Commercial Poultry Production and Hatchery Management

INTRODUCTION

• Biosecurity, which literally means safety of living things, is a programme designed to prevent the exposure of birds to disease causing organisms by reducing introduction and spread of pathogens into and between the farms.
• Biosecurity in a broader sense encompasses isolation, traffic control sanitation, vaccination, serological monitoring of diseases and air quality etc. which will aid in prevent the entry and control the pathogens in and around the farm.
• Biosecurity is the cheapest and at the same time most effective means of disease control available without, which no disease prevention programme will work well.
• Biosecurity is a defensive health plan and hygienic procedure that can help to keep your farm disease free.
• Biosecurity is therefore one of the integrated part of farm operations.
• As the poultry operation becomes more and more efficient, however, they also become a threat to themselves and their neighbours and the concentration of more birds in limited space. Poultry farmers should take time to eliminate as many disease causing organisms as possible.
• Therefore, it is better to wait a little longer before introducing new flock than to hurry and risk infection of new flock.
• The most effective form of protection against disease, especially for poultry under modern production techniques is biosecurity i.e. excluding disease from the farm environment and this holds the key to successful and profitable farming.
• Biosecurity, medication/ vaccination and good management of farm are three sides of disease control triangle.
• Poultry must be given an environment in which disease and infection is controlled to the point where vaccination and medication achieve beneficial effects.
• Biosecurity is the key element in the triangle of disease control.