Types of biosecurity

a) Conceptual biosecurity:

• It is best to build farm in an isolated area, at least three km away from nearest poultry in the case of breeder farm and 1.6 km in the case of commercial layer and broiler farm.
• In the case of breeders, the farm should be away from the major road ways that may be used to transport commercial and backyard poultry.
• Maintain enough distance between breeders and grow-out farms and facilities such as hatcheries and feed mills.

b) Structural biosecurity:

• Fencing of farm perimeter to prevent unwanted visitors.
• Test water source for minerals, bacteria, chemical contamination and pathogen load.
• Concrete stage with suitable water and power supply for sanitation of vehicles.
• Suitable location for storage of bagged feed.
• All-weather roads within the farm to ease cleaning and to prevent spreading of microbes by vehicles and foot wear.
• Facilities for safe scientific disposal of dead birds.
• Safe housing, with suitable wild birds and rodent proofing.
• Feed, litter and equipment should be stored in a section separated from live bird area to prevent contamination.
• A three-metre boundary of land around the building must be kept free of all vegetation to prevent rodent and wild life activity.

c) Operational biosecurity:

• Operation manuals should be developed for day-to-day activities carried out in feed mills, hatcheries, breeding and grow-out facilities incorporating emergency plans.
• Proper decontamination and disinfection of equipment, houses etc., following depletion of flock.
• In breeder farms, all visitors and workers require to shower and use clean farm clothes to prevent cross contamination between them.
• Maintain record for visitors and their purpose.
• In the case of breeders, no vehicles or equipment should be allowed within the farm area from the time of delivery of flock until disposal.
• In commercial broiler unit, a minimum inter flock interval of two weeks is recommended.
• Use an effective integrated pest management program to control pest and rodent through biological, chemical and mechanical means.
• Appropriate program of disease diagnosis and proper vaccination schedule should be implemented.
• In small scale egg production unit, follow all-in-all-out system. If it is not possible, pullets should be obtained from a source free of vertically transmitted diseases.
• Recycling of egg packing materials etc. should be decontaminated at the point of entry of farm.
• Routine disease monitoring procedures like postmortem examination and periodic serum antibody assay to determine immune status of the flock.
• Regular culling of unhealthy, unproductive and diseased birds.