinicple 3: Line of separation

A line of separation (LOS) is a functional line separating the poultry houses and the poultry inside from exposure to potential sources of disease. Scott says she chooses to do this with an illustration within the farm-specific plans. A blue line on the illustration shows the boundaries of the LOS.

Principle 4: Perimeter buffer area

The perimeter buffer area (PBA) is a functional zone surrounding the poultry houses or poultry raising area that separates them from areas unrelated to poultry production on that site and/or adjoining properties. On ISA America’s diagram, PBA boundaries are drawn with a red line. The PBA can be modified when birds move out, manure moves out, or in other similar situations, Scott said.

Principle 5: Personnel

Scott says the personnel as well as visitors to ISE America facilities are expected to follow biosecurity measures. In the case of an NPIP audit, Scott said she would provide the visitor log, which includes the visitor’s name, the date of visit, who they are there to see, and a statement that explains any exposures to any other birds within the last 48 hours. The visitor must report that information to the person they are visiting, and in the case of exposure within the last 48 hours, prevent that person from going into an area with poultry.

Principle 6: Pests

The pests Scott mentioned included wild birds, rodents and insects. She said in an audit situation, she would go through the company’s policies, procedures and proof. The policies cover how the company is going to handle pest control in general. Procedures, she said, would be details on how to monitor and control the pests. Proof would be the records of monitoring for these pests at the farm level.

Principle 7: Equipment and vehicles

Records should be kept to show that vehicles are cleaned and disinfected between farms, Scott said.

“Our policy says that the movement of equipment from poultry farm to poultry farm should be limited, but if equipment or vehicles must be moved then we have specific instructions to follow. This procedure talks about the difference between equipment that has entered a poultry barn and equipment that has been on the farm but has not entered the barn,” Scott said.

The ISA America plan also includes how cleaning and disinfection may be intensified in particular times or areas of threat.

Principle 8: Mortality disposal plan

Each state has different rules on how mortality disposal is handled, Scott said.

“I would give you the farm-specific mortality plan that includes mortality management. One site might have deep pit burials and another would have composting mortalities within the manure. But what they have in common is a written plan on how to handle the mortality,” she said.

Principle 9: Manure and litter management

Most states have rules for transporting and application of manure, Scott said. Her plans call for following these rules, such as covering loads when transporting manure. “And we would prove that we are following these rules by providing our training of these particular laws,” she said.

Principle 10: Replacement poultry

NPIP movement forms are kept that show that chicks come from NPIP approved breeder flocks, Scott explained. Out of state pullets come from appropriately tested flocks. For in-state movement, Scott has disease testing documents. ISE America also has letters of guarantee from live-haulers that the vehicles will be cleaned and disinfected prior to move. A service person visually inspects transport vehicles and documents the inspections.

Principle 11: Water supply

Water at all ISE America farms comes from deep wells, as is recommended by the NPIP. However, she recommends that if another poultry operation’s water supply comes from a surface water source, those operators should look for a water treatment record.

Principle 12: Feed and replacement litter

Scott said ISE America uses a small amount of litter in its cage-free sites. “In our program, we have litter delivered in bags directly to the house so there is no need for storage,” she explained.

When asked how ISE Ameriuca stores feed in a fashion that limits contamination, Scott said she would show how the company has a program and procedure for the feed bin lids to be closed after the feed is delivered. Regarding feed spills, she said they are to be addressed and cleaned up in a timely manner. A weekly service report looks for open feed bin lids and feed spills. She also said in audit situations, she would show the training records where those feed-related topics are covered.

Principle 13: Reporting of elevated morbidity and mortality

Every day mortality is recorded on the farm, Scott said.

“Within our company, we have a critical alert communication system that notifies certain people within the company if there is such a problem with more sick birds or increased mortalities. As a veterinarian, I determine the samples or birds needed to be sent on for diagnostic testing,” she said.

ISE America also keeps a list of agencies that would need to be contacted in the case of a notifiable disease.

Principle 14: Auditing

Principle 14 deals with the audit itself. Producers should not have any problems passing the audit, if this rule is followed: “Say what you do, and do what you say.”

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