Safeguarding Poultry Health
The technology "Biosecurity for Disease Prevention" is a set of practices and strategies implemented in poultry farming to prevent the introduction and spread of disease-causing organisms. It is guided by the design and day-to-day management of poultry production units and is based on three main elements: isolation, traffic control, and sanitation. This technology also promotes training for poultry farmers and workers to raise awareness about the importance of biosecurity measures, not only for their personal health but also for the profitability of their business. It emphasizes the importance of diligent surveillance for early disease detection, which helps reduce the impact and spread of diseases. Furthermore, biosecurity is crucial at every stage of the poultry value chain, from breeding to feed processing, to prevent a wide range of pathogens, some of which also pose a threat to humans.
This technology is TAAT1 validated.
Adults 18 and over: Positive high
As biosecurity technology helps prevent losses from disease and increases flock productivity, farmers can experience higher profitability from poultry farming.
The poor: Positive high
It helps prevent these losses by minimizing the spread of diseases, ensuring that even low-resource farmers can protect their investment and maintain a steady income.
Under 18: No impact
Women: Positive medium
This technology can improve productivity, reduce losses, and enhance food security, thereby boosting their economic independence and livelihood.
Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable
It enhances the resilience of poultry farms, therefore ensuring the continuity of poultry farming even as climate conditions become more unpredictable.
Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement
Biosecurity technology helps farmers build stronger systems to respond to climate-related disease threats.
Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity
Biosecurity measures help contain diseases within farms, reducing the risk of transmission to wild birds and other animals, thereby protecting local ecosystems.
Carbon footprint: Much less carbon released
Biosecurity reduces the need for emergency interventions such as mass culling, which can waste resources and result in unnecessary carbon emissions from the disposal of large numbers of dead birds.
Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health
Good biosecurity practices limit the spread of infections, which in turn reduces the need for antibiotics. This helps prevent the contamination of environment with pharmaceutical residues, promoting healthier ecosystems.
Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility
Biosecurity protocols require proper manure management, which prevents soil contamination and helps maintain soil quality for future use.
Water use: Same amount of water used
Biosecurity technology minimizes the contamination of water sources from poultry waste and disease agents, ensuring that water remains clean and safe for use.
Poultry farming faces a number of challenges, including:
In response to the pressing challenges of disease prevention in poultry farming, the concept of Biosecurity for Disease Prevention has emerged as a comprehensive solution:
Implementing biosecurity measures in poultry farming can significantly impact gender equality (SDG 5) by providing safer and healthier working conditions, particularly benefiting women who are often involved in poultry farming. It also contributes to climate resilience by preventing disease outbreaks that can lead to large-scale culling and waste. Moreover, biosecurity practices support several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including good health and well-being (SDG 3), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).
To successfully incorporate biosecurity practices for disease prevention into your project, the following activities and requirements should be considered:
Design secure premises in collaboration with veterinarians and engineers.
Engage with the technology provider on the importance and use of biosecurity practices and profitability of the business.
Develop communication support for the technology, including flyers, videos, radio broadcasts, etc.
A team of trainers could provide training and support during project installation. Include the cost for training and post-training support for using the technology.
Communication support for the promotion of the technology should be developed (flyers, videos, radio broadcasts, etc.)
In tandem with this technology, accompanying solutions include:
Universal vaccination against newcastle diseases
Value addition to poultry manure
Veterinary costs reduced
Materials per birds
Country | Testing ongoing | Tested | Adopted |
---|---|---|---|
Benin | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Burundi | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Central African Republic | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Côte d’Ivoire | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Ethiopia | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Gabon | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Ghana | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Guinea | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Kenya | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Malawi | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Mozambique | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Niger | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Nigeria | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Rwanda | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Senegal | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Sierra Leone | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Somalia | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
South Sudan | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Tanzania | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Uganda | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Zambia | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
Zimbabwe | –No ongoing testing | Tested | Adopted |
This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.
AEZ | Subtropic - warm | Subtropic - cool | Tropic - warm | Tropic - cool |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arid | ||||
Semiarid | ||||
Subhumid | ||||
Humid |
Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.
Biosecurity practices limit the spread of diseases like Avian Influenza and Salmonella, which can be transmitted from poultry to humans. This helps protect public health, particularly in rural and farming communities where zoonotic disease risks are higher.
By improving the profitability and sustainability of poultry farming through biosecurity, women farmers can enhance their income and economic status.
Biosecurity technology supports a more stable and resilient poultry sector, which is crucial for fostering sustainable economic growth.
Biosecurity practices promote responsible production by reducing the spread of disease and limiting the need for harmful interventions like mass culling or excessive use of antibiotics.
Here are the steps for implementing biosecurity measures in poultry farming:
1. Ensure that poultry houses are situated away from densely populated human settlements and other animal production systems to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
2. Establish an isolated area within the poultry operation for the treatment and recovery of sick chickens, preventing the spread of diseases to the main flock.
3. Newly acquired birds should be quarantined for a period of fourteen days and vaccinated before they are introduced into the main flock.
4. Require all workers to wear boots, overcoats, gloves, and face masks. These protective garments should be regularly disinfected to prevent disease spread.
5. Install a footbath with a strong cleaning solution at the entrance of each poultry house to disinfect footwear, reducing the risk of contamination.
6. Facilities for feed storage and processing birds should be located 30 to 50 meters away from the production houses to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
7. Implement a system where vehicles entering the premises must drive through a water sanitation pan to prevent the introduction of pathogens.
8. Ensure that poultry manure is kept at least 20 meters away from production units to reduce the risk of contamination.
9. Infected chickens should be either burned or buried off-site to prevent the spread of diseases within the farm.
10. Install mesh wire fencing around the premises to prevent the entry of rodents, wild birds, and domesticated animals that may carry diseases, helping to maintain a disease-free environment.
Last updated on 17 September 2024