Biosecurity includes major measures that should be applied and taken at the farm to keep away from diseases. Proper biosecurity helps to reduce the transmission of diseases between the farms to neighboring farms. It is important to review the basic concepts of biosecurity frequently, especially now as of the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in many regions of the world, both in wild and domestic birds, and its impact on the economy, health, and welfare of birds. The cost of diseases is related anywhere from poultry mortalities, low production – fewer eggs, meat, FCR, and poor product quality to the financial losses to farmers: mortalities, medication, low performance, and decontamination as well as human infection and illness, especially zoonotic diseases. Some of those zoonotic diseases of importance are avian influenzas (AI), Salmonella and E. coli.

There are some basic steps of biosecurity that any farm needs to adapt to. These include- 1. Entry Log Book in Farm, 2. Line of Separation, 3. Perimeter Buffer Area, 4. Vector control, 5. Vehicle control, 6. Bait stations, 7. Proper disposal of carcass and manure and 8. Cleaning and Disinfection. Keeping a detailed record of foot traffic on the farm can be very useful in investigating the possible origin in the event of a health problem and also allows the farm owner to warn recent visitors in the event of a confirmed disease. For recording the entry in the farm, the farm should be prepared to record the contact information, reason for entry, and the date and description of the last poultry contact. There may be a person supervising the entry logbook, and they will have the authority to

permit or deny you access to the operation. Before entering the Perimeter Buffer Area, even if you are entering within a vehicle, you may need to sign an entry logbook for the operation.

An essential component of biosecurity is the line or barrier–imagined or physical–separating clean (non-infected) from dirty (potential sources of infection). This barrier may be termed the Line of Separation, or the Clean/Dirty Line, and may serve as a Cleaning and Disinfection Line (C&D Line). In some cases, the Line will be a barrier/physical obstruction, such as a bench to cross, that separates areas. This barrier or Line of Separation will be site-specific and may be implemented at the farm level (e.g., the circumference of the farm), or the barn level (e.g., the walls of each housing unit); some plans may establish this Line somewhere in between.

Before entering the facility, employees and visitors should demonstrate good hygiene by showering and wearing clean designated clothing such as boot covers, hairnets, and coveralls. In addition, control measures should address the exclusion or elimination of these vectors. Measures also include avoiding environmental contamination through wildlife faeces or infectious secretions and preventing the movement of contaminated material. Protocols should mitigate situations and habitats that are attractive to wildlife and scavengers, such as spilled feed, disposal areas, or wildlife nesting areas.

Instructor Bio

Dr. Pratima Adhikari is an Associate Professor at MS State University. She completed her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 2017 and started as an Assistant professor faculty at MS State. She completed her DVM from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Dr. Adhikari’s research program focuses on laying hen nutrition and gut health management as well as Salmonella Enteritidis intervention study in layers and young pullets. Her recent research has been focusing on feed additives such as pre-, pro-, precision biotics, phytase super dose, and protease; alternative feed ingredients like almond hull and household waste products, as well as branching chain AAs requirement in pullets and layers. Dr. Adhikari also has been working with the soybean meal board on evaluating several nutritional aspects of the meal. In addition, her other focus areas have been on environmental protection and sustainability. Currently, she has 4 graduate students including 1 thrive in five, and several undergraduate students in her lab. She teaches courses including Management of Commercial Layers, Advanced Nutrition (AA, CHO, and Minerals) and rotational seminar class. She enjoys spending time with her family in her free time.